I remember learning this after playing the game and being totally blindsided by it. Not that I doubt Druckman intended for the story to say something about Palestine and Israel, but because his zionist understanding of the situation completely lacks the context of settler colonialism it ultimately says nothing.
After having it pointed out to me I can see that a lot of zionist myths have crept into the game, which partly explains why it feels like such a sludge of misanthropy. Part of justifying the abuses of those in power is telling yourself everyone would be just as bad or worse, and Druckman really seems to have internalized that.
Yah it’s like he couldn’t help hide his ideology because he assumes that’s how the world works. “Everybody’s a fascist like me so of course a father would kill everyone in a hospital because of course doctors looking to cure a disease would perform a life-threatening procedure on a minor with no other tests.”
It would have been much better (imo) if the procedure was only life threatening. As it’s presented, there’s literally zero chance of Ellie surviving. So he either kills them or they kill her. So much more complex to have it be he kills them or they might kill her
I remember learning this after playing the game and being totally blindsided by it. Not that I doubt Druckman intended for the story to say something about Palestine and Israel, but because his zionist understanding of the situation completely lacks the context of settler colonialism it ultimately says nothing.
After having it pointed out to me I can see that a lot of zionist myths have crept into the game, which partly explains why it feels like such a sludge of misanthropy. Part of justifying the abuses of those in power is telling yourself everyone would be just as bad or worse, and Druckman really seems to have internalized that.
Yah it’s like he couldn’t help hide his ideology because he assumes that’s how the world works. “Everybody’s a fascist like me so of course a father would kill everyone in a hospital because of course doctors looking to cure a disease would perform a life-threatening procedure on a minor with no other tests.”
It would have been much better (imo) if the procedure was only life threatening. As it’s presented, there’s literally zero chance of Ellie surviving. So he either kills them or they kill her. So much more complex to have it be he kills them or they might kill her