You’re cold. You’re wet. There is something screaming in the vents of the Beira D, and you’re pretty sure your friend Rafferty just got turned into a biological abstract painting. But in the middle of all that cosmic horror, there’s a voice. It’s Mhairi. She isn't some super-soldier or a scientist with all the answers. She’s just a woman trying to keep a crumbling oil rig—and her own sanity—from sinking into the North Sea.
Honestly, the way Mhairi in Still Wakes the Deep is written makes most other horror game NPCs look like cardboard cutouts.
When The Chinese Room released this game, people expected A Machine for Pigs on an oil rig. What they got was a masterclass in Scottish working-class dynamics. Mhairi isn't just a quest giver. She represents the "home" that Caz McLeary is desperately trying to get back to, even though she's right there in the room with him. Her character works because she isn't "badass" in the cinematic sense; she’s resilient in that exhausted, "I have a job to do" way that feels incredibly grounded.
The Reality of Mhairi and the Beira D Disaster
Let’s be real: most horror games use female characters as either victims to be saved or mysterious entities to be feared. Mhairi defies that. As the radio operator and essentially the glue holding the surviving crew together, her relationship with Caz is the only thing keeping the game from becoming a total nihilism simulator.
She's cynical. She’s sharp-tongued. When the rig starts twisting under the influence of the "Shape," Mhairi is the one who keeps the comms running. There's this specific moment—no spoilers, but you'll know it—where her voice cracks just a tiny bit. It’s not a scream. It’s a realization. That tiny bit of voice acting does more heavy lifting for the game's atmosphere than ten jump scares ever could.
The developers at The Chinese Room clearly did their homework on the 1970s North Sea oil industry. The dialogue isn't sanitized. It’s thick with the dialect and the specific kind of camaraderie that only develops when you're stuck on a giant hunk of metal in the middle of nowhere. Mhairi’s role as the "dispatcher" isn't just a gameplay mechanic to tell you where to go next; it’s a narrative anchor.
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Why Her Relationship With Caz Matters
Caz is a man running away from his problems. He’s on the rig because he’s a "brawling" lad with a warrant out for him back home. Mhairi knows this. She doesn't judge him for it, but she doesn't coddle him either.
Their dynamic is fascinating because it’s built on mutual survival rather than some forced romance. You feel the weight of their shared history in every exchange. When you're crawling through a flooded corridor and Mhairi’s voice comes over the radio, it feels like a tether to reality. Without her, the game would just be a series of terrifying, incomprehensible events. With her, it’s a story about people.
The Voice Behind the Character
We have to talk about the performance. Mhairi in Still Wakes the Deep is voiced by Karen Dunbar. If you aren't from Scotland, you might not realize how much of a legend she is. Bringing a comedic powerhouse like Dunbar into a grueling, psychological horror game was a stroke of genius. She brings a specific kind of warmth and "no-nonsense" energy that makes Mhairi feel like someone you actually know.
It’s the subtle stuff. The way she says "Caz." The way she sighs when the power flickers.
In many ways, Mhairi is the player's conscience. While you’re focused on not getting eaten by a mass of mutated flesh, she’s the one reminding you of the human cost. She mentions the families. She mentions the world outside the rig. It makes the stakes feel massive, even though the game is technically very contained.
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Surviving the Unthinkable
The horror in Still Wakes the Deep is "biological." It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s grotesque. Amidst all that, Mhairi’s workspace—the comms room—becomes a sort of sanctuary. But it’s a fragile one.
One of the most effective parts of her character arc is watching that sanctuary get invaded. Not just by monsters, but by the sheer weight of the situation. As the rig’s structural integrity fails, Mhairi’s composure starts to fray. It’s painful to watch because she’s been your rock for hours. When the rock starts to crack, you know you’re in real trouble.
What Most Players Miss About Mhairi’s Role
There’s a common misconception that Mhairi is just "the girl on the radio." That’s a total misunderstanding of the game's structure. If you pay attention to the environmental storytelling—the notes, the posters, the way other crew members talk about her—you realize she’s essentially the supervisor of the rig's social ecosystem.
She knows everyone's business. She knows who's slacking and who's struggling.
- She represents the "Mother" archetype without being a literal mother to the crew.
- Her technical knowledge of the rig is what actually allows Caz to progress.
- She provides the necessary exposition without it feeling like a "lore dump."
People often compare this game to The Thing or Annihilation. While the body horror definitely fits that vibe, the character writing is much closer to something like Local Hero or a gritty 70s BBC drama. Mhairi is the heart of that drama.
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The Impact of Mhairi in Still Wakes the Deep on the Ending
Without getting into specific plot points that would ruin the experience for a first-time player, Mhairi’s fate is inextricably linked to the game’s central theme: sacrifice.
Is it worth staying human in a world that is becoming something else?
Mhairi answers that question through her actions. She isn't looking for glory. She isn't trying to be a hero. She just refuses to let go of her humanity, even when the very walls are turning into something alien. That quiet defiance is what stays with you long after the credits roll.
How to Appreciate Mhairi's Character Arc in Your Playthrough
To get the full weight of what the writers did with Mhairi, you should probably do these things during your next run:
- Stop and listen to the idle dialogue. If you linger near the comms or wait before heading to the next objective, you'll often hear Mhairi murmuring to herself or reacting to the ambient sounds of the rig. It adds a whole new layer to her anxiety.
- Look for her personal effects. Exploring her workspace tells you more about her life in Glasgow than any cutscene could.
- Play with a good headset. The spatial audio in this game is incredible, and hearing Mhairi’s voice move from "clear radio" to "distant shouting" as things go wrong is visceral.
- Pay attention to her reaction to the "Shape." Unlike Caz, who is seeing the horror firsthand, Mhairi is often hearing it. Her imagination is filling in the gaps, and her vocal performance reflects that mounting dread.
Mhairi in Still Wakes the Deep is a reminder that the best horror stories aren't about the monsters. They're about the people we don't want to leave behind. She makes the Beira D worth saving, even when you know it's probably a lost cause.
Next Steps for Players:
If you've finished the game, go back and watch the "Making Of" documentaries provided by The Chinese Room. Pay close attention to the sections on casting and dialect coaching. Understanding the effort put into the authentic Scottish "Glesga" accent will give you a much deeper appreciation for Mhairi's lines. Also, consider a "no-death" run; hearing Mhairi's reactions to your survival in real-time creates a much tighter narrative flow that highlights her emotional investment in Caz’s safety.