General Thoughts about S2 and what S3 could/should be ?

Hey everybody,

I'm a French Let's Player, and I just finished the Season 2. Since there is no official translation, it took me some time to get through all the Season, so even I'm a bit late to the party, I wanted to share with you my thoughts, Walking Dead Fans. I'm sorry if this was talked about a zillion times, but it's usually not well received to dig up an old topic from the dead.

Overall, that was a good Season. But there was many defaults as well. Many could say that was also the case for Season 1, but I felt that it was much more consistent and coherent back then. The biggest flaw of them all is of course what has been discussed forever.

**- Choices. **
From a marketing point, this story game isn't really affected by the choices you made. It's an illusion, a shadow on the wall. Still, I felt that Season 1 was more free than Season 2 ever was. Maybe my memory is failing me. In Season 2, you have two really big moments when your choices really affect the story a little and things change : Choose to go with Nick or Pete ; Kill Kenny or Jane.
I'm very happy about the multiple endings, that's for sure, even though I'm a little worried about Season 3 now. I mean, with so many endings, will Telltale Games do Episode 1 different from everyone then makes the next ones identical for the majority. If not, this is simply awesome. You have either Alone, Howe's Alone, Howe's with Jane the hoe, Wellington, or Kenny and Clem in the Wild.
(I choosed the last one, god damn I couldn't let Kenny behind after all this, I just cracked him tears when he insisted for Clem and AJ to be accepted out there and be left behind)

Other than that, I have replaying the game at least 4 times in order to see all the differences... and that was a lost of time. I expected some big changes, since I was really surprised with the two opportunities that the beginning of Episode 2 proposed. And then all the rest felt meaningless. Nick will die anyway, Sarah too, Luke too... There is some changes, but there were minor and painful to watch.
That leads me to character's fate.

- Deaths
In Season 1, each death really got me. The first one that left me unsatisfied and felt unfair was the death of Ben. I choosed to save him just so he can die of another freaking fall. That was the first time that I was mad with the writting, because I felt like they were hounding on one character regardless of what relationship you developed. I understand that not everybody can choose his fate, and sometimes it's unpredictable and awfully unfair. But I just feel that for a game that brags about a story driven by player choices, they just overused this excuse during all Season 2.

To see Omid die : was awesome... and sad. It felt like a good old ride into the crual world of The Walking Dead. And a good introduction to what Clementine would have to achieve in order to survive and prevent people getting killed. Even if advised players in their first play wanted to not leave the gun, we couldn't. Telltale was making a point. Good, OK, I loved Omid, I can go with that. I was upset but in a good way. Doug/Carley upset.

To see the Dog die : was painful, but also a little bit of a shame. Where was the clever possibility of just putting the half of the food next to us on the ground for him to eat peacefully and us having the rest ? The fact that there wasn't this option, when aside you make Clementine the more mature of a group of a lot of adults... It just doesn't fit with all her doing and saying. Clementine is the more smart child ever made on a survival horror game considering her age. That's sometimes even unrealistic how she's outclassing everyone around her. I love Clem from the bottom of my heart, but still. Plus, let's get real. We could have keep the dog during many episodes without it being a big problem. Cool interactions with Luke since his love for dogs, good protection against Carver and Walkers - resulting in the death of the dog by those threats, if TT is so eager to be done with the animal... But come one. Act like a jerk, get bit, then have to killd the dog, faint, get rescued ; be nice and smart with the animal, keep going with him, strecth the timeline so Clementine faint of starvation of dehydratation, and get saved, barn scene cause paranoïd people thinking she could be with Carver or else... Don't you agree ? Groaning and animating a dog isn't that expensive, not much screen time needed for us to be bound with the pal... Would have been an awesome possibility !

To see Pete die : Yeah okay. This one was decent. I liked Pete from the beginning, compared to Luke. And to be fair, even if I would have love to see him more around, he was well developped enough to be bitten out of the blue. The problem is... when it happened, it doesn't felt natural. For a hunter, who was really cautious, being bitten is certainly possible but like this... ? Anyway, it led to one great choice and I choosed first to side with Nick because I felt for the boy and mainly because he SAID to have bullets. So this was was a good death to me, and led to two different and cool plot in Episode 2.

To see Matthew die : Well, shit. You can blame Luke for being on Nick ass so often. I'm 100% sure that if we allowed Nick to get with us, by stating he can and Luke would not insist, Matthew would be alive and well. For a time at least. So the dead of the just met asian funny character didn't affected me much, was well written but we should have the possibility to make him survive a little more longer.

To see Nick eventually die : In Episode 2, I have nothing to say. It's well written. But that would have spice all things up if Matthew was alive. Then Nick don't have the possibility to die in this Episode, but in Episode 4 or 5 (or not die at all, hell). In Episode 4, that's just bullshitzzle, lazy writting and hatred over the character. I've seen that and Sarah's matter discussed about for many pages on another topic and couldn't agree more on that, frankly. Was so angry at TT for that scooby-dooddle thing.

To see Walt die : AMAZING. I was so shocked. THAT, was sudden, and unexpected, and realistic. What an amazing introduction to Carver's personnality. I liked Walter, because he was a good man (I convinced him about Nick so he saved him), but let's be honest... a little fan fiction here to improve the scenario. Wouldn't have been cooler than Kenny AND Matthew were shooting to Carver's men and get Walter killed ? It would have been so dramatic and intense. Matthew would come out, crying, implored by Clementine or not if we choose to seek for Kenny, then spit of rage to Carver's face and get the bullet treatment in the head. I would have LOVE this. I loved to hate Carver. And to see this poor couple lying in their blood, in their "home", because of us... Man, that would have been so chilling.

To see Alvin die : here was meh. I didn't get the option first time, but it's the more honorable death he can gets, to be fair. To see him die like a bretzel out of Santa's buttcheek, shot by a NPC of Carver... At least Troy, guys. But no. Just some fodder. I didn't care for Alvin. The game didn't really gave me the chance to. And I will develop that point further, about consistancy and mostly, lenght.

To see Reggie die : was... well. TT already made a statement with Carver ? Why twice ? I felt bad, sure, but it should and could be prevented if we do things right. Making another statement wasn't really useful. Not like this. Reggie should have die in another process, like for the radio. Kenny getting beat really got me on edge, but if Reggie got beaten to dust instead... Oh man... That would have... Gosh...

To see Carver & Troy die : was priceless. But too soon. Come on. Episode 3 was washed away so fast. Carver was an excellent piece of shirt. I loved every second of it. And I simply hated snort face Troy. Seriously. Can we all agree that seeing Alvin get shot then beat to death Troy, like break his neck then fall dead, would have been cool too ? Although, get shot in the dick then eaten alive wasn't bad. I enjoyed it. BUT, of all people, Jane doing it... For Carver, yeah. Deserved. Nothing to say. Just too soon.

To see Carlos die : was shocking and amazing, but realistic and well driven. Why ? It would be amazingly wrong if nobody was hurt in a herd in which a dozen of gunned men shot at. And fate decided to make Carlos the target. In order to get Sarah's storyline further, that was needed. Or the contrary. Sarah dying, not by bullet, but by failing to control and get eaten. Then Carlos turns into a violent mad man, instead of Kenny. I have no big regrets. Carlos was starting to growing on me. But it would have make more sense to have him take care of the baby, convince him to not snap, be sorry for Sarah and receive his uncalled rage... Little waste of potential, but Kenny did the trick... once again.

To see Sarita die : was... well. Nothing to say. She was cute and nice. But nothing deep with her. Her death was logical. Frankly, I cut her arm off, in hope that she would faint. I assumed that the pain would do the work. But no. Well, fuck. Kenny's mad man storyline was for my sory cute ass.

To see Sarah die : was the most disgusting thing I experienced in a video game. Really, TT ? I can understand, that you have the choice to abandon her, since you're trying so god damn hard to turn Clem into a selfish and heartless monster like Jane, but still... Like really ? Two times in a row and in the most gruesome and horrible, unrealistic way possible ? I was so angry at the writers. Episode 4 felt poor in every level, to be honest. And I was upset, yet interested thanks to Arvo's storyline.
But for another second, I want to bring an interesting fan fic here. Why not make Nick saving Sarah ??? He's devoted, loyal, and care about his group. He could have done it. How ? If you bound enough with Nick and give him enough confidence, he would take Sarah no matter what and save her, then try to climb up, but because of hurted shoulder, would slip, and get eaten in front of Luke and the others. Cool discussion with Sarah about her responsability latter, bounding with Luke, other than a ridiculous "fuck", for losing his best friend... WHO WROTE THAT ?!
Better, let them all live until the dock. Make Sarah stucked under the ruins. WHY in the hell nobody's shooting at the zambies ?! Why nobody's getting down ? There wasn't so many of them. Mike was foreshadowed damn strong, and was in good health. Bonnie a good shot. Luke was hurt so okay. And Jane, disgusting lady, not even trying... So, even hurted, Nick could have get down and use his farmer strenght to pull her out. But wait. Nick gets grabbed. Sarah is here, there's a gun lying after the fall. Did you teach her how to shoot ? YES, then she will save Nick. Awesome development, everyone is proud and amaze. NO ? Then Nick gets eaten, but Sarah lives.

And if you want to kill her so bad, TT, then get rid of her instead of Luke on the ice. But there was so much to her character...
And what if Nick survives, you ask ? Simple.
Make him die in the gunfight with Russians, protecting Luke of a shotgun fire, then dying in the snow, in the arms of his bestfriend and next to Clem. Clem sorry for not being able to protect him like she promised to Pete - or not, Nick thankful for her trusting him... That would have been intense and cool, I would have cry my eyes out because I would have felt powerless in the good way, and not betrayed by the writers like the fence fiasco. Cause, morever, a gunshot so close, and just two lightly wounded in our group... Really... ?
And if not dying, because you would have NOT steal Arvo, but Rebecca would then turn cause of the lack of medics. 50/50, everyone is happy.

To see Rebecca die : was a cool death on the paper. BUT NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED. I mean, I did litteraly EVERYTHING to save her. And no matter what, same end. I finally was bounding with her, for what... ? That was not cool. Her death could have been amazingly better. Like shot because we stole the medic. That would have hurt and strenghten the dilemma we suffered with Arvo.

To see Luke die : was okay. It was sad, well written, yet predictable. Because of his leg. Like... Too predictable. He dies anyway, though, and that was kind of sad too, because except for the two big players at the end, this is the treatmen everyone gets, so... Just nope. I propose Sarah instead. Thank you.

To see Kenny or Jane die : Nothing to say. Bravo. Conflicted. Choosed Kenny first, of course. He had all the reasons to kill this mad woman after what he thought she did. She was insane. Even so, I didn't wanted her to die, so that was very hard for me, and emotional. But if Luke and Nick have still been here, that would have made the possible separation even more intense. And instead of having Clementerminator killing everybody, Luke would point a gun to Kenny and that would be our task to prevent him... or not. Or L&N would have fly away with Bonnie and Mike. (doubt it, but hey...)

Finale : I don't know you guys, but I would have really want to see Luke, Nick, Kenny, Jane, Mike, Avlin Jr. and Bonnie, even Arvo, survive together as a group. I don't mind to see the same characters for many seasons. We need time and screen time to get attached to characters, like in S1 where it was well paced.
There were strong people, and this could have been really interesting to see them in the long term. But there is also characters, other than the development of 400 Days DLC characters than lacked of screen timen that were greatly missed.

Christa's Fate : Why foreshadow her fate like that for let her nowhere to be seen ? At least a hint. Well, S3, maybe.

Eddie : Come on. This guy was the funniest and coolest character you ever made. I need to know what happened to him ! Please ? WHY make him appears in Episode 4 menu for making him nowhere to be seen next ? Wouldn't that have been amazing that Eddie would lead a group and confronts Wyatt/Carver ? Oh I would have want to see that...

Molly : I don't expected her. But I just thought that Jane's story about her sister could and should have been written differently. Jane's mentality make me think of Crawford's people. I don't recall 100% but I think that Molly's sister was never confirmed dead by her own eyes. It would have been tremendous to just make Molly Jane's sister. It would have fit. She left her on a roof. What happened to her next ? She learned to jump on them, and escape, contrary to what Jane taught of her as a burden. That would mess up her mind and will give good plot twist and a possible return. Because Kenny's return, even if I love Kenny, was some bullshirt. If at least they would have pretend he got out by the sewers... But no. XD
Also, that would have been freaking awesome that Ben survives and got a fatherly figure like Kenny to shape him as a badass survivor. The two made the pair back then.

Voilà.
Sorry, that was long, but I wanted to point out that there was a LOT of good stuff, good deaths, but sometimes, it could have been 10 times better with a little more prod time, and not that much more effort. Oh yeah, just grey matter. Anyway, I know that maybe some other folks have been thinking my ideas way before me, so not attempting to steal credits or anything, I came to those conclusions by myself and thought they were better in my opinion for the sake of the story in terms of consistancy and emotions.

Now I can move on with other flaws.

- Lenght of the Episodes.
They felt really short compared to S1. Less gamepaly, well, in fact, this was irregular. In Episode 3 there was nothing to do until... the zombie attack with Kenny. Kinda frustrating, but hey. I can live with that. But Episode 3 was WAY too short. We wanted to know who the hell was George ! What happened ? This Episode was called to developp Alvin, Rebecca, and Carver. It succeed for Carver but instead of interesting us on what happened really, we had to go with Reggie, and the introduction of Jane and Mike, where what he does should have been done by Nick, instead.

The 400 who ? Why we can't talk more to Wyatt, Russel, Shel and Becca, Vince, that I've worked hard so they can and join Tavia in the DLC ? XD
It was really cool to see them again, but just seem them... ? Come on. I didn't felt the threat of Carver well enough. It didn't have the time to build up. To think through it. To feel the prison feels. To talk to the other members. The other episodes were OK on that matter, but 3 really strucked me as too short and anti-climatic, even if the end (hand?) was terrifying.

- Consistancy.
I felt sometimes that the writing was REALLY different from an episode to another. It was hard for me to recognize Luke from an episode to another. He felt so... versatile ? Or it was on purpose according to his weird personnality ? I've felt that for Jane too, but mostly because they tried way too much to shove us the survivalist speech too often in our throats. Every damn time, it was just uncanny. I wanted to say "shut up" every time she talked. Acting like the survivor of the year. I wanted a strong woman so much, to take the mother figure, a little like Christa but I didn't like much Christa. It felt like they were trying too hard to build a Carol or something... I hope S3 fixes it, whether you choosed Jane or another character.
Also, I didn't like the fact the the expression of your face doesn't suit the saying you have. Like if you decide to just being mean, or being badass or cold hearted, Clem reacts like she will when you're the kind sensible little girl she was raised as.

- Glitches.
I've bought the game on Steam. Yet, there is so much bugs... Like Clementine's movements, when you wander around it's the glichiest walk I've ever seen in a game. How come your cinetic animations can be so great when the gameplay phases are like this ? Demon eyes, sometimes, well OK, got to admit, sometimes, I have real fun spotting them, and as video content value, this is awesome. But at least the controls...

- Menu.
To change of colour, panel, music, for each Episode was remarkable and agreable. Yoza to that ! But for the subtitles, or at least the size of the panels where your choices are written... They are way too large. When you play with a controller on PC, it's very small compared to that, but I prefer to play witht the mouse because it's more easy to click on things than with dualshock. But it's more agreable to the eye with the controller, if you know what I mean.

- Voices and Music.
AMAZING as always. Felt the emotions EVERY TIME.

- Character Design.
The new characters were really cool designed. Loved Luke and Nick especially. Sarah was cute. Rebecca, Alvin and Carlos were generic but believable. That goes for Sarita, Matthew and Walt. Pete was badass. Carver was SO badass. (dat voice) Jane was badass looking, but not in the inside. Mike was... cool, until. Arvo had this cool design too that made you doubt about his intentions... Most badass look goes to Kenny, however, eye(s) closed. Alvin Jr. is gonna outmatch Clementine cuteness in one year, that's for sure... Bonnie aged the worse.
Also, make some new models for the walkers, guys... This is so lazy. We've got the same walkers for TWO seasons now. Come on ! XD

That's it for my thoughts.
Hope you enjoy discussing it with me guys !

What do you expect for S3, people ?

Love !