On the flipside, there’s an inconsistency in the portrayal of both Luke and Rebecca. Thankfully it doesn’t last too long before events get out of control and he resumes position as the group’s leader, helping establish a plan of action. This disturbing downturn was a frightful reminder of the disdain I had for Kenny, and of the history he and Clementine shared, in the previous season. However, there’s a glimpse of Kenny’s prior chaotic, impulsive emotion in this episode as he turns against the group, raising fear for his own safety and those around him. Once an angry and selfish man, this season he’s become a more refined and selfless character who shares in Clementine’s hardships.
#The walking dead season two episode 4 amid the ruins series#
Kenny is once again another highlight, as he has been for the series as a whole.
Though not immediately obvious when first confronted with them, the majority of decisions that appear to divert the story in a particular direction always comes back to a singular path a few scenes later, and all attempts to avoid inevitable outcomes are in vain. Unfortunately, this illusion of choice, a trick that’s been executed with mixed results throughout the series, proves to be particularly transparent in Amid the Ruins.
I found myself shrieking on multiple occasions as I witnessed the aftermath of choices I had anxiously considered before the timer ran out. That made the decisions feel ever more impactful, especially given how uncertain their eventual outcomes would be. This close emotional connection to Clementine frequently resulted in my picking dialogue options and making tough choices based on what I felt a matured and kind-hearted Clementine would do rather than what I as a player perceived to be the best option.
Their interactions are delicately handled and intertwined with past memories, such as a reference Jane makes with regard to Clementine’s hair being tied back. This instilled in me a similar sense of nurturing protection for Clementine that Lee inspired in season one. As a polar opposite, Jane comes out of her shell in this episode as a guardian, teaching Clementine valuable advice and expressing a somewhat reluctant fondness for her young friend. Sarah, whose immaturity has always been something of a burden, once again relies on Clementine to function as her protector, to the extent where, in dire situations and against the group’s advice, I found myself unable to give up on her. Once again Clementine functions as the group’s crutch, working harder than all of the adults combined to maintain morale and keep everyone moving forward. Taumatised by recent events, Kenny has become is a broken man, a shadow of his former self, while Rebecca is on the verge of delivering her child prematurely and Sarah is almost literally paralysed by fear. Since this is The Walking Dead, of course, such a process is never straightforward. This episode revolves around the group trying to decide their next steps and secure a safe haven. It’s a traumatic introduction that sets the tone for the episode as a whole, an ultimately morbid affair that plummets the short-lived relief of escaping the Carver's clutches into a state of perpetual despair. Resuming right where the last episode left off, we first find Clementine faced with the aftermath of her (or rather, your) earlier choice to hatchet a companion’s limb or the zombie attached to it. It’s a grim episode that packs a slew of surprise punches, making it one of the most engaging this season. The fourth instalment of The Walking Dead’s second season, Amid the Ruins, removes whatever slim hopes might have remained for a peaceful conclusion, as the penultimate episode brings the group to their lowest point with a barrage of obstacles and continual conflicts that see death and dysfunction become commonplace before reaching its gripping cliffhanger ending.
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