Why Season 3 needs to explore new themes
I've thought about the third season a lot since I finished "No Going Back". I loved every second of the episode, and I really hope that we'll get to play as Clementine again in the third season (by granting us five alternate beginnings for 301). There is a problem that concerns me, though. Season three cannot be a simple continuation of season two in my opinion.
As I said, the following is just my own, personal opinion.
Season one and season two are hugely different experiences. Season one was groundbreaking, I was deeply emotionally invested. There were times when I cared more about the video game characters than the comic characters, and I've been reading the comics since 2005 now. Every episode worked as a standalone pretty good, and I was a total fanboy when Starved for Help was released. Season two had a much faster pace and was more dirty, brutal, offered a different experience. I enjoyed it a bit more than the first season, it's close, but IMO, the second season is just a little bit better than the first.
Still, they both basically tell the same story: Surviving in a Zombie apocalypse. Don't get me wrong, that isn't a bad thing, and it might sound stupid that I say it that way, but if season three continues to explore the theme of the first two seasons, it think it is going to get really boring really fast.
Kirkman realized that when he wrote his comics. He explored many different themes and ideas in his comics. His characters have faces multiple threats and horrors, but it's not always just about surviving. The comics are about war. They are about rebuilding civilization. They are about love. They confront the idea of somehow finding a safe place in a zombie apocalypse. And no, Telltale did not explore these themes yet. There has been no real safe place so far like Alexandria or the Prison, which would offer them great storytelling opportunities.
What I want to say is: I really hope we get to play Teen Clem in season three. And it'll be good even if it continues the tone the first two seasons have established. But eventually, it'll become a typical 7/10 title, and I don't want to see TWD become a 7/10 title. I really hope they won't do the same thing they've done for two seasons now: Introduce a huge cast of characters to kill them all off in five episodes. I really hope they build up a cast that can outlive a season and explore new themes. Because otherwise, I will play the third season, but I won't be as impressed anymore.
Make something out of that third season, Telltale. You are the kings of storytelling. Don't give us the same stuff for a third time.
Comments
I agree with all of the points you made. I really wish that Telltale would create characters that outlive a season. Only thing is, if they make five alternate beginnings and continue with Clementine, that makes it seem Kenny/Jane will die or pull a Christa. I don't think that they'll be able to keep them alive for a long time, it seems to me it would be very confusing. By all means, if you think they can do it, correct me if i'm wrong. I don't create video games, so I may be wrong, but it seems hard to pull off.
Imma level with you i like your idea we havent had a villian as big as the comics or show and i hope this wellington is are 1st step into a safe place storyline start where we can have villians later on and such i think season 3 is are 1st step into the comics level of theme in my opinion
There needs to be an enemy group. Like, The Governor's group, Negan's Saviors, a large group of bandits with a leader, etc. I was excited to see Carver in Episode 2 and his little group, but they didn't last that long. Hopefully in Season 3, there is a greater human threat which eventually leads to a war similar to that of the TV Series or comics. Like, the whole season can be building up to this epic battle and it will definitely pay off.
You've some really great points! Maybe there could be a bridging episode like 400 days that could deal with tying all five endings into the start of season 3. Maybe season 3 could all be about Wellington, and the rebirth of civilisation. I'd love an ending that doesn't kill everyone off, for sure. Season 2 was just too emotional for me. I loved it but it has left me rather depressed. And that's even with my ending whereby Clementine goes to Wellington!
Even though Carver was an jerk I loved his character and I was pissed that they killed him off so darn quick.
Holy shit, your idea of a dlc tying all endings together actually seems pretty solid. That would be awesome! Only thing is, that would make Jane/Kenny quick targets for Telltale to kill off.
It would be awesome indeed, but wouldn't it be a little weird for someone to play the stories of the other endings in the DLC for the endings they didn't even get?
Absolutely, but you have a whole episode to build up to it, and it would be really exciting to maybe see Clem and Jane's relationship fall apart from a lack of food, or Kenny and Clem struggling to keep themselves Alvin Jr alive. Maybe Jane could go crazy and kidnap Clem and Alvin Jr if you chose to let the family stay. Maybe Clementine gets upset from living in "luxury" (Wellington) when she knows there is so much suffering around her.
Bottom line is there's so much potential for one bridging episode to essentially be a very, very different story depending on your ending to season 2, which would make it very unique and make Clem's story feel even more personally tailored than ever! I guess it would be a lot of work for Telltale... but hell I'd be more than up for spending an awful lot more than a standard episode for that!
To be frank, I think we'll have to wait until Season 4 before we see a teenaged Clementine.
Regardless, I still stick by my original desire to have Season 3 center around the formation of a safe-zone and the challenges of keeping your people safe. Whether it's set in Wellington or a new community is determinant, but I personally like the idea of having the story move onto rebuilding civilization rather than simply surviving. Perhaps it could even focus on a war between rival groups, rather than the civil dispute we saw between Carver and Rebecca in Season 2.
Rigtail: I'd like to imagine it only lets you play from the ending you received. And because it needs data from season 2 thats why it should be DLC and not a standalone thing, I think.
I'd definitely pay extra for that, it sounds amazing! I really want Jane to stay alive, but I can accept her death as long as its not an Omid, being shot in the first 5 minutes of the Season.
Yeah, Omid's death was a bit of a bummer, but it hits you hard. It's Telltale's way of preparing you for the insane emotional roller-coaster of a season. I dunno if I like them or hate them for it, hahaha
I like your idea and agree with it. The only thing is that I feel like we would have to have a new protagonist in Season 3 in order to execute this. If anything, I would leave Clem's arc out of Season 3 and either have her show up at the very end of Season 3 at the cliffhanger into a 4th season or wait until "season 4" all together. Her background and character has been established. Let's create a new character with a completely different background so we can explore the themes you have suggested. If it can flow, bring Clem back in the 4th season so we see the two differences in the characters and watch them join together to succeed. As a matter of fact, it would be cool if TellTale did build up a new protagonist and when they bring Clem and the new character together in a new season, you can PICK which character you want to play (it's a long shot, but anyone can dream, right?).
I'd like to see Sanity as a theme in season 3. No Going Back touched on mental health and stuff for a little bit. Also, Religion could be interesting.
It's hard to pull off, but they don't have to kill off these characters. Clementine can just depart from the place where she is, maybe to look for Christa because she's heard a rumor or something like that. Telltale can pull it off.
I found that that was one of the strongest points of episode three, because it didn't drag out the Carver conflict for too long.
Yeah, that'd be a nice touch. Bringing multiple stories together has always been an interesting thing to see.
I really don't want to have a group fall apart and die in five episodes again, because that's just gonna be miserable.
I was hoping that Season 2 was actually going to be about Clem being caught in a battle between Carver's people and another community, but it eventually centered around heading to Wellington.
Yeah, in the end, it kinda became the same overall thing that season one already was. That's why I want the third to have a drastically different theme (rebuilding civilization or all out war would be great IMO).
I'd like to see the war between communities as well like the way it is in the comics and I would like a teen Clem in a prominent role in the community. They better not kill Jane/Kenny off with cheap deaths like we have seen in some cases. I know it seems more impossible to write a story with so many variables but I think they could make an effort to program it in judging how much popularity the series has received.
Why not someone new? Someone who is treated as a liability by most of those around him/her, instead of survival maybe the focus should be friendships, and what kills characters in Season 3 are living things and the terrain around them, kind of showing that Walkers hardly prove to be much of a problem at this point in time.
I hope nobody gets mad but I want new characters but I want the theme of distress between communities I think S2 was a really nice end to Clem's story if it is. And it's not like S3 will definitely be the last season so they can afford to develop characters, I also don't want Jane/Kenny getting the spotlight when we encounter new characters. But if we do play as Clementine they better make all 5 endings matter even if it seems rather impossible.
I think I've grown to attached to Clementine. It'll be hard to really embrace a new character in my heart.
I think we can get to love a new character again. People didn't like the idea of Clementine as a protagonist at first and a lot of people I'm sure didn't like Lee in S1Ep1 and ended up crying for him in episode 5 of the same season. The thing is Telltale has done a good job with protagonists so far so I think we could all grow to love our new character if we do end up having one even though a lot of people right now are saying they won't buy the game if Clementine isn't the protagonist but I'm sure it'll change.
Yeah but It wouldn't feel like a 'third' season to me. I'm not satisfied with the ending of no going back, either.
Yeah, I agree, Clementine IS The Walking Dead to me (well, the Telltale version at least). It'd be like having a new season of Breaking Bad without Walter White, or a new Indiana Jones without Indiana Jones. Clementine was always the main character. She was mentored in the first season and played as in the second, but it was always about her. The game ends with her!
There's a difference between the Walking Dead and Breaking Bad or Indiana Jones in my opinion. While Walking Dead is a universe, "Breaking Bad" is the story of Walter White becoming a drug lord, just like "Indiana Jones" is about the adventures of Indiana Jones.
Still, I think that Telltale's the Walking Dead has established such a strong character with Clementine that it'd be a waste to focus on new ones. Plus, about 90% of the community would be pissed of.
It's a large world with unlimited potential with regards to characters, but to me it really felt personal to Clementine right from the start. She's our avatar and we don't want a new one, like you said. You're definitely right about how divisive it would be if they went and changed everything for season 3.
her voice would be like beauty from the wolf among us
I can't remember at all what she sounded like O.o
Perhaps if they want to season 3 to explore the conflict/war between survivor communities, they can start out with a completely new set of characters in their own 'safe-zone'.... they are sporadically attacked by small raiding parties from a rival community, and it's your job to fight them off, while keeping your own group united, as well as maintain your own supply levels to ensure you don't run out of food/water/etc.... as the attacks begin to lessen, the group decides they need to go on the offensive and take out the rival group.... over time, you'll grow attached to some of these characters and a strong dislike for those causing you trouble....
depending on your season 2 save, as your scouting party climbs a ridge to look at their enemy's compound, you see Wellington / Howes (course if Clem left with Kenny or is out on her own, she wouldn't be in either of those two spots, but they can make it so she does end up their eventually if they wanted).
all that being said, I can't see TT putting Clem on the side opposing us; but it would be a different twist.
I also think that's the reason why some fans (and critics) have complained about Season Two so much. It's drastically different to the first season. I saw this one disgusting review just complaining saying; "Unlike the first season when... etc" over and over again. Surprised No Going Back is getting as mixed reception as it is. Telltale are pretty much doomed since they like changing it up. It's a shame that not many people see that. Telltale are pretty much doomed because of that too.
Season 1-Zombie was the problem.
Season 2-People are the problems
Yeah, those two seasons are both great, but different. It is up to people to decide which one they like more.
IMO, they couldn't have done a season one like thing again. "A New Day" cannot be done again, because people would complain about the pace. If you don't compare the two seasons, you'll love them both.
It's like taking Shepard out of Mass effect.
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I agree with you. I just got my bell rung when someone just like pointed out like, holy shit everyone is dead, and im like holy shit THEY ALL DEAD. I get the S1 all dying they barely getting in the shit world that it is, S2 where a bunch of morons they were probably just sheltered. now I kinda want something like that staying with one group, trying to build something. but they still need to move though
Determinant-character(s)-That-will-be-saved-and-later-on-they-gonna-die cliche'
this should be in gaming sins idk..
so i know how you feel...
Wow, it's hard to imagine Clementine will sound that grown up.
Here's my personal opinion on the route season three should take.
I think the perfect setting for season 3 would be Clementine being alone for a good portion of it with just the baby, for like the first 2 whole episodes at least. We would really get to see who she is, or what we've made her, since there's nobody taking the attention away from her or interacting with her, guiding her along. She would finally put everything we've taught her to the ultimate test and we'll really be able to see and decide what she's capable of and how SHE would handle things. This season should be dedicated to just Clementine, focusing on major character development, if it's just her looking after the baby there's just so many amazing directions they can take it and challenges they can face. We'll really see who she is, or we'll be able to decide and truly make an impact on her as a character with our choices. There's a ton of things they could do with it. Would be really interesting, probably the route they're taking anyways from the looks of it. I certainly hope so.
This is also a perfect chance to actually make every choice we've made so far actually have serious implications on everything that happens, no matter how small we thought our choices may have been at the time because she was there for all of them.