Question About Clementine And Kenny's Relationship
Does anyone find it strange that Clementine and Kenny got along fairly well right from the start? It seems strange considering that most of Clementine's views and Kenny's actions in the first season really contradict eachother.
Kenny thought it was a good idea to kill Larry, which Clementine obviously opposed and was scared to see.
Kenny wanted to steal the supplies from the car, which Clementine also opposed and refused to take part of.
Kenny wanted to kill Ben and leave him behind, but Clementine opposed leaving Ben behind because Ben was her friend.
And finally, the part Clementine probablly doesn't know about (Christa and Omid might have told her), is that Kenny was determinantly willing to leave Clementine behind depending on Lee's actions, which obviously she had no control over. Now this is the only part that is determinant. Everything else is set in stone.
Sure, we could say that she was happy to see someone she knew before, but consider what I mentioned above and take into account the way it shows their relationship in the first season. If the only reason they got along well in season 2 was just because she knew him before, would that mean she would also be happy to see Lilly if they ever meet again?
Now for a little insight consider my season one choices:
- I tried to save Shawn in episode 1
- I defended Duck in the pharmacy and gave him one of the energy bars
- I gave food to Clementine, Duck, Mark, and Larry
- I tried to help Lilly revive Larry
- I refused to take the supplies in the car
- I agreed with Kenny about leaving the motor inn
- I left the girl in the streets so we would have more time.
- I told Katjaa and Kenny about my past
- I let Lilly back in the RV
- I fought Kenny in the train
- I shot Duck so Kenny wouldn't have to
- I killed the boy in the attic so Kenny wouldn't have to
- I defended Ben and saved him in Crawford
- I convinced Kenny to come with me by telling him Clementine was my family
Overall, I'd say my Lee and Kenny had a bit of a rocky relationship. We disagreed on some issues but found common ground on others. When it came down to it, I'd say I was always helping his family, but him individually depended on the situation.
Still, it seems odd that Clementine and him got along from the start of the season. I think it would have made more sense to have the player choose how to handle the Clementine/Kenny relationship in season 2 instead of putting us straight into a somewhat forced friendship. What do you all think about their relationship? Do you agree/disagree with me and why? Leave your thoughts.
Comments
I think they get along because of nostalgia, mainly - at least at first. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug y'know.
Unless you play Lee as a asshole, I think Clementine always makes that drawing of Kenny's family in S1, which at least shows that she values them greatly.
I forgot to mention above, but I think the picture was more for Duck's sake. I feel that part of the reason that she came to like Kenny was because she and Duck were good friends. However, maybe she felt guilty about the way she teased Duck and thus she came to trust Kenny as a way to atone for her teasing. I don't know but it seems like a possibility.
If Kenny meant nothing to her but duck did, then she would just have drawn Duck, children are not especially complicated to understand.
Whether or not she felt anything special for Kenny himself remains a bit unkown, but at least she valued them as a family; as a testament that the world hadn't ended yet and a hope that her own family could still be restored.
That's why I killed him.
You make good points, I believe Kenny viewed Clem as a part of his family, because whether your Lee agreed with Kenny in different situations or not, Kenny still has respect for him.
In terms of the relationship between Kenny-Clem, I feel both of them were shocked after being separated due to the circumstances in S1, and then finding each other, and maybe not the fact that they were actually close (which of course can change in S2.
Here is my opinion:
http://www.telltalegames.com/community/discussion/82868/kenny-and-clem-in-s1?new=1
Why would you choose Shawn over Carley?
Clem can also mention to Walter that she missed Kenny, if she says she wants to say. So to some extend, I think Kenny's and Clem's earlier relationship is being given a bit of openess for the player to influence.
*Doug
I chose Doug in my first pt, because I figured a nerd would be useful.
In later PT's a changed my choice because Carley gives you the option to admit your past to the rest of the group.
I like the list of interactions you made. I did wish however that there could have been more interactions with Kenny in season 1. I know Katjaa really cared about Clementine, and Duck was here friend so it would make sense for her to feel comforatable with Kenny.
Well, Clem is very different from who she was in season 1. I think she grew to understand why he made the decisions he made, even the ones that she opposed/feared.
We only saw a limited view of their relationship in season 1. They lived together for almost 4 months in a zombie apocalypse where every day could be your last, and she was his son's only friend for the most part. Her and Kenny would have seen each other and interacted with each other every single day. Those reasons alone should have given them a decent enough relationship even if Clem didn't like some things Kenny did. And just because Kenny can choose not to help look for Clem right away (deteminant) I kind of give him a break on that one. His family just died a couple days beforehand, he is clearly not in the best mindset, and he does decide to go with eventually.
Also, I think another reason they were portrayed as being very close this season is because they are both links to each other's pasts. Kenny reminds Clem of Lee and the times with him, and Clem reminds Kenny of his family and the times they had together.
Yeah, they are the last witnesses to each other's and their companions existence to each other. Which is both a good and sad thing at the same time I guess.
Yeah. She remembered them as a family.
I guess that is a good reason. Things were different when she was 8. It would make sense that she came to understand him.