Top 10 Gut-Wrenching Moments, What are yours?
Top 10 Gut-Wrenching Moments ( Spoilers)
This Post Contains Spoilers For Seasons 1 and 2 of The Walking Dead
So here I am, sitting at my desk after concluding my adventures with Clementine during the final moments of Season 2 Episode 5; it takes me little time to realize that I would very much like to begin anew, start from scratch. That's right, revisit the police cruiser as Lee Everett and meet Clementine for the first time...again. The Walking Dead has many gut-wrenching moments throughout its 10 episode run but as I replay one of my favorite games I decided to form a list, so without further delay here are the moments that made me pause and question my humanity.
10: Carley vs. Doug
Is Carley more than just a pretty face? I still do not know, yes she can shoot a gun better than perhaps any other member of the group, and yes she has courage, enough to go looking for Glen when she really didn't know him all that well; but man... those batteries; then their is Doug, a social outcast, who does not get Lee's juices flowing the same way. He seems smart as he can reprogram a remote with the push of a button and can make traps that can alert the group to any impending walker attacks. So why is it that I chose Carley? To be honest I am not sure, it seemed like a good idea at the time, which, by the way, took me by surprise as when both survivors are put in a state of peril the game marks the first time things got real for me. I chose Carley, perhaps I was letting other parts of my body think for me but alas, the decision was made. Sorry Doug.
9: Omid's Death
This one was tough for me, I didn't know how the second season would start but Omid, who shares my love of history, and generally seems to be a nice guy in general, dies during the season's premiere. This really set the tone for Clementine's new adventure and I was sorry to see him go. Omid always brought levity to the scenes that he was in and while I initially did not trust him or Christa he earned my respect over the course of the first season. You will be missed brother.
#8: Killing Sam the Dog
I have owned dog's for almost my entire life...No but seriously I did half expect Telltale to make this dog a constant companion but when they decided to pull the rug out from under us, it was even more appealing. Anyone who has a pet will potentially turn the other way during this scene as animals cannot speak their feelings and cannot therefore provide closure. Sorry Sam but you should not have bit me.
7: Feeding The Group
Four food items for ten hungry people. This sentence haunts me to this very day. As Lee holds up the crackers and cheese alongside half of an apple the gravity of the situation did not immediately set in for me. I knew I was essentially buying trust. Each group member had their opinions on the matter, Carly wouldn't bite, Kenny would not accept food without Duck's stomach being full and Kat was too busy tending to a man's recently hacked off foot. Perhaps giving Larry food would make him less of a jerk, maybe Clementine would feel she could trust me, Ben the new kid on the block may open up about the outside world.....ARRRRH too many options.
6: The St.John Family
Starved For Help may be my favorite episode of The Walking Dead, probably because of all the tough decisions and the suspense-thriller vibe. When the St. John's fiasco has reached its climax it's time for Lee and Andy to go toe- to- toe. In my book he just burned his last bridge when he shot Kenny, actually It really all started when he grabbed Clem's hair but that's besides the point. When I was pummelling his fce into the muck I just could't go through with it, his mother was dead and his sick in the head brother was bleeding out somewhere. When he was cursing Lee's name, begging for him to finish the job I just couldn't go through with it especially when cheeky Telltale showed the entire group witnessing my actions. My Lee was not a ruthless killer but boy was this one tough to resist.
5: Smashing In Larry's Face
I really enjoy the character's who are complete antagonists, namely Troy and Larry. Every word that comes out of their mouths makes me smile, although it may be at the dismay of Lee and Clem. I really thought I could get Larry change... I really did. I had nothing against Lilly and wanted both her and her father to trust me. Despite what happened in the past I wanted to let them know that I was a changed man. However, heart problems in the zombie apocalypse is bad for business and Larry could not cool his jets. Now it feels fairly inconsistent in The Walking Dead lore as to how quickly someone will come back once they turn, so I figured there was enough time in the meat locker to contain the situation. On repeat playthroughs I aided Kenny in smashing his face in with a salt lick, I felt terrible. Seeing Lilly flail around in agony was just too much. Kenny has proven himself to be impulsive so I could not indulge his survival fantasy's; alas when I created a save file where Kenny was my partner in crime I still cringed every time Larry's face was no more. Also it didn't help that we found his wedding ring in his pocket, way to rub it in Telltale, who knew the big ol' softy had a heart, it's just to bad he doesn't have a head.
4: Kenny's Breaking Point
There is no way that Telltale could top the previous finale right? Well the tension between Kenny and Jane had been bubbling for a while and they chose to go toe- to- toe during a raging snow storm after Clementine took a bullet to the shoulder. I like Jane, I like Kenny. One must live, one must die. I did not always get along with Kenny but I believe he is one of the most fascinating characters in video games, sorry Jane you just were not there at the beginning. Once per season I am emotionally compromised, this was it for Season 2. Kenny has been through more suffering than anybody I know in the virtual world, having him finally admit it was just too much for me. A man who is in denial on a daily basis, it was a beautiful thing to have him thank Clementine for everything; while he did not go down a list of his personal demons it did come across, to me at least, that he was acknowledging everything from Larry to Duck and it was from this moment on that I truly had my mind made up when I reached Wellington. Keep your safe haven. I have Kenny.
3: Lee's Death
This one makes me sad just writing about it. Lee Everett is...was...one of my favorite gaming protagonists of all time. He was a stand up guy who just wanted to do right by everybody, difficult decisions may have scarred him but at his core he is still a great guy. Perhaps his most admirable quality was his fierce devotion to Clementine's safety. When Lee is bitten by a walker that comes out of nowhere his fate was already determined, arm or no arm, he had to find Clem. When it's curtains for Lee I couldn't help but well up with tears as I'm sure many gamers did. Season 1 will always be special as it was the only time I could fill the shoes such a great, defined character.
2: Kat and Duck's Death
This is one that really moved the series from great to amazing and what really solidified the series as a force to be reckoned with. Indeed Duck's death was set up well in advance with him suffering from a bite while attempting to leave the motel. Kat's death was out of nowhere but I totally understood it once it happened. I was left gobsmacked, so many emotions, I simply just sat there. Duck was still by the tree, dying as his grieving father had to come to terms that his life will never be the same. Whenever I replay the series this is the one decision that I dread getting to, Kenny truly died here.
1: Carley's Death
The Granddaddy of them all, we began this list with the saving of a woman and ended it with her demise. The manner of her departure from this world is what made it so memorable. Simply getting blown away by a psychopath caught many players by surprise. Sorry Doug fans its simply not the same if you chose the gadget guru. Carley's story was leading towards a romantic one and I ate it up. Damn... just, damn.
So what do you think? Did I miss any? I'm sure I did, but these moments were the ones that really stuck out for me. Also please check out my YouTube channel, DapperDuelist for more video game entertainment.
Thanks Everybody!
Comments
I can't think of 10 of the top of my head, but Ben's second death, when you find Mark, and Luke's death hit me fairly hard.
Honorable mention to Nick, he deserved a much better death. I was really starting to like him.
Ya Ben's second death was pretty difficult
Luke's death was the MOST gut-wrenching moment for me (the death when Clem breaks the ice is even worse than the one when she covers), followed by Kenny telling Clem to go to Wellington. Those are the only two scenes I've actually cried on. I probably would have been crying on Lee's death but I already knew it was going to happen from the moment I started playing the game because my daughter told me. I was prepared for it. Duck/Katjaa's deaths and Mark's were horrible as well.
Your lack of Luke disturbs me.
10.Carleys Death
9.St.Johns exposed
8.Larry's Death
7.Bens death (If you let him go, and if he gets caught in the fence thing)
6.Carver's Death
5.katjaass suicide
4.Sarita's Arm
3.lee's arm removal scene lol
2.Sarah's Death
1.Nick Zombified (RIP HUBBY, HE'LL LIVE FOREVER IN MY HEAD)
That was the one that I was really debating, however, him being overwhelmingly nice from the get go kind of tipped me off to the fact that Telltale would want to pull emotions of of he player for this death scene
Even that being said, I think it was definitely more hard-hitting than the decision between Carley and Doug. Losing Luke was like losing a friend.
NVM
The Kenny and Jane fight. I'll keep it short and simple.
Kenny's the kind of friend that would absolutely slaughter the person who shot you. At the same time, he forgets to look after you and lets you bleed to death.
Jane's the kind of friend that would look after you and make sure you don't die from the gun shot wound. At the same time, she lets the shooter get away.
Both are right. Comes down to personal preference. I chose Jane because she didn't treat Clementine like an annoying little kid. Taught her neat survival tricks, and told her to make sure to look after the most important person in her life, which is herself. Also taught her that not everyone is cut out to make it in a zombie apocalypse. Let's face it, the chances of Sarah making were ZERO. It would be completely unreal if Telltale let her live.
Look at Molly. She lost a sister too. But treated Clementine like an annoying little and even told Lee that Clementine was not her responsibility. Jane does what an actual friend does, looks after you, makes sure you're alright, makes sure you're safe. And most importantly, she doesn't try to dictate your decisions. She seems fairly open to Clementine's ideas and thoughts.
And now yes, an actual friend does not make you shoot an old friend, and you have every reason to hate her and call her psycho cunt for that, but I believed it. I think she pulled a Kenny move. Regardless of intent, there are consequences to rash actions. But she did it for Clementine, that's all that mattered to me. I wasn't that attached to Kenny as a lot of people are, so it was relatively easy to forgive her.
Now why does this make me question my humanity? Because what Jane did was relatively fucked up, but, Kenny dropping a saltlick on Larry was fucked up too, but it had to be done sooner or later. It depends on how you do it.
Wait...
Lee´s death is only in the third spot?
dafuq?
I know right! Carly's death I was a bit disappointed, Lee's death I went through something like 10 tissue boxes rofl. It still makes me cry today 2 years later.
Me too. Everytime I watch Lee´s death scene, even knowing what is coming, I am all like this:
Most gut wrenching moment was Sarah's second death for me.. I was shaking so much. I loved her character
The moment I saw Walter with that knife, my insides dropped to the floor.
10. Carley/Doug's deaths (Ep 3)
9. Sam's death
8. Katjaa's suicide
7. Larry's death
6. Carver's death
5. Luke's death (Mostly the one where you cover him...that lifeless body ;-;)
4. Ben's death (Ep 5)
3. Sarita's death (With her arm cut off, and that screaming, horrified me)
2. Kenny's rage (Season 2)
1. Lee's deaths (;-;)
8 isnt real. Where is the 8?
His 8 is killing Sam the dog.
Dunno why it's not big.
10.Carlos slapping Sarah.
9.Katjaa and Duck.
8.Walter's death & Luke's death.
7.Death of Sam.
6.Chuck's ripped off body in the sewers.
5.Bitten Lee & when he got bit again, during The Marsh House scene.
4.Dinner Time.
Top:
3. Lee's death - obvious reasons.
2. Clementine getting shot - I forgot how to breathe for a while.
1. Stay In Wellington Ending - it wasn't happy, just painful.
I remember seeing a puddle of blood on the floor at howe's while looking for luke. And for a moment i was like......is he dead?!?!
And walter holding the knife, as well as watching rebecca turn.