So-called "free-thinkers" when they get the chance to shoot the 11 year old child that was the only person being nice to them.

Ah, I see we're back to the early season 1 problem of everyone being at each others' throats with no player input being able to stop it, awesome. At least there's a nice moment of calm before the tensity kicks right back up again.

The near non-stop vitriol between all the characters is what really holds this episode back. When you had all the group from earlier this season, there were disagreements, but it was nothing like this.

Anyhow, I enjoy the rest of this finale. When it comes to the endings you can get here, I was unsure of my decisions at first, but upon seeing the other endings, I feel more resolute in my decisions. I chose to not intervene between Kenny and Jane, and went with Kenny to Wellington where I went in with just AJ. At first, I wasn't sure about going along with Kenny, but he does genuinely seem too want to become better (especially after I had Clem tell him that he's dangerous), and I hope that culminates into something in the future. Then I felt even more sure about it after thinking about it, and hearing Clementine putting it into words: Jane put an infant in danger, made both Clementine and Kenny believe he's dead, and then tried to kill Kenny in front of Clementine. All to prove a point that you could already see (fitting, considering all her "teachings" in episode 4 lol), and all because... I guess she's lonely? If you choose to kill Kenny, but then leave Jane, she's just standing there begging for Clementine to come back lol, meanwhile, Kenny in the same position is like "this is the right thing to do, you shouldn't be with me." Like, did the writers just like Kenny that much more to put this all in his favor?

The other two endings with Jane don't seem great, either. You go back to where the Howe's at, and you can choose to threaten to kill a family, or bring them in. The one where you threaten them is the worst ending of the game for sure. But even the one where you bring them in, it's just not as strong of an ending as the ones with Kenny. The goal here should be to raise AJ as best you can, and it doesn't necessarily feel like this is the best option for that.

I'll be interested in seeing how the ending here carries forward, and how they diverge. I have no idea how they balance it after this, that seems impossible. But I know the next season has the track record of being the least-liked one, and also Clementine isn't the main character, so... maybe they just don't balance it. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

Leaving the story for a second, I wanna mention one thing about season 2 that I kept forgetting to mention in my other reviews: where's all the small talk? In season 1, you were constantly able to stop and have conversations with people, even during high-stakes moments. This is the main way you got close to characters. Low-influence moments of one-on-one conversation that really allowed you to feel more connected with each character, or at least understand them more. But that's not here. If you try and talk with characters, they'll say one line to Clementine, and then you just walk off. The only time I can remember where you can just sit and have a chat with someone is in this episode, you can have a chat with Bonnie. Otherwise, it's only stuff that happens in required moments. Hell, you literally never talk to Mike in any meaningful way, or get to learn damn near anything about him. I'm not actually sure if the Bonnie conversation is optional, either, she might make you talk with her before you walk in the house. It's such a confounding omission and I hope the next season brings back to the regular talks.

My choices:

-Protected the baby (what the hell is wrong with you if you didn't choose this)
-Tried to help Luke (I was pretty sure he died either way, which he does, but yeah)
-Didn't ask to leave with Mike (I almost did by accident lol, but no, I wasn't gonna choose that)
-Didn't shoot Kenny (at least he's not gonna endanger the baby, you know that much)
-Ended with AJ at Wellington

Holy Shit they remembered how to make a good game.

It had Choices that matter. (kinda)

Conflict that isn’t just the adults being unreasonably angry at each other.

And moments where the characters just talk to each other without any arguments plaguing the conversation. I learned more about Luke here than the entire season combined. It’s something I missed from season 1 where they took the time to let me get attached to the characters.

The only negative is I think Kenny vs Jane is severely one sided. It should’ve been Kenny vs Luke since Luke has been the only character that I actually liked from start. The final choice would’ve been a lot harder.

But nevertheless great finale, mid season.