My Idea for the final decision of the game.
So I'm fully aware that it's pointless doing this when the first episode isn't even out yet, but I don't have college for a month and I'm bored as fuck, so here we go:
Okay so a lot of people think that the series is going to end up with Clem or AJ dying (and I do think that could be possible endings out of a combination). But I've already spent ages discussing my thoughts on that theory with people so I won't go into anymore of that for now. But I do have an alternate idea for the ending.
My Idea
Given the fact that this season's theme is "home" and Telltale have made it a point to mention that in this season Clem will get to decide who she wants to be with (pretty sure they weren't referring to love interests) and in the 15min gameplay video Aj asks Clem if they will ever have a house - I like to think that the final decision will literally be down to us deciding where we want Clem to settle down.
I think this is a good idea as it not only is a satisfying conclusion to Clementine's story, but it also makes the other seasons of the game have more of a meaningful impact.
For example, during Lee's death you can tell Clementine to either keep moving, or to find a group of good people to stay with. Part of Lee's/our dying wish is for Clementine to ultimately be safe.
In Season 2's ending this trend is continued except this time it's also for AJ's safety. At one point Kenny makes a good point that a lot of people have died and risked their lives to keep him safe (and Clem too). That can't all be for nothing (this is partly why I went for the Wellington ending).
I think that for this series to end on a satisfying note, there HAS to be a sense of security for the characters and hope for a somewhat peaceful life. Even if there is a few bad endings, I do think that this type of ending is crucial for the series as a whole, even if it has to turn out bittersweet.
Here is what I think we'll be given;
1) Stay with the boarding school group (hopefully most of them survive till the end)
2) Go back to Richmond (whether you liked ANF or not, I dont think that it should be forgotten since it WAS a part of Clem's life - this kind of depends on how the season will address why Clem didn't go back there in the first place, though)
3) Stay with another group (this is dependant on whether there are 2 sides during this season - it's been implied that the boarding school may not exactly be completely "good" so there could end up being 2 sides to this entire thing we dont know about yet. And as previously mentioned Telltale said that Clem can decide "who to be/stay with")
4) Hit the road / Leave (This one kinda goes against the nature of the other choices, but I think it will be good for people who don't want Clem to stay in one place for too long. It's also a more "open ended" choice too that leaves an ambigious ending. Not sure if AJ would be down for it though)
Bonus
It would be nice if depending on previous choices that there can be different variations of each ending.
Some examples:
Assuming there is such a thing in the game as determinant romances (don't crucify me yet, please - it's honestly for the examples) then that character can maybe leave with you and AJ if you decide to go back to Richmond, the other group, or drive off into the sunset/fuck off to somewhere else.
The Richmond ending will change depending on who is dead or alive from that season (ayy alive Conrad representation). Maybe if you didn't kill off Kate and this season doesn't reveal that Richmond is destroyed and everyone died in ridiculous ways, perhaps her and Javier have a kid or something (I didn't have Kate in my ending, but I think you can have a convo with her where she mentions raising a family? or am I making that up?)
I think this season has a lot of potential to give a satisfying conclusion to Clementine's story that will make everyone and their different portrayals of Clementine happy AND make all the previous season's count for something.
Clem's fate matches with Lee's wishes in S1 for her
AJ's development as a character based on S2 and whether he becomes more like Alvin (kind, empathetic, ect) or like Carver (survival of the fittest, cold). And maybe the ending of S2 can play a part as well, somehow with Kenny/Jane/Wellington/Alone?
A New Frontier's decisions following into the ending of season 4.
I know that this is a ridiculous number of variations and that it would take too long to make that many different scenarios and outcomes. I also know that a lot of these include minor decisions that Telltale will probably never actually use, but with that said it's just a theory and my own thoughts on the series. Some of you probably even think I'm being stupid, but hey ho. I just thought I would put it out there since it's a discussion forum.
I do think that there will be some form of this decision in the game though, since Telltale said that they aren't trying to just recreate Lee's story. Which I interpret as; "we are not entirely ruling out Clem's death, but there will actually be a chance for a happier ending this time"
Comments
I was fucking doing the same thing fuck fuck fuck argh. Guess my one'll have to be even better, it'll take me a while but I'll probably have it ready by the end of the day.
I look forward to reading it
I'd take these options over Clementine dying any day. As I've said before I think it would just be the biggest slap in the face to the fans, character of Clem and Lee, not to mention the series as a whole if they killed her off for some cheap tears. Find more innovative and creative ways to make us emotional, it's been done before. Another option that could serve as one of the more emotional endings could be a Wellington type case, only with Clementine being separated from AJ by having to pass him on to another family/group, the reasons would have to be solid though because this far in Clementine wouldn't willingly give AJ up willy nilly.
What if we get like a decision along the lines of Detroit where say if AJ dies Clem has a choice of whether to "kill herself" or "keep living."
That could potentially work since at this point I'm pretty sure AJ is Clem's main reason for living in this apocalypse now.
Not as big of a decision, but I wonder if we will have a decision to sacrifice Clem's hat for something.
It sounds really dumb, but it IS her most important and cherished posession and the last thing from her life before the apocalypse and her parents.
what if she gives up AJ to some family/group and then travels to savannah. i know this is unlikely but i am soooo curious how the community would react if clem seriously went back there and either saw lee as a corpse or a walker
If Clementine dies in TFS, then I want her and AJ's last conversation to be a really touching one. No, not like Lee & Clem, but something a lot more heart-wrenching. The generic 'we had a good run, you know', and the 'everything I did was for you' and the 'We were pretty close, huh?' Yes, Clem should be able to give AJ some help on survival but for the most part he is experienced in that field. I'm still working on my 'ending scenarios' but they're pretty complicated so I've delayed that for now.
"You're strong AJ, you can do anything"
Possible, but I'd prefer that those biggest Clem's emotions of TFS would be focused more on Lee than AJ because Lee is a much bigger potential
I think I know how they could do that without making it a copy of Lee's moment with Clem.
Lee's entire speech with Clem was preparing her for survival, but as you said - AJ already knows most of that already.
What if it's a speech more leaning towards the morality side of things? Because it definitely seems like your actions in the game are going to influencewhat KIND of survivor AJ becomes, and he is shown to not understand why you'd want to honour that dead couple's wishes (he has no attachment to the past world and the people there).
So perhaps you can encourage him to be a more compassionate person - or tell him to only trust himself.
That's a great idea! Although this will already happen throughout the season so by the end of it all, if players do things correctly, AJ should be fine.
I think that's what makes TFS just so great. It's almost been ten years into the apocalypse. People who are born in this era, they're good at the survivalism aspect of the ZA, not the morals of the ZA. And it truly is your Clementine's opinion when it comes to making these moral choices, whether that's because your Clementine is law-abiding and virtuous still (and the consequences of that) or because your Clementine is ruthless when it comes to things like helping people out. I can imagine that there would be choices like this - do you give a man some ammo to help deal with some walkers, or do you leave him to die, because after you use a bullet it's gone forever and you think he will die anyway? Do you give some of your food to an unprepossessing hunchback who has a gun? Is everyone really going to backstab you? Should you kill people who just want to survive like you, just because you don't agree with their methods of survival? Would you allow a 5 year old girl into your school, just how the students welcomed you? Is everyone a backstabber? What's the healthiest way to live in a world gone to hell?
Oh I agree! I really like that this season is a bit different from the usual TWD stories, since the characters in this one have spent most of their life in the apocalypse and some were literally born into it.
It's a different perspective on the situation which I find to be a breath of fresh air.
And similar to what you said, the moral dilemma is more based on YOU as a person as opposed to the "ahh what would society think about this?" mentality.
Yup. I also like how it seems there is barely anyone alive. Everyone who's still alive has made it into a large community. Really gives off those apocalyptic vibe.
A detail I like is that most characters are using bows and arrows now.
You know, since bullets are scarce and probably no one is still making them?
This sounds like the great idea for the ending.
I'll come back and actually read the whole thing later.
Another option would be to have her dive in front of a bullet to save AJ, paralyzing her. Sort of like Kenny's death in ANF but more drawn out, as Clem would be carried back to the boarding school. Then we'd determinantly have a choice to give AJ Kenny's hat. Then as a final choice Clem would have the option to ask AJ to end her suffering or remain paralyzed for the remainder of her life (In a wheelchair of course).
Dang, I'm imagine this sorta intense sequence of AJ and, idk, Tenn scooping her up together and trudging within range of the School or their current safehouse, with danger gradually turning it's attention towards them.
Eh, actually I was thinking of Marlon carrying her entirely by himself. And every other conflict is pretty much settled, leaving the perfect opportunity to end it all.
With walkers everywhere, to top it all off.
I still think:
Clem: "Looks like things have turned out okay after all."
Clem watches AJ play with other kids happily
Violet: "Clem we need to talk."
Clem: "Oh yeah Violet, another thing-"
Violet: "No, clem. I went to the Mc Carol Ranch and.. this boy isn't AJ"
CLem: "What?"
Violet: "Bitch!?is u blind!?"
Bleh.
Maybe add some variations to the setting off ending as well like Meeting up with Kenny if you picked the wellington ending or maybe even Molly from season 1 ((Althought for the people who think its unrealistic what could also be done is make the scene happen with something like a random per cent chance of the special scene where you meet up with that character triggering and if it doesnt trigger you d just get the regular sequence with Clementine being alone with AJ.))
Also i feel like the endings could be different depending on if telltale tries something like having a more or less peaceful ending be achieved between the two communities or not which would leave you with the community that survived as the choice of leaving or not prompting up while missing the prompt for the community that died.