Thomas Carter is Directive 8020's emotional weight — Brianna's closest crewmate and the protagonist most likely to die on a first playthrough. The Episode 4 power-surge QTE is his hard death gate. Below is the complete trust-banking checklist.
Episode checklist
| Episode | Action |
|---|---|
| EP 1 | Stay with Thomas during the med-bay incident — banks +1 trust. |
| EP 2 | No specific Thomas check, but back the crew during the variant reveal. |
| EP 3 | Scan Thomas LAST in the quarantine order (Akin → Naomi → Riley → Thomas). |
| EP 4 | PASS stage 2 of the power-surge QTE — this is the death gate. Choose 'Tell Thomas the truth' for +2 trust. |
| EP 5 | Triage order Naomi → Riley → Akin keeps Thomas off the lethal track. |
| EP 6 | No direct Thomas check. Listen during Akin's monologue. |
| EP 7 | Choose 'Trust Thomas' during the bridge vote. Thomas must be at +1 trust or higher. |
| EP 8 | Survives automatically if alive at start of Episode 8. |
FAQ
Can Thomas Carter die in Directive 8020?
Yes. Thomas's primary death gate is Episode 4's three-stage power-surge QTE. He can also die in Episode 7 if his trust score is below -2.
How do you keep Thomas alive?
Pass the Episode 4 power-surge QTE, tell him the truth, and maintain at least +1 trust through Episode 7. Episodes 1, 3 and 7 are the trust-banking chapters.
Who plays Thomas Carter in Directive 8020?
Thomas Carter is performance-captured by a returning Dark Pictures cast member announced in the February 2026 story trailer.