(S3): My review of TWD: Ties That Bind Part I (spoilers, obv.)
So, the new season is here, with ends to tie up, new people to arrive and a whole new way of seeing the apocalypse. Before I begin, this is just a review of the first episode here, I haven't touched the second one yet, but most likely will tomorrow. While I do understand where everyone is coming from in their anger of deteminancy, I was one of the few in the minority endings, so I'm not as mad, but I have my own problems with it. More on that later.
Season 2 Ending: Let Jane die, did not shoot Kenny; Abandoned him and left Alone.
This episode was pretty great. It did a good job on introducing characters and setting up the surprise reveal of everyone's favourite, Clementine. Now, I just want to say off the bat, I am not too biased towards Clementine. I am trying to go into Season 3 forgetting all of Clem's struggles and events of past seasons, because we are playing as Javier, who doesn't know Clementine. I am currently playing Season 3 as how I see Javier, not as myself; Doing a bit of role-playing, if you will. (If I played as myself, I would side with everyone and be too nice, and that would be boring.) It seems many people are very biased towards Clem in these episodes, but I try to look at this with a neutral mind. Clementine is a girl who is holding Javier to a deal, they don't know each other, and Javi doesn't feel obligated to be her guardian just yet. She is much more capable than he is (at least for my Javi).
The introduction of the episode was good. We had some nice exposition on Javier leaving or something, andofcourse coming back during the usual Apocalypse Traffic. Bleh. The cinematography was pretty good, and it felt very cinematic with the effects and text on screen. I was okay with it, but I just felt I should have had more interaction with the scene; But that's my opinion. We get a cool reveal of "PRESENT DAY!" with Javier strapped to the player's wheel. Him and Kate talk, David is gone I guess, she has weed in the apocalypse.... okay. And decides to smoke it. In the car. But all the while it just sounds like it's wrecking up her lungs. Sheesh lady, put it down. Either way, we get to a junkyard and we need to siphon gas. After a good long trek through the hub and interacting with everything, (I feel bad I couldn't find a pen for Mariana, oh well.) we get to a ladder. and on the other side, an untouched Ambulance. So, we siphon gas. Because for some reason no one thinks that its weird that there's a ladder, and an untouched Ambulance with a full tank. Okay. While the gas is being siphoned, and after trying to not move for 2 minutes because I figure something bad will happen if I stray too far from the gas tank, I move. Zombie, and then a big trailer. Get inside through the hatch, immediately decide to go and check out the shelves at the back and find out I missed an opportunity to look at other stuff oh well. Then Mari and Kate show up because they don't want to be alone. yey. Kids want to stay and sleep in this trailer.... Because no one (except Kate) thinks that its weird that there's fresh food, and a good bed in a clean-ish trailer. So, I obviously decline and what do you know, I et ambushed trying to get back my fuel. There's a fight later on, and I get knocked out.
Well, seems I get taken but somehow my family is left behind. Van crashes, get out, shoot guy because I know he'll run and get friends, so I should slow him down. AND THEN THE MAGIC CLEM APPEARS! yay. I try to show hostility and confusion as she escorts me back to the junkyard. I accepted her deal. Go to Prescott... we get a small bar Hub.
[BANANG CUP FOUND]: On the corner of the Table to the right at end of bar.
Talk to Conrad and get Francine to win the hand, Clem is angry at guy. We go to her now, because we feel that we, a nobody here can sort this out. Guy dies. I did not back Clem up with this (because I'm new at Prescott and Javi doesn't really associate with her right now). We meet Eleanor (I like her) and get the choice of staying or going. I go. But it seems like either way it's the same because it's day by the time you get there on horse. Okay.
Flashback scene: So, I had the alone ending. AJ is a toddler, and we're hunting. He won't stay quiet so Clem decides to put him in the car to stay quiet. NO. That broke my heart. That's the one thing I won't tolerate. This season, I'm not in it for Clem; I'm in it for AJ. Clem can handle herself real good. I hated that she put him in the one place where he was stashed by Jane in S2 to prove a point. No, I'm never doing that to you ever again AJ. NO. He was too vulnerable. And whatdoyouknow zambies attack. Clem gets her finger all broken and it's horrible to watch. Bleugh. Contorted human parts.
So, Get to the junkyard, people seem safe, MARIANA gets shot in the head. Bang. My jaw fell to the floor. I thought she would have been a great character later on. NOPE. The guys from earlier are here! (let's just call them 'Hunters') Surprise! Kate gets shot, I do cover fire, Gabe (I keep trying to say GREG) gets shot too... urgh. And, not being Clementine biased, I choose to retreat with family. Javier cares more about the well being of his sister-in law, and Prescott seems safe enough to handle a few Hunters. END.
CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE -- So, a lot of people are angry at the deaths of Kenny and Jane. I just want to say, I kind of am too. It does feel very lazy that whenever there's a determinant character, their fate is DEAD. It wasn't handled very well. Those who were with Kenny or Jane really got screwed over. (If you want info on Jane's ending and how it doesn't fit her character, check out @ClemyClooandBabyboo's rant here., which by the way, I sort of do agree with.) Jane and Kenny both die in ways that feel cheap and too sudden for what were huge endings and an immense character development for both. They just die for the sake of dying. This was handled much too fast, and should have taken longer to be at that point. TTG just needed to extend their time with Clem to at least 2 episodes of flashbacks before either leaving or dying. Jane's outcome happens right after season 2, with AJ still being a baby. Kenny's outcome happens much later, Kenny has a gray beard, and AJ is a toddler. Why? Jane could have not died, and there would be much more time with her while raising AJ. Kenny could be younger as well as AJ and the flashbacks could have revolved around that time. Personally, my story was okay, with Kenny and Jane far behind me, their fates still unknown. (AJ being stuck in a car was not fun, though.) The Wellington ending was just as good if not the Best ending someone could get.
The one good thing out of all of these flashback scenarios is some good difference in Clementine. She gets a different mark or change depending on what ending you get. Kenny = Scar on head, Jane = "AJ" tattoo on hand, Wellington = scar on cheek, Alone = missing finger ->(oh god..)
Out of everything I've seen in this episode, and my own personal judgement... If I were good at rating things, Episode One would be a good 8.0 out of 10, clocking in at about 1h15 minutes. Episode 2 to come tomorrow, I bet.
Comments
Actually, just to add on one more point, I don't go into Telltale's games thinking all choices will matter and change the story in a big way. I expect a small dialog change or 10 second moment at most. I expect the story to be tailored: just a small change, not Change: a big change.
The fact that Kenny or Jane got any screen time at all is great, but the way they were handled wasn't tailored, it was forgotten. I'm not mad about the consequence of the ending or how it mattered, I'm mad about the situation of it, and how it was presented so abruptly.