We chose PR at Junction 1.

Paul Serene looked into two possible futures, we picked one, and the COD Guide is currently reconsidering every decision that led to him spending his day off with us.

But now Quantum Break does something completely different.

Put the controller down.

We’re watching television.

Meanwhile…

COD Guide: “Okay.”

Us: “What?”

COD Guide: “I’m ready.”

Us: “For what?”

COD Guide: “Act 2.”

Us: “Not yet.”

COD Guide: “…Why?”

Us: “We’re watching an episode.”

COD Guide: “What episode?”

Us: “The live-action TV show.”

…

COD Guide: “We’re playing a video game.”

Us: “Correct.”

COD Guide: “And now we’re watching TV.”

Us: “Correct.”

COD Guide: “Inside the video game.”

Us: “Correct.”

He looks down at his snacks.

COD Guide: “You know what? Compared to breaking time, I’ll allow it.”

😡 COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 8/10

📺 HOW THE LIVE-ACTION EPISODES WORK

Quantum Break combines traditional gameplay with live-action episodes.

There are four episodes across the game, appearing after the Junctions in Acts 1–4. The scenes you see can change depending on your Junction decisions and Quantum Ripples.

Since we chose:

🔵 PR

we’re watching the PR version of Episode 1.

And because we found the Quantum Ripple during Junction 1, watch for a little consequence of that too.

🚨 100% RULE — DON’T SKIP THE EPISODE

There aren’t normal gameplay collectibles for us to walk around and grab here.

So you don’t need to worry about:

Documents

Chronon Sources

Computers

Intel

or wandering around looking underneath furniture.

Instead, watch the whole episode.

The episode provides important story information that Jack himself doesn’t witness.

Think of it as:

“What Monarch is doing while Jack isn’t looking.”

MEET LIAM BURKE

One of the major characters introduced on Monarch’s side is:

LIAM BURKE

Remember him.

Burke works for Monarch, but Episode 1 begins showing us something important about this organization:

Not everyone inside Monarch thinks the same way.

Some employees are loyal.

Some are scared.

Some don’t know everything.

And some are beginning to question what’s happening.

That distinction is going to matter.

CHARLIE WINCOTT

We also spend time with:

CHARLIE WINCOTT

Charlie works on Monarch’s technical side.

He’s very different from Burke.

Watch the interactions between Monarch employees carefully because the TV episodes give us something Jack doesn’t have:

An inside view of Monarch.

In the gameplay portions, Monarch mostly looks like:

ARMED GUYS TRYING TO SHOOT US.

Here, we’re seeing the people behind that organization.

FIONA MILLER

Another character worth remembering:

FIONA MILLER

Again, don’t worry about memorizing everyone’s entire biography immediately.

For now, remember:

Burke.

Charlie.

Fiona.

These people are going to become important as the Monarch side of the story develops.

🔵 THE CONSEQUENCES OF PR

Because we selected PR, Monarch is trying to control the public story surrounding what happened at Riverport University.

That’s an important difference from Hardline.

Instead of simply solving every problem through force, the organization is attempting to manipulate how people perceive the incident.

Pay attention whenever the episode references what happened at the university.

You’re seeing our Junction decision become part of the story.

COD Guide watches quietly for several minutes.

Us: “You’re awfully quiet.”

COD Guide: “Nobody has messed with time.”

Us: “Not recently.”

COD Guide: “Don’t ruin this for me.”

Us: “You’re enjoying the show?”

COD Guide: “I’m enjoying LINEAR EVENTS.”

😂

⚛️ WATCH FOR OUR QUANTUM RIPPLE

Remember that ram statue we interacted with during Junction 1?

That was a Quantum Ripple.

Quantum Ripples cause smaller changes that can appear later in the story—including during these live-action portions.

They aren’t usually:

“Congratulations! You’ve completely rewritten the entire game!”

They’re smaller cause-and-effect details.

But for a 100% playthrough, we’re going to trigger every one we can.

COD Guide: “So touching that thing earlier changed something we’re seeing now?”

Us: “Yep.”

…

COD Guide: “No.”

Us: “Come on.”

COD Guide: “CAUSE.”

Points backward.

COD Guide: “EFFECT.”

Points forward.

COD Guide: “TIME.”

Us: “That’s generally how time works.”

COD Guide: “NOT WITH YOU PEOPLE!”

😡 COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 8.25/10

We’re adding quarter points now.

This man isn’t making it to Act 5.

🧠 WHAT YOU SHOULD LEARN FROM EPISODE 1

While you’re watching, there are several big-picture things worth paying attention to.

First:

MONARCH ISN’T SIMPLE.

There’s conflict inside the organization.

People have their own motives, loyalties, fears, and relationships.

Second:

PAUL HAS A PLAN.

Whatever Paul knows about the Fracture, he’s operating with information Jack doesn’t have.

Third:

OUR CHOICES MATTER.

PR has already influenced what we’re watching.

And future Junctions will continue doing this.

Fourth:

JACK ONLY KNOWS HALF THE STORY.

That’s why these episodes matter.

When we return to Jack, we know things he doesn’t.

🎬 WATCH THE EPISODE TO COMPLETION

There’s no combat strategy needed here.

No collectible route.

No puzzle.

Grab a drink.

Get some snacks.

And watch.

Because once the episode ends…

We’re going straight back into the disaster.

Near the end…

COD Guide: “You know…”

Us: “Yeah?”

COD Guide: “This wasn’t bad.”

Us: “Really?”

COD Guide: “Yeah.”

He settles deeper into the couch.

COD Guide: “People talking. Corporate conspiracies. Normal human problems.”

Us: “Glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

COD Guide: “Maybe Act 2 will calm down too.”

…

Us: “You really need to stop saying things like that.”

COD Guide: “Why?”

Us: “You’ll see.”

📊 EPISODE 1 — COMPLETION CHECK

Before continuing:

Watched Episode 1 completely: ✅

PR storyline active: ✅

Junction 1 Quantum Ripple consequence enabled: ✅

Important Monarch characters introduced: ✅

COD Guide briefly experienced happiness: ✅

That’s everything we need from Episode 1.

📕 COD GUIDE’S EPISODE REPORT

Time machine activated: Thankfully no.

Time fractured further: Thankfully no.

Stutter: No.

Time powers: No.

Future altered: Not during the episode.

People behaving somewhat normally: ✅

COD Guide actually enjoying himself: SOMEHOW YES

COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 8.25/10

COD Guide: “See? That was nice.”

Us: “Ready for Act 2?”

COD Guide: “Absolutely.”

Us: “Great.”

COD Guide: “What’s it called?”

Us: “Perfect Place to Hide Something.”

…

COD Guide: “That sounds suspicious.”

Us: “Nah.”

COD Guide: “Don’t ‘nah’ me.”

😂

And we’re heading back to Jack Joyce.