So, I actually thought this small update was rather good. A couple sexy new scenes, and some plot development in various small ways which I think sets up the second half of the game well. I think it's a fine time for Gillian to reappear, just in time for Lena to be away at her parents' for the weekend. Some people have complained that Gillian is for Ian just a rehash of Axel for Lena, but two comments: first, it's called Our Red String. Sure, Ian and Lena may be building a deep love - or not, depending on how you play the story - but either way they are both dealing with the "strings" which tie them in their relationships, some sexual, some friendship, some filial, work, etc. Gillian was always going to show up and Ian was going to have figure out if he was over her, same as Lena with Axel. Second comment: But Gillian is different. We don't know her character, only by hearsay. Who is she, how has she changed since being Ian? Axel doesn't seem to have changed much at all, but Gillian may have. Also, we still don't know, though we suspect, she's Mike's girlfriend. What if, even if Ian is over her and now fully with Lena (or Holly, or Alison, or with his right hand) Gillian has a bigger part to play in Lena's storyline if Lena is involved with Mike? That would be an interesting twist, that she may be appearing now not primarily to interact with Ian, but rather with Lena.
Other things I see as moving forward. Wade and Cindy being on a break seems to have some people's tailfeathers aflutter, and I don't understand why. Some say it's bad writing that makes Ian's interventions (for or against their relationship) meaningless. Not only do we not know that yet, it's also very easy to see that even if they eventually reconcile, of course Wade and Cindy were going to break up! They are nothing alike, they don't enjoy or see value in what the other person is interested in, they don't actually trust each other all that much, they fight and don't bother patching things up but instead drift to a status quo. When you've seen relationships in real life like that, don't they almost always come apart? I see it as good writing, true to life writing.
And while we're on the subject of true to life writing, what's all this whining about Stan suddenly being "stereotypical"? Do you know people like Stan? I do, guys and a girl or two: natural misanthropes whose trademark is not some "incel" attitude but rather people who are simply so deep into their own heads and their own extravagant, all-or-nothing perspective on the world, any perceived slight is like the sky falling down around them. They're introverted drama queens who build up an obsessive fantasy about love or sex or put a specific guy or girl on a pedestal, and when reality intrudes - because the real world always does sooner or later - they can't handle it and their emotions change from irrationally worshipful to irrationally hateful in three seconds flat. Stan's conversation with Lena - you know the one - is very true to life. Here's a thought: what if the reworking on Stan that Eva did wasn't so Stan could be more "interesting" or viable as a love interest or more moderate as a character? What if Eva changed things and gave Stan a little more concrete interaction in Lena's life so that, when the reality of her not being attracted to him came crashing down, Stan could have some real tools to try to hurt her with? Depending on the playthrough, Stan could have glamour and/or racy photos - what if those got spread far and wide online, or posted up at the cafe? Stan knows about Stalkfap; what if he doxxes Lena and shares her address and phone number? Depending on other things, for example if Lena isn't posing for Seymour, it's possible Stan could really do some damage.
Someone mentioned tensions with Lena's flatmates. Well, there's the increased rent, Louise is spending a month away, and Stan is showing his true colors. Who could Lena move in with instead? Lots of options, depending on playthroughs: Ian, Holly, Ivy, Emma, Louise, even living on her own if modeling for Seymour. What if in an apartment paid for by Seymour? What if she has been dragged back to Axel's whims? Lots of options.
New things to be excited about: the beach house with lots of fun and shenanigans - in bikinis! Cindy vs. Ivy in a potentially gruesome catfight because of the Wildcats contract! Ian x Lena x ? in the new threesome option if you're on that path! Emma getting a cool storyline at the old movie theater which can open up a new throughline for her and maybe new sex scenes! Don't forget the recent advances in an Ian x Jess storyline and the reappearance of Nat in Ian's office!
I do have one question I have not seen an answer to yet. In one of my playthroughs with the ch.11 prologue I ran into Lena getting an "unknown" text which turns out to be from Mark, who invites her for drinks. One of the greyed out options was for Lena to say "What about Holly?" I know about Holly giving a blowjob to Mark from a different playthrough, but because of other choices I'd made with Lena, didn't get the text from Mark at all there. For those who could select "What about Holly?" I'm really curious to hear how Mark responds to it.
