Although it’s been over a decade since The Wolf Among Us came out, there is one question that still plagues players- Was it Faith or Nerissa that spoke to Bigby in the climax? While some players have since moved on and made peace with the ending, some players and avid fans still debate this. There is enough evidence to support both claims, as well as evidence to support that they’re the same person.
During episode 1, after Bigby stops Woody from nearly murdering Faith, she says to Bigby that people only make him seem like a big, bad wolf. But in reality, Bigby isn’t all bad like everyone says he is. After giving Bigby a little peck, Faith walks away, leaving him to attend to Woody. Look at how similar Faith and Nerissa are. Both right-hand smokers, both carry purple handbags, and both wear a ribbon around their necks. Both Faith and Nerissa ask Bigby, “Do you like my ribbon?” at different points in The Wolf Among Us 1.
Given how glamours can be used to easily look like another Fable/person (much like how Lily glamoured herself to look like Snow), this could be the biggest clue to understanding who glamoured as whom. It could be argued that Faith glamoured herself to be Nerissa and conversely, Nerissa appeared as Faith. With The Wolf Among Us 2 seemingly arriving soon, let’s dissect the question that looms over us all!
Does Ichabod Crane’s office in The Wolf Among Us 1 hold our answers?
When the player in The Wolf Among Us 1 asks the Magic Mirror to show Faith’s whereabouts, the Magic Mirror says, “These lips are sealed.” A line that players know all too well. The ribbon keeps you from revealing your location or other information under the curse. This could be a good indicator that Faith may be alive as the Mirror does show you where other dead Fables are, including Faith’s dead father.
When Bufkin brings the players the book of Fables, it’s revealed that Faith has a history of “disguising” herself, using Donkeyskin to “hide” her beauty and escape persecution from the kingdom. Given that Faith was the one trying to hide from The Crooked Man, it further hints that there is a glamour at work here.
However, it doesn’t fit the narrative quite right. If Faith did glamour herself as Nerissa, Nerissa’s head should have lost its glamour after Bigby found it. Moreover, it makes sense that it was Nerissa that glamoured as Faith, and placed the head of the real Faith at his doorstep to catch his attention and help the remaining girls at the Pudding N’ Pie.
How can Telltale put a rest to the theories in The Wolf Among Us 2?
When Bigby stops by to interrogate what we see to be Nerissa, she reveals that she was once called The Little Mermaid, but that was a long time ago. Meaning, that part of her no longer exists and she has a new name. This is perhaps the biggest clue to understanding the big question. In Fables: The Wolf Among Us comics, The Crooked Man escapes prison, which is right at the tail-end of The Wolf Among Us 1.
After Nerissa leaves Bigby, we don’t see what happens to Nerissa around the corner of the lane. However, in the Fables, she’s captured by The Crooked Man. This alludes to Nerissa having glamoured as Faith all along, because she wanted to protect the real Faith from The Crooked Man. Knowing how Telltale mixes up non-canon comic lore with their own story, this could all condense into the opening minutes of the sequel.
Of course, the game does provide the climactic choice to have Bigby go after Nerissa or just let her go. The game even offers players a choice about The Crooked Man’s fate- Either he dies or is imprisoned. Perhaps, The Wolf Among Us 2 could open with the very last choice of the first game.
Despite player’s options, Telltale is notoriously known for making all choices end up at the same conclusion in the sequel. So maybe, regardless of player choice, Bigby could see Nerissa being held by The Crooked Man and even put a rest to the nagging question.
