The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 3 Review

The irony of a sport in regards to the zombie apocalypse dying an unnatural demise solely to be resurrected later should not be misplaced on anyone, nor ought to the truth that The Walking Dead returns with a narrative that may be very a lot in regards to the latent humanity current in even the shambling corpses roaming the Earth. It is, for sure, a sport worse for put on, limping on to a long-overdue end, but it surely’s a sport stuffed with goal.Broken Toys picks issues up within the direct aftermath of Episode 2’s climactic battle. Lilly and her underlings have taken a couple of of the Ericson Boarding School children hostage to be traded and skilled as little one troopers. Clementine has Abel–the grungy drifter who’s been tormenting her and A.J. since Episode 1–hostage, the one lead as to the right way to get her new pals again. The interrogation of Abel is the closest Broken Toys will get to well-trod, acquainted territory. Clementine has to stroll a cautious line between presenting a severe menace to a person who’s clearly ridden this bloody merry-go-round a couple of instances earlier than and setting the absolute best instance for A.J.By approach of Abel’s distinct character traits, this episode is extra introspective and pensive than the collection has been for a while. Abel’s not afraid of dying; he is afraid of turning for a motive that finally involves outline Broken Toys as a penultimate turning level and the seemingly arrange for the finale: the concept that there may be nonetheless one thing human within the Walkers.Abel merely does not need to turn into trapped in a zombie physique. But to James, the Walker Whisperer launched in Episode 2, it is also a motive to point out mercy and pity in direction of the Walkers. Naturally, the sport provides you loads of leeway to contemplate or discard this risk out of hand. James’ proof, in spite of everything, is tenuous, introduced in a surprisingly poignant second the place Clementine should stroll amongst the Walkers. And but, the episode’s script, credited to Lauren Mee and Mark Darin, does highly effective work bringing the concept house to Clementine in different methods.This is the episode the place the theme of the entire collection begins to take form. An older technology stuffed with perpetual worry and greed is making approach for one the place every others’ humanity and skill to adapt and compromise is acknowledged, acknowledged, and nurtured with out the necessity for bloodshed. The grudges and enmity of the world earlier than Walkers do not appear to use to those youngsters, or, actually, any of the youngsters rising up figuring out little to nothing else. We’ve seen this stretching all the best way again to Gabe and Mariana in New Frontier, and, conversely, in Season 2’s Sarah, a woman sheltered from the best way the world is and mentally shattering when uncovered to it.The standout second of this episode is correct within the center: an impromptu occasion for the Ericson children to recollect what they’re combating for earlier than wandering into the lion’s den. The children who had been truly college students at Ericson earlier than the Walkers all nonetheless have delinquency recordsdata saved that they begin studying off, however after it turns into clear simply what number of youngsters within the file are lifeless and the way little the individuals they was even matter anymore, the field is put away. They sing. They maintain one another. They transfer on. Together. It’s a strong factor, and introduced in stark distinction to what Lilly’s individuals are going by means of simply down the river, rehashing the identical outdated petty fights Clementine’s seen her complete life. Clementine’s discovered house and peace together with her personal technology, one which has recognized nothing else however demise, and the greatness of the episode lies in watching her select to nest in it, for her and A.J. to really feel like there’s a future.This is the episode the place the theme of the entire collection begins to take form.However, that also means one hell of a combat to guard it, and the latter half of the episode is a descent proper again into darkness. All the talents acquired from the earlier episodes come to bear within the assault on Lilly’s boat. The lack of impression from Clementine’s bow remains to be an element, but it surely’s additionally a lot much less of a linchpin on the one main Walker battle within the episode. Instead, the motion aspect of issues is hampered by some painful dips and judders in body fee, the likes of which we have not seen since Telltale’s early days. Considering the fraught improvement historical past of this episode, it is comprehensible, but it surely’s nonetheless a hindrance infrequently.As far as the ultimate stretch of the episode goes, it would not be The Walking Dead with out issues falling aside for the survivors in horrible methods, and Broken Toys saves the worst for final. The final 20 to 30 minutes are stuffed with double-crosses, horrifying mutilations, a breathless Mexican standoff, and a second the place Clementine should determine the destiny of A.J.’s soul quicker and with extra urgency than something introduced within the collection prior–and with devastating emotional fallout.It’s all arrange for a finale that, if all goes to plan, hits two months after this one, and at last brings The Walking Dead in for the touchdown it deserves. But regardless of the blood and bombast that ends the episode, there’s one other second in Broken Toys that does extra to point out you the sunshine on the finish of this bleak tunnel: a dream sequence, flashing Clementine again to the little lady who sat with Lee on a hijacked practice in Season 1. She simply received her hair reduce and realized to shoot as a result of she was apprehensive in regards to the future. In Broken Toys, the voice could also be that little lady’s, however the phrases are a girl’s. A reluctant chief’s lament for all that is been performed, the vacancy that may very well be, and the weariness of what should be performed to get there.And but, well, this ghost of Lee is not crafted as some all-knowing magical father who tells Clementine precisely what she needs to listen to. We’re pressured to recollect Lee was making it up as he went alongside, that his highway to being the individual Clementine wants was paved by his–and by proxy, your own–mistakes. But there was love, and there was hope, and for the primary time on this collection, Clementine being able to face the unsure future has nothing to do with having the ability to shoot or how brief her hair is however the truth that she is surrounded by individuals, a spot, and a goal like by no means earlier than. Whatever awaits Clementine on the finish of this highway, she goes there with a full coronary heart. If the finale lives as much as the long run arrange in Broken Toys, so will we.