How is Nick the new Ben?
I know that Nick definately "the screw up" in the cabin group, however I personally think that it's a bit exaggerated to call him the new Ben.
(First I just want to say that I actually like both characters and I'm not hating)
The two biggest faults I can think of Nick doing is to shoot at Clementine in the beginning shooting Matthew on the bridge.
Other than those two he just seems a bit whiny, but I personally think all those faults is pretty easy compared to Ben's.
Ben started dealing with bandits in hope of helping the group (and also his friend that he thought they had) which later led to the bandits attacking with no one in Lee's group suspecting since it had been so calm before, then didn't confess even though atleast my Lee told him he wouldn't have to leave the group. He left Clementine when attacked by walkers instead of trying to do anything to help, told Kenny about the motor inn at completely the wrong moment causing the group to get distracted and let's not forget the hatchet in the door.
Now if we compare the victims of the screw-ups:
Nick:
The unknown man Matthew who might aswell have been a scumbag (though I didn't think he would be and got really pissed when he died.) I agree that it was a huge screw up but I can actually see where he came from. This hurt good guy Walter since his lover got killed but didn't lead to his death.
Other than that I can't really think of any bigger losses (though I might have missed something)
Ben:
The attack at the inn lead to Duck getting bitten, causing Katjaa to kill herself. Lilly shot Carley/Doug because of the paranoia and leaves the group. Brie gets killed because of the distraction from telling Kenny about his family. It's also possible that he gets Molly killed if you don't manage to shoot the walker attacking her (or brought Clementine)
Once again, I actually like Ben as a character (He's amusing as hell) and just think it's weird that Nick becomes Ben 2 from two mistakes (And getting drunk at comepletely the wrong time).
Both are good guys but while Ben is a lot more scared of admitting his mistakes, quietely worries about them and definately made a lot more of them (though season 2 i still young, there's more time for Nick to walk in Ben's footsteps.) Nick is a lot more admitting and openely regretful about his faults and has not done nearly enough mistakes to already be seen as Ben Jr.
Once again, I might have missed alot of things and if so, I'm sorry. I would just like to know why people already call Mr Mulletman a Ben-copy?
Comments
They're both young and stupid. Nick will end up messing more stuff up and will eventually be as bad as Ben.
I'm not above joining in on the Ben 2.0 jokes, because they're funny, but in actuality Nick really isn't much like Ben. Yeah, they're both young and traumatized and make mistakes, but Nick shocked me in season 2 episode 1 when he just came up to Clementine and apologized for almost shooting her. I was so used to characters in this game who never owned up to their mistakes that it really took me off guard, and ever since that I've liked him.
Not to rag on Ben here, but in season 1 episode 5, Lee called out to him to protect Clementine from a group of walkers in the street, but he panicked and ran. If you were with Nick in the shed at the beginning of season 2 episode 2, there's a group of walkers outside, ready to swarm, but instead of thinking for himself, Nick tells you to run and that he'll distract them.
Honestly I see more similarities between him and Lilly than any other character, but the truth is that at the end of the day, he's his own character. If there's anything I trust Telltale with, it's to write complex, multi-layered, and realistic characters, and no two people will be the same. The joking is fine but when it comes down to it we have to respect Nick as his own character who isn't going to make decisions like previous ones we may see similarities between.
There can be only one Ben!
He isn't. Against popular belief: People are all unique individuals. There is only one of everything. One Ben, one Lee, one Kenny, one me, one you. Nick will always be Nick and while he may share a bit of Ben's characteristics, he will never be Ben.
I agree with this post. Nick definitely isn't the new Ben. Ben literally couldn't do anything, at least Nick can shoot a gun and takes care of himself. (Not hating on Ben)
nick isn't the new ben, because no matter what ben couldn't die till the end of episode 4. Nick is possibly already dead at the end of episode 2.
I feel the same way, I don't mind the jokes at all. Frankly, most of them are pretty damn funny, it's more the hate Nick gets for being "similar" to Ben that confuses me. Glad that I'm not the only one atleast! (I know that Nick actually has a pretty big fanbase but I just seem to never really see it)
Definately!
I agree completely. The day I meet a character in the Walking Dead world that is 100% similar to another character is the day I'll for the first time become disappointed with TWD series.
I've noticed that he has a much bigger fanbase on Tumblr, but the disadvantage is there's a lot of people (not all! but a lot of them) misinterpreting him as a helpless innocent who needs Luke to tie his shoes for him, and that's not Nick either, not by a long shot. I dunno. I feel like a lot of people there only like him because they need to pair Luke with someone. I don't think shipping is bad, but it's not fair to bastardize a really well written character because you want him to fit into your little OTP muffin tray.
I like Nick because I relate to him. He's pretty guarded but deep down he's a good person and really does mean well, and he makes mistakes and has some definite self-esteem issues but that shouldn't define him. He's a good character. I can see why people don't like him, but I don't know. I'm hoping he gets a redemption arc before his likely imminent death.
And that makes me sad :<
Yeah I actually never really join in on any shipping either (especially not when it's about two characters who are obviously good friends) and I really do think that he should get more props for being a good characters. His apology surprised me too in the first episode since I totally though that he were gonna be the reckless douchebag of the season, however now he's actually one of my favorite characters. He seems so chill once he starts to trust you!
But yeah, I know he'll most likely die in episode 3 which really sucks but, like you said, hopefully he'll atleast a good redemption before he goes.
At least Nick is somewhat likable. That part when he talks like Carlos was golden.
Not only you
Ben:
* stealing supplies, dealing with bandits
* lying to group and Doug/Carley dies as a result
* leaving Clem alone at street full of walkers
* taking weapon which was blocking the doors in Crawford
but
* telling Kenny the truth
* going to help Clem when Lee's bitten
Nick:
* almost shooting Clem
* shooting Matthew
but
* saying "sorry" to Clem
* saving Clem from walkers in the woods
* telling Walter the truth
* talking with group - not hiding that "he's loosing it"
* KILLING WALKERS
Sorry if I forget something, can't remember more now...
So... Nick = new Ben? I don't think so!
Shitbird 2.0
I find Nick way more interesting and likable than Ben. Although I like Ben and feel sorry for him, Nick is a character that I can relate to. His insecurity and doubt about himself is something that I can relate to and I could only imagine how tough and difficult it must be for him to kill his own mother. At first glance, he seems like a jerk, but when he apologized, I was quick to forgive him. The fact that he shows remorse for his actions, shows that he cares. Regarding on him being helpless, I didn't think he is. He can defend himself competently enough against walkers.
When people say "Nick's the new Ben", I think they're referring to how he keeps screwing up and that some players think he's annoying.
Ben didn't know how to handle situations in the post-apocalyptic world and became stressed resulting in him continually messing things up for other people. He tried to help in whatever he thought was the right thing to do but no matter what he did, it ended up hurting people. He barely did anything useful and the things that he did do right (showing Lee that the train could run in S01E03) was too minor to be seen as anything to improve his character. I think a lot of people didn't like him because his decisions kept hurting the group in one way or the other. The others kept telling him to do better but that just put more pressure on him. His constant bad decision-making annoyed us especially when we told him to help Clem when they were being cornered by walkers at the start of episode 4 but he runs away instead leaving them to be eaten.
Nick on the other hand, well, we haven't seen too too much of yet (Season's not finished yet). We know he screws up too and makes split-second decisions depending on how he feels the situation is playing out (Nick shooting Matthew because he thought he was going to shoot when Clem and Luke specifically told Nick not to do it). The difference I find between the two though is that Nick actually helps out (he isn't as useless as Ben was (so far)). He does some good but with the loss of his mom and uncle pete, he becomes depressed and begins to make poor decisions. Also, the fact that an 11 year old is supposed to look over a young adult is a little sad (although not in this case because this 11 year old is the mature Clem!!), it's just like when Lee told Clem to watch Ben at Crawford in episode 4. Also, if you save Nick at the end of S02E01, he's very whiny at the start of the next episode in the shed.
I don't necessarily think he's the new Ben but he does come close in some cases. I think he's just the most Ben-like person in Season 2.
(sorry for any errors or mis-thoughts I might have typed)
The guys a little mistake prone. Last episode he was a bit off his rocker too. But he's not anything near what Ben was. At least Nick can basically take care of himself. He not Rambo but he's survived situations already that Ben wouldn't have.
Nick is worst than ben because nick directly pulled the trigger on someones head he meant to shoot someone on purpose while ben never killed anyone directly or on purpose
They are just similar
That doesn't really answer anything honestly... Ben never killed someone on purpose while Nick did so to protect the group.
Yes I'm sure everyone, including me, got really pissed when Matthew got shot but we should also consider that Nick is a bit of a trigger-finger who saws an unknown man aiming a gun at his friends during a zombie apocalypse. I agree that it was a huge bad mess up but I can understand how it happened.
And once again, it still doesn't answer why people would compare him to Ben, shooting someone he sees as a danger to the group is more like a Lilly thing to do if it's neccessery to find someone from the old group to compare with. Although like many stated, Nick's Nick.
I honestly miss Ben.
Lee killed a man before the apocalypse, Lilly shot Carley point-blank (and tried to shoot Ben, but accidentally shot Doug), and Kenny dropped a salt lick on a man's head. Are they all worse than Ben as well?
them being mentioned in the same sentence is disgusting. Nick is awesome ben was not(well he wasn't all bad he tried redeeming himself at the end).
Nick has saved clem. Ben has not.
Nick actually contributes to the group. Ben did not
Nick is honest. Ben was not(at first)
The thing is, Nick had no reason whatsoever to suspect Matthew. Matthew wasn't aiming his gun, first of all, and I have a hard time believing Nick didn't hear Luke shouting, but even if we grant that possibility, no hostage would be waving his arms like that as a signal to shoot. His intentions may have been in the right place, but I just don't think there's any justifying what he did given what we see occur, other than just being really, really stupid. And to be fair, he understands that he blew it big time. I don't hate him as much as I used to after seeing that outcome.
I actually have compared this case with Lilly before (not their characters, though), and I maintain the same thing I do in that case too: Nick's and Lilly's frenzied states of mind are explanations for their actions, but most certainly not defenses.
I was just kidding, man. If anything Nick is one of my favorite characters in the new group. Right under Pete, of course.