The Original Story of Season Two - A Theory
Here is, what I think was the original story of Season Two, based on the evidence that was given to us and leftover traces that were in the actual game. Originally, we were supposed to get a much darker season.
- Kenny = Carver
Gavin Hammon revealed during his Q&A panel at OMG!Con 2015, that the early development made by Telltale that was given to him, Kenny was supposed to be the antagonist character for the second season. He added that, "He was gonna be the Carver character" but eventually Telltale scrapped the idea out, and replaced him with Carver instead.
Kenny would not only be Carver but assume the name Carver for a different reason. Firstly, it'd suck if the Cabin Group kept referring to an evil "Kenny" character laying around, and so it's obvious that they would always be called Carver. I imagine he would be called Carver, not as a new name (though this is always possible), but that he "carves" bullets into people, or something just as grotesque and dangerous. It would not be until the end of Episode Two (in which we would meet Matthew, Walter, and Sarita - thus the bridge situation would never happen), that it is revealed that Clementine would say the line: "I thought you were dead", upon the reveal of Carver being Kenny.
Instead of Carver turning up to the cabin house to meet Clementine in 'A House Divided', Troy would turn up and claim he's part of a scouting party of some sorts that are looking for the cabin group. Of course, the same turn of events occur, in which Sarah hides and Troy eventually leaves.
During, 'In Harm's Way', Kenny would never hurt Clementine and would call her into his office to explain things and hopes that Clementine understands his reasoning for what he did. He would also never hold a gun to her head during the hostage situation in 'A House Divided'. Nevertheless, Clementine, even if she wants to be friends/reunite with Kenny, wil understand that this is not the same Kenny as before, and would want to escape with the cabin group.
- Sarah = A Better Determinant
During the gun lesson, multiple things can happen. Sarah can either learn to shoot properly, or at least get advice on shooting. She can make the imitation that she is going to kill herself, by placing the gun against her head and making a sound effect, or Clementine can deny teaching Sarah altogether. Now during the escape in 'In Harm's Way', when Carlos gets shot, Sarah would still freak out and panic. However, she would also have a gun (presumably picking it up from Carlos).
If she learned to shoot properly: She would shoot at a couple of walkers, trying her best to remain calm as she stops panicking and goes back into attempting to sneak through the walkers.
If she jokes about suicide: She will actually pick up the gun and blow her own brains out right there, in front of Clementine.
If she doesn't learn how to shoot properly: Sarah would either miss her shots, and cause too much attention too herself. Clementine is forced to sneak away as she screams in the background, her fate quite clear.
- Episode 4 = Amid The Runs
Originally, I believe what was supposed to happen was, instead of encountering Arvo and the Russians, we would instead witness Eddie on the deck. However, Clementine putting on blood is not part of a cult. It is symbolic for her going to war. She loses her hat and instead the blood would be some sort of war paint (she would never actually do this in the episode, it is simply referring to putting walker blood on you to disguise yourself but it is actually just hinting at what this episode would be about). As Clementine's group, tries their best to fight for survival in hopes to keep the baby safe, Kenny and others including Eddie, Tavia, and basically 400 Days Crew (or at least some of them who are left), would be hunting Clementine's group down and would be fighting in a bitter war of sorts during this episode to get the baby. This would end the episode in a shootout, similar to the ending of Episode 4.
- Episode 5 = Better To Sleep
I think that originally, everyone was supposed to die, except one determinant character. The episode begins with the shootout, Bonnie and Mike would be dead. The other characters in the shootout such as Tavia, 400 Days Crew and more, would be killed except Kenny who is only injured and manages to get away. This character would either be one of the determinants which is Nick, Luke (who I think was originally supposed to be possible to save on the lake), Jane, Sarah, or simply Clementine herself. Rebecca would have given birth in Episode 3, 'In Harm's Way', Kenny being obsessed with the idea of family would noticeably walk a hundred miles to get them back. Thus, the group escapes with the baby covered in walker guts, Rebecca is left behind 'In Harm's Way', and so it would be appearing in Episode 4, 'Amid The Ruins', and Episode 5, 'Better To Sleep'.
Throughout the episode, depending on your determinants, different situations would pop up with difficult choices (situations such as perhaps, a character being trapped and it's either you leave them for dead, or chop their arm off after applying a tourniquet), eventually leaving Clementine with one character left with her - Sarah, Jane, Luke or Nick. The dream does still happen, Clementine would get shot in the chest, but it would more than likely be during the shootout just before the group kills the last of them and injures Kenny, sending him back. Either that or when two characters are left, they both get in the car with Clementine and drive away, using the car's warmth to help with the wound before they stop, away from Kenny and manage to close it and help Clementine. During this section, Clementine would have the dream.
Later on in the episode, Kenny finds them down, goes on a mad spiel about family and what Clementine has done to him before forcing Clementine to choose between the last two determinants in a life-or-death situation, Clementine makes her choice before finally killing Kenny. However, if Clementine hasn't done too well in protecting the group or if she is a bit sloppy during this section, then both determinants will die or only one of them will be left to face Kenny before dying and leaving Clementine to herself. Clementine gets AJ, and sees the city of Wellington into the distance, walking closer.
- Wellington = The City of Ice and Shadows
Wellington would be a city. But it was a lie. There is no community. There are no people. There aren't any supplies. It was a fairytale. Clementine is seen walking towards a city (clearly holding AJ, if you look at her left arm which is up and seems to be carrying something, similar to how she uses her left arm now to carry AJ), in the 'Better To Sleep' poster. She is either alone or with the determinant character, both of them bloodied and tired as they get there. It would seem that Wellington is fake, there is no city and it is simply empty of life, not even walkers since they are frozen over, their moans barely eclipsing the empty city. Clementine is distraught and broken, realizing all the troubles and deaths that they suffered through to get to the city was for absolutely nothing and it would be at this moment, that the full weight of the apocalyptic world and the choices of the character would be for nothing.
The determinant character would always support Clementine, and would suggest they leave the city whilst they can. They do so, and thus the season ends. Wellington being left nothing more than a lie, false hope and Clementine now must deal with the blood that is on her hands, as does the player.
In all honesty, this is just my theory but even so I think a darker tale for Season Two, would have been far better than simply Kenny's Trials and Tribulations. Either way, what do you think? Do you think this is or could be the original story? Are there any other things that you think point towards an original story?
Comments
Wait, wait. I kind of see a plot hole. Why would Kenny, Walter, Sarita and Matthew let everyone into the lodge if they're the ones persecuting the cabin group? Everyone would be gunned to death right then. Also, if Kenny is based in the lodge, it wouldn't be this huge community with safe walls, and Kenny wouldn't have an office. Then the whole spring walkie-talkies to Luke scenario wouldn't happen since he is dead. Clementine and the others wouldn't want to escape, since there will be no others, except for Bonnie, Jane and Mike, which certainly would create an interesting group dynamic, but at the cost of Clementine leaving Kenny. And you can't have that choice of leaving or staying too early on, because you wouldn't be able to branch the story back; you'd be forced to stay at the lodge for virtually three episodes, doing Pete knows what.
So, what if Matthew, Walter and Sarita were alone at the lodge, and Kenny is the leader of Howe's Hardware?
Sorry either I'm mistaken or you're misread.
Sarita, Matthew and Walter are alone in the lodge. Kenny turns up, the same way Carver does (when Bonnie first turns up and asks for food, and then leaves, then walkers attack due to the windmill and then Carver and the others turn up. But instead, it turns out Carver is Kenny, in which case Clementine says "I thought you were dead" but not when she first arrives at the lodge, but when she sees Kenny is Carver, gunning down walkers and holding the group hostage). He would still be the leader of Howe's Hardware and take them back there due to Rebecca.
Oh, yes, I like it!
I honestly would enjoy seeing this alternate plot line come to life.
By the way, if the paragraphing of the first post is messy, it is because I am on my phone right now.
Nah, it's okay. And yeah I would have loved to see, the original plot of Season Two. I wish they never changed it.
I really like that interpretation for Sarah's character. That would've made it seem like our choices regarding her actually had an affect on Sarah's story arch. I really wish TTG had gone with Kenny being the "Carver". I think TTG also should've stuck with their original arch for Mike's character. Originally, Mike was supposed to be one of the bandits that attacks Christa and Clementine in All That Remains; the gun shot we hear was what was suppsoed to have caused the minor disfigurement on Mike's ear/face. and we were supposed to have a chance to confront Mike about it.
TTG scraps so many good ideas b/c of time restraints.
Call me crazy but I don't think Kenny is competent/cunning enough to make a formidable villain and a serious threat. Although I do believe Telltale could have mad him far more villainous and dangerous than he was (like Rick). I don't like that they took out the significance of Sarah being able to do what you taught her. The Wellington being false is also more believable and would add the aspect that there's no permanent safety in the apocalypse
That's a shame, but they should try and give themselves more time to flesh these ideas out. Honestly, the Mike idea would be pretty good and it would hint that the gunshots didn't mean Christa was dying/shot.
I think Kenny could be a serious threat but not from a cunning level, and to be honest, Carver was not cunning or even that competent. He just knew how to manipulate people and got lucky.
I watched the vid of the voice actor saying that. From what I saw, It sounded like Kenny being a Carver like character was just an idea that was thrown around and quickly (and rightfully imo) scrapped. I doubt it ever took off at all, or they had to rewrite any of the script, much less that being the original story. And correct me if i'm wrong but is the whole Eddie thing based on the fact that some guy in a loading screen looked like him? Did anyone actually confirm that he was meant to be in season 2 but was written out?