Amanda Young: The Original Survivor Turned Apprentice
“Game over!” These iconic words still echo in the minds of Saw fans, and they’ve taken on a whole new meaning with the return of Amanda Young in Saw X. Shawnee Smith reprises her role, and let’s just say, she’s back with a vengeance. Amanda Young was first introduced as a drug addict and one of John Kramer’s early subjects. She was affixed with the original Reverse Bear Trap device and had to dig through a man’s intestines to free herself.
“Amanda manages to do so just in the nick of time, which makes her the only survivor of Jigsaw’s games at this early stage,” says the Saw lore.
This experience changes Amanda, and she becomes a changed woman, tearfully telling Detective Tapp that Jigsaw “helped” her.
The Evolution of Amanda Young: From Victim to Accomplice
In 2005’s Saw II, Amanda returns in a much more significant role. She finds herself in a house full of slow-acting poison and even gets tossed into a pit of dirty hypodermic needles. But the big twist? Amanda has become John Kramer’s devoted apprentice.
“Amanda continues as Jigsaw’s loyal follower throughout the Saw franchise, while Saw X shows one of their previously unseen games,” the franchise reveals.
The Unseen Game: Amanda’s Role in Saw X
Set between the original Saw and Saw II, Saw X follows John Kramer as he seemingly finds a cure for his terminal cancer from a dubious medical team. After learning that the team is a group of con artists, Kramer sets up a new game for these medical charlatans, with Amanda Young joining him.
“At the ending of Saw X, they end up playing right into Kramer and Amanda’s hand when they’re trapped in the building’s office filling with poisonous gas,” the Saw narrative unfolds.
The Inner Turmoil: Amanda’s Conflicted Feelings
Though fiercely loyal to Kramer, Amanda’s role in Saw X shows some seeds of her dissent. She sympathizes with Gabriela for being pulled into the medical scam to pay for her drug addiction and believes Cecilia deserves no shot at redemption.
“Saw III shows Amanda’s work with Kramer as taking a real toll on her,” the franchise notes, adding layers to her complex character.
The Downfall: Amanda’s Tragic End
Amanda’s rivalry with Detective Mark Hoffman and her disdain for the test subjects lead her to create traps that are impossible to beat. This runs counter to Kramer’s philosophy, and it ends up costing her not only the chance to follow in Kramer’s footsteps but her life as well.
“After Jeff shoots Amanda, Kramer reveals that he is aware that she’s been putting their subjects into traps from which they could not free themselves,” the Saw storyline explains.
What’s Next for Amanda Young?
Given the strong reception of Saw X, the return of the Saw franchise seems inevitable. Amanda Young can surely be a player in that comeback. Future Saw movies could include flashbacks with Amanda, as they often did with Jigsaw himself.
“That could make another Saw interquel the most likely place for Amanda Young’s next story, but after Saw X, her return is every bit as likely as that of Jigsaw,” concludes the Saw narrative.
So, whether it’s through flashbacks or prequels, the twisted legacy of Amanda Young is far from over. Saw X has reinvigorated the franchise, and Amanda Young stands at the center of this new chapter, as enigmatic and complex as ever.
