#wayhaven critical

[nreads]

Honestly if anyone -especially Rebecca- told my more cynical detective that A and her seemed similar to Rebecca and Rook, because of the similarities between Rebecca and A, she'd laugh in their face. For many, many reasons, it's different, but most of all - Rebecca and A put distance between the detective and themselves in two very different ways.

Rebecca says she cares, but hardly ever shows it. Whereas A says they don't care, but they always, always show it.

The detective knows which one she prefers.

[fellhellion]

“we need more evil women” yall can’t even handle rebecca wayhaven being BOTH a bad mom who prioritises assauging her own guilt and someone who does sincerely love her kid.

[lykegenia]

So there's somthing about the M romance I haven't really seen people talking about, and it feels like one of these things that gets overlooked because there's an expectation to play the M-mance a certain way: flirty, sex-first, friends-ish with benefits catching feelings. Nothing wrong with that. And M's development in Book 3 as a character recognising there's something different in their feelings here (like actually having them at all) is great and really well paced, and it's really what sold me on the idea when I played it with Rhiannon.

However.

If you play the M-mance the way I did with Rhiannon, as someone who rejects M's advances and expresses disinterest in having casual sex, it gets pretty uncomfortable after a while. Because even with no encouragement, M doesn't stop 'flirting'. I put that in quote marks because M's behaviour towards the MC includes leering, unsolicited sexual comments, invasions of personal space, and a bunch of other stuff that makes pretty solid ground for an actual sexual harrassment complaint to Agency HR. That's literally the definition of their behaviour. It's not even subtle - they do this in front of the rest of UB and even in front of the MC's mother. If they were not the love interest for that particular route, they wouldn't be able to get away with it. They would be treated by the narrative the same way as Bobby, who shows a lot of directly comparable behaviours if they're the MC's ex and is framed as a creep for it.

I don't know if this is more frustration with M as a character or with Mishka's style of writing that makes it clear she's not expecting you to say no to M's advances. The options to ignore M's propositions are there, but they don't really have any effect on how the story plays out. At no point until the scene in Haley's in Book 3 can the MC have a proper, negative reaction to one of M's comments, and even then there's no option to tell them what an arsehole they're being, or that their advances make the MC uncomfortable. There's no option to even be uncomfortable because the MC automatically gets flushed and tingly whenever M gets close.

To be fair to M, that moment does make them change their behaviour, and it does make me believe that they'd have backed off earlier if told to, but it's a shame that the MC never gets a chance to properly call them on being inappropriate with a colleague. Even a throwaway comment from another member of UB suggesting they tone it down would be welcome. Maybe it's just being an ace that makes me notice it more, and I do appreciate that would be an unfair amount of extra work to put on Mishka to write in what amounts to two versions of the same romance, but I can't help miss the wasted potential in what we could have got if we'd just been able to tell M to fuck off on day one.

[artsyaprilmr]

Still in wayhaven brainrot mood, just making my silly little sketches with my silly little detective and thinking about this particular plot point under the cut.

I am so interested in what your guys opinion on becoming an agent is?? From a reader and character standpoint both. I personally felt that the decision didn't have as much of a weight as i would like it to have?? Like if we had better reasoning than "higher ups want you as an agent because you are cool" i would be so happy. Because for now you can play the most cringe fail detective and still be asked to become an agent?? Why??? Just be honest and tell me the Chamber wants to keep tabs on me and possess more control over what i do lol Becks, don't be shy, just say the truth girlie.

From a character standpoint Lucas is having very bad not good time, because he doesn't like the Agency and their shady ways AT ALL. He also didn't see it for him to continue police work (he actually wanted to quit the job but then he got promoted to a detective and he was like "oh well. It would be kind of bad to leave now". You should have run, my guy). So for him, staying at the station AND becoming an agent are both shit choices. He's gonna be sooo annoyed in the next books and he will make it everyone's problem 😌

[grapecaseschoices]

once again, i think it is so very fucking strange to include a route/path in an INTERACTIVE book and the maximum exploration of it is '????? welp i don't know! ???' in a scooby doo voice.

there is no reason why a resistant detective not be allowed options as to WHY they're resistant to start a relationship with N or F (and I say this as a huge F-fan who agrees when the narrative is like 'why am I doing this?' yes why are you resisting the hot adorable one??). If this journey is given, then I - as the player - should be allowed to explore it as fully as the game/writer's skills allow.

And I know this isn't as far the game/writer's skills allow, because we are granted variations on how to treat a past with Bobby and a future with Douglas, we can decide on our relationship with the Captain and the Mayor - side characters to varying degrees - but we CAN'T choose why the detective might be hesitant to start something as important as a ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP with MAIN CHARACTERS???

make it make sense to me.

please. i beg.

[clvrdvl]

Also, not to sound like im not enjoying myself, but when I Tell You. The way I would behave after that ending for Adam’s route. There’s no way rl that I would continue working with that man after that bs, maybe I’m just getting old but I tell I do Not Have Time for that!!

I would SO tell the Agency I couldn’t work with him and to assign me a different team, and I’d tell them all about his buffoonery and the dumb shit he’s done on missions cus of his ~~feelings~~

And I’d tell him to. Cut. It. Out! And that if he actually cared about me as much as he claimed he’d stop messing with me and let me. Live. My. Life!!

My biggest hopes for the next book are that 1. the author changes her mind and we can bone the villain romance on A’s route and 2. we can yell at him more for being a complete Fool.

[unhingedwaffles]

I understand being upset over people not enjoying or criticizing a piece of media you personally enjoy, but isn't it wild to tell people not to post their thoughts and criticisms of it where you can see when you're literally on an app that's built for that express purpose? I've seen quite a few posts criticizing people who don't have glowing opinions of TWC3 and yes as someone who personally loves the series and will continue supporting it, it's sometimes difficult to read through scathing criticism of it but people paid real tangible money that they worked for to pay for this product and they're unsatisfied with aspects of it, and while these people didn't enjoy TWC3 they will generally genuinely love the series, the world and the characters and they can be just as open about their thoughts as we are with ours

[amlovelies]

some lightly critical twc thoughts/musing under the cut

had a conversation with a friend trying to figure out why I was feeling disappointed and frustrated with book 3, and I think I've figured it out. it reminds me of the dialogue choices in dai, like so many of the choices don't really feel like choices and don't really seem to change anything or go anywhere, and there are so many started conversations/incidents that we don't get any real follow through on, they happen in the scene and then we just move on and it isn't always reflected in the next scene or conversation, and just yeah it remind me of dai

[bawbii]

It doesn't make sense to have problems with the trafficking in book 3 when in book 1 the depictions of the murders were extremely gruesome, including the child murder. As well as with indications of torture.

Not to mention the kidnapping, torture and experimentation of MC.

If these sensitive topics weren't a problem in book 1 why is it a problem now? It makes absolutely no sense.

[birdianna]

gonna go ahead and say those of you who make it a hobby to just completely disparage Wayhaven, certain routes, and the fans for enjoying this media are corny and wack af. there’s plenty of IFs that might fit your fancy. the bullying just isn’t necessary. critiquing constructively is welcomed, but the way I see some ppl hating on Wayhaven like it’s they motherfuckin day job? embarrassing! seek help!

[paradivis]

im really trying to enjoy twc book 3 but im failing miserably. this kinda feels like eating really bland soup after being promised the best sukiyaki this side of the hemisphere.

maybe i’ve just outgrown the dark & broody love interests but adam is reeeeally grinding my gears and the fact that he treats my detective so poorly and she completely forgets about it on the next page makes everything worse lol i wish i had the emotional maturity to completely brush off a silly man that’s been leading me on for months and the memory of a goldfish to forget all the silly shit he puts me through but alas i am the epitome of a petty bitch and atp every time adam stares very longingly at my mc i just want her to flip him off with both hands

[fellhellion]

sorry I need to be a hater for one moment but by god sometimes u see wayhaven opinions that make ur eyebrows soar into the hairline

[gabriellerudessa]

A friend of mine discovered IFs this year. He is also a fan of Wayhaven Chronicles.

We are comparing impressions of the third book and are now basically roasting Rebecca because damn woman why STILL so many secrets?????? (And more about her behavior and words that we are 🤡🤦🏻‍♀️🤡🤦🏻‍♀️🤡🤦🏻‍♀️)

[apenapaperandadoofus]

This is now M’s and my detective’s song bc I said so 😌😌

[giveaways2024]

[vilnan]

fandom: the wayhaven chronicles

rating: general

pairing: nate sewell/female detective (charlie langford)

word count: 661

A/N: originally written in 2021 (so well before book 3!) but i've never posted it. i still like it, so i'm releasing it into the wild!! :')

┗━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━┛

Nate has been quiet for a while. At least ten minutes, maybe closer to fifteen now.

Charlie watches impatiently as Nate circles yet another word on the paper and hums underneath his breath, chuckling a little while reading along. He seems pleased so perhaps Charlie shouldn't feel as nervous as she is but her long nails click against the wooden surface of the table at an alarming speed, her ordered macchiato completely forgotten next to her hand.

It was too sweet, anyway.

Charlie sighs. Nate looks up at her and smiles softly and she finds herself wondering how he would look like with a pair of eyeglasses framing his warm brown eyes.

Peak sexy, she decides, no doubt. Also even more like a librarian. The thought makes her hide her grin to her sweater's sleeve.

"You're not usually this impatient," Nate comments as she stretches her neck to see what page he is on.

"I know," Charlie answers. "I tried a couple of new things on this chapter and I want to know what you think."

"I noticed," Nate says. He seems amused but not at her writing, she's certain, he would never be so unkind. Most likely he's endeared by her impatience, something she doesn't show often. "I'm done soon, I promise."

Sometimes Charlie wonders at how incredibly easily Nate makes promises. Sweetly, genuinely. Truly content at keeping them. It's probably one of the reasons she loves him so much.

Charlie continues clicking her blue fingernails on the table. Click click click. She's not usually so nervous-- Nate has read all of her novels so far with great enthusiasm, completely genuine in his praise and gentle with constructive criticism.

He is a fast reader, so it takes him only a few moments to finish the draft of Charlie's next book. After he's done, he smiles at Charlie so incredibly affectionately that she almost feels like punching something. It's been a while; maybe she should go a few rounds with Adam at the warehouse after they leave Haley's bakery to blow off some steam.

Charlie links her fingers together and looks at Nate with a raised eyebrow. "Well? What do you think?"

Nate's eye corners crinkle. He reaches over the table to sweep his thumb on her cheek bone. "Every day I remind myself how lucky I am to have found you."

Charlie can't help but laugh with a small eye roll. What a sweet man she loves. She would do anything for him.

Nate takes a thoughtful bite of his muffin. Chocolate today instead of blueberry.

"You're keeping me in suspense," she says and crosses her arms only to uncross them a few moments later.

Nate tuts.

Charlie pouts.

Then Nate chuckles at the look on her face. "I thought it was lovely as always," he says softly, fondness fulfilling his voice. "The way you describe the love between these two young women in your story is amazing."

Charlie's lips bow upwards. "Thank you," she murmurs. He steals the muffin from Nate's plate and takes a bite. The chocolate is like velvet on her tongue.

"It feels very personal to me," Nate continues, a thoughtful look on his face. Charlie hesitates.

Nate's familiar dark brown eyes are warm and non-judgemental.

"It is. In a way," she answers after a moment. She doesn't feel like talking about it, though, and Nate knows her well enough to notice but not to push it.

"Let's hear the professional opinion," Charlie says instead.

Nate laughs, soft, loud and free. "A professional, am I?" He seems impossibly amused by her words.

Charlie's heart beats in the rhythm of affection at the unhidden delight in Nate's tone.

"You are!" she says. "Kind of. Basically my unofficial editor at this point."

Nate laughs again. "If you insist," he chuckles. Charlie smiles. She loves him so much she feels dizzy with it.

Then Nate clears his throat. "So," he begins, "here is what I would change…"