The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - A New Frontier Episode 3: Above the Law

Despite a lackluster ending to “Above the Law,” A New Frontier’s third episode kept me invested in Javi’s story, if not the plot as a whole. I’m a bit more wary heading into the latter half of the season after the jarring number of character entrances and exits in this episode, but if the strong character work continues, I’m more than willing to roll through the bumps of this mid-season episode. Telltale has found a sharp lens in Javi through which to analyze the ideas of family as bonds we’re forced into and choose to make ourselves. And he’s a lens, even in the season’s weakest moments, I still find myself wanting to help survive.

Above the Law is a sudden change of pace for this third season of The Walking Dead. Our hope is with the last two chapters the series can return on the right track.

Telltale have surprised me before, and for Clementine’s sake, I hope they manage it again by the end of this season. Otherwise, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier may join the series with a whimper, rather than a ferocious zombie bite.

Given that we’re now officially halfway through the season, Episode 3 of A New Frontier feels more like it is just getting started rather than reaching a big revelation or story point that feels like it will guide the remainder of the season.

We’re used to cliffhanger endings, but Above The Law doesn’t end on a particularly good one – it fizzles out with a whimper. However, as far as mid-season episodes go it’s enjoyable overall, setting the tone for the final two episodes to come. There may be no surprises in the story here, but the personal conflicts more than make up for it; I’m excited to see how much more heartbreak they bring. Let’s just hope the next episode gets here before we all decompose.

Above the Law certainly delivers where it matters most. A New Frontier’s third episode continued to tell its dark overarching story, while not forgetting about its rich characters and their motives. Unfortunately, its ending felt all too cliche and predictable, making this fall just short of the episodes that preceded it. With that said, Above the Law definitely feels like the ‘calm before the storm’ episode and does a good job of moving things forward.

Far from the standard established by the first two chapters.

Not a great effort: Above the Law does not deliver true drama, a good progression of characters, and some serious action.

Above the Law is a decent continuation of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier‘s story, but still a bit of a come-down from Episode 1 and 2. It does succeed in setting the stage for Episode 4, and with a few characters’ fates hanging in the balance and questions left unanswered, chances are most players who have come this far will see the rest of the season through.

As much as Above the Law advances A New Frontier’s narrative and sets up what will inevitably be a chaotic battle for Richmond, there just isn’t enough to do this time around.

Overall the storyline is good but sometimes poorly executed, with one example being when a group a survivors have the time to sit down and chat about life (complete with violin-esque music) in the middle of man hunt and impeding zombie attack on their community. In saying that though, the character developments and the evolving relationships between them makes the game genuinely interesting and engaging. And you cannot help but have a concern for their welfare.