So I haven't had time to organize my thoughts let alone a "master theory" but wanted to put some thoughts into the collective consciousness that is trying to solve this puzzle. Sorry if any of these pseudo-theories make little sense. I just know that having this sit in my notes and not shared wouldn't help solve the puzzle that is Death Stranding by any stretch!
The first focus on Guillermo Del Toro's involvement in the second trailer for Death Stranding. Kojima is quoted saying there are visuals that are misdirecting. GDT is not listed as one of the cast members in the trailer's credits... We have been told GDT merely lent his likeness to KojimaPro but the performance was another actor. This in and of it self calls into questions of a face we are familiar with - but a consciousness that is not of its original form. My thought is that Kojima wouldn't simply put his director friend's likeness into a game for giggles (at least not without additional intent). So what is that intent? Well - who is GDT to the mass audience who saw the trailer? He's a director - a creative decision maker.
Depending on the way one might sync up trailer 1 with trailer 2 there are some cues that I picked up on. Kojima has a rich history in making commentary about video games - IN video games. What is a basic video game mechanic that has been present in nearly ALL video games? Movement. Directing a character to move and the character following. If we consider the mechanic on its most technical - existential level - we must consider what might compel our game character to be directed by our controller input. Without making any assumptions as to the relation of the baby to Reedus's character - we can clearly see the baby means a lot to Reedus. IF we can make the assumption that the trailers are linked it would seem as though GDT has found his way to compel Reedus's character from another dimension by capturing Reedus's baby and directing him using the bread crumbs (the baby hand prints) of where he needs to go and what he needs to do next.
Next (but still relevant to the idea of controlling Reedus) we have the doll from trailer 2. The one that looks like Reedus. A doll could be a symbol for a pawn. We use dolls as icons we can control - to play out scenarios or learn from. The hand prints on Reedus could harken to the idea of a doll as well. Being grabbed and posed and pushed to fit the desires of the player. This could even call to mind a puppet and a puppeteer, linked by strings (or strands).
As a separate theory I'd also like to note the credits on the second trailer. I have trouble believing someone else hasn't brought this up. But in the first trailer obviously only Norman Reedus was credited. He was the only one in the trailer. Now in the second trailer we have Norman and Mads' names at the end. Guillermo Del Toro is not credited - because he's not an actor in the game. Now - Norman wasn't in the second trailer right - but his name was. Is that strange? Maybe no - I mean Kojima could just be showing his building cast list, right? Well I'm here to suggest that perhaps this is one of the clues that's also hidden in the trailer. Perhaps Norman WAS in fact in trailer no. 2 - and that he plays the motion capture for the Guillermo Del Toro character. This could lead to other implications as to the baby's relation to Norman - etc.
Thanks for sifting through all this rambling - like I said I just wanted to get these ideas out into the ether - perhaps they can inspire you guys to look at clues in different ways!
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