Within a week of the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we were already arguing about which ending is the best. Maelle's voice actor Jennifer English might be biased when she says that her character's ending is her favorite one, but she is definitely not alone in her opinion.
This article contains story spoilers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and both of its endings.
At the end of Expedition 33, you need to make Sophie's choice between two beloved characters. Either side with Verso, destroy the painting, and send Maelle back to her real life and family, or side with Maelle, bring all the characters you've come to know and love back to life, and trap her in the painting forever. One of these endings is correct, and choosing the other makes you a monster. The best ending is obvious, right?
Well, it seems obvious to Jennifer English, who picked up the prize for Best Lead Performer at the Golden Joystick Awards. Speaking with GamesRadar+ on the show's red carpet about her ending of choice, English says, "I mean, Maelle's my girl. I think let her live her delulu fantasy life. It's a reality. It's just a different one."
I understand and forgive English for picking Maelle – it's her character after all – but Verso's actor Ben Starr also prefers Maelle's ending. After winning Best Supporting Performer at the Joysticks, he tells us, "Please play Maelle's ending. I'm really proud of some of the stuff I do in there. I got this award because I was so good in that ending; choose the Maelle ending to see why I won this award!"
While Starr acts up a storm in Maelle's ending, he's more forgiving of people with a different perspective from his. He says, "I think both [endings] are completely valid." We'll agree to disagree.
