[SPOILERS] Kat and the Mikaelsens.
To start with, a lot of this is interpretation and theories based on personal experience, or experience with how Don’t Nod has handled these themes in previous games. A lot of it may not be true, but I thought it’d be worth discussing anything I found.
Kat and Dylan Mikaelsen, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
The Mikaelsen’s are clearly portrayed as being your typical traditional, stereotypical religious family that is common in more rural towns and areas. They own and dictate a lot of the happenings across the town and have the most influence over it. Because of this, both Kat and Dylan are expected to fit into their mold of what a 'woman' and a 'daughter' should be in the context of their family. Both of them feel a heavy discomfort over this, but act out in different ways based on their circumstances.
Autumn talking about Kat's mother.
Before Corey came into the picture, Dylan was similar to Kat. Often would do what she could to go against her family’s word and expectations. She was seen as a sexual trophy for them to use to expand their business. Dylan likely has built up years of discomfort around this. Her own family treats her like she’s subhuman, an object that can only be useful if she submits and allows herself to be used by them. This is why she’s so uncomfortable and aggressive with Swann. She assumed the worst and panicked, then felt a need to hit back at her. This obviously doesn't excuse the homophobic, fatphobic remarks she uses upon her, but it explains why she acts the way she does, and it's clearly a product of the abusive upon her family. But also I feel Dylan willingly allows herself to suffer this to protect Kat.
As Kat describes in her video interview. She was originally a model child for them younger. Would go along to church, try to be a 'good girl', and not act out. However, eventually she snapped, having enough of the control and she started to be viewed as a 'problem child'. Dylan does what she can to protect and help Kat. Will cover for her anytime she sneaks out, and also was Kat's only supportive figure growing up. However, that changed mostly when Corey came into the figure, but I believe on Dylan's side she feels she's helping her. Dylan probably believes that if she finds a guy and sticks with him, her family will allow Kat more free rein on what she wants to do in her own life. Despite that, she doesn’t realise how much of a bad influence Corey is upon her as well as the abusive nature he has towards Kat.
Kat talking about going to church when younger.
Dylan however is aware that Corey is abusive, but she feels trapped into staying with him for her own self belief about how she can help Kat, but she never communicates this with her upfront, and it’s why the two slowly divided and separated in closeness over time. The two sisters are so similar, but also so different in their nature and what they want in life. Both turning out the way they did due to the abusive nature upon which they were raised. It’s tragic because we can see the deep care they have for one another under it all.
On the darker side of things. Due to her family’s religious nature, I feel they aren’t truly accommodating towards her leukemia, and instead view it as a ‘curse from god’ and punishment for her sexuality and lifestyle that she began to take as she got older. Kat’s sexuality, which is implied to be lesbian, like Nora. But unlike with Nora, it feels like Kat is aware of this and her attraction towards girls. Possibly first realising this when she got into Punk music and the Riot Grrrl movement from the girl she met in Seattle.
Kat was originally not homeschooled also. She mentions in Nora's garage that she did attend public school and even 6th grade, but her family likely wanted to homeschool her as a sense of control, both due to her illness, but maybe them thinking she was being 'corrupted'. Kat probably didn’t fit in because, as kids, they always seem to sense when you don’t belong, the fact you’re different from them. And will begin to bully and harrass you for it. Kat’s isolation persisted until she met and saved Gertie, a deer on the farm. Kat saw herself in her. Someone who was bred only to die and be used for the Mikaelsen’s own ends. Until she met Swann, Nora and Autumn in a chance encounter, Gertie was her only company and a sign that she wasn’t truly alone in the world along with music which kept her sane.
Kat taking about her lack of friends before meeting the group.
Kat talking about how her only friends were bred to die, and viewing her own situation as similar.
It’s also possible that Kat’s family control her own bodily autonomy beyond their expectations to use her and Dylan as ‘prize deer’ for their farm. If you call with Nora, she mentions how Kat told her that her period came early and she ‘bled all over’. During the truth and dare section of the game, you can find Swann brought pads along, and Autumn brought tampons for her and Nora, wherein they often shared things between each other. But in Kat’s corner, she doesn’t have any of that. It’s possible that her family don’t allow her to wear pads or tampons as it is a ‘sacrilege’, that and due to her illness or possible trauma from her environment, her body doesn’t grow properly and it’s a source of discomfort for Kat who wants to keep it secret.
Nora telling Swann about Kat's periods.
Kat could be suffering from the same abuse we see Dylan face. Kat feels immense anger at Corey for what he did to Swann, and Dylan (even if she won’t admit it), but a lot of her anger towards him seems to come from a personal place, like he did something to her directly. This is furthered by Kat’s reaction to the topic of sex during truth and dare. When they all discuss their first time and lack thereof (Swann). All Kat has to add to the topic is ‘if it hurts’, which feels like a disturbing first thought. Kat’s item thrown into the abyss, is a pin which says ‘NO MEANS NO’ written across it. This is the name of a Canadian punk rock band, but the phrase feels fully intentional, especially in that it’s implying her lack of consent and autonomy, something she admits in anger here.
NO MEANS NO pin badge that Kat throws into the abyss.
Whilst some of this may be me overthinking things. Don’t Nod touched these topics in Life is Strange 1, around Rachel Amber, Kate Marsh and Chloe Price. So I just thought it’d be worth considering in anticipation of Tape 2.