The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 2: Give No Shelter Reviews
“Give No Shelter” still doesn’t do much to stand out among everything else in The Walking Dead’s universe, but it does make a more compelling case for its main character’s struggle.
While the presentation continues to go from strength to strength, almost everything else falls spectacularly flat.
The Walking Dead: Michonne's second episode, "Give No Shelter," manages to give a bit more insight into our protagonist's past and motivations, even if it still feels like we've been down this road before.
Michonne is undoubtedly a strong star, but the rest of the characters fall short as a supporting cast — they’re mostly backdrops and mirrors for Michonne to look into. It doesn’t hurt her character development, but it takes some of the emotion out of otherwise-powerful scenes that clearly affect Michonne deeply. Going into the third and final episode, those characters and the story overall have a chance to go in a more interesting direction, but for now, Michonne must carry it all.
This miniseries is moving forward very quickly, packing more action in two short episodes than a typical Telltale season gets in the same amount of time. It might seem as though that pace is too rapid for any chance at real characterization, but that isn’t the case. In 'Give No Shelter,' nearly all of the fat has been stripped away from the supporting cast to make way for Michonne, and the series is all the better for it.
This second, short, episode in Telltale’s latest Walking Dead series continues to be a fairly engaging study of Michonne’s character, but struggles to generate much attachment to the other players in its familiar tale of capture-and-pursuit.
The second episode of Michonne’s story improves on the first, but the same old Telltale technical issues lurk like a herd of walkers in the shadows.
At the end of it all, however, episode 2 of The Walking Dead: Michonne is brutal and unforgiving in all the best ways. Our heroine struggles not just in her present predicament, but also in the past with the loss of her family.
The second episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne continues where the first episode left off, but delivers less of a consistent experience than the season premiere.
Episode 2 of The Walking Dead: Michonne does an excellent job at improving upon the foundations set by the first. While the reoccurring graphical glitches that are common with Telltale games still make an appearance, the episode is so immersive and intense that they are only a minor nuisance in an otherwise great game. Episode 2 leaves me thoroughly excited for the final episode and that’s a testament to the work and improvements made by Telltale with this second episode.
This is a strong second episode with plenty to offer The Walking Dead fans, but it does nothing to battle any criticisms you might have of Telltale’s handling of interaction, nor any concerns you have about the length of each instalment. Play it for Michonne, the strong atmosphere and the drama, but don’t expect a game that challenges you on any other level.
Give No Shelter is another good episode of The Walking Dead: Michonne that showcases some slight improvements and sets the stage for a potentially great showdown, but still suffers from a few cliches and an all-too-short length that leaves you demanding more. Will the third episode provide a stronger conclusion that makes the game as a whole worth it all? We’ll find out, but for now, it’s still suggested that you wait for this season to wrap up.
Give No Shelter is a fantastic episode that more than makes up for the series’ disappointing premiere and sets things up nicely for next month’s finale. It’s got a great opening section, some of the most intense scenes ever delivered by Telltale, and a bunch of twists and turns to keep things interesting. If you’ve played the first episode and you’re not sure about wanting to give the series a second chance, I implore you to try this one and see for yourself why Telltale is one of the best storytellers in the business
More of the same just isn't good enough.
Along with the usual technical problems, The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 2 'Give No Shelter' adds on many issues of its own. At just over an hour, the episode is woefully short, but the story isn't even engaging enough to make it worthwhile for that short amount of time. Despite having a fan favorite character, and a very different setting, this game follows the same formula that we've seen from the entire franchise for years. The finale has a lot to accomplish if it wants to redeem this unfortunately disappointing effort.
A 90-minute action sequence that fails to live up to the promise of the first episode’s ending
In a season consisting of five or more episodes, a transitional, table-setting tale like Give No Shelter would theoretically justify itself. But with just one more chapter left, it feels like there should be more here. Despite that, I do have faith that the finale will tie it all together neatly.