Death Stranding 2: Does Lou Actually Die? Twist Explained

Does Lou actually die in Death Stranding 2? The game presents a major twist regarding Lou's fate, leaving players questioning everything they thought they knew. This article dives deep into the events surrounding Lou's supposed death and the eventual revelation of her true identity.

At the start of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Sam finds himself once again tasked with porter duties at Fragile's request. However, a pivotal event sets the game's narrative in motion: the apparent death of Lou, formerly a Bridge Baby and now Sam's adopted daughter. Lou, whose full name is Louise, previously experienced a miraculous event at the conclusion of the original Death Stranding, seemingly brought back to life by Amelie.

After being freed from her pod, Lou is taken by Sam to Mexico, far from the United Cities of America, where she would likely be subjected to research. The apparent death of Lou marks the beginning of an emotionally charged journey in Death Stranding 2. Sam joins Drawbridge on an expedition across Australia, working to connect the continent to the Chiral Network.

Higgs and the Claimed Death of Lou

The fragile peace is shattered when mysterious figures in red attack Sam's shelter while Fragile is caring for Lou. During their escape, Fragile's attempt to "jump" herself and Lou away from danger goes awry due to her Jump Shock Syndrome. She tries to send Lou alone as she's shot, leaving Lou's body seemingly lifeless on the ground.

Sam's journey to West Fort Knot, a major city in Australia, introduces him to the Ghost Mech, a formidable, octopus-like machine. Here, Higgs makes his appearance, gloating about his attack on Sam's shelter. Driven by revenge against Sam and Fragile, particularly for his abandonment on the Beach, Higgs seeks to inflict emotional pain on Sam. Knowing he can't kill Sam (due to his Repatriate abilities), Higgs aims to emotionally torture him by taking away his adoptive daughter.

Sam's grief manifests as denial, refusing to accept Lou's death. He continues the expedition across Australia, still carrying Lou's pod, despite her having been free of it for months. Later, it's revealed that Drawbridge encouraged Sam's visions of BB Lou to aid in his healing. Dollman serves as Sam's therapist, providing opportunities for him to process the events in his private rooms.

The Revelation: Tomorrow Is Lou

The story takes a surprising turn when Tomorrow, the young woman rescued from the first "Nirvana" level, is revealed to be Lou. This reveal mirrors the Bridget/Amelie revelation from the first game. The bullet that Higgs fired at Fragile hits her as she attempts to jump Lou away. Due to the different flow of time on the Beach, Fragile's Ha (body) and Ka (soul) experience death differently.

Fragile's Ka deteriorates rapidly on the Beach, leading her to entrust Lou to the BTs surrounding them. Fragile's Ha spends its remaining time on a final expedition with Sam. During the revelatory cutscene, Lou is shown being carried by BTs and confined to a golden chrysalis, similar to the one Tomorrow is found in after the first encounter with Neil.

Neil's Beach serves as a sanctuary for Lou, placed under his protection. Neil originally believed Lou was his daughter, as told by his therapist, Lucy, with whom he had an affair. Lucy, previously Sam's wife and therapist, publicized her affair to protect Lou, the daughter of the first Repatriate, from Bridges and the UCA. She needed to make everyone believe the baby was Neil's.

Neil's work involved smuggling brain-dead pregnant women into the UCA for Bridge Baby experiments. Lucy eventually confessed to Neil that Lou was Sam's baby, asking him to smuggle her out of the UCA. Neil agreed, but Bridges intervened, killing Lucy and Neil during their escape. Lou was prematurely delivered and placed in a BB pod, becoming BB-00, the prime candidate for the Chiral Network's Bridge Baby.

Bridges later altered their plan to utilize nine sacrificial BBs, placing Lou in storage as BB-28. Bridget/Amelie may have orchestrated this to reunite Sam with his daughter. Sam was removed from Bridge Baby candidacy due to his ability to Repatriate, possibly influencing the altered Chiral Network plans. The different time flow on the Beach allowed Lou to rapidly grow into Tomorrow under Neil's protection.

Fragile doesn't initially recognize Tomorrow as Lou because she last saw Lou as an infant being taken by BTs. The final scene of Death Stranding 2 shows Lou becoming a porter, potentially setting up Kojima's vision for Death Stranding 3.

Fans Predicted the Twist

The reveal that Elle Fanning's character was named Tomorrow sparked discussions online, with many suggesting she was Lou. The in-game time rewinds two weeks after beating the original Death Stranding, beginning "Episode 15: Tomorrow Is In Your Hands."

The naming conventions in Death Stranding are often direct, leading fans to connect Tomorrow's name to the final episode title. In the final moments of Death Stranding, with you playing as Sam, Tomorrow (Lou) is literally in your hands when she's freed from her pod.

Saved by the chrysalis, Lou has seemingly escaped death three times: avoiding decommissioning as BB-00, being resurrected by Amelie, and being delivered by Fragile to the BTs who protected her. Growing up on the Beach granted Lou exceptional DOOMS abilities, mirroring her father's journey. The complex narrative of Death Stranding 2 continues to captivate players with its emotional depth and surprising revelations.