Should I Save Josh or Ashley in Until Dawn? A Definitive Guide
The harrowing choices in Until Dawn often leave players wrestling with moral dilemmas and the desire to keep everyone alive. One of the most agonizing decisions comes early in the game when Chris is forced to choose between saving Ashley or Josh from a deadly saw trap. The immediate answer? You cannot save both in that specific scene. This single choice has far-reaching consequences, impacting character relationships and story progression. The true complexity, however, lies in understanding the nuances of each character’s journey throughout the game and what “saving” them truly means.
The Saw Trap Dilemma: A No-Win Situation
The scene unfolds with Chris facing a gruesome choice. He has to operate a lever that will send the saw toward one of two people tied to chairs: Ashley, the intellectual and cautious member of the group, and Josh, the distraught and troubled brother of the missing Hannah and Beth. The game creates the illusion of choice, but the truth is that regardless of who Chris picks, the saw will always kill Josh. This initial “death” is a critical plot point, though not the end for Josh.
Why the Choice Doesn’t Matter in the Scene
It’s crucial to understand that this entire scenario is part of Josh’s elaborate and twisted prank. The “Josh” on the chair is a fake body, and Josh himself is the one orchestrating the torment. This realization is a shock to the player as it reveals Josh’s fractured mental state. Therefore, the “save” choice is ultimately meaningless in terms of Josh’s immediate survival. The game’s narrative is designed to make the player feel guilt and remorse, regardless of the choice.
Consequences of Your “Choice”
Although Josh isn’t actually dying here, the choice still influences the story and character relationships. If Chris chooses to “save” Ashley, Josh, feeling betrayed, will later make snide remarks and treat Chris with hostility. If you decide not to make a choice, the game defaults to having the saw kill Josh as if Chris had chosen Ashley. The choice affects how certain character dynamics develop later in the game.
Beyond the Saw: Josh’s True Fate
While Josh seemingly dies in the saw trap, his story doesn’t end there. He is later revealed to be “The Psycho,” responsible for many of the horrifying events that unfold throughout the night. This revelation adds another layer to the narrative, blurring the lines between victim and villain.
Josh as “The Psycho”
Josh’s actions are driven by deep-seated grief and a deteriorating mental state, which is further complicated by his history of mental illness, which he has had since age 11. He believes he is enacting revenge for his sisters’ disappearance, but his actions are ultimately cruel and reckless.
Josh and the Wendigo Transformation
The true twist concerning Josh’s fate revolves around his transformation into a Wendigo. Towards the end of the game, if Sam and Mike find Hannah’s journal in the mines near the water wheel, this information can be used to tell Josh the truth about Hannah’s fate and that she is now a Wendigo. Instead of crushing his head, Hannah will spare Josh and then offer him the flesh of the flamethrower guy that she previously killed. Josh, in turn, will then become a Wendigo.
Can Josh Be Saved?
Josh can only be “saved” by turning into a Wendigo. There is no scenario where he survives the night as a human. This fact reinforces the bleak tone of the game and the tragic nature of his character. While he is alive as a Wendigo, it’s not salvation in the traditional sense.
Ashley’s Survival: A Different Kind of Challenge
Ashley, unlike Josh, doesn’t have a predetermined, singular death or transformation. Her survival is directly tied to your actions. She’s vulnerable to the Wendigos throughout the game, and certain decisions can seal her fate.
Avoiding Ashley’s Death
The most pivotal moment for Ashley comes when you hear a banging from a hatch. Do not open this hatch! If you do, a Wendigo will emerge and kill her. The best course of action is to ignore the sound and the trap door. Instead, explore the right side of the area and she will rejoin the group soon after. This is an example of her being one of the easiest characters to keep alive.
Ashley’s Scissors: A Moment of Defense
If Ashley has the scissors, she has the opportunity to use them against the Psycho. However, if she tries this, he just knocks her out instead of using the sleeping gas he has prepared.
Conclusion: Understanding the True Nature of Choice in Until Dawn
Ultimately, the question of “saving” Josh or Ashley is a complex one. You cannot save both during the saw trap scene. You can keep Ashley alive through cautious decision-making, while Josh is destined to become a Wendigo if you want him to survive at all. The game explores the illusion of control and the heavy weight of our choices. Every action, big or small, shapes the narrative and determines who lives or dies. The true lesson is that “saving” doesn’t always mean a happy ending, especially not in the horrifying world of Until Dawn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if you don’t choose anyone in the saw trap?
If you fail to make a choice, the saw will kill Josh as if you had chosen to save Ashley. The resulting dialogue will be the same.
2. Can Josh survive as a human?
No, there is no scenario in Until Dawn where Josh survives the night as a human. He either “dies” in the saw trap, or later becomes a Wendigo.
3. How do I save Ashley from the Wendigo in the hatch?
Do not open the hatch, regardless of how many times she calls out. This will save her. Instead, explore the right side and she will rejoin the group soon after.
4. Is Josh a villain in Until Dawn?
Josh is the secondary antagonist, known as “The Psycho.” While his actions are cruel, his motivations stem from grief and mental illness.
5. What are the consequences of hitting Josh?
If Chris hits Josh, it will negatively impact their relationship, and Mike will not give Chris the gun later in the game.
6. What happens if Ashley stabs the Psycho with the scissors?
The Psycho will get angry and punch Ashley in the face to knock her out rather than using the sleeping gas he prepared.
7. Why does Josh call Chris “Cochise”?
Josh’s nickname for Chris, “Cochise,” is the name of a Native American leader. It might imply Chris is part Native American, or simply that Josh is just using it as a nickname for Chris.
8. What causes Josh to become a Wendigo?
Josh becomes a Wendigo by eating the head of the flamethrower guy after Hannah spares him. This is only possible if Sam and Mike find Hannah’s journal and then use this to tell Josh the truth about what happened to her.
9. Is it true that Sam has a crush on Josh?
While not explicitly stated, the game hints that Sam had feelings for Josh and felt betrayed by his actions as “The Psycho.”
10. What’s the bad ending of Until Dawn?
The bad ending occurs when everyone is dead except Sam and Mike. This happens when you allow Chris, Ashley, Emily, Matt, Jessica, and Josh to all be dead by the time Sam reaches the lodge.
11. Who is the most difficult character to keep alive?
Matt is considered the most difficult character to keep alive due to the many seemingly minor decisions that influence his fate.
12. Who is the easiest character to save?
Ashley is one of the easiest to save if you avoid specific actions, like opening the hatch when she’s trapped.
13. Is there a reason why you shouldn’t say “Wendigo”?
Many cultures believe that saying the name of a dark being can summon it or give it power.
14. Why was Ashley kicked out of the group?
According to in-game information, Ashley got into a verbal altercation with Josh and threw a cup down, which almost hit people around her. This resulted in her getting axed from the group.
15. What mental illness does Josh have in Until Dawn?
Josh appears to have psychosis and schizophrenia, a mental illness that disconnects people from reality. It’s revealed in a Psychiatric Report that he was diagnosed since he was 11 years old.