Recap / Life Is Strange True Colors Bonus Ep Wavelengths

Wavelengths

Bonus Episode

Spring

It is about one year before Alex Chen coming to Haven Springs, and Stephanie Gingrich has lucked into a job, having BSed her way through an interview to become the manager of Haven Springs's record store as well as the sole radio jockey of KRCT, its sole radio station. As she tentatively comes to grips with her responsibilities at the store and radio station, including running ads and taking song requests, she spends her time off engaging in several activities, many of which continue into further segments:

• She can search for dating options in the town on a dating app; this continues throughout the episode.
• She receives a parcel from one Mikey North containing their old tabletop RPG paraphrenelia (including his old Elamon figurine).
• She can reminisce about her foosball games with Gabe.
• She can start writing a song, whose lyrics and attributes can be determined by the player; this song can be developed over the course of the episode.
• She can respond to several call-ins on the station from the residents of Haven Springs and the surrounding area, including gaining a reputation as a (self-confessedly fake) psychic after accidentally predicting that a caller's girlfriend was going to break up with him.

At the end of her first day, Steph gets a call from Gabe checking up on her, and her confident facade crumbles as she confides in him about her worries regarding how difficult she is finding her job responsibilities. Unfortunately, this is during the time she had accidentally left the mic on, causing her words to be broadcast on the station. While Steph tries to spin it into an ad for a jobs website, it's clear she feels way out of her depth.

Summer

It is June 30, 2018, the last day of Pride Month, and Steph is tasked with both managing the station (on a very hot day) and cleaning up the Pride Month paraphrenalia. Apart from many of the activities mentioned above which Steph can repeat or continue (including her continuing her psychic gimmick by using a D20 to provide predictions for callers), the primary plot involves trying to find a well-hidden record in the back room to help a father apologize to his son Grady; he had a less-than-ideal reaction when the child came out to him and wants to make it up to him by playing his favourite song. After finding the record, Steph clears out the Pride Month decorations and calls it a day.

Fall

Halloween is a dark time of year for Steph. While she does carry on with her duties at the station (including several activities), she is clearly distracted; when placing records back in their place, she seems to experience a traumatic flashback when seeing certain vinyl covers and artwork around the store. The reason for her reaction is connected to Max's final choice in Life Is Strange: if Max sacrificed Chloe, Steph is traumatized by Chloe and Rachel's murder; if she sacrificed Arcadia Bay, she is traumatized by the storm.

While trying to call Gabe for some booze, she gets a video call from Mikey, who asks her to hang out and play D&D with him to help both of them handle the bad memories associated with the day. The two help each other deal with the bad memories:

• If Max sacrificed Chloe, Mikey commiserates with Steph about her jealousy for Chloe and Rachel's relationship, and talks about his friendship with and admiration for Chloe and Rachel. He also seems to have given a speech at Chloe's and Rachel's funeral, and Steph reveals that she hid in the back because she didn't know what to say.
• If Max sacrificed Arcadia Bay, Mikey and Steph talk about how they had had a lucky escape from the storm, and talk about the people they lost (Steph lost her mother, while Mikey lost Drew), as well as the difficulties of grieving. Steph reveals that Chloe and Max are now "wandering weirdos".

In a fit of emotion, Steph asks Mikey why he persists in being her friend – everyone else goes away when she ghosts them, so why not him? Mikey says that, to an extent, he needs her – he didn't know who he was outside of "Steph's best friend" at Blackwell, which is why he feels like he doesn't know who he is without her in his life. Steph apologizes (directly or indirectly) and reveals that since the events at Arcadia Bay, she has never allowed anyone or anything to get close to her, running away at the first sign of attachment for fear of losing them. Mikey sympathizes, and Steph affirms that she needs him too. As they continue their game into the night, both of them seem to be moving down the long, long path to healing.

Winter

New Year's Eve is a lonely night at KRCT, but Steph seems to enjoy a quiet night with no calls. Suddenly, the phone rings: it's Gabe, who has called to ask for the help of Haven Springs' resident psychic. Gabe has just found out about his sister's whereabouts, and is terrified about getting in contact with her: he hasn't been in contact with her for seven years, and he doesn't know what's going to happen. Steph's D20 rolls an 18, and she tells Gabe that things are looking good: things may be tough initially, but the two will reconnect. Gabe thanks her and asks her to look near the door before hanging up.

While finishing up all of her activities and work responsibilities (which indicate that she has become much more confident and happy running the store and station), Steph looks at what Gabe has sent: a scavenger hunt around the record store! Looking through the store to find more clues, she finally finds her prize: a sign indicating a permanent place at the Black Lantern for Steph, along with Gabe releasing her from her foosball oath. Finally, as the clock approaches the new year, Steph looks for some champagne – a gift from Jed – and pops it as the clock strikes twelve.

Spring

For the ending, we return to Chapter 1, where we see Steph playing with a toy sword in the booth as Alex Chen enters the store. As Alex walks past the booth, Steph sees her, smiles, and asks her to choose which record to play.