Heh, sorry for the long post.
Argh... the ending to the second season.. None of the endings are satisfying, although perhaps that is the point. Does nothing for my dissatisfaction though. My first play through of the final scene with Jane and Kenny I had absolutely no suspicions that the former would do something so poorly thought out, particularly because she was seemingly rational the entire time we've had her in the cast (save for those ten minutes with Luke; I mean, come on). I was under the impression also that Kenny definitively saw AJ dead and not some trick.
To digress, I really liked both Jane and Kenny. The former was seemingly smart and pretty (yeah I'm shallow like that) and Kenny made you love him with his history (even though he certainly made it tough all the times he consistently said or did something out of line (I distinctly remember he didn't follow my Lee to save Clem because I couldn't always defend his crazy ass)). So when suddenly the game asks me to pick up a gun, I do so and then receive ludicrous options.
Why oh why couldn't I just shoot Kenny's hand, the one holding the knife, or something? Gaaah... So... I shot Kenny, because at that point he was the aggressor, the one wanting to commit murder. By all means he was the one closer to my heart because of the time spent with him, but there's just no way in that position I'd just effectively watch (she looks away) him kill someone else just because he was off the rails. For all we knew, it truly could've been an accident..
Anyways, afterwards she ends up explaining to me that this was all her plot (gone awry) and the first thing I had to say was that she was ****ing nuts. Neither the first or even the second season did Kenny ever in all the times he did some stupid **** did he ever do something on this level of megaton stupid, it almost ejects me from the game because it was hard to imagine someone rationalize that, particularly someone that seemed pretty caring (deep down, I mean) and sensible.
Then the game asks you if Clem forgives her or if you want to say you don't want to go anywhere with her, which raised another flag that this was a decisive choice. Did I forgive truly? Not at all. But I chose to "say" that because for the most part, unless there are ****ing babies around, it's better to keep her at my side for the pragmatism of it. Then I let those strangers into Carver's ex-community because I'm nice like that.
To be honest, at that point the whole zombie survival thing has become a bit tired, particularly in that certain conclusion. It's becoming repetitious, the questions being raised and the scenarios. Season 2 had some good moments that used up some unused concepts for the plot, but I worry for my interest in Season 3. Although the ending in Wellington is the one that partially promises something new, although I remain skeptical. Leaving with Kenny is what I would've done anyhow because if I stuck with him that far like hell do I care about some "supposed" safe haven more than his well-being.
I've mostly been playing this game because I usually enjoy the narrative and I like making decisions, but regarding the latter, most of the time, like many people say online, it's more illusory and inconsequential which initially actually drove me away from Season 1. I understand the series would require much more work to be like that, but that's what the game, I thought, touted itself to be, so when I eventually discovered the story keeps you going down along the middle I felt pretty unmotivated to continue.
This final episode was the first time it ever actually fit the description I initially thought of it, but it's a bit too late to convince me it'll be like that from hereon out, especially since it was the ending where it is easy and safe to make such differences. And as much as I love alternate endings (love me some SMT), I wanted a distinct story for my character and not the one that I was pulled along through with mere differences in dialogue and the manner and timing in which certain characters die.
But for what the game is, it's pretty good, and I'm hopeful that my fears will be unfounded for the next season.
Also, Bonnie and Arvo suck total ass. I had Clem forgive the **** out of the former at Carver's prison even though my feels told me "HELL NAW!" and she still treats me like ass because I listened to Luke over her when it was all about Luke to begin with? And whose fat ass was it that made the ice break to begin with when I was clearing out the zombies? (Honestly I made that choice thinking we were both going to be doing the shooting and Luke, using the minimal amount of weight possible, his own, would crawl away from the hole). And Arvo, the entire time Clem, whether you like it or not, expresses concern over his treatment by Kenny, still has the audacity to shoot that little girl because, what, I screamed for my friends when you were doing them wrong? Okay, perhaps screaming might've been a bit risky, but god damn I'm pretty sure that happens regardless, am I right? And I didn't even steal from the dude in the previous episode, even though I could have easily justified doing so with some pretty solid logic. Partially thought it was a choice because it'd have consequences later on, but nope, you get ****ed regardless of how much of an irrational saint you are.
Edit: Ohhh oh, also, I was curious as to how differently the ending plays out after the initial one with Jane, so I looked away (somewhat hoped that when she would look back, Kenny didn't do it, but nah that'd be too soft amiright?) and then right after there's STILL the option to shoot Kenny and I just could not believe it so out of incredulous curiosity I clicked it and I was met with the most depressing of reactions from him that made me instantly regret picking it. But needless to say my arms were out, jaw dropped, couldn't believe what was happening with that hahaha.
