Sam is one of the most inconsistent characters in this game for me right now.
When Sophia first becomes aware that Sam is interested in her, she overhears a conversation that Dylan and Sam are having. Sam uses the sometimes vulgar and degrading language of teenagers to express how hot and sexy he finds Sophia. Later, we will only see a selectively polite and flattering Sam.
Sophia asks for water and Sam brings her alcohol. Sophia's reaction to this is moderate. Although she knows that Sam's goal is to make her compliant, the whole thing remains almost without reflection (perhaps because Elli tries the same trick?).
In the event at Jacusszi, of all places, the end of this scene continues the route in which Sam shits on the consequences of a discovery by Liam for Sophia. He simply doesn't care about the consequences at all, because for him they would be minimal.
When Sophia and Sam are almost caught in Sam's room by Sam's father Neil, Sophia says:
*I just have this remorse about cheating on my husband."
"I love him very much, but he just barely finds time for me lately."
To which Sam replies:
"Yeah, I understand. You just need time, I think."
Again, the impression is that Sam doesn't really care about Sophia's feelings and conflicts at all, just like the Jacuzzi event. And again, no reflection on Sophia's part. On the contrary, only if one continues, and agrees that Sophia lets herself be drawn "completely" naked, the route continues.
When Julia almost enters the room, Sam says the following:
"How was I supposed to know that my sister was probably on her period right now?! She's never just stormed into my room like that before!"
Sam makes a direct connection between a woman's menstrual period and her mental abilities. As a woman, friend of Julia and as a teacher, Sophia should have objected here. But also this sentence does not lead to any reaction, neither in the game nor in a reflection by Sophia. In contrast, it is necessary to kiss Sam goodbye in order to continue the route.
What bothers me about this is:
a) I am interpreting something here that doesn't exist and Sam is just a teenager who makes mistakes and Sophia, although with more life experience is just in love. And L&P wants to show that?
b) Are these hidden hints to make the player aware that Sam has an ugly side and one should be careful with his decisions? Then why don't they have any consequences in the game.
c) Do these sayings simply express L&P's own attitude towards women? (I know this question is insulting, sorry!)
d) Why do I actually collect sympathy points for the individual characters, if the decisions to continue a route are only yes-no decisions.
