AJ is still alive confirmed.
Just saw this new image of Clementine and AJ...
I can't say I'm all too glad they're going to go most likely for a recreation of season one's vibe as Clem will probably have to act as a guardian and mentor to a deuteragonist character. At least that's the speculation I've gathered from the images' context, I can assume little AJ will have an important role in the season.
Personally, let's just say I'm not exactly a fan club member of AJ so hopefully he's given character depth and feels organic enough within the narrative to sustain his role cause so far his inclusion has been very far-fetched and unlikely.
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Nooo...ya don't say?
Actually, I doubt AJ will be too much of a major player given that's the only screenshot we have of him, so I assume he'll be following in the footsteps of Clementine, Becca, and Sarah as kid who quietly tags along with the group.
I honestly kind of like the fact that they're recreating the theme. With Clem being a teenager and AJ being a toddler, there should be enough differences so it isn't just a carbon copy of Season 1. Clem has different struggles than Lee, and AJ is different enough from Season 1 Clem.
In an interview they mentioned something about some people in game being against the thought of a toddler, so that could be interesting.
They actually did say that Clem and AJ's bond will play a big role in the story. As for AJ being a complex character, I'm not too sure, sadly. He's like three years old. I don't know how much they can do with that. If they do too much with his character, then it's kind of unrealistic for his age. But still, it's kind of unrealistic that he survived Season 2. I think and hope they can strike a good note with his character. Although I will say I am personally glad he survived Season 2. I'm going to try to protect that kid! Maybe I'm being too enthusiastic. I'm kind of just letting the hype cloud my mind, so I apologize for any mistakes in here.
I just don't want a major retread of territory I've already seen. If he is just the quietly tepid child, I don't know how invested I will be in him any further than me already not liking his inclusion...
I would've liked to see Sarah be more than a prop and maybe even her and Clementine working off of each other as moralistically pure and moralistically detached (but still retaining her compass) in season 3.
Wiping all the people away in favor of a pretty annoying baby up until this point better pay off is all I'm saying.
I dont understand why so many people dont like aj hes so cute. but I mean if you go back to season 1 Clem was basically in the same position as aj was it will be wonderful to see how Clem and AJ and kennys relationship has developed.
my Clem will be very overprotective of AJ if anyone even thinks about about hurting him ill lose my shit lol
Well, I think thats a reflection of the tonal dissonance of Amid the Ruins and No Going Back, as well as the whole Edgy!Clementine phenomenon, which I can't say I'm a fan of.
Also, I don't really like the whole "because he/she's so cute" justification because it comes off as dogmatic and sociopathic. Kinda like Carver and Jane, actually.
what pay off do you expect. from what ive seen saving a baby and keeping it safe is its own reward dont you think?
Oh, great, we're once again stuck with the little brat...
Only if it's inclusion as apart of the narrative focus is deserved and feels like a rewarding part of the experience and not ham-fisted and forced.
I want to get in the mind of the character, but I need more than AJ being a baby to feel as though he's worth caring about especially considering at the time, Clementine had about 7 different "major" relationships that were all tugging the narrative in different unfocused directions.
Sarah... Kenny... Luke... Jane... Rebecca... Arvo... and then AJ. If the story had picked one or two and chose that as the tonal directive to lead the story, it wouldn't have been nearly as sloppy and poorly pieced together as it was.
all im saying is in a scenario in a Apocalypse and you find an infant baby regardless of how cute or uncute. arent you going to try and do whatever you can to keep that baby safe? I would
Personally, I don't mind reusing basic ideas as long as a. the repeat manages to stand on its own and b. the imitation does something different. It's why I didn't mind characters like Rebecca, Sarah, Carver, Jane, and Arvo that much, from a storytelling standpoint anyway.
If I'm being honest, I would've liked for her to have been a little more proactive while Carlos was still around if only so we could have her stand up to him, like she did with Carver, in favor of doing what she feels is right. However, from a storytelling stance, I understand why it didn't happen.
Also, one of the things I really liked about Sarah was that she wasn't always in your face: she had a few minor moments and several character segments throughout the season, but otherwise she just kept off to the side letting the more leader-like characters make the big decisions.
I'm also kinda half and half on her living to be a major Season 3 character, to be honest.
Annoying? I don't know, AJ was just incidental, to be honest. He gave Kenny an actual motivation to show that he still means well but his repeatedly beaten existence is taking a toll on him; he gave Clementine a chance to have some actual character-focus and spotlight to actually be the main character; and, YMMV, he functioned show just how far Jane is willing to go to get what she wants, whether good or bad. So, while the idea of Clementine having a baby might be weird, he actually brings out some useful contributions to the story.
Plus, for a baby, he rarely cried, was very wellbehaved in some instances, and brought some light to the overly bleak story. At the cost of a jarring tonal shift, but that's not really his fault.
I found Clementine was greatly relegated once the focus was shifted to Kenny's "redemption arc" with AJ (AKA discount Children of Men). Almost as if she had no narrative distinction of her own anymore. The choices were the most non-mattering and the conflict were the least effective because rather than the rivalry between Kenny and Jane feeling like a long building frictional relationship, it was almost as if AJ had magical powers that turned people around him to snarling vicious muses to his demonic powers. Like as if people lost there most basic brain functions around him.
That's more from a narrative storytelling point of view, but I get you. I meant that, aside from maybe the Sarah and Jane stuff, very little of some parts of Season 2 felt like it revolved around Clementine. So, it was nice that she was allowed to have a hand in taking care of him, however indirectly. Kenny and Jane obvious cared about her opinion, even if they didn't want to agree with it.
Honestly, topic about how much Clementine mattered to the Season as a whole wouldn't be too bad an idea.
Well, when you put it that way, he does seem pretty Apple of Discord-ish.
Though Jane arguably brought that more on herself because I never got the impression that she really cared about AJ himself. Not that that's a bad thing since it also meant she wouldn't want him gone either, she just never had too much of an opinion outside of "Ah, yes, the baby. We should probably make sure he's properly taken care of, I guess." To her, he was just a baby of someone who trusted Clementine and if she's gonna help out with him, then whatever. Plus, at least they have that in common.
Well, if it's a baby in general, then yeah. Sorry bout that.
The same technically goes for a child, teen, adult, or senior.
Thank you @kennyisjesus200 !! My thoughts exactly. I never understood the "let's kill the baby or leave it to die because it might get in the way" trend.
EDIT : DoublePost.
You spoke the truth as if it was simply breathing.
Personally, I think Clementine having a different dynamics with each of the characters was exactly what the game should've tried harder at. After all, Season 1 had Lee do the same thing, so I don't think the number of relationships was the problem. However, if you mean how much the relationships affect the story itself, then I definitely agree.
Also, I notice you left off Carlos and Nick. Not sure if I should be laughing or not.
At least now he will be in someway interactive I guess, he should talk and walk and you might be able to teach him things, whereas he was just a static 3d model (who should have either starved or frozen, lets be real) I wasnt a fan of him in s2 because he wasn't treated like a real living breathing character just a prop, a stupid poorly thought out prop.
I can definitely understand where your coming from Everyone'sClemInTime but Aj is still a toddler, so you wont be seeing a lot of a personality from him.
yeah zombiebonnie, me neither it really is kinda sick to keep hearing people say they would either kill or leave a defenseless baby.
Well, its not like he was an asspull.
Oh, I agree that AJ was the equivalent of a prop in season 2 and that there could very well be a possibility he'll serve more a purpose in the next, though I have a fear now that's he's about 3 (I think?), he might end up being one of those annoying child characters. But, only time will really tell, I guess.
OneWayNoWay, i haven't seen anything about Aj, that makes him look like a brat would you care to explain?
I'm not saying he should have "personality," but his inclusion should be earned if he's going to be a very large part of the series finale.
The baby in Children of Men was a great narrative focus for the film, giving validity and being a great centerpiece for films changing direction.
And I feel as though that's what the writing team were going for but something was lost in translation.
That's exactly what I'm saying.
I wasn't really being all that serious when calling him a 'brat', but it was more down to the fact, I just don't like him or his contribution to season 2.
well I would like to ask you exactly how Aj a toddler is supposed to earn his inclusion to the series finale ? I mean this is a toddler were talking about so he wont be able to do everything Clem, did from season 1 like hold a gun and be self sufficient have personality. I think thats what everyone is trying to expect from him but hes still a baby and needs to cared for.
but onewaynoway how was he supposed to contribute to season two he was a baby? did you have the same problem with clem in season 1?she dint contribute that much.
Again, Amid the Ruins and EdgyClementine....
Just don't get your hopes up for a 2-year-old having much character depth lel.
What happened bruh? AJ and you got in a fight? Why you don't like him?
well unfortunately thats what some of the fanbase are expecting MarijaaNo7. charecter depth from a toddler lol
I admit that I'm not sure: what is the point of this thread exactly? Aside from bringing up that AJ is returning, I mean.
Cause I just realized we have this.
Clem was an actual character with an actual personality, so she was a lot more easy to warm to. She was also able to help throughout the season, as seen when she'd helped gain access through the small space above the door in episode 3 of season 1.
Well, technically, AJ did contribute to the story because, really, his only purpose was to cause the entire Kenny vs Jane fight. He's not a character, he's just a plot device to create their feud, which is my main issue with AJ. Not only that, but we're forced to be stuck with him no matter what happens throughout the game.
You can read about my thoughts in greater detail here if you want.
EDIT: Just fixed something.
Well, I was hoping to discuss the image of AJ and Clementine I had found and the implied predilection of the image.
I knew going in many would involuntarily take the thread as a basking ground to show why their more morally appeasing than others (including me I guess) but the discussion more or less is about the image itself.
I don't care for AJ as a focal point for a story initially about a young child surviving a cold harsh world up until now at least, but am only saying what I'd like if the new season is to have him be a major character.
Gotcha. Honestly, he feels like a second attempt at the Cabin Group setup at times. At least the way I assumed Season 2 would go three months ago.
It all falls on writing and how good it is managed.
AJ was forced, and to me at least it seems quite obvious that he was thrusted into existence to meet a rigid end-goal that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
And now that I think about it, it's almost like Mike, Bonnie, and Arvo didn't even account for AJ when they tried abandoning everyone.
...Almost as if he was a last minute tie in to meet the criteria of the chart they most likely had just so that the end would be as absolute as possible.
Hmmm.
well I do have to disagree with the whole AJ created the feud and fight between Kenny, and Jane I think the fight between them would have boiled down regardless.I agree with everything else you pretty much said though. I mean think about it. if all it was a baby to cause them to fight was there really much else to stop them from fighting lol
Exactly. He was just forced into the plot at the last minute, so Telltale could attempt to make up for season 2's lack of choice by turning Kenny and Jane's non-existent relationship into a full blown feud, all over AJ, of course.