“Tired but Happy: The Story Behind Expedition 33’s Iconic ‘Whee Whoo’ Moment”

So, here’s the deal. Writing a book, it’s mostly a solo gig. You’re just hanging out with your own thoughts for what feels like ages. And screenwriting? That’s just 120 pages of stuff, unless Scorsese’s name pops up somewhere. But video games? That’s like a whole different ballgame—hours and hours of words smashed together, trying to make sense with a bunch of other people’s ideas too. Ever tried typing away at 3 a.m.? It’s a special kind of chaos. Though sometimes, weird brilliance sneaks in during those moments. Go figure.

Anyway, Clair Obscur’s got this whole French vibe happening, and people are really digging it. Especially Esquie. There’s this one bit where he talks about his buddy François with Verso. François is kind of a downer, but Esquie? He’s all like, “Franfran used to be ‘Wheeee!’ But now? Total ‘Whooo.’” It’s a riot, watching players choose their ‘whee/woo’ adventure in some weird conversation tree. Ridiculous but, man, it sticks.

Now, here’s a peek behind the curtain: Svedberg-Yen, the brains behind the script, was cracking up over it. Apparently, she was in deep writing mode, cranking out seven chats for Esquie. That’s commitment, right?

And the script? It’s a behemoth, something like 800 pages, and that’s not even counting the chatter from NPCs and all the lore stuff. Inspiration comes from everywhere, she says. Take Monoco, a character inspired by her dog. Needed a haircut, did he? Bam! That’s a scene now. Monoco and Verso joking about looking like a messy mop. She’s honest about it: said the same thing to her dog—go figure, again.

That “whee whoo” thing? Yeah, it’s bonkers, especially at night. It was the right kind of bonkers, blending heavy topics with something that just gets the feels across. Authenticity is the name of the game for her, bringing characters alive from real life’s bits and pieces—even the odd parts. Sometimes, she wonders if she’s gone too far. But in those wordless moments, when emotions are just itching to escape, her instinct jumps in, and up they pop in the script. It’s all about feeling what’s real, right there and then.