Preamble As you will know if you read my previous post this is the part two of my witness review covering chapters 15-28 again this is for entertainment and critical purposes only with that being said enjoy witness review part 2 Please comment if you enjoyed it lol only if you want to.
Chapter 15
And we begin the new volume do I regret doing this I get a certain masochistic pleasure from reading this god-awful book, so no. Karen arrives in Ireland 2 years after the trial with the Cassian they are celebrating their two year anniversary we get pointless fluff and a diamond choice for an outfit and we’re in Galway and Ireland has good weather yet more proof of a lack of research we get a weird scene involving scones which for some reason turns erotic halfway through… we get more of Karen talking dirty and being more horny than a hormonal teenager. We get a choice between one of the ugliest motorcycles in the world and the vintage motorcycle did I mention it’s a diamond choice. They then go into the countryside Karen acts like a decent human being without us needing to pay diamonds we get more weird kinky stuff involving candle wax which don’t do that hot wax can get hot very hot it can burn you believe me Karen then discovers a compass that looks like the one from Nantucket and assumes it’s a message from the O’Connell’s
Ok I have got nothing really bad to say about this chapter the writings ok, the chapter ending in the right place to build suspense Karen acts like a decent human without the player being forced to pay diamonds for her to act that way this is what we count as a win in witness, basic writing skills. The diamond system is still unimaginably stupid but this is witness what do you expect. However while I’m not going to kink shame anyone that candle will be hot (in addition it’s a naked flame but like we’ll get to that) if the person holding it drops it onto the other person you’re getting taken to A&E with serious burns you complete numbskulls also if the person holding it drops that candle and it miraculously doesn’t cause 3rd degree burns you could still set the entire inn on fire congratulations now when you have to go to court or to A&E you’ll have to explain why you decided to use a candle for Masochistic purposes. Ok mini rant on basic safety over inner Keo
Chapter 16- so after Karen wakes up she sees on the Tv the parole hearing for the O’Connell’s and watches as a very grown up Aisling answers a question we get a diamond choice for an outfit and karen drinks tea over week coffee which she had spat out I suppose that asking her to be polite when in a foreign country is impossible I’m waiting for her to vlog a dead body one pointless diamond choice later we meet Keo but with a scar we have yet another diamond choice to be careful and follow the lead of the person who was hired to protect us or flounder and endanger Cassian Karen goes right back to being a whinny brat for a couple of seconds and then we get the surprise an engagement how lovely in the wonderful surroundings of Ireland wonderful, Karen is sacred of commitment not surprising indeed whoever was writing this! “huge goddam commitment” we then get a lovely proposal speech from Cassian Karen gets spooked by the thoughts of someone watching them and then she gets shot at and that’s where we finish the chapter
Ok we’re back on track as in we’re going into stupidity first off how the hell does aisling look like a teenager 18 none the less when her volume one form was a baby a literal foetus how does she look this old maybe she’s born with it maybe it’s Maybelline I’m not gonna judge except I am because this makes no sense two years have passed two why does she look like she’s 18/19 when she looked like she was maybe 11 tops, also Karen why are you still scared of commitment I thought you were over that, you’re in a committed relationship currently why do you still have a problem with commitment why do you have to complain about virtually everything. And also I’m not sure if the O’Connell’s hearing would make international TV maybe it would initially but I’m not sure you can come to your own judgement more to the point why are they getting out so soon after committing Murder is THIS White Privilege something to think about. Next why does Karen spit out the coffee I mean I know she finds it week but like that’s rude and kind of insulting to the person who made it also what does she have against tea, tea is delicious. I know that I’ve said I’ll talk about the diamond issue later, but this is just ridiculous the fact that we have to pay diamonds to play along with our Li is ridiculous why why why? I’ve just realised when typing this up that this makes extraordinarily little sense almost like this book oh yeah and this chapter ends really abruptly.
Chapter 17- so Karen is getting shot at but with the help of the poor eejit she escapes we have another diamond choice to be checked over so you can make sure that you’re not injured and if you don’t cough up your diamonds you act like a B**** (is this allowed IDK). Anyway Cassian realises that this dude in black who just randomly appears is apparently a member of the Gardai anyway the two officers talk to them about what just happened Karen continues acting like a Karen in all fairness though she hasn’t been able to speak to a manager in two hours so it’s ok. Anyway Cassian is suspicious of the supposed Gardai and calls Tomas to tell him what happened oh Tomas the only other good thing in this book anyway Thomas tells them that there has been shifting in the Boston mob and in addition that there were rumours that they’d been able to turn some police dirty why we weren’t privy to this information prior to going to Ireland IDK Karen whines some more and then accepts that they have to sleep under the stars she then goes to a Farm and for some reason mistakes sheep for goats I would cover this in my analysis but why why I know you grew up in the city but in like (isn’t it elementary school) didn’t they teach farm animals as part of a topic I knew the education system in America was bad but like uhh forget it I’ve probably been cancelled now lol. Anyway, Karen and the poor eejit go to a barn and that’s where this chapter ends don’t blame me for how terrible this book is
OK this is just bad on its own this chapter is just a mess not especially because of the two big things having to pay diamonds to be nice having to act mean if you don’t but just the leaps in logic that are taken throughout the chapter first off the Gardai just appear right the heck out of nowhere but I just laughed case they reused Steve’s character model and I was disappointed that they didn’t reuse Nadia’s face model cause that would have been hilarious but what can you expect from this book at this point also why weren’t we told about the info about potential police corruption by the Mob it seems like it could be very important since ya Know Karen is the primary witness in that trial and yet again why does Karen mistake a goat for a sheep how why I just don’t get it I know it’s petty but this is just so enraging it’s almost like the writers wanted to make us hate this book and did so by deliberately making it bad and nonsensical.
Chapter 18 the description for this chapter caused me great concern… anyway we get more boring Hanky panky. Then this chapter reminds us that we’re in a barn with a calf coming up to Karen and booping her what follows is adorable cuddling with farm animals so all in all this chapter isn’t too bad so far then Karen meets the sweetest old lady who offers them her place to stay her house and clothes and tells them to use whatever they want in the bathroom all free of charge so what do the money grubbing people at Nexxom do, try to make us make a diamond choice enticing us with a pretty dress and hair I will get to this. Anyhow Karen doesn’t know what porridge is, I think. Seriously do Americans have porridge like would any of yous have it for breakfast leave comment in the comments anyway we get another diamond choice to open up to Betha aforementioned sweet old lady about what’s been going on-honestly at this point I struggled to resist the temptation to make the diamond choice cause no way Jose am I gonna spend diamonds on this steaming pile of- anyway we get told that the mobsters they’re running from have been harassing the farmers around the area by Betha and mobsters arrive
Ok this chapter starts off fine and then nosedives into stupidity and dumb diamond choices this is so frustrating why aren’t we allowed the outfit for free we’re being offered it for free by this sweet old lady. Now by no means are strange diamond choices for outfits a new thing for choices but I feel that this has just brought the feelings of annoyance to the forefront of my mind if you are being offered something for free you take it generally this annoyance for me was in platinum as well consistently your costume designer was offering you outfits that is her job to make for you to you and you could refuse why? This is for free, coming back to the context of witness Betha is offering you this for free and saying “my wains aren’t here and won’t be here take the clothes” just I’m so fed up with this book and its nonsense argh
Chapter 19- this book is slowly diving me crazy ok so Karen and Cassian faff about and then go down to the cellar. Cassian then calls Thomas who tells them that, shock and horror the manager was injured when the Mobsters attacked the inn anyway it seems as though we’re going to Galway. Anywho it appears as though we can be nice without using Diamonds what Joy Karen doesn’t know how to climb into a cart so Cassian has to do it for her ehhh I’m feeling nice I’ll let it slide lol. We then get a stupid leap in logic when despite having been dipped in the bog somehow Cassian’s phone works why IDK and suddenly the chapter stops right the heck outta nowhere choices are you ok?
This chapter without diamond choices may be the shortest in all of choices I really have nothing else to say like it hardly took that much time to read I wrote the above paragraph while playing it and it only took like 5 minutes tops added on to this here is where I feel the writers gave up on making this good book and leaned full into the stupidity. Why are they “portraying Ireland as a backwater slum” quote from @Jsjscat . Also a horse and cart seriously this is a joke the fact that a trip to Galway is supposed to be a big thing is so dumb Ireland is small like pretty small
Chapter 20 this has broken 20 chapters and me what am I witnessing, Karen and Cassian say goodbye to sweet old lady anyway we get a dumb diamond choice to buy candles then Karen reveals that she has no patience why am I not surprised anyway diamond choice for outfit anyway Karen gets to try chocolates and we continue on to Cassian’s Childhood Home oh wait we first have a diamond choice to go for tea anyway we get more pointless padding we get a weird choice that I have no wish to go into and arrive at the childhood home.
Uhh this chapter is so boring and dull there’s nothing of interest here like I’m so bored and we’re continuing with that stereotype of Ireland aren’t we
Chapter 21- so we open at the childhood home of Cassian and surprise Karen doesn’t have many nice things to say about it or you know act weird anyway Cassian starts a fire in the sitting room as Karen is complaining about the cold. Anyway, we get fluff and karen continues showing off her privilege saying that its her first time sleeping in a house without electricity (I’d also reckon that this is the first time she’s been near an open flame so it’s a wonder she didn’t burn down the entire building-or know what candles do at all) and again I genuinely think that choices believes that everyone in Ireland lives in a cottage with no electricity which I am pretty sure is not the case. Anyway another dose of hanky panky because this book definitely need that 100% could not have existed without that hanky panky. After that Cassian and Karen go on a fishing trip and talk about the past then Ladies Gentlemen everyone in-between and outside the binary we get one of the many gems of rudeness and just general strangle this MC moments littered throughout the book and its both infuriating and hilarious at the same although this might be the worst one as well paradoxes aren’t they fun. essentially Karen throws a fit over the thought of being tied down read married to the one person and literally yells at Cassian saying some of the best dialog of all time, plays the victim and actually jumps off the boat Gurl I wouldn’t normally say this to a woman but calm down chill you are being irrational. Oh yeah then finn shows up right the outta nowhere
This chapter was insane I didn’t expect it to end the way it did with the MC so close to being ended just wow wow and the MCs craziness top tier honestly. Just in general a top tier chapter.
Chapter 22-Ok so we pick up exactly where we left off with Finn grabbing Karen by the throat honestly at this point come on finish her anyway Finn and Cassian talk about the past and the knife gives Karen flashbacks Finn talks about aisling and what she is doing anyway they find out about the fact that Cassian’s brother got killed by Finn then they escape not before knocking Finn out with a fishing pole though and use his motorbike as a getaway vehicle. So they get to the train station and we get a pointless diamond choice for another outfit and we get on the train which apparently is a sleeper despite the likely distance between there and Galway not likely to need a sleeper (they do know how tiny Ireland is right) anyway we get a diamond choice to talk to Cassian about the problems they are facing together and to eat and of course to do hanky panky.
Is Finn ok he was going to finally end that MC I hope he comes back Oh wait he does how he survives drowning I don’t know this whle book is littered with continuity errors like that
Chapter 23- OK why does this book exist just to make me suffer so we pick up still in the train and tidy up the compartment we get a diamond choice to be a good person an ask Cassian how they feel but of course decent are not words found in Karen’s vocabulary after that there is a talk with Thomas and then a walk around Galway a diamond choice for a nice outfit go to a jewellery shop all in all standard par for the course filler in really anything honestly we go to a bar and Karen is naturally shocked that the drinking age in Ireland is so low honestly says she you should be buying guns for you 16 year olds not Pints
This entire chapter was filler I am not going to say more
Chapter 24-…. Ok what do I even say about this chapter in a coherent manner so I am going to try and drunkenly explain it which is honestly the least it deserves.
So they like go into the boxing ring and then karen sees an outfit which she likes but it’s a diamond choice then they start essentially like working with each other on their boxing skills then we have another diamond choice to do hanky panky and then suddenly we see a shadow outside the window.
I don’t want to analyse this it feels so bad its so cringy and as one youtuber commented “There we go boxing ring crossed of the list” ultimately though this chapter was filler but worse
Chapter 25 I am writing this listening to driftveil city music I have yet to play gen 5 but the music slaps not the time ok. Well this chapter was OK which is the most that can be said for a witness chapter we start off right where we finished last chapter in the gym and go outside Cassian and Karen talk and go eat breakfast and go to a library to decript Thomas’s message karen find a book with one of those library cards in it and I had forgotten those were a thing and after the message description they find out they need to go grab a boat so they go to the harbour and go into a storm ok can someone call the coastguard oh wait there probably is no coast guard in choices Ireland and can we just leave them out there to die, no ok, anyway Cassian is sad cause a storm like this killed their dad we get a diamond choice to grab Cassian’s hand to avoid falling over which is so dumb anyway Finn dude from earlier comes over and tries to kill you he fails and then we get another stupid diamond choice and Cassian kills Finn well nearly…
And so we finish a half decent chapter not much to be said really ok is all we can hope for from witness at this point that’s depressing oh well 2020 is depressing also Finn should have drowned earlier from being hit over the head with a fishing pole and being in the water face down presumably .
26- ….Because they save him anyway after tying him up K and C go to the safe house where they drop off Finn and talk to Tomas who invites them to go and sleep and so they do we get a diamond choice and then they are back off on their vacation we then get a diamond choice to help Cassian get closure on the tragedies they have suffered then visit the place where her family members are buried there is a diamond choice to say some words and then we see a car with the potentially evil Gardai and it does turn out to be the evil Gardai Karen rushes to her car gets in then another car comes over knocks into it and causes Karen great panic.
Just when you thought it was over… she somehow manages to survive this will be repeated as I stop caring in the last few chapters honestly I’m more confused at this point than anything else lol
27- so we pick up where we left off in a wrecked car on the brink of a cliff and as she is looking for Sophia she sees aisling who still looks like she’s 17 or 18 and honestly go Aisling go Aisling kill her kill her Oh sorry damn is aisling evil she is doing a great job of it well done girl oh yes she does the threatening well anyway after directing her bodyguards to make it look like an accident our hero she can drive and can apparently get a drivers licence just a minior point on how she is not a minor. Anyway the evil Gardai try to kill you and there is a diamond choice to literally avoid a taser anyway they try to throw Cassian into the car with Karen and she actually manages to be competent for once shooting the evil gardai through the neck somehow she gets out with Cassian’s help breaking the laws of physics and logic as the car was already falling off a cliff and I forget it I do not care anymore then we get checked into hospital and there’s a diamond choice to talk about how you feel and then another diamond choice for a medal thing and then we’re back at the inn Aisling has left a message in which she explains that she has left a bomb which Karen promptly mishandles because that is what you do with a live weapon that could kill massive amounts of people oh wait she’s American that explains it it turns out that there are 10 seconds to defuse the bomb.
Why is my only answer to this chapter just why it’s bad it’s cringy and it came so close to killing the protagonists and then didn’t follow through honestly I was rooting for aisling to win
28- It’s the final chapter of this mess thank the lord its nearly over so we pick up and Aisling’s bomb doesn’t work unfortunately what follows is the unfortunate defeat of a tragic hero and the victory of it’s villains and so Karen and Cassian go off on their vacation again we get a diamond choice to destroy the compass and we get what is supposed to be the conclusion of a character arc for Karen (oh how badly that was handled honestly Karen needs her own part and she has got it) anyway she decides to accept the proposal then a speech about romance building the Mc out to be much more than she actually was then the engagement and of course one more weird hanky panky scene in a castle that’s a lot of places for hanky panky…
We are finally done.
In conclusion this was a bad chapter unfortunately most of the reasons why it is bad fall under previously mentioned issues Diamond, MC, the sad defeat of Aisling and the ridiculous climax all combine to make one terrible chapter to conclude a terrible book. In fact lets zero in on one issue the complete farce of a climax there is just nothing to be excited about the bomb not going off is the stuff of incompetent villains in kids movie not what this book acts itself to be. They decide instead to make a catfight between two mentally teenage girls be their climax and rather than being tense or investing its funny which shouldn’t have been the result it should have been far more dramatic and dangerous.
I am very happy to finish this chapter though since it’s the final one
Summing up what the chapters tell us about the problems with the book plot wise would be inefficient since I have already provided analysis for each chapter, but it would feel weird to finish this section without at least a sum of the issues I have noted and will look at later
And so here they are
1. Padding
2. Continuity errors
3. General poor writing
And so, we conclude the witness chapters recap.
Finally…