A Different Perspective On Clementine's Haircut and Outfit
I shared this on Reddit, so I'd thought I'd give this place a try... again. I especially want to here from the devs if this is anywhere close to their intent. So, @mostlypoptarts, @Alyssa_TTG, @AdamWritesVideoGames, and others...
I'll admit, Clem's haircut is very different. I'm not the biggest fan of it. She needed a haircut bad since it seemed like all she did was trim it to keep its pigtail shape. My preference would have been with a different style, though. However, I like it for this reasons: it's what Clementine wanted. The new haircut (and outfit) represents Clementine's persona and individuality.
Clem asked Javier for a favor. She told him what she wanted. He tried, I'll give him that. Still, it's Clem's hairstyle, something of her own inspiration. She has always had Lee's haircut for years now. That's all fine and dandy, but it's from Lee's vision rather than Clementine's. Remember, Ava told her that she has Lee (and everyone she has lost) inside her. That understanding allows her to have the freedom to do something for her own self and identity without feeling like she is dishonoring those who have sacrificed for her. So instead of keeping a haircut, hair ties, or rainbow jacket that was given to her, Clem did something she wanted.
Tangent: I think Clem's hat is exempt from the other things given to her because she wanted the hat. Clem's dad let her borrow it signifying she liked it and asked to wear it. She even refers to it as her hat. Since her dad died, she became the sole owner of the hat. The hat wasn't given to her for protect from someone else, it's something she acquired to satisfy her own desires.
The face she made when she asked Javier what he thought of the new haircut was priceless and pure. As a matter of fact, I believe that facial expression she made was the same one from the special flashback scene in the "No Going Back" trailer when her mom tells her they [her parents] will be back home soon (note the smile and eyebrow raise). She hasn't smiled like that since before the apocalypse. Clem was happy and excited. It was almost as if deep down in side she let go a bit of the darkness of her past. Her initial expression to her new haircut revealed the hopeful optimistic Clementine of old. Clem's demeanor said "This is me. What do you think?"
Also, Clem's new haircut along with her new jacket makes her look younger. She seemed youthful again, even when she had her serious face killing the walkers on the bridge. I maybe a bit removed from what people consider youth (I'm 25 years old), but that style seems like a typical teenager thing. It's very bold, a little rebellious, and unique; something very common in teen styles. Though she is a strong survivor, Clem looks like someone who has recaptured how to be a kid again.
Ok, I know I probably looked way too into the who haircut thing. It's TellTale's The Walking Dead, though. People diving deep into the story and sharing opinions and theories is part of what makes this game special. It's like a necessary part of the TTG's gaming experience. Anyways, tell me if you all agree or disagree. Like I said, I'm not 100% a fan of the look. However, I do like what it represents and signifies.
Comments
Clems sulky facial expression after Javi said 'I'll grab your hat' reminded me of S1 Clem, after Lee cuts her hair she sais 'Does it look dumb?'. I think they purposefully intended it to look that way, I noticed it the moment it happened.
Great perspective and theory, eRock92!
@Alyssa_TTG
Wow you really noticed this. Glad.
Btw I really like the new look. I agree that the appearance is a bit too classy for a time like this, but as long as our Clem likes it, its cool. Anyways, i had some suggestions as well, so if you can have a look at it please:
We've had enough of Clem meeting different survivor groups and getting separated and being on her own again and then again meeting another group and this cycle continues.
Season 1 group, luke's group, prescott, richmond etc. I dont think it'll be exciting to see same thing happening over again.
Maybe we can have something different than introduction of MORE new characters.
It'd be better to see old characters returning, Christa, Lilly and many others have not been confirmed dead...
Clem's story is not limited to just finding a baby whose fate isnt even confirmed dead or alive, her story is about survival on her own, her story is about her developing personality and strong character from a young age and how she handles the world around her. These are enough for telltale to carry on for a couple of seasons and combined with additional storylines and old characters, the future seasons can be really overwhelming
. @Alyssa_TTG will Telltale be adding ANF characters to the list of WDG avatars?
Her style tells me (hair+clothes) she is a generic copy of "I am badass now" which I find annoying. The writers seem to force that idea as if it was the reason players got attached to Clem to begin with.
I said that from before I like her new look even the hair, I don't care what the look and what she want to look like as long as she like it, and as long as it healthy to her, doesn't get her killed, doesn't get her grabed by a walker, I am over protective for clem but not to the point when I go angery if she changed a hair cut or a jacket or a pants or any of her look, yeah the hair cut is all what have been left to remember lee at least for me its all what make me or clem think of lee, but when she talked about lee with ava I felt good really good, as long that clem still had lee on her head as long as she still talk about lee is good for me and enough, cause that make me know that she still remember him.
what I am over protective against it is the people around clem, thier acting way and thier actions toward her that may cause her hurt in feels or body.
That's a pretty neat way to think about it, still think it looks booty though
No one cares that Clem got a haircut, they care that she got a shit one to go along with a generic "badass female character" look. There's nothing unique about it and it actually makes Clem less of an individual and more generic. You can point to dozens of characters with an almost identical look in the past decade, albeit most of them have better hair meshes or are real people.
It's not even better for survival since the fringe is way too long, liable to fall in front of her face during action.
I don't see the use in making excuses on the devs behalf for what is just a terribly lazy design.
Good question! I'll see what I can do
I don't mind the haircut, really. And I don't think Clem having that makes her character worse. "oh, she's just like all the other badass characters now" No, she's still Clementine, guys.
I could go out and get a haircut like that if I wanted to. Would it make me less of a person because I'm "badass" like everyone else who has that hairdo? No. I'm still me.