Who is Scratch in Alan Wake 2?
Scratch, also known as Mr. Scratch or Señor Scratch, is not a person. It is the name that Alan Wake gave to what was originally presented as a kind of alter ego of the writer; an evil version of himself possessed by the Dark Presence. However, in Alan Wake 2, we discover that Scratch is able to leave his body and possess others.
Explanation of the ending of Alan Wake 2
After the journey of Saga Anderson in Bright Falls alongside his partner Casey, parallel to Alan Wake’s odyssey from the Dark Place in his attempt to overcome Scratch and end the story with what we could define as a happy ending, the most revealing scene takes place.
Two protagonists and a single beam of light. The final scene is devised by Alan Wake himself to put an end to Scratch’s evil intentions. The writer made it clear that in the story there could only be “monsters and victims”, as the presence of heroes would only bring problems. In other words, at that moment we knew that there would be a sacrifice for the common good.
In the real action scene that serves as a conclusion, we see Saga meeting Alan in the writing room, while behind him appears an evil version of Casey (played by Sam Lake); Scratch adopting his form, rather. Saga activates the flicker and manages to hurt him and make him leave Casey’s body.
Then, Scratch quickly jumps into Alan’s mind and possesses him once again. It is then that Saga uses the mentioned beam of light, that “light of hope” that the FBI agent does not hesitate to shoot at Alan’s head to end Scratch. The sacrifice that the writer had foreseen in the perfect ending for a story in which the Dark Presence was defeated.
What happens next?
After shedding light – literally – on the ending of Alan Wake 2, the plans of the Dark Presence, and the identity of Scratch, there is still time for more. Because we know how Remedy works, so as expected, once one question is resolved, another arises, and something tells us that we will have to wait a long time to get answers.
With Alan Wake dead in his chair and Scratch out of commission, Saga decides to take out her mobile phone to call her daughter Logan, who was supposedly dead according to the evil words written by Scratch’s horror story. While the call is ringing, Casey, now recovered, asks Saga a clear and concise question: “Is it over?” Something Saga, worried because Logan doesn’t pick up the phone, fails to answer. It seems that in the end, the ending is not as happy as it seemed…
Post-credits scene of Alan Wake 2
If everything we have explained seems insufficient, what if we tell you that Alan comes back to life after being shot in the forehead? Moreover, he does it with the sentence that closes everything: “It’s not a loop. It’s a spiral.” That is the new mystery we have now because seconds before, a video recorded by Alice appears, in which she explains that in order to end the problem, it is necessary to “ascend to the light”. A spiral ascent? Interestingly, it is the symbol found on the door of the writing room…
Will there be Alan Wake 3? Will the plot expand in the expansions of Alan Wake 2? Let’s see if they say something in a ‘Night Springs’ program…