G-Man
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | G-Man |
| Occupation: | interdimensional bureaucrat |
| Relationships: | employer of Gordon Freeman, employee of unnamed employers |
| Fandom: | Half-Life (video game) |
| Other: | |
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The G-Man is a supporting character in the Half-Life series of games. This character's real name, if he has any, is unknown; the name "G-Man" is derived from the file name of his character model in the original Half-Life. The G-Man has appeared in every mainline Half-Life game, and his actions greatly influence the plot of the series. His secretive nature have led to an abundance of fan speculation on what his motives are.
Canon
The G-Man can be seen in the background of many areas of the original Half-Life game. He is indirectly responsible for the Resonance Cascade, the lab disaster that kicks the plot of the series into motion. At the end of the game, he congratulates Gordon (and by extension, the player) on his success, and offers Freeman an ultimatum: accept a job offer, or die. If Gordon accepts, the G-Man places him into stasis.
Half-Life 2 opens with the G-Man removing Gordon from stasis and dropping him 20 years into the future, when humanity is under the rule of the Combine. He appears at the end of the game, freezing time to talk to Gordon. He also makes appearances in Half-Life 2: Episode 1 and Episode 2, though he is hindered from talking to Gordon by the Vortiguants.
In Half-Life Alyx, Alyx frees the G-Man from a high-tech prison constructed by the Combine. The G-Man proceeds to take her back in time and save her father, thus changing the ending of Episode 2. He then appears to put Alyx in stasis.
The full extent of the G-Man's powers are unknown, and his motives are unclear. He appears to be an enemy of the Combine, and has some form of teleportation and time-manipulation abilities.
Fandom
Fan Theories
The G-Man has a reputation as one of the most mysterious characters in gaming. A wide range of theories have been created to try and explain who and what he is, and why he seems so invested in the player characters of the series.
Transformative Works
The G-Man is a popular character in the SFM vidding scene.