In Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), a critically acclaimed action-adventure game developed by Rockstar Games, players are immersed in the sprawling and often morally ambiguous world of Los Santos. The game follows the lives of three central characters: Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips. Bradley "Brad" Snider, a character pivotal to Trevor's backstory, was once part of their criminal crew. Eventually disappearing to be replaced by Franklin years later. GTA Vs world is filled with corporations and cities to stand in as parodies of those in our real world. In North Yankton, the games stand in for North Dakota a fateful bank robbery goes awry, leading to Brad's apparent demise, and he becomes a subject of mystery and myth among the trio. It's Trevor, in particular, who bears a profound emotional connection to Brad, fueling his quest to uncover the truth behind his fate. It's within this intricate web of relationships and deception that the contrast between Brad's emails, penned by the FIB, and his actual character takes on a profound significance, profoundly impacting Trevor's journey and character development.
In the dynamic world of video games, character development and storytelling often take unexpected twists. One such example can be found in this game where the character Brad plays a pivotal role. While GTA V is known for its gritty and often violent narrative, Brad's supposed emails (which we come to learn are actually written by the FIB, the games stand in for the real world FBI) take an unexpectedly wholesome turn, standing in stark contrast to brads actual behavior. These emails are not just superficial plot elements; they reveal deeper layers of character dynamics and the impact of deception on one of the game's central figures. The emails penned by the FIB in GTA V, which Trevor is told are from the character Brad, offer a unique narrative twist, showcasing a stark disconnect between the emails' contents and Brad's actual personality. These emails are more than just narrative devices; they serve as a catalyst for Trevor's character development, illustrating the profound impact of deception and false hope, ultimately shaping the trajectory of the game's storyline.
Brad's emails make me feel really bad for Trevor. Obviously, we know they weren't actually written by Brad, but Trevor doesn't. The FIB had no idea about Brad's personality, and they end up getting his personality completely wrong in the letters.
Looking at Brad's absolutely psychotic behavior in North Yankton with him saying stuff like, "Did you see that shit? I fuckin' put that bitch's face against the glass." and "If anyone's killing hostages, it's me," and then looking at the emails the FIB wrote, and how different they are, saying stuff like, "Trevor, I hope you are okay. It has been some time since I wrote you. The guards say I may soon be allowed some visitors. If I'm good."
The emails are surprisingly wholesome for this game, and they genuinely make me smile when I read them. When Trevor tells Michael that he's been getting letters and Brad changed, he genuinely thinks Brad turned over a new leaf, and this is why Trevor wants to see him again so much. "He's changed," trevor says "he writes now.'
Then, after "Bury the Hatchet," when Trevor calls his friend to tell him about Michael lying, he mentions, "the letters were written by the feds." You can tell how important those letters were to him, and you can see him slowly start to realize he was becoming friends with a person that never even existed. It's surprisingly sad.
He starts to talk later after "Bury the Hatchet" about how he never really liked Brad in the first place. "I mean, let's be honest, Brad was a dick, and things were getting out of control." It's likely that if the letters the FIB wrote sounded more like the disgusting vulgar Bradley that he really was, Trevor never would've wanted to bust him out in the first place, and in turn, he never would have found out he was dead.
In conclusion the stark contrast between the emails and Brad's actual behavior reveals a profound irony, mirroring the very essence of Trevor's tumultuous journey. Trevor's emotional investment in the image of Brad presented in those emails serves as a crucial driver of his character development and actions throughout the game. In GTA V, the power of narrative lies not only in the actions of characters but also in the subtleties of deception and the unintended consequences of a well-crafted illusion. Trevor never missed Brad; he missed the person he thought Brad had become, a person that never even really existed.