Without a doubt a weaker game than Season One. It's clear the O.G. writers for Season One walked out fairly early in this sequel's development. It absolutely has its moments: Carver is a fantastic villain, I love the challenging approach they took to Kenny's character, and I love how this game does not go easy on its main character because she's a kid. But, even though I've played through this a good two or three times, I can't say I've ever cared for most of the cast. Whether or not you loved or hated them, the cast in Season One still felt like people. In Season Two, half of the time, they feel like tragedy fodder--which sums up this season fairly well. Season One was about a challenging world, but it focused more on the people in that world than their untimely deaths. There were moments of tragedy, but they always felt graceful. In Season Two? Yeah, fuck it, kill that pregnant woman right before she gives birth. We're not even going to give this character time before we move on to the next setpiece. Traaaagic, bro. That person you were friends with two or three (I don't remember, to be honest) episodes ago? Fuck it, kill her, too. Too tragic, bro. It all feels grim without feeling entirely warranted, like they wanted to raise the stakes that were in the first game without realizing that that's a stupid idea.

I don't love or hate this one; I've always been more split on it. Maybe I'll replay it one day and have more of an appreciation for it or a reason to say the first game's better. But for now, eh?