Nick and Depression
I've talked about this in some other threads before, but I figured I'd put it in a thread where we can all discuss it on it's own specifically.
I think Nick has depression. I don't mean depression as in "he's sad because his mom and Uncle Pete died", I mean actual clinical depression, the actual disorder depression. I say this because I struggle with it myself and see a lot of myself in Nick--in his dialogue, his dark moods, the way he reacts to things. A lot of other people I've spoken to feel the same way.
I can't be sure if this is the angle Telltale is taking purposefully--we won't know unless it's confirmed by a writer, I suppose--but to me it feels so real that it has to be intentional. And I'm glad of it.
When Nick talks about how he's struggling and how he's "not built like that", how he can't just get up and move on the way Luke and other people do, that means a lot to me. Not only is there a character I can relate to in a game that I love, but he's being portrayed realistically. Some people can try their hardest but they literally just can't pull themselves up by their bootstraps and move on, some people struggle and it's not their fault. Telltale is portraying the reality of struggling with depression and showing how it doesn't just "go away" when it's inconvenient. It's a real thing that people have to deal with every day and it can make life difficult.
I don't agree with all of Nick's actions--I won't excuse him shooting Matthew, and I'm annoyed that he would offer alcohol to Clementine. But nevertheless he has a narrative that means a lot to me. You guys don't necessarily have to agree with me, but please have respect because this can be a touchy subject.
I think Nick has depression. I don't mean depression as in "he's sad because his mom and Uncle Pete died", I mean actual clinical depression, the actual disorder depression. I say this because I struggle with it myself and see a lot of myself in Nick--in his dialogue, his dark moods, the way he reacts to things. A lot of other people I've spoken to feel the same way.
I can't be sure if this is the angle Telltale is taking purposefully--we won't know unless it's confirmed by a writer, I suppose--but to me it feels so real that it has to be intentional. And I'm glad of it.
When Nick talks about how he's struggling and how he's "not built like that", how he can't just get up and move on the way Luke and other people do, that means a lot to me. Not only is there a character I can relate to in a game that I love, but he's being portrayed realistically. Some people can try their hardest but they literally just can't pull themselves up by their bootstraps and move on, some people struggle and it's not their fault. Telltale is portraying the reality of struggling with depression and showing how it doesn't just "go away" when it's inconvenient. It's a real thing that people have to deal with every day and it can make life difficult.
I don't agree with all of Nick's actions--I won't excuse him shooting Matthew, and I'm annoyed that he would offer alcohol to Clementine. But nevertheless he has a narrative that means a lot to me. You guys don't necessarily have to agree with me, but please have respect because this can be a touchy subject.
Sign in to comment in this discussion.
Comments
He's quickly become one of my absolute favourite characters in the series, just because of how well they portrayed it all. It really, really sucks that he's probably getting killed off soon. Hopefully he gets to really step up and do good before the end. :(
I think that he suffers from depression, and because he wants to protect the rest but keeps screwing up, the cycle continues. Don't know if it's clinical though.
They each have different manners of coping with their losses. Kenny's one-track mind just distracts himself from his troubles by doubling down on whatever his focus was on at that time, even if it won't help his current situation. Lilly lashes out at the people around her in fits of misplaced anger and paranoia. Christa walls herself emotionally off from everyone around her and refuses to discuss what happened. And Ben just seems to sulk in the corner and feel bad about himself. Nick kinda does a little bit of each of these, but to me he actually seems to have a better grip on how to deal with things than the others, probably due in part to the more solid support structure he has around him.
Again, this all makes Nick my favorite character of Season 2. I can relate to his problem, because I have suffered low self-esteem and depression (not clinical) in the past.
It is very hard to tell, considering the tragedy people have experienced, which is why I said earlier above how beneficial it would be to have the word "depression" actually used. I would honestly argue that characters like Christa and Lilly suffer from PTSD, but I don't know too much about PTSD so I won't try to act like I do.
I think a lot of it has to do with Nick's issues appearing to be very deep-seated. Uncle Pete talks about how he had a difficult home life growing up, which probably gave him a lot of self-esteem issues and feelings of inadequacy. In contrast, these other characters* haven't been given that kind of back story--we view their spiral downward as a direct result from in-game events. With Nick, we are introduced to him as being panicked and lacking in self-esteem, and even with the story about his mom, we are still given the implication that his behavior existed before the apocalypse--although perhaps it's now amplified.
*Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that Larry was abusive towards Lilly and Kenny was a recovering alcoholic. I don't recall these in-game and I'm not even sure if they're canon, which is why I don't see them as having the same kind of bearing as Nick's backstory.
I like Nick. I like his character, and I'm interested in having him around more. I think he's a pretty melancholy guy, but I don't want it to become a huge part of how he's defined as a character. It is what it is, and it's interesting left ambiguous as it is. Just my opinion, though.
It's kind of a double-edged sword because like I said I think Telltale does a fantastic job showing his depression through scenes and not just stating it. But part of me also wants that confirmation, and I think if the used the word Telltale would do a good job to not make sure his character was flanderized because of it. It's not like he has a long time left for it to even get like that anyway, though, honestly.
Unfortunately.
Edit - I just want to say that it wasn't me who downvoted you. I respect your idea and appreciate that we could talk about stuff without being dicks to each other.
That's why I don't dislike Nick for that relating. I always forgive him in episode 1, and promise Pete I'll look out for Nick, and why I stand up for him when confronted with Walter. Yes he did treat Clem harshly and yes he was stupid on the bridge. But also it's important to remember he did lose his mom before Clementine shows up, and that's the whole reason he's so on edge and distrustful of her at the cabin in teh first place, because Nick's worried she's lying and that if Clem turns into a walker he might wind up losing another person he cares about. You could also argue that's why Nick overreacts when they're on the bridge and he shoots Matthew. He's lost Pete, and was ready to give up hope and drink himself to death, only for 5 days later to then go see his old friend Luke and newbie friend Clem 'supposedly' being held at gunpoint, of course he panicked.
Yeah, if that dude were real I'd be hugging him lots ;_; I can't get why anyone would hate him. [although a note, I do like how Nick's depression differs from Kenny's who we're getting hints at wanting Clem to replace Duck]
While I have no doubt the Z.A. would cause everyone to not be at their best moods, Nick's speeches, his backstory, and the attempts at trying to do what's right (possibly in order to feel better about himself and get some praise from the group) are fairly accurate to what I would do in his situation. I wouldn't kill Matthew but the fact that Nick wanted to get it off his chest and tell the victim's partner is something that fits the bill of a clinically depressed person. Just thought I'd share my own views on it :).
What do you guys think of this? Obviously it would be a heartbreaking ending, but would you feel at all slighted by Telltale? That is to say, would there be something kind of offensive or at least very disappointing about having the character with depression kill himself?
I do think it'd be a little underwhelming though, narratively. I'm hoping that, if he is to go, it'll be in a way that will earn him respect from the rest of the group. Would be much more satisfying a character arc that way.
I can't help but take it personally when people sat Nick is a "screw-up" because it takes a lot of strength to just get up in the morning even in a normal world like this. I can't imagine how broken I'd be in that world and experienced what he's had to go through.
I want him to have a redemption moment as well. He's made a lot of mistakes and it would be really nice to see him do something really great and impactful to prove to people he's not the liability everyone's been saying he is.