Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is finally out, and now everyone can get their hands on the game's thrilling campaign mode. But between all the exploding helicopters, covert sniping missions, intense vehicle chases, and heart-pumping breaches, Modern Warfare 2's campaign actually offers a lot of character development, far more than fans might have been expecting. Continuing the trend of 2019's Modern Warfare, this story is still the usual save-the-world CoD narrative, but it's a lot more personal, particularly for characters Captain Price and Kate Laswell.
Introduced all the way back in 2007 with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Captain John Price is a ruthless SAS veteran with a heart of gold. While he kills with brutal efficiency, Price cares deeply about his team, and will stop at nothing to ensure their safety. This Modern Warfare reboot series doubles down on Price's characterization, and makes his bond with fellow teammates a focal point of the narrative. In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Price's bond with his CIA handler Kate Laswell is at the forefront of the campaign, and it's a relationship that could continue to be fleshed out in a potential Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Should Continue To Explore Price and Laswell's Relationship
First introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Kate Laswell is a CIA Station Chief, with particular expertise in the secret operations division. At the beginning of Modern Warfare, Laswell is introduced as Alex's handler, giving him a briefing on the stolen chemical gas that drives the game's narrative. Eventually, when assistance is needed in London, Laswell calls in a favor and gets Captain John Price on the scene. While it isn't directly stated, it's clear that Laswell and Price have known each other for a while, and that Price trusts her, which isn't a common trait for him.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Laswell plays a more prominent role in the game's story, appearing in the majority of missions and even setting boots on the ground herself at one point. During these missions, Laswell and Price's relationship gets a little more fleshed out, with the two bantering back and forth playfully and teasing that they've had an extensive history together.
With the ending of Modern Warfare 2 leaving the door wide open for a sequel, it's extremely likely that fans will get to see Laswell again. Hopefully, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 can continue to build upon Price and Laswell's relationship, while also revealing some of their past experiences together. There are a few ways that Modern Warfare 3 could do this.
The best and most effective way to show Price and Laswell's past experiences together is to let fans play them directly via a set of flashback missions. The Modern Warfare series is no stranger to flashback sequences, with at least one appearing in every Modern Warfare title since 2007, and that narrative structure would work perfectly to show Price and Laswell's early relationship. These flashback missions could take players back to when Price and Laswell were both in the field together early on in their careers, which is teased in Modern Warfare 2's campaign. This would give fans a chance to see why Price respects and cares for Laswell so much, and vice versa. Additionally, if a potential Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was going to kill off some main characters, then finding out more about their relationships could make that story beat a lot more impactful.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
