Why Luke's Characterization is Actually Great
I've noticed a lot of people on this forum complaining a lot about where Telltale is headed with Luke's characterization, that they think he's a "screw up" or that Kenny is overshadowing him, but I'd like to argue in favor of Luke's writing. I actually think it's brilliant because his entire character is a deconstruction.
For a while I didn't like Luke because I assumed he was meant to be this two-dimensional Flynn Rider type, and it came off as so lazy and so dull to me, so I resented him. But when episode 3 rolled around I realized that this is what he was EXACTLY meant to be... but at the same time, not at all.
Luke is a deconstruction of the Ideal Hero. In this universe, we've learned a long time ago that you can't be the Ideal Hero--that is to say, the person who always makes the right choice and always finds a way to do what's morally right and save everyone. We learn that our actions have consequences and sometimes we have to hurt people or leave them behind. It's impossible to be the Ideal Hero.
But Luke very much wants to be this. He's got his big ideas and his big plans, he's got charisma and the stubbornness and the enthusiasm, he's got all the makings of a hero, but he simply CAN'T be that. The world is too cruel and too unforgiving, the humans in it are too complex and unpredictable, he HIMSELF is too complex, and when you try too hard to try and still be that Ideal Hero, your actions end up a lot more pragmatic than you intended them to be. It's interesting to me because Luke, at this point, is essentially a Pragmatic Hero but it's a weird pragmatism, it's an unintentional pragmatism that's done with idealistic intent.
Let's go over some of Luke's questionable actions:
Right off the bat, Luke is our hope spot in episode 1. When he carries Clementine through the woods we all get this feeling of, "Okay. We're safe. We have our 'Lee' now." But then he notices she's bitten and drops her. Luke will fight on to protect Clementine because she's a child but only when he wants to make her his Cause--the other half of the time he'll utilize her when it's convenient for him, when his Cause becomes "the good of the group" again. He deprives himself of sleep and starves himself following the group night and day back to Carver’s camp, working up these PLANS and STRATEGIES to get it and save the dya, but it’s not like the movies, it’s not like video games, you have to eat and rest and when he finally reaches his breaking point and caves and tries to steal food, he ends up accidentally screwing himself and the group over. And I think what really drove it home for me was him suggesting leaving behind Kenny and Sarita—he’ll refuse to kill Carver, the Big Bad of the first three episode, when he’s got him at his mercy, but he’ll sentence these people to death as long as he’s not the one pulling the trigger.
There's this strange kind of hypocrisy to him and it's not even intentional--it's all with really, really good intentions, like it's obvious to me that Luke genuinely means well. But this universe is fighting against him--you can't be good. You can't save the little girl because you're in a world where bites are dangerous and throwing her on the ground means survival. You can't choose to spare the bad guys, you can't push yourself to the limit and run of good faith, you can't just use people like tools and ignore the consequences of your actions as if it all folds into your plot, because humans are complex.
I didn't realize this about Luke until episode 3 but it's foreshadowed by Nick in episode 2, when he tells you about their failed business venture--"his big plan. Some fuckin' plan." In his brief words, Nick tells you everything you need to know about Luke, everything we're going to come to learn about him: he gets these grandiose ideas that always fall through, and he ropes in people who are lost or vulnerable or dependent on him who agree because they have nothing else, and he pulls them down with them.
In my eyes, Luke has gone from one of the blandest characters in the game to one of the most intriguing. His ENTIRE CHARACTER is a deconstruction.
In a nutshell, his entire purpose is to remind us that in this world, heroes do not exist. They CAN'T.
For a while I didn't like Luke because I assumed he was meant to be this two-dimensional Flynn Rider type, and it came off as so lazy and so dull to me, so I resented him. But when episode 3 rolled around I realized that this is what he was EXACTLY meant to be... but at the same time, not at all.
Luke is a deconstruction of the Ideal Hero. In this universe, we've learned a long time ago that you can't be the Ideal Hero--that is to say, the person who always makes the right choice and always finds a way to do what's morally right and save everyone. We learn that our actions have consequences and sometimes we have to hurt people or leave them behind. It's impossible to be the Ideal Hero.
But Luke very much wants to be this. He's got his big ideas and his big plans, he's got charisma and the stubbornness and the enthusiasm, he's got all the makings of a hero, but he simply CAN'T be that. The world is too cruel and too unforgiving, the humans in it are too complex and unpredictable, he HIMSELF is too complex, and when you try too hard to try and still be that Ideal Hero, your actions end up a lot more pragmatic than you intended them to be. It's interesting to me because Luke, at this point, is essentially a Pragmatic Hero but it's a weird pragmatism, it's an unintentional pragmatism that's done with idealistic intent.
Let's go over some of Luke's questionable actions:
Right off the bat, Luke is our hope spot in episode 1. When he carries Clementine through the woods we all get this feeling of, "Okay. We're safe. We have our 'Lee' now." But then he notices she's bitten and drops her. Luke will fight on to protect Clementine because she's a child but only when he wants to make her his Cause--the other half of the time he'll utilize her when it's convenient for him, when his Cause becomes "the good of the group" again. He deprives himself of sleep and starves himself following the group night and day back to Carver’s camp, working up these PLANS and STRATEGIES to get it and save the dya, but it’s not like the movies, it’s not like video games, you have to eat and rest and when he finally reaches his breaking point and caves and tries to steal food, he ends up accidentally screwing himself and the group over. And I think what really drove it home for me was him suggesting leaving behind Kenny and Sarita—he’ll refuse to kill Carver, the Big Bad of the first three episode, when he’s got him at his mercy, but he’ll sentence these people to death as long as he’s not the one pulling the trigger.
There's this strange kind of hypocrisy to him and it's not even intentional--it's all with really, really good intentions, like it's obvious to me that Luke genuinely means well. But this universe is fighting against him--you can't be good. You can't save the little girl because you're in a world where bites are dangerous and throwing her on the ground means survival. You can't choose to spare the bad guys, you can't push yourself to the limit and run of good faith, you can't just use people like tools and ignore the consequences of your actions as if it all folds into your plot, because humans are complex.
I didn't realize this about Luke until episode 3 but it's foreshadowed by Nick in episode 2, when he tells you about their failed business venture--"his big plan. Some fuckin' plan." In his brief words, Nick tells you everything you need to know about Luke, everything we're going to come to learn about him: he gets these grandiose ideas that always fall through, and he ropes in people who are lost or vulnerable or dependent on him who agree because they have nothing else, and he pulls them down with them.
In my eyes, Luke has gone from one of the blandest characters in the game to one of the most intriguing. His ENTIRE CHARACTER is a deconstruction.
In a nutshell, his entire purpose is to remind us that in this world, heroes do not exist. They CAN'T.
Sign in to comment in this discussion.
Comments
And i fooking love your Avatar
Him and Kenny are so different but both great characters.
Luke's obviously being positioned as an important player, so I'm inclined to believe that he's going to be at the centre of a major plot twist or even have that act of pure heroism over the next two episodes. What I've also taken into account that his presence in this Season is designed to be another figure Clementine becomes emotionally attached to, only to be ripped away in the end.
Nice writing, Telltale. Very nice indeed.
Luke is necessary to keep the group's moral compass in check, yet Kenny is also necessary because he isn't afraid to do whatever is necessary to protect the group. He can also keep his cool and think clearly in a situation where someone like Kenny would most likely act brashly.
Luke's biggest weakness are his idealistic morals in a world where they don't quite fit anymore. He's trying to hold onto them, and having a hard time at it. I think for him to see a kid like Clem say something like "Just shoot Carver" would completely wreck him from the inside.
Just like Sarita said about Matthew and Walter, "Honestly, it's dangerous to be this kind in this world. But they can't help it..."
I feel that Clementine is slotted somewhere between the two, trying to pull both ends to the middle of the spectrum. If you think about it, Kenny's relationship with Luke isn't that dissimilar from the one he shared with Lilly.
Also, "it's not like video games". Seriously? :)
I think this is why a lot of people don't like Luke. He's built up to be the big "Hero" but falls short. People's expectations get dashed, disappointment sets in, and they begin hating and resenting him for being human. It's not fair to his character.
I still believe in Luke though. He's my favorite character this season(Nick's a close second).
In a way, I hope Rebecca survives the ordeal because I think her character could become increasingly interesting once she gives birth. She could become Mother Earth or an alpha she-wolf.
So we meet Luke in the forest and get our ass saved by him and Pete. Fair play, he's just helped a little girl which I'm sure anyone with a level head would. On the way back to the cabin Luke spots the blood on the arm and throws Clem to the floor. Why would you do that? Ok so there is blood on there and it might be a bite and I can understand you would be in shock but she isn't going to turn that very second. Then he starts vocally assaulting her about it.
So we finally get back to the cabin. Everyone starts suggesting we put Clem in the shed. EVERYONE. Luke isn't opposed to the idea of it, he might say to give her the benefit of the doubt but doesn't do anything amazing to stop us going in. He won't even give you any blankets or food, not even a little something to clean it up. Alvin give more of a shit than him.
Nothing much happened at dinner I would consider dickish. He was quite friendly towards Clem.
Episode 2 is when his inner douche begins to shine. So were getting away from the cabin because Carver is following us. This means that the cabin group has pulled us into THEIR problems. Ok then, I guess we were back at the house when that happened so it's not really anyones fault.
Luke was nice letting Clem take the small walker no keep her out of any danger. He respects her even if she wants to go for the big walker so he gets brownie points for that.
Crossing the bridge. Talking to Matthew, why let a little girl do all the talking? Is he an idiot. You don't entrust a little girl with something that dangerous. The guy had a gun and could of been anyone.
So this part is what adds Luke some dick points. When Nick comes running in with a rifle what does Luke do? He starts shouting and flailing his arms around like he is in destress. Isn't that gonna trigger something in Nick? I mean it looked like he and Clem were at gunpoint and they needed help. If anything, Matthews death was Luke's fault. Then he has the nerve to verbaly abuse Nick about it and pin the blame on him AND bring Pete into the equasion.
Dinner table time. So you take a seat with whoever you want but I'll focus on the Kenny one because I know it best (Wonder why? ;) ). So Kenny asks you if you want to stay, lets just say you say that beforehand and you have both agreed upon this. You've went over to catch up with Kenny, the guy you haven't seen in 2 years. Then Nick and Luke can't be away from you for 5 fuckin' seconds and invite the table. If they took a seat and then small talked then that's fine but Luke lays down ground rules what he is taking Clem and Nick insults Kenny's plan. That's when he takes offense and fights back. He didn't start the argument. Then if you tell Luke you are staying with Kenny he gets all butthurt about it and thinks you should head out with him and the group because you've known them a week and they've done SO much for you.
So now Luke has finally clicked on that Matthew was part of the lodge group. He then wants to hide the knife and lie to Walter. Don't you think he should have a right to know? Luke certainly doesn't and then he wants you to lie to Nick about it. If you disagree he starts to verbally assault Nick and Clem about it. Practically forcing you to throw out the knife and lie regardless about what you think.
Near the end he takes off when the group is in danger by Carver. Wow great going Luke, hope you enjoy the hike. Kenny and Luke could of rescued the group together if it wasn't for him taking off like that. Kenny stood a good chance by himself. If we had two people taking on Carver and his goons I'm sure we would of stood a much better chance.
Episode 3. So Luke is absent for most of the episode, well about half. He finally comes back and has an 'amazing' plan to sneak past 25 armed guards and steal some radios. Nice going Luke. Although I give him respect for not having food and sleep for possibly 2 days or more.
However his stupidity and plan cost Kenny an eye and the man took a beating for him, in turn loosing his eye. It could of been Luke or someone from the cabin group taking that beating if Kenny didn't step up.
Then scumbag Luke comes out of nowhere and suggests we just leave Kenny behind, the man that took a beating for him. I can understand where Luke is coming from because if it was anyone else asides from Kenny and Sarita I would of been ok leaving them behind and I'm sure Kenny would but come on Luke at least show some respect for the guy.
Now 'hardass Luke' is gone and ' no balls Luke' has taken the stage. Carver, the bastard that captured them, tortured many of them, caused hurt and pain, murdered several people and brought down suffering to more than a few people. Luke thinks killing him 'isn't right'. What is up with that? He was fine leaving Kenny behind beforehand and now it comes to wiping this scumbag off the earth and he's having a hard time? Dafuq Luke?
Not saying you have to agree but this is just my opinion on Luke.
The hypocrisy is then turning around and not wanting to shoot Carver. I think Luke recognizes the practical and hard decisions that must be made but then doesn't have it in his heart to follow through with them. I get the distinct impression that if Kenny had never woken up and the others had agreed to leave him and go that night, Luke would have backed off of that plan and started trying to figure out ways to bring Kenny along or wait.
You are right in that he's trying to be the moral character in a world where some morals must be sacrificed in order to survive. He tries his best but wanting to save everyone doesn't mean you will. Where I disagree with you is that I don't think Luke has some sort of hero complex. I think he's more of a "I want to help everyone I can", in the moment kind of guy. If that means accepting that someone must get left behind or accepting that it's dangerous to give a man closure over his dead partner, then so be it. He doesn't seem to care about necessarily appearing the big hero to others because if he did, he'd be more balls to the wall like Kenny and not sneaking around all the time. He's practical but his practicality has not yet worked out. And he's willing in theory to make the hard choices but he's not a hardened soul and can't really follow through. Not yet, anyways.
Edit: Also, the more I think about it, the more I think that Kenny and Luke being leaders together (if they respected and trusted each other) would combine two very good elements. Kenny is hardened and willing to follow through with most hard choices and Luke is there as a moral compass and to hold back impulsive and reckless decisions. They would fill in in each other what each of them lacks.
I think TTG may be setting us up for the rumored "ice cream and pizza" decision, which was theorized to be Luke and Kenny. If it's true, the choice definitely won't be easy. Both characters have their own individual shortcomings, and I imagine we'll get to see the broad spectrum of them before the season is over.
That's a theory I had. Maybe I'm overanalysing it and he's just friendly and with other more plausible reasons behind his actions, but this was a thought that came to me.
Luke's desire to form a bond with Clementine actually makes me wonder whether he may have had a little sister before the ZA.