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

An amazing emotional experience that trips and stumbles, but shows what Telltale is capable off.

Above the Law corrects a lot of the missteps from the first two episodes and also benefits from the narrative scaffolding they painstakingly laid. If nothing else, this episode illustrates that the season is on a trajectory of improvement. The fact that Clementine is a supporting character still stings, but the pain in my heart when she makes an offhanded comment about Lee from season one suggests her character (and all the baggage she carries) remains emotionally resonant.

A New Frontier Episode 3 leaves you eager for more, delivering compelling, engrossing new details in the unfolding story, with great potential for the next two installments. Without a doubt, the finale of this season of The Walking Dead will be utterly gut-wrenching and satisfying, and players with love for this franchise – or even just Telltale Games on their own, as storytellers – shouldn't hesitate to take the plunge with The Walking Dead: A New Frontier.

The episode does move the story along at a pretty good clip, and it feels like a pretty substantial and dangerous shift for the group as a whole. The ending has a big cliffhanger, and it’ll be interesting to see how that resolves in the next episode. Hopefully the wait for that isn’t too long, because The New Frontier certainly has its hooks in me thus far.

There are scenes here that feel placed out of obligation rather than necessity, and it’s what makes this episode a weaker installment than the debut. But A New Frontier still engages with its characters, world, and direction. The ending only leaves me wanting more and that’s what The Walking Dead is supposed to do.

It’s nice to know that one of the biggest complaints with the previous two episodes has been addressed: “Above the Law” is significantly longer than the earlier installments. Also, for those wondering about Clem, she gets plenty of screentime here, especially in the latter half, and we get a few more hints as to what happened to her between seasons. While her flashback scene is as short as ever, I have a feeling that, given this episode’s ending, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the near future.

It's easy to dismiss video games as escapism, and often they provide just enough of that to forget about the troubles and trials we all encounter in our days among the living. When a game has more to say about the world and our place in it, it can often be a frightening prospect to have to confront those topics when just trying to forget about world beyond the walls for a few hours. Telltale's The Walking Dead: A New Frontier has been much more of the former, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes you have to be hurt to know what it's like to be alive.

It'll be curious to see where the next episode of The Walking Dead: A New Frontier goes from here. The retread of similar plotlines from both the comic and TV show feels stale in Above the Law, even with the slight twist regarding the new characters. At the same time, the character development balances that out, and they remain as engaging as before. The last two episodes will determine if the season can pull through, but for now, prepare for some rehash.

This episode flew by at the swiftness of a baseball bat or bullet. While I hesitate to say that this was worth the wait because I do not want to encourage Telltale's practice of delayed releases, the fact of the matter is that I love this new season as much as I have seasons 1 and 2, albeit in slightly different ways. The series has matured nicely alongside Clementine — I just wish Telltale's release schedule would do the same.

Where the next episode goes from here is anyone’s guess, but there is absolutely a showdown brewing in Richmond, and misery is sure to be included in the aftermath. Rather than looking forward to any kind of conclusion to the main plot, the smaller subplots revolving around family are what have kept me thinking about the future of the season. I just hope that, given how quick the tide can come in during the closing episodes, that this family is strong enough to endure what comes.

A decent attempt, on par with an episode of television’s “Fear The Walking Dead”, aimed solely at hardcore Robert Kirkman fans. It is high time Telltale re-evaluated it’s golden formula if it wishes to keep the broader gaming public engaged.

Despite a lack of traversable areas and series-renowned stressful choices, “Above the Law” represents a solid and polished episode of the latest The Walking Dead season, thanks to some intriguing conflicts and character moments. While the season still doesn’t feel like it quite knows where it’s headed next, the intermediate episode gives players plenty of reasons to continue following the drama of the Garcia brothers.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier continues with a great rhythm in its third chapter. Even though it is a transition episode, it answers previous questions and generates more for the future.

If Above the Law is any indication, the next two episodes are going to be something special.

It may not have the same levels of engagement as previous episodes, but the character development is on point, and some of the busier moments are delivered with aplomb.

Proving that this series can stand alongside its predecessors, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 3 is another fantastic entry from Telltale. The wait was long, but the improvements in story and overall stability were worth it.