The Butterfly Effect: What is the significance of decision-making in NFG?
What if you could see every outcome of a decision you’ve made in the past? Would you go back and change it, or ride the wave and accept things as they are? When we examine some of the decisions made throughout Never Far Gone (NFG) - some of which are more justifiable than others - it becomes clear just how impactful an alternative choice could’ve been. Whether you’re familiar with the concept or exploring other possible endings to the story, join us as we take a deeper look into one of the most intricate theories implemented into NFG: The Butterfly Effect.
Warning: This article may contain Spoilers! The following article is recommended for those who have completed Never Far Gone (NFG) OR who have a firm understanding of the events that take place throughout the story.
What is the Butterfly Effect?
Screenshot from Until Dawn
Invented by a meteorologist in the 1960s named Edward Lorenz, the Butterfly Effect is often referred to as a theory surrounding the idea that the smallest ripple from, say, a butterfly (imagine that) can have dramatic effects on the weather a thousand miles away. A small gust of wind with the possibility of turning into an unforgiving hurricane.
Although one might argue that the definition carries a slight exaggeration, the importance of the Butterfly Effect can be summed up in one word: Consequences. No matter how irrelevant a decision may seem in the present moment, the theory focuses on the fact that there is “no way to predict in advance what the outcome might be.”
When related to Never Far Gone (NFG), readers may notice how certain decisions made throughout the story led to monumental changes in the future (for better or for worse). One key example would be Miles’s decision to eradicate the Ravelers in an act of retaliation for the events that occurred in and before Chapter 12: No Way Out (known as the Incursion of Troy). While the event, itself, is significant and ballsy - to say the least - it plays a bigger role in the events to follow throughout the story (such as The Whitlock Coup).
“History is littered with the ruins of victorious empires and the corpses of leaders who could not learn to stop...”
The relationship between The Butterfly Effect and the Theme of Never Far Gone (NFG)?
It’s no secret to fans that Control plays a crucial role in the development of Never Far Gone (NFG), especially when talking about Miles Gether. As the main Theme of the story, Control - whether over people, resources, or events - serves as one of the leading factors for why some of the characters make the decisions that they do. In hindsight, there are countless moments where the fate of certain characters and/or groups could’ve been prevented had other paths been taken in the past.
When a critical decision is about to be made, readers may notice the word
”Control…” appears in Miles’s inner thoughts (which is frequently Italicised throughout the story). These moments highlight when Miles is at a crossroads and facing the ultimate dilemma: What is the RIGHT choice?
While the right choice may not be the morally correct choice (check out our article on Morality within NFG), it’s important to understand which events were essential for leading the Thrivers down a path of destruction. Some of the most game-changing events throughout Never Far Gone (NFG) are as follows:
Miles’s decision to establish the Thrivers
Securing the Power Control Center (PCC)
Creating a Network of Traders
Recruiting and/or Sparing Graham Whitlock
Establishing the Delegation
Expansion outside city limits, which was decided by the Delegation
Miles’s decision to return to the Consulate following the events of Chapter 14: Overboard
While these are only a few of the choices that led to the fate of many characters and/or factions we’ve seen throughout the story, have you ever wondered what things would’ve looked like had certain events had a completely different outcome? What if some events never happened in the first place? In the next section, join us as we explore some of the alternative endings to Never Far Gone (NFG).
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
Exploring Alternative Endings
With so many moving parts in an apocalyptic story - ranging from infected and hostile people to starvation and resource management - it’s hard to take a step back, especially when in the heat of the moment, and think about the choices we make. In the case of Never Far Gone (NFG), such a glimpse into the past can reveal even the most unlikely alternative endings to what can be considered one of the most detailed post-apocalyptic stories in the modern day.
Isolated and Afraid
In Chapter 1: Insight, after being forced to kill a “woman” in cold blood (who was a Spectral, unbeknownst to him at the time), Miles hesitates before ultimately deciding to return to the school (later referred to as the Consulate) in preparation for his arrest. But what if Miles had gone through with his initial plan to flee to Maine?
For starters, Miles would’ve found himself alone in his cabin (assuming he even made it to Maine amidst the chaos unfolding during the beginning of the outbreak). With such seclusion, Miles would’ve likely remained unaware of the threats looming around him. As time passed, Miles’s resources would’ve been steadily depleted, forcing him to either starve to death or go insane from the isolation.
A similar outcome may have unraveled had Miles turned away Renata and Vito at the beginning of Chapter 3: In This New World, ultimately condemning them and sealing their fate to something far worse than death.
The same can be said of Miles had he chosen to kill the first set of people who arrived at the Consulate (including Derrick, Jayden, Pancho, Hope, and more). It’s likely that Renata and Vito - had they been rescued by Miles - would’ve been traumatized by his brutal act of violence, leading to their retreat from the Consulate. With no one to trust, it’s quite possible that Miles would’ve remained locked away in an empty palace surrounded by regret and fear.
Fun Fact: The first chapter in the book was purposely titled “Insight” due to Miles’s intuition. Although he was not yet aware of what was unfolding around him at the time, Miles understood the importance of facing your fears head-on rather than attempting to outrun them. This would play a crucial part in the development of the Thrivers.
Merely Survivors
Readers may argue that the Power Control Center (PCC) was CRUCIAL for the survival of the Thrivers as a whole. But what if Miles had refused Lance’s proposal to secure the PCC altogether at the beginning of Chapter 6: Onboard?
Seeing as though the Power Control Center (PCC) was an essential part of their prosperity - both due to the vast area covered by the transit system and the opportunity to establish their reputable Network of Traders - the Thrivers would’ve struggled to establish a stable foundation in the Consulate. With limited commodities, the group may have experienced declining numbers due to sickness and starvation, as well as from those who withdrew from the Consulate in an attempt to venture further out in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
As if this outcome wasn’t bad enough, the Thrivers would’ve remained relatively unknown to those still alive throughout the city. This, mixed with the group’s diminishing state of health, would’ve also prevented the Thrivers from retaliating against other formidable factions (such as the Ravelers in the Incursion of Troy). Seeing as though the Thrivers rely on their social outreach and intimidating reputation to maintain their influence throughout New York City, their lack of control over the PCC would’ve inevitably prevented them from rising up as one of the most feared groups in the state.
“We are not merely surviving. We’re better than that. No, we’re thriving...”
One Crown to Rule Them All
It’s often rare to see one person holding all of the power, especially in a world without rules and stability. NFG is no exception, as seen when Miles agrees to share some of his authoritative influence by creating the Delegation. But what if Miles had chosen to keep the power to himself, like many others in the story (such as Damien Gifford and, to a certain extent, Graham Whitlock)?
By choosing to maintain his influence over the Thrivers, it’s possible that the organization would’ve transitioned into a monarchy run by fear and intimidation. Although fans may have a hard time imagining the chaos that would’ve undoubtedly unfolded throughout New York had this been the case, there are quite a few possible outcomes that may have become a reality if Miles had become power-hungry:
If he had become a malicious ruler, there is a high probability that the Thrivers would’ve turned against Miles (including some of his loyal friends).
Those who would’ve resented Miles’s decline into evil (such as Derrick and Renata, who tried to keep him on a moral path throughout the story) would’ve either left the Consulate or severed their ties with him altogether.
If Miles’s most loyal associates had left the Consulate, Sandman’s identity, assuming Luca still turned, would’ve never been uncovered, eventually leading to Miles’s overthrow and death without the assistance of his allies to help prevent it.
With no moral compass to follow, Graham would’ve likely been killed by Miles either during the events of Chapter 10: Underwhelmed (following Graham’s interruption of the Party) OR Chapter 12: No Way Out (following the death of Sergio Caruso).
Luca Silvio may not have had resentment toward Miles for not selecting him as a member of the Delegation and could’ve even become one of Miles’s trusted advisors (like Derrick, Pancho “Jawbreaker”, or Corver) due to his lack of morale when dealing with adversity.
Complete Control
After the events of Chapter 12: No Way Out, the Thrivers had successfully eradicated a majority of the Ravelers (ie. Colonists), ultimately gaining a large area of control around the state. However, there was another threat beginning to emerge from the shadows: The Whitlock Coup. Although many can attribute this event as the primary reason behind the Downfall of the Thrivers, what if it never happened to begin with?
If the Delegation had met earlier in Chapter 13: Concessions and been able to pinpoint who the traitor in the group was - under the alias of “Sandman,” as referred to by Damien Gifford during Miles’s torture scene in the previous chapter - they would’ve been able to quell Graham’s attempt to overthrow Miles as the Leader of the Thrivers. Having given Graham too many chances at redemption, as well as seeing the threat he posed, Miles would’ve probably killed Graham Whitlock- alongside any of his associates - for conspiracy and indirectly causing the demise of multiple Thrivers.
“We’ll go further running together than we ever would standing alone.”
Although this would’ve, undoubtedly, upset Corver due to his familial tie with Graham, Miles would’ve inevitably found himself at the reigns of the most powerful organization in the state. As such, it’s extremely likely that the following would’ve occurred:
The Thrivers would’ve successfully completed the Consulate’s Exterior Fortifications, making them the most protected faction in the city.
Miles’s Network of Traders would’ve expanded across New York State, ultimately enhancing their influence across various towns, cities, and districts within the nearly 55,000 square mile behemoth.
Miles would’ve been able to “retire” after having successfully forfeited his position in the Delegation.
As an added effect of Miles’s relinquished power, it’s likely that the Thrivers would’ve restored their morality instead of continuing on the dark path Miles was initially leading the group down.
The Ravelers wouldn’t have recuperated their numbers, as illustrated by their trade deal with the Lockers in Chapter 16: Visionary. After Damien’s escape following the Incursion of Troy, the Ravelers were on their last legs. With Miles’s influence rapidly expanding throughout the state, it’s likely the Thrivers would’ve eventually found and killed Damien Gifford and the remaining Colonists.
Hostile Succession
Everyone loves a happy ending, but what if everything went downhill quicker than anticipated? In this alternative ending, that nightmare would’ve potentially become a reality had Graham successfully killed Miles during the Whitlock Coup in Chapter 14: Overboard. The same could be said if Miles did escape the Whitlock Coup but chose to never return to the Consulate, as he eventually did following the conclusion of Chapter 15: Revived.
“So much for the continuation of a good thing, huh?”
With Miles dead and/or missing from action, his influence over the Thrivers would wither almost instantly. Similar to what happened in the chapters that followed, Graham Whitlock and Luca Silvio would work together to establish the Lockers. Without Miles to retaliate against Graham and Sandman, the Lockers would gain full control over New York City.
Although the Lockers had a pre-existing agreement with Damien Gifford and the Ravelers - in which the latter stated they would oversee the assassination of the Leader of the Thrivers in exchange for unrestricted access to the Thrivers’ Network of Traders - it’s likely the Lockers would have eventually betrayed the Ravelers, opting to consolidate their power rather than helping their adversaries regain their influence throughout the state.
Note: The Lockers already began to double-cross the Ravelers by forcefully dissolving the Network of Traders established by Miles Gether, despite Damien’s request. Although Damien had agreed to oversee the assassination of the Leader of the Thrivers (evident from his last words to Miles after his torture scene in Chapter 12: No Way Out; "when you return, be sure to tell Sandman he’s got a deal”), the Ravelers had failed to uphold their end of the bargain. This would be reason enough for Graham and Luca to fester a feeling of disdain toward the group.
Order Restored
Everyone knows the saying by Confucius, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves” (or in the case of Never Far Gone, a LOT of graves!), but what if Miles Gether had not been fatally wounded in Chapter 14: Overboard and/or Chapter 18: Retribution?
As we examine the former (Chapter 14: Overboard), it’s clear that Luca Silvio played a crucial role in the progression of the Whitlock Coup. Had Miles been able to draw his handgun quicker and successfully take out his former ally, Corver and Miles would’ve quickly been able to suppress Graham’s brazen plan to overthrow the leader of the Thrivers and seize the Consulate.
The same can be said with Chapter 18: Retribution. Even if Miles had initially been injured and fled to Maine alongside those who were left (ie. Corver Whitlock and Vito Caruso), his return to the city and unsuspecting assault on the Consulate could’ve proven successful if Luca and the remainder of the Lockers were killed alongside Graham Whitlock. This would’ve prevented Miles from succumbing to his wounds since he wouldn’t have been in a position to be wounded in the first place.
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
With Miles victorious, he would’ve potentially had the opportunity to salvage what he could and begin repairing what remained of the Thrivers’ former glory. Although this could take years due to the loss of his Network and the death of countless allies (assuming the Whitlock Coup still occurred), Miles would be at the forefront of the restoration. As time progressed, the Thrivers would inevitably rise back to the top as one of the most formidable factions in the state.
Conclusion
The Butterfly Effect plays a significant role in our day-to-day lives, especially when we realize that everything we do has a set of consequences that follow. In the case of Never Far Gone (NFG), there are seemingly endless paths that the characters could’ve embarked on had the smallest change been made to their past; a single ripple with unlimited potential for a better future.
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Sources
Aps.org, 2024, www.aps.org/archives/publications/apsnews/200406/butterfly-effect.cfm. (What is the Butterfly Effect)
“A Quote by Confucius.” Www.goodreads.com, www.goodreads.com/quotes/36051-before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two. (Confucius quote)
