By introducing Nathan Drake’s brother Sam nice and early in the first movie, Tom Holland’sUnchartedsequel has already avoided one of the biggest complaints from the video game franchise. For the most part, theUnchartedmovie was a disappointing adaptation of the games — especially compared to the warmly received Nathan Fillion-led fan film. The official movie’s set-pieces are nowhere near as cinematic as the games’, its mystery storyline is nowhere near as engaging, and Holland and Mark Wahlbergfailed to recapture Nate and Sully’s endearing father-son dynamic.
But the movie did avoid one of the most common complaints about the games.Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endwas widely praisedas one of the greatest video games ever made, but it wasn’t without its detractors. Some fans of the original trilogy were disappointed that the fourth game didn’t feature the franchise’s traditional supernatural twist in the final act — especially since the possibility of pirate ghosts had been floated in the second act. The biggest complaint aboutUncharted 4was that it introduced Nate’s previously unmentioned brother out of nowhere, but the movie adaptation has already avoided this problem.
Uncharted 4 Was Criticized For Introducing Nate’s Long-Lost Brother Out Of The Blue
It Seemed Odd That Nate Never Mentioned Sam Before
AlthoughUncharted 4was met with almost universal acclaim from fans and critics alike, it was met with some complaints about the introduction of Nate’s long-lost brother, who had never been mentioned in the previous games.Sam wasn’t even brought up by Katherine Marlowe inUncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, who seemingly knew every detail of Nate’s childhood.Uncharted 4reveals that Sam was Nate’s treasure-hunting partner until they got separated during a daring prison break. At the beginning ofUncharted 4, Sam comes back into Nate’s life to recruit his help finding the lost fortune of Henry Avery.
Unchartedgrossed $407.1 million when it was released in theaters in 2022.
The game does go out of its way to explain why Sam was never mentioned before. Nate felt so guilty about leaving Sam behind that he didn’t want to talk about him, even to his wife and his best friend. But that still didn’t explain why Marlowe didn’t know about Sam. As great as Nate and Sam’s relationship inUncharted 4was,it felt like a retcon to suddenly bring in the long-lost brother who shaped Nate’s whole identity. By introducing Sam from the very beginning and establishing his imprisonment and supposed death, the movie franchise already avoided this problem.
Tom Holland’s Uncharted Movie Included Sam From The Very Beginning
The Uncharted Movie Made Sam A Major Character From The Offset
TheUnchartedmovie made Sam a major player from the very beginning. The opening flashback establishes that Nate grew up in an orphanage with his older brother. When they’re caught trying to steal a map made after the Magellan expedition, Sam sneaks out of the orphanage and promises Nate he’ll return. Before leaving, he gives Nate a ring belonging to Sir Francis Drake — a key motif from the games. When Sully tracks down Nate in the present day, he reveals that he worked with Sam to find the Magellan crew’s treasure, and thatSam has vanished without a trace.
Uncharted 2’s Perfect Story Is The Adaptation The First Movie Really Should Have Been
Sony has confirmed a sequel to Uncharted is in development – and it’s a perfect opportunity to make the adaptation the first film should’ve been.
Later in the movie, Sully confesses that Sam was shot and supposedly killed by Braddock three years ago, and that he left him for dead. This is slightly different from Sam’s backstory in the games — in the games, he was shot during a prison break and Nate reluctantly left him behind — but the outcome is the same: Sam is thought to be dead, but he’s really stuck in a jail cell halfway around the world. Atthe end of theUnchartedmovie,Sam is revealed to be in prison, writing another postcard to Nate.
Uncharted 2 Is Set Up To Explore One Of The Games' Best Relationships
Nate & Sam Are One Of The Uncharted Franchise’s Most Endearing Character Pairings
Now that Nate’s history with Sam has been established in the first movie,theUnchartedsequelis set to explore their relationship. The movie adaptation already botched Nate and Sully’s relationship. Rather than portraying Sully as the wise, older mentor he is in the games, Wahlberg just played Sully as an older version of Nate, so the movie had two Nates. It’s a big part of why it doesn’t really feel like a properUnchartedmovie. The sequelcan redeem that misstep if it gets Nate and Sam’s relationship right.
Although Sam is the older brother, Nate is the more mature and responsible one who has to act as the voice of reason.
Nate and Sam have a unique dynamic inUncharted 4. Although Sam is the older brother, Nate is the more mature and responsible one who has to act as the voice of reason. Nolan North and Troy Baker brought that relationship to life in the game, whichmadeUncharted 4more emotionally engaging than any of its predecessors. For theUnchartedmovie’s long-awaited sequel to succeed, Holland and Rudy Pankow will have to recapture that.
Uncharted
Cast
Uncharted is a prequel to the video games it takes its inspiration from, providing backstory into Nathan Drake and how he crossed paths with Victor “Sully” Sullivan, who becomes a friend and mentor.
