The Second Kathy Rain game is, I think, a pretty flat improvement over the first. It looks better, with some striking and effective splash screens that range from the horrifying to the heartbreaking. I enjoyed its narrative, with a mystery that truly felt like you were conducting an investigation without breaking from the format of an adventure game. Eileen, tragically, was normal and grounded this time, but I guess that's what being put through the magic mind wringer does to you(?). Kathy's personal narrative was left unfinished, in my eyes, but I wouldn't be surprised if a third game is at least hoped for by the devs, if not actively being worked on. The supernatural elements didn't totally work for me once again, though I was interested by some of the new ideas and elements that were introduced in that regard, and a lot of the imagery used for the supernatural was a treat to witness.
But now to the important part of the review: How does my belief of Kathy being a lesbian formed in the original hold up in Soothsayer? Lets analyze.
[spoiler]
First, context of the larger world. It's set in a large urban area in 1998 America, homosexuality is still a far more taboo subject and identity than it is today. This game IS aware of existence of gay people. Trans people, even. This is actually arguably a negative for us, as the acknowledgement of gay people paired with a lack of confirmation of Kathy's own homosexuality greater implies conscious choice. But we don't give up so easily.
What does Kathy do in this game?
Kathy expresses heterosexual attraction exactly one (1) time in Soothsayer that I noted- an immediate comment of the attractiveness of Eileen's brother upon seeing a photo of him. One could say that this is a manifestation of repressed attraction to Eileen, seeing an "acceptable" subject that still reminds Kathy of Eileen, but that's being generous. A point against us.
Kathy strings along Josh, who is a police officer, to gain access to the utility of his station, but has no real interest in him, and frankly hardly does more than "talk to him" to string him along, he's largely pushed by his own infatuation. She shows no sign of being attracted to him and doesn't even perform it, despite him ostensibly seeming pretty handsome. Counterargument to this is that Josh is a cop and loser, so why would anyone be into him? I'm still claiming it as a point in the pro column.
Between 1 and 2, Kathy started a detective agency with Eileen, then fired her when business declined. Given that Kathy lives in an apartment off the agency's office, and how dire her financial straits seem to be, one could posit that Eileen likely would not have been able to afford her own apartment on whatever Kathy could pay her, and since they were already roommates before, them being roommates while they worked together isn't out of the question. But where did Eileen sleep? In Kathy's room, the only non office room, there is only one large bed taking up most of the potential floorspace, and if Eileen was fired due to a lack of money, then there's 0 chance she took her own bed and Kathy traded up to a bigger one. Shared bed perhaps? Broken up more than just business partners? Much to consider. Heavy on the extrapolation, but could be useful.
Of course, Kathy also still looks like that- dyed hair, leather jacket, riding a motorcycle, a not stereotypically feminine presentation, which is a source of conflict with her mother who she can't get along with. Very gay.
The first of the two biggest pieces of evidence comes from an interaction Lionel, a drug dealer and friend* of Kathy's who she's known for some time at the game's start. While taking a chakra cleansing photo, when she pulls out her pendant and sit down to take the picture, Lionel begins teasing her in a way that comes across and is responded to as good natured ribbing, asserting that she is not the first to "do some crazy ♥♥♥♥ for some hippie poontang." Poontang is specifically a slang term for vagina, meaning Lionel is asserting she is trying to ♥♥♥♥ a woman. Kathy is not shocked, taken aback, or even uncomfortable at this statement, no more than the embarrassment she was already feeling at her odd behavior. This to me, implies that not only is Lionel aware that Kathy is gay, but it is something she at some point discussed openly with him.
The second crucial piece of evidence comes in the form of our evil twin. One of the victims was burned alive by Faith was a co-conspirator, a college girl who was deeply in love with her. It is not explicitly stated whether or not that love was returned, even if solely for manipulative ends, but I would posit it was. This murder is described as Faith's "greatest betrayal", and its hard to betray someone without a mutual connection. One could argue the source of this information was unreliable, but the burned girl is portrayed as having a detached sort of cosmic insight at this point- the ability to recognize things even the master of the twisted domain she resides in cannot. What I think happened here is that Andrea and Faith were in a romantic relationship, and the betrayal cut both ways- when Andrea discovered the true nature of Faith's home, of a place she both wants to be free of and has love for, she rejected it, and in doing so, rejected Faith. Faith's vengeance was murder. She'd let someone into her heart, then she burned them out. And Faith is Kathy- a mirror image of her, jealous of that which Kathy has and she doesn't. Part of why she wants their mother's love is to feel more real, to do something Kathy can't. She's damaged, twisted and crazy, but I don't think she's that DIFFERENT. I don't think we're doing the "the evil version of you is GAY" trope either, as even in the actual 90s, Buffy didn't do that without making Willow actually gay. I do think there is a closer parity between Kathy and Faith than either would like to admit.
In conclusion, the dream is alive, and we have some promising evidence in our favor. And given that 3/4 Kathy Rain fics on Ao3 are slash fics with Eileen, I'd say the people are on my side. [/spoiler]
