Why Can Only Colt and Julianna Remember in Deathloop?
In the thrilling and mind-bending world of Deathloop, the central mystery revolves around the time loop affecting Blackreef Island. While the AEON program promises eternal life and endless parties, the vast majority of the island’s inhabitants suffer from severe amnesia, resetting with each loop. However, two figures stand apart: Colt Vahn and Julianna Blake. They are the only ones who retain their memories from loop to loop, and their ability to do so stems from their unique connection to the island’s anomaly and the residuum it produces. Colt and Julianna experience the effects of the time anomaly in a natural way, unlike the AEON program’s artificial means, and this natural experience, combined with their high residuum levels, allows them to retain memories.
The Anomaly, Residuum, and Natural Connection
Blackreef Island isn’t just any ordinary island; it sits atop a powerful temporal anomaly. This anomaly is the source of the time loop, and it constantly emits residuum, a substance that interacts with time and memory. The AEON program attempts to harness this residuum to grant immortality, but their technological methods come with the unfortunate side effect of memory loss for most participants.
Colt and Julianna, however, are different. The key difference lies in how they interact with the anomaly and residuum. They don’t rely on the AEON program’s technology to experience the loop. Instead, they are naturally connected to the anomaly. This natural connection, combined with high concentrations of residuum built up in their bodies, allows them to retain their memories. Their DNA, in a sense, acts as a natural storage device for the temporal echoes of each loop.
The Complicated Father-Daughter Dynamic
The relationship between Colt and Julianna adds another layer of complexity to their shared ability to remember. Julianna is, in fact, Colt’s daughter, born to Lila Blake after Colt left for the Operation Horizon mission. This familial connection means that Julianna inherited certain genetic predispositions from Colt, potentially including a heightened susceptibility to the anomaly’s effects. It is why Julianna is more than just another hired gun, she is in fact Colt Vahn’s daughter. She was born after her father shacked up with her mother, Lila Blake, a member of Project Horizon. An organization that had been formed to study a temporal anomaly that had been discovered on Blackreef, a mostly barren island.
The fact that they share a bloodline and thus a similar genetic makeup could contribute to why they are the only two who retain memories while others, subject to the AEON loop through technology, do not.
Why Does Colt Forget and Remember?
While Colt can remember across loops, his memory isn’t always perfect. At some point after entering the loop for a second time as AEON security chief, Colt began to lose his memories, so couldn’t recall the many times he killed Julianna and the other Visionaries. He often wakes up on the beach with fragmented memories, forcing him to piece together the events of previous loops. This is likely due to the immense strain the loop puts on his mind. The residuum helps him remember, but the constant resets can still cause temporary lapses in memory and overall insanity.
Julianna’s Role as Protector of the Loop
Julianna’s dedication to protecting the loop stems from her unique understanding of its purpose and her own sense of belonging within it. She believes it is her duty to maintain the cycle, even if it means repeatedly hunting Colt. Her ability to remember allows her to see the larger picture, to see the potential benefits and the inherent beauty in the endless repetition.
Colt’s Mission to Break the Loop
Colt’s mission to break the loop arises from his desire for freedom and his growing awareness of the ethical implications of the AEON program. He sees the loop as a prison, and he wants to escape its confines. His ability to remember allows him to learn from his mistakes and to strategically target the Visionaries, who are key to maintaining the loop’s stability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the characters, the world and the loop:
1. Is Julianna really Colt’s daughter?
Yes, Julianna is Colt’s daughter. This is revealed through in-game documents and environmental storytelling. She was born after Colt left for Operation Horizon, and her mother was Lila Blake, a member of the research team studying the anomaly.
2. Why is Julianna protecting the loop?
Julianna believes that her purpose is to protect the loop. She feels a strong connection to it and sees value in its endless cycle. She views Colt’s attempts to break the loop as a threat to her own existence and the stability of Blackreef.
3. Why can’t Colt remember everything perfectly?
While Colt retains memories, the repeated resets and the immense power of the anomaly can cause fragmentation and lapses. He often wakes up on the beach disoriented and must piece together events from previous loops.
4. Who else remembers the loop in Deathloop?
Aside from Colt and Julianna, no other characters fully retain their memories from loop to loop. The other inhabitants of Blackreef experience the same day repeatedly but without conscious recollection of previous iterations.
5. What is the canon ending in Deathloop?
The canon ending is generally considered to be the one where Colt spares Julianna’s life after breaking the loop. This ending leaves open the possibility for future interactions between them and acknowledges their complicated relationship. However, this time he is no longer in the time loop, and is now free to finish living out his life. Julianna shows up and holds Colt at gunpoint briefly, but then decides to spare his life and disappears.
6. What is the secret ending in Deathloop?
The secret ending involves shooting Julianna and then sitting in a chair instead of throwing yourself off the edge. This results in Colt being sucked back into the loop, and the day reset. To unlock this ending, you need to once again shoot Juliana in the face before she finishes her countdown. However, instead of throwing yourself to your death, just sit in the nearby chair and wait. Eventually, the day will begin to reset as the Loop goes back to how it once was as it sucks Colt back in.
7. Why does Julianna hate Colt?
Julianna’s hatred for Colt stems from his attempts to break the loop and repeatedly killing her in previous iterations. She perceives his actions as a betrayal and a personal attack on her purpose. Julianna claims that things started to go wrong when Colt, having had second thoughts about the AEON Program, started murdering her in every loop in an effort to free her from it. Julianna eventually grew to hate Colt and began to retaliate, culminating in her starting to hunt him in every loop.
8. Is Colt insane in Deathloop?
Colt exhibits signs of mental instability, likely due to the repetitive nature of the loop and the constant cycle of death and rebirth. He frequently talks to himself and displays erratic behavior.
9. How old is Colt in Deathloop?
Colt Vahn is described as being in his mid-30s.
10. How did Colt find out Julianna was his daughter?
Colt discovers Julianna’s parentage through documents and environmental storytelling found throughout Blackreef. He learns that Lila Blake had a child after he left, and the shared last name provides the final clue. Colt learns from one of the game’s many documents that his girlfriend, Lila Blake, had a child after he left for Operation Horizon, the original military mission to help understand the time anomaly that Blackreef Island was experiencing. He realizes that the child was Julianna, who shares the same last name as Lila.
11. Why does Colt wake up on the beach every loop?
Each loop begins with Colt waking up on a beach, looking out to the foggy sea, and figuring out a new plan to break the loop. He can do so because Colt is one of the few residents of Blackreef that can recall the events of previous loops, allowing him to learn from previous mistakes and gather information. The beach serves as a visual reset point, signifying the start of a new cycle.
12. What is Colt’s full name in Deathloop?
Colt’s full name is Colt Vahn.
13. Why does Colt remember the loop?
Colt remembers because he is naturally connected to the anomaly and has a high concentration of residuum in his body. This allows him to retain memories from previous loops without relying on AEON technology. Because Colt – and through his DNA, Julianna – still experiences the island naturally, using the natural properties of the anomaly and huge amounts of built-up residuum in his body, not using the technology created by Aeon to experience the loop.
14. Is Deathloop beatable?
Yes, Deathloop is beatable. Players must strategically eliminate the Visionaries in a single loop to break the time cycle.
15. Is Deathloop in the Dishonored universe?
Yes, Arkane Studios has confirmed that Deathloop takes place within the Dishonored universe, although the connection is subtle and doesn’t significantly impact the main gameplay or story. After admitting that Deathloop takes place inside of the larger Dishonored universe, Arkane Studios provides a timeline of events through the series.
Exploring the Mysteries of Deathloop
The mysteries surrounding Colt and Julianna’s ability to remember are central to the appeal of Deathloop. It is a testament to excellent storytelling and fascinating world-building. Understanding the interplay between the anomaly, residuum, and their unique connection to Blackreef is crucial to fully appreciating the game’s intricate narrative.
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