I hope the Playable Character for Season 2 is...
Kenny. No question about it. Here's why.
I have to believe there's a reason we never actually see him die. Standard fiction trope-reading suggests he'll be back and I really think this would be the best possible option for season 2.
At the beginning of season 1, Lee is on his way to jail. His life is ostensibly over. Kenny, similarly, has lost everything: his wife, his son and then the only companions he had left (whether he got on with them or not). He's in a fantastic position to find a new motivation. I personally believe it should be the same motivation as Lee: Clementine.
Lets say that was Omid and Christa on the hill and Clementine met up with them, a reunion with Kenny would be ripe for drama with differences arising from whether Lee said Omid and Christa should look after Clem or Kenny should.
More potential drama: If Lee killed Duck for Kenny, then later the boy in the attic, then Clementine killed Lee... how the hell does Kenny feel about that?! The little girl in his care nutted up and did what he couldn't, killed a loved one when all hope was lost.
I think it's a win for all players too. We all have some kind of emotional attachment to Kenny: If you liked Kenny you're playing as a character you like, if you didn't like him, you play in a way that turns him into someone worthy of your approval and of Lee's (hopefully) high standard of parenting.
TELLTALE: PLEASE LET ME HAVE THIS VERSION OF THE GAME.
Please, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
I have to believe there's a reason we never actually see him die. Standard fiction trope-reading suggests he'll be back and I really think this would be the best possible option for season 2.
At the beginning of season 1, Lee is on his way to jail. His life is ostensibly over. Kenny, similarly, has lost everything: his wife, his son and then the only companions he had left (whether he got on with them or not). He's in a fantastic position to find a new motivation. I personally believe it should be the same motivation as Lee: Clementine.
Lets say that was Omid and Christa on the hill and Clementine met up with them, a reunion with Kenny would be ripe for drama with differences arising from whether Lee said Omid and Christa should look after Clem or Kenny should.
More potential drama: If Lee killed Duck for Kenny, then later the boy in the attic, then Clementine killed Lee... how the hell does Kenny feel about that?! The little girl in his care nutted up and did what he couldn't, killed a loved one when all hope was lost.
I think it's a win for all players too. We all have some kind of emotional attachment to Kenny: If you liked Kenny you're playing as a character you like, if you didn't like him, you play in a way that turns him into someone worthy of your approval and of Lee's (hopefully) high standard of parenting.
TELLTALE: PLEASE LET ME HAVE THIS VERSION OF THE GAME.
Please, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Personally I'd like playing as Kenny. I really liked Kenny, so I think it'd be cool, even if it's only for a single episode.
How do you know for sure? That's a hard thing to gauge, isn't it? There's been a lot of negative opinion expressed about Kenny on this forum, no doubt. But it'd be a little ridiculous to think we encompass the entire WD fan community.
Every scenario we've discussed about the PC in season 2 has had its share of problems, but Kenny's simply strikes me as being the most effective as a direct continuation of season 1...assuming that's what Telltale is going for.
kenny's character is already made. He has a set personality now. I think it'd be cool to have him as a PC, but as of all that happened in season 1 and the negativity some people have of him, I don't think it'd work out. The PC will be a new person, one without a set personality that we can mold to match ourselves.
Yeah, but still. There are people who might not play just because of that fact.
Really? There's a sizeable group of fans who will cross their arms and shout "I hate Kenny, I'm not touching this game", no matter how much they loved the previous season?
I have no love for Lilly and wouldn't like the idea of her becoming the PC at all, but I'd pick up season 2 even if that turned out to be the case.
Yeah, well you and I don't speak for millions :P
That's what I was thinking. I can see it now! It'd be one hell of an opening! How about Kenny escapes to a point where he's safe and he can see Lee, Christa and Omid on a rooftop but they don't notice him no matter what you do? That'd be a gut punch for me, don't know about anyone else :P
Lee had personality, that's what made him a better PC than in most other games with choices involved. He was still the same guy, you just chose what difficult decisions that guy would make based on your own take on what's right and wrong.
Kenny at the end of season 5 is no more or less blank than Lee. He's lived through a bunch of experiences already but is at a big turning point now where his whole world view and reason to exist have been messed around. His exit from season 1 is the kind of thing that seems like the result of an in-game choice. Kenny is ready for us to control him. If you didn't like his character, wouldn't you relish the opportunity to redeem him? Make him who you want him to be?
That would definitely be a neat little way for Telltale to twist the knife, but I have a suspicion they'll make things even nastier than you predict. He could stumble across Lee's remains in the jewellery store by the end of episode 6, and depending on Clementine's actions in ep. 5, he could either be a corpse, or a fully turned walker, albeit one still handcuffed to the radiator. The player would then be forced into a real mindfuck situation where Kenny would have to kill the one character who was essentially "you" throughout the entirety of season 1.
That'd be powerful... unless he was still alive when you came to see him... maybe? Either way, it'd be an episode I'd be excited to play.
After listening to.. what I can safely say would be 95% of all gaming podcast's that had a Spoilercast/GOTY section with the Walking Dead..... (And this is why I started the why does everyone hate Kenny topic in the 1st place)
I higher amount of players hate Kenny and think he's an asshole then pro-Kenny players. No question.
None the less as a pro-Kenny guy I would love for him to take care of Clem. I told Omid & Christa that Kenny should be the one to do it as well.
Kenny would be more of the badass godfather :cool:. Lee's bro as the guardian eh? I think I'd prefer that, because I know he'll protect her either way
Kenny 4 Season 2 Main: Just say no.
On the contrary, i know a few people who had an absolute blast being a complete jerk the whole way through with Lee. Threatening Vernon was an exceptional highlight.
Though this is likely not the majority's opinion, it's not non-existent.
I rather see Kenny meet up with Clementine if I had a choice, but lets just hope Clementine will be ok in the long run.
Is he? He isn't always, and can be quite nice. And by about the end, he seemed to have calmed down after what had just so recently happened, and no matter what happens 'dies' putting others' lives before him. Right when we leave him his entire attitude and I'd say his personality changes, whether good or bad. I don't see why people say he was a dick, when he was mostly trying to protect his family. I can't not agree that what Ben did to get his family killed was stupid, and in real life probably would have let Ben go in episode 4, not entirely of revenge but just because you were trying to protect Clem, and because Ken is one of your main friends throughout the story. Kenny wasn't a bad guy, he just had his own way of seeing things. We look at the story as merely a game, but if you were to see it from Kenny's eyes, barely knowing anything of zombies and constantly having his and his family's lives at risk, I think his actions are fairly justified.
He will obviously save his son over a stranger he had just met, and I think if he had a gun in his hands would have undoubtedly saved both of them. He feels bad for letting Shawn die, but would you risk your life so blatantly over someone you don't know? When you have family to care for? When even saving him didn't guarantee he'd survive? Say he got Shawn out from under the tractor. So what? Walkers were invading the farm. You don't know how long it took before Hershel came with the gun, and if Shawn's body hadn't been there, might have gone after someone else once the fence broke.
Kenny usually had the right notions when arguing with Larry, as to how the Motel wasn't safe and that they couldn't last the Winter there. That walkers wouldn't stay in big towns forever, and that leaving while things were still clear was the best chance of action, maybe heading for the coast and getting off the mainland. Those were some GOOD points. Lilly's only defense was basically the pharmacy, that they needed to stay close for medicine for her father. After his death her only defense is that Kenny(and Lee) are murderers, that she doesn't trust the group after being with them for months on end.
If Lee defended Lilly, don't you think Kenny should be pissed? You are his friend, and should be helping him out to keep people safe. That and to protect your own little girl. If you don't he feels like you are putting him and everyone at risk. If you don't kill Larry in the meatlocker, Kenny will be upset. That is understandable. A 300 pound guy with a serious anger problem is enough a threat alone, but as a walker? With no weapons or way out? Even if saved what would keep him alive? There was no medicine for him there. By trying to 'save' Larry and wasting time instead of escaping immediately to save Kenny's family, he sees it that you not only went against him for a guy who hated your guts and already tried to kill you once, but put everyone in the meatlocker and his family at risk by trying to save someone who first of all wasn't worth saving, but was in truth impossible to save. You can argue you helped save his wife and kid, but did you? If you had died with Larry? You'd all be dead with exception of Ben and Doug/Carley. So I can understand the anger.
He loves his child, and cares for him deeply. If some stranger starts threatening to kill your son, wouldn't you be pissed off? And more yet, want your friend to stick up for him and help you out, even without considering you gave your friend and his girl a ride to Macon with nothing in return but company? Or by constantly reminding him his son was bitten,( after the fact that he was trying to leave the motor inn and you may have been deciding against that that also would put you at a cause for his family's death) and beating him up because he was in denial and upset doesn't make you a good friend. Leaving his son to turn doesn't make him feel better after all that happened.
After what happened, even though Kenny might not be entirely kind or the like, he had JUST lost his entire family in less than a couple minutes, not plus the fact someone with you was responsible for it. If you don't shoot the walker in the street when you are easily able to, can you understand if it angers Kenny? Especially since he saves you no matter what when Larry punches you out and helps you in ep 3 even if you were a douche to him(in his eyes).
When Omid isn't well, and you all have to stay in the house, constantly talking down the plan of the boat, when it was the entire reason they were there, obviously won't please Kenny. Then when all the boats are gone, he then loses all hope in the boat, and for a time gives up. Obviously no matter what he will be greatly upset, and although not helping you out no matter how you'd acted toward him could be seen as bad, he isn't completely thinking straight, nor is he in the best of moods.
Being a jerk to Christa and Omid or Molly or Vernon is understandable. Christa and Omid you've only known for days. Molly and Vernon are barely known. Of course Kenny wouldn't trust them, and considering Christa constantly acting like she is a member of the group or like she runs things would set any leader off.
If you haven't been a 'good friend' I wouldn't blame him doubting to help you. Kenny is a realistic character. You may not agree on how he 'keeps score', but it makes sense as some things weigh more than others. No matter what he waits for you to come back before leaving, which he didn't have to do. He could have easily left you. And then Ben, Christa, Omid, and Kenny would all be known as alive :P, safe on a boat.
In episode 5, he seems to calm down some from the losses he's had, even the new loss of the boat. When in the attic, threatening him, being a jerk to him, or overall assholish will of course set him off. Yeah, he may be talking as if you will die, but didn't you do the same with Duck? More than a couple times, yeah. And he is worried about your well-being and everyone elses'.
He is the one(I think) that proposes to cut your arm off, right? To stop you from turning, or at least buy you time.
He wants you on the boat, whether you lied of the bite or not. And no matter how jerkish you were.
If you hide your past from him, of course he'd be pissed. He thought he could trust you.
After escaping the house, he talks of the mistakes he'd made, and how he could have done better. Been a better father, a better husband, and a better FRIEND. That they'd get Clementine, with or without you.
If Ben is with you, he 'dies' putting Ben out of his misery and redeeming himself for acting the way he had from late ep 3 to late 4- early 5.
If Christa is, even though he still knows her little, he risks his life to save her when she risked her own for a walkie-talkie in a room potentially infested with zombies.
For the most part, he wasn't a jerk; just misunderstood. Yeah, at times morals weren't his priority, because he put the people with him first(ESPECIALLY his family).
Sorry for the rant, but people who talk about how much of a dick Kenny is pisses me off. He wasn't the best friend, nor anything else. That is what made him human. Made him realistic. In an apocalypse, he definitely is good enough. I can't say I'd like him as a PC, but Kenny would be interesting. Again, sorry.
And everyone can be a jerk, including your Lee :P
If the PC was Vernon.
"Lee, you have to kill Beatrice! You have to back me up on this!"
"Lee, you have to leave Omid behind! You have to back me up on this!"
"Lee, you have to kill Ben! You have to back me up on this!"
Kenny would also abandon a little girl to die over a personal grudge with Lee... Yeah.
Actually he wants you to leave Beatrice, so her blood-curdling screams will keep the walkers occupied, and gets fairly angry if you kill her.
"Lee, you have to abandon Beatrice on the street so I can get off to her screams of anguish! You have to back me up on this!"
Oh man I lol'd
He gets pissy if you don't kill Larry or Ben.
And those two instances seem to negate "all" of the help you give his family.
Hell, not helping him with his first murder (Larry) negates everything you did for Duck.
Tell me that's not fucked up.
I think you may be my favorite poster for the day. :guybrush:
Well, if personal revenge against Kenny means THAT much to you, how about another additional dialogue option:
"Kenny, you have to blow Duck's brains out so I can laugh my ass off while you cry like a girly man! You have to back me up on this!"
I think Kenny has a few words to say about that.
Kenny: WUT HAV U DONE 4 MY FAMILEE LEE????
Lee: Well, I helped save Duck at Hershal's place, stood up to Larry when he tried to throw him out, made sure he was fed......
Kenny: U DID NOT KILL LAREEE BITCH! YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!
Lee: <facepalm>
Meh, his "with me or against me" attitude was a personality flaw that just made him more human, IMO. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and all that. I only really fault the game for not giving us a dialogue option to call Kenny out on it.
KENNY: You didn't have my back when I needed you, Lee!
LEE: So I guess not helping you kill an old guy disqualifies saving your kid's life twice in a row?
KENNY: I...(frustrated pause, then with a grumble) Fuck you.
Seriously, one moment like that would have made all the difference.
I agree, it would have changed things completely, but they didn't make one.
It would have made him seem less of a psychotic maniac..... but they didn't.
It would have made him seem just desperate to survive.... but they didn't.
Instead, he seems like a backstabbing asswipe with a MDK fetish.
One comment would have changed it.
Had they made it.
....but they didn't.
Wat.
It's not a common sight when someone admits that not only did they like Duck, but they liked him a lot! I personally didn't dislike him, but he was fairly annoying. Barring that trait, i figure most people would garner a hatred for him because he drove the tractor over Shawn's leg, causing his death.
He may be a believable child, and putting him first in regards to "children and women first" types of things is fine and all, but that doesn't mean you need to like him.
Do tell, what made him charm your socks off?
"I'm the foreman. Lift with your back, Shawn!" :cool: