After getting some more details about Grand Theft Auto 6's story, I was surprised to see a major shift in one aspect of how the game's characters were depicted. While not a full departure from previous installments, there are some big differences, especially between the characters in GTA 5 and GTA 6. However, this being a Grand Theft Auto game, I'm guessing a return to form will be inevitable at some point during the game's runtime.

While the characters in GTA 6 may have some unique qualities for the franchise, many aspects of the world in Grand Theft Auto 6 still feel very on-brand for Rockstar's satirical version of the United States. For example, the game's second trailer showed an in-universe commercial for a gun store called Phil's Ammu-Nation, where the owner stands atop his store's marquee spraying bullets into the air with reckless abandon. However, the game's protagonists, Lucia and Jason, seem to be a major departure from some of our previous protagonists, and it looks like we'll be getting some surprising moments for GTA.

GTA 6's Characters Are Surprisingly Wholesome

The Game's Second Trailer Shows The Main Couple Sharing Some Sweet Quiet Moments

What stood out to me immediately about GTA 6's second trailer is how grounded it feels. This is due in part to its beautiful photo-realistic graphics, but also just through the mundanity of what we see in the first few moments. We're introduced to Jason, Lucia's formerly unnamed partner in crime, as he fixes up his roof and has some mild interactions with his neighbors.

That isn't to say there's no action or indications that Jason and Lucia will be committing some serious crimes. Early on, we see Jason slap a cashier and start robbing the . However, a good portion of the trailer is also dedicated to surprisingly quiet and wholesome moments between the couple. One that stands out is Lucia returning home from community service and collapsing onto Jason on the couch. While I knew the game would be focusing on a couple, I hadn't realized how sweet their interactions would be.

The trailer also hints at their commitment to one another. Jason is fawned over by several other residents of Vice City, and he simply smiles coyly, but there's no indication that he is unfaithful to Lucia. The two are also shown partying together and going out with friends, ultimately painting the picture of a much more healthy couple than what we've seen in previous GTA games, not to mention much more likable protagonists than last time around.

GTA 6's Couple Seem Like The Opposite Of GTA 5's Cast

GTA 5's Characters Were Far Less Grounded And Wholesome

Part of the reason Lucia and Jason's affectionate, and somewhat down-to-earth, relationship feels so strange is because it stands in stark contrast with the GTA 5 protagonists. Michael is cynical and perpetually unsatisfied, despite being comfortable and having gotten off the hook for some serious crimes. Depending on your choices, Michael may also cheat on his wife and she is definitely returning the favor. Trevor, on the other hand, is pure chaos, and he seems to revel in the vile acts he commits, like during GTA 5's infamous torture scene.

Of GTA 5's cast, Franklin is easily the protagonist with the most redeeming qualities. He simply wants a better life for himself and has few opportunities to achieve that outside of a life of crime. However, Franklin doesn't have the same wholesome back and forth with anyone else in the game's cast that Lucia and Jason seem to have based on GTA 6's trailer. Many of Franklin's relationships are contentious, and while that doesn't mean he doesn't care about the people around him, we rarely get to see any quiet grounded moments between them.

Of course, we've only seen a snippet of GTA 6's story so far, so it's hard to say for sure if this will be true throughout. The tail end of the trailer makes it clear that Lucia and Jason will find themselves in some pretty chaotic situations, and it's unclear how their relationship will hold up. However, even if their relationship stays strong and wholesome throughout, I wouldn't expect GTA 6 to have an unambiguously happy ending.

Don't Expect Lucia And Jason's Happiness To Last

Lucia And Jason's Criminality Will Likely Lead To Dire Consequences

It's clear that GTA 6 is inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, the real-life American outlaw couple who went on a crime spree along with their gang back in the 1930s. Of course, if you know about the infamous outlaw couple, you likely also know that they were ambushed and killed by law enforcement as a result of their crimes. With this pair being the real-life inspiration for Lucia and Jason, it wouldn't be all that shocking to see the game's protagonists meet a similar fate.

As of now, we haven't had any indication of a third playable character, and I would be a little surprised if we got one given how heavily the promotional material focuses just on the main couple. As GTA games typically let you keep playing after you finish the main story missions, and I'd expect GTA 6​​​​​​​ will do the same. This means at least one of our two outlaws will likely survive, but the game could easily kill one of the two off for a dramatic climax to the story.

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This wouldn't be completely unprecedented. After all, two of GTA 5's three possible endings conclude with one of the playable characters dead. Even if both characters survive, I wouldn't expect them to remain as happy and seemingly unburdened as they are throughout most of the trailer. There will likely be a bit of tension between them as the game's stakes rise, and the couple find themselves in more drastic scenarios.

Even though I don't expect Lucia and Jason to stay completely happy throughout GTA 6's full runtime, it's still interesting to see that the game will be taking time for some quieter and more wholesome interactions between the two. Connecting with two-thirds of GTA 5's protagonists could be a little difficult, so it would be a nice change of pace to have characters that are potentially more likable and feel more grounded. Still, that could cause more dissonance for players who want to just goof around and cause chaos, when they don't have a character like Trevor to cause it.