JBoc924
I was disappointed with the first episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne. I was so excited going into it, especially since the miniseries is devoted entirely to Michonne and what she’s been up to during a key time jump in the comic book series. This was set to fill that hole. And fill that hole it did, but it just… wasn’t all that special. It felt very by the numbers and “been there, done that.” But, with Episode 2: Give No Shelter, Telltale has upped not only the momentum and pacing, but also the overall quality of this miniseries as it nears the finale next month.
Picking up right where the first episode’s predictable ending left off, the episode veers into wholly unexpected territory. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say that we get a change in scenery due to the story. I’ll leave it at that. And it was most certainly a welcome change, and one that keeps things moving towards next month’s ending at a relentless pace. I also feel like the villain of this story, Norma, is being used wisely. I’m expecting there to be a huge payoff with her character next month.
Not only do we get a new setting, but we also get a new lineup of characters. We get to meet Sam’s family in this episode, and I found myself even more attached to her and her little brother, James. Children actually play a big role in this episode as we once again get a horrifying look into Michonne’s past. These scenes are quite impactful and really show the desperation that comes from a parent trying to look for their missing children. Telltale really excelled at evoking that pain through Michonne, which I felt was better portrayed in this episode. Not only do we get the bad-ass, blade-swinging Michonne, but we also get the motherly form of her, the caring figure that continues to be haunted by her tragic loss.
It’s her tragic past that helped mold my decisions in this episode, many of which had me pausing my game a few times for minutes on end. Whenever the safety of children came up, I made sure to act accordingly, even if that meant getting my hands dirty in the process. Which leads me to the ending. It was still way more effective than the first episode’s final scene, and it relied exclusively on a major decision you have to make. I literally paused my game for like ten minutes before I returned to it. I was a bit bothered by the ending only due to the fact that it just… ends. Pretty abruptly I would say. I just felt like there should’ve been a bit more following that key moment. Like, another character’s reaction to it or something.
If Telltale can continue this momentum and rise in quality with this miniseries, then we’re certainly in for a treat with the finale next month (hopefully it doesn’t get delayed!). I actually had to force myself through certain parts of the first episode, but with the second episode I was fully engaged and actually ended up beating it in one sitting. It felt shorter than the first, clocking in at under two hours, but there wasn’t a moment wasted. I’m ready for episode 3!
(8.5 / 10)
Great
(8.5 / 10)
