Return To Monkey Island Ruins Elaine's Character

thegamer.com:

Elaine Marley-Threepwood is a crucial part of the Monkey Island series. From the outset, she’s established as a powerful, capable woman with as much wit and intelligence as Guybrush, the supposed hero of the series. Initially, she is kidnapped by the undead pirate captain LeChuck, leading us to believe that she’s another damsel in distress that we must save. However when we valiantly rush to her aid, we end up messing up what turns out to be Elaine’s gambit to destroy him once and for all.

This is a running theme in the series - Guybrush’s swashbuckling adventures seem to run only parallel to Elaine’s. She’s the Governor of the entire Tri-Island area, and this is something the narrative takes seriously. In Curse, she’s present at the fight on Plunder Island, warding off LeChuck’s attack. In Escape, she dives headfirst into the more bureaucratic fight against Ozzie Mandrill and his hostile takeover of the Caribbean. When she finally lets go of the reins of office, she sets out to join Guybrush on his exciting adventures, craving the excitement. She’s a woman of action who knows how to survive danger and thrives in it when she lets the professional facade slip.

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This is not the Elaine Marley-Threepwood we meet in Return to Monkey Island. Her personality has changed entirely - the outspoken deuteragonist who kept Guybrush grounded is gone. Replacing her is a simpering, almost misogynistic ideal of a wife who supports her husband unconditionally with no qualms about the dangers he puts himself in or the suspect motives for his quest. The old Elaine once broke up with Guybrush because he was too obsessed with his life of adventure; this new Elaine is