- May 9, 2024
- 1,074
- 1,563
The Sage is a Burke situation is badly written, but it is not badly imagined. It does not make MC stupid in any way. It makes DPC stupid because he does a poor job of building up to it.
1. It is normal for people at that age to introduce themselves only by their first name. They are trying to establish their own identity as independent adults rather than as members of their family. "Mr. [last name] is my father. Call me [first name]" is a cliche for a reason. The way people learn last names is by hearing a teacher use them and since Sage and MC are not in a class together it is not weird at all that he hasn't heard her last name.
2. Another way people might learn a last name is if a lot of people have the same first name and even then nick names are an option. Case in point: John and John Boy. Sage is not a common first name. On top of that this is fiction and it is down right weird how often every character has a different first name in a work of fiction. Even if those names are really common. This is so expected in fiction that it is not weird at all for Sage to be the only Sage around and so her last name doesn't really matter.
3. Sage despises spoiled rich brats and puts actual effort into distancing herself from the Burkes. She also has a temper so even when people find out about it they most likely get the idea that it is not wise to bring it up and just call Sage by her first name as she prefers. It's quite likely that even the teachers just call her Morgan rather than Morgan-Burke. Personally if I was a teacher and knew what kind of a person Tybalt was, I'd respect Sage's wish for distance and just call her miss Morgan.
4. No doubt people who have been there for a year or more know who Sage is. MC however has only been there two months when he finds out. He is also not the gossiping type that needs to know that kind of stuff about everybody and he is so busy with his own stuff that it's natural for idle curiosity about his friends' family situations to be a low priority.
The situation is completely reasonable. It's the build up that sucks.
1. Sage's last name being Morgan is never mentioned before the actual situation. It would have been really easy to bring it up. Just have Bella say: "I expect you to turn up on time, miss Morgan." There were actually two times Sage was late so that's two golden opportunities missed.
2. The general sentiment of students preferring to use their first names is not shown properly, yet Cathy for example could have dropped some last names in class and that could have been followed up on easily. Making fun of Dawe's last name. Commenting on how unlike Derek and Maya are when hearing them called by their last name draws attention to the fact that they are twins. Asking Josy if her step-brother Tommy's last name has been changed to Taylor. Just have a random student do the cliche "Mr. [last name] is my father. Call me [first name]"
3. DPC is and has been lazy about last names. He didn't have to assign everyone a last name but there should have been a few and so dropping Sage's last name wouldn't have been suspicious. However the worst instance of this failing is MC himself. "Miller" should just be his last name by default and it should be established at the start of the game. There should also be a damn prompt for his first name.
It's a really sloppy flaw in a story that has so many strong points.
1. It is normal for people at that age to introduce themselves only by their first name. They are trying to establish their own identity as independent adults rather than as members of their family. "Mr. [last name] is my father. Call me [first name]" is a cliche for a reason. The way people learn last names is by hearing a teacher use them and since Sage and MC are not in a class together it is not weird at all that he hasn't heard her last name.
2. Another way people might learn a last name is if a lot of people have the same first name and even then nick names are an option. Case in point: John and John Boy. Sage is not a common first name. On top of that this is fiction and it is down right weird how often every character has a different first name in a work of fiction. Even if those names are really common. This is so expected in fiction that it is not weird at all for Sage to be the only Sage around and so her last name doesn't really matter.
3. Sage despises spoiled rich brats and puts actual effort into distancing herself from the Burkes. She also has a temper so even when people find out about it they most likely get the idea that it is not wise to bring it up and just call Sage by her first name as she prefers. It's quite likely that even the teachers just call her Morgan rather than Morgan-Burke. Personally if I was a teacher and knew what kind of a person Tybalt was, I'd respect Sage's wish for distance and just call her miss Morgan.
4. No doubt people who have been there for a year or more know who Sage is. MC however has only been there two months when he finds out. He is also not the gossiping type that needs to know that kind of stuff about everybody and he is so busy with his own stuff that it's natural for idle curiosity about his friends' family situations to be a low priority.
The situation is completely reasonable. It's the build up that sucks.
1. Sage's last name being Morgan is never mentioned before the actual situation. It would have been really easy to bring it up. Just have Bella say: "I expect you to turn up on time, miss Morgan." There were actually two times Sage was late so that's two golden opportunities missed.
2. The general sentiment of students preferring to use their first names is not shown properly, yet Cathy for example could have dropped some last names in class and that could have been followed up on easily. Making fun of Dawe's last name. Commenting on how unlike Derek and Maya are when hearing them called by their last name draws attention to the fact that they are twins. Asking Josy if her step-brother Tommy's last name has been changed to Taylor. Just have a random student do the cliche "Mr. [last name] is my father. Call me [first name]"
3. DPC is and has been lazy about last names. He didn't have to assign everyone a last name but there should have been a few and so dropping Sage's last name wouldn't have been suspicious. However the worst instance of this failing is MC himself. "Miller" should just be his last name by default and it should be established at the start of the game. There should also be a damn prompt for his first name.
It's a really sloppy flaw in a story that has so many strong points.
