So I just beat the Walking Dead... So about Ben... (SPOILERS)

[DudeistBelieve]

Anyone else hate this guy with a passion? I had moments of liking each individual character except for this guy.

He's impulsive. He's a coward. He can't follow even the most basic of instructions, decides to let loose his dark secret at the worst possible time because "Oh he can't live with it"

When Lee dove after him to save them and they were talking, I was just dying for the option to come up for me to drop him. I was playing the game seriously with my choices in mind, I had no qualms about it. Nothing was more satisfying then hearing his legs snap and his screams. HEY BEN! STILL WANT TO BE THE SACRIFICIAL HERO NOW?!

Seriously...

-Gets deep over his head with the bandits, doesn't bring it to the group attention and ask for help.
-Indirectly causes Carly to get murdered because he wouldn't own up to it in the first place.
-Removes the fucking cleaver Lee jammed in the door to keep the zombies out. FUCKING. MORON.
-Causes Kenny to go Bezerk at the worst possible time with Zombies breathing down our neck.
-"Clementine is playing in the backyard" while he's sitting inside drinking with Kenny.

I can forgive that he's a coward and fuck up, I really can, but his inability to even follow the most basic directions or ask for help slaughtered the entire group. There are other characters I didn't even like, Kenny was a child bitching when he didn't get his way, refused to go help me search for Clementine because I dared to be diplomatic, but at least Kenny was competent.

I might start another save and not save him from the Zombie this time, or deny him his "heroic" death and let him get impaled on the spikes.... Wish I could cave in his skull with the Salt-lick like Larry while he's sleeping. I really do.

 

[tippy2k2]

I didn't hate Ben...

...and I think that something might seriously be wrong with me for it. Everything you said is true. He's like an opposite-Midas, everything he touches or is involved in turns into a giant cluster-fuck that gets people killed. I absolutely adored this game (see my badge!) so it's not that I didn't care about the game.

I guess ultimately, I think that he was legitimately trying to do good that kept me from wanting to bash his brains in with my bare hands. I recognize that it's not going to bring Carley back. I recognize that it's not going to help Lilly now that she's abandoned on the side of the road. I recognize that Brie was killed directly because of Ben's actions (and Chuck was indirectly killed due to his actions). However, I just can't hate him...

Yeah, something is definitely wrong with me

 

[DudeistBelieve]

I didn't hate Ben...

...and I think that something might seriously be wrong with me for it. Everything you said is true. He's like an opposite-Midas, everything he touches or is involved in turns into a giant cluster-fuck that gets people killed. I absolutely adored this game (see my badge!) so it's not that I didn't care about the game.

I guess ultimately, I think that he was legitimately trying to do good that kept me from wanting to bash his brains in with my bare hands. I recognize that it's not going to bring Carley back. I recognize that it's not going to help Lilly now that she's abandoned on the side of the road. I recognize that Brie was killed directly because of Ben's actions (and Chuck was indirectly killed due to his actions). However, I just can't hate him...

Yeah, something is definitely wrong with me

He's not a terrible human being. Clem stuck up for him, and I was proud of her for it.

But when it comes to surviving the Zombie Apocalypse he's beyond a liability. He's a hinderance. A lot of that is the fact he NEVER ASKS FOR HELP and NEVER CONSIDERS THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS!

 

[Nouw]

I suppose I didn't hate Ben because his intentions were good and at that point, I placed high value on a person that had good intentions. I just wanted everyone to live I guess, regardless of whether they were likable or fucked up.

 

[Laughing Man]

Seriously...

-Gets deep over his head with the bandits, doesn't bring it to the group attention and ask for help.

Or from the other side you could say he was stopping the bandits from raiding the camp, given that the instant the medical supplies stop the bandits literally take the camp with next to no resistance, some might say that Ben's actions allowed the group to hold their location longer than they would otherwise have

-Indirectly causes Carly to get murdered because he wouldn't own up to it in the first place.

Well for me it was Dough that got killed here however the flip side of this is that Lilly basically became judge jury and exocutioner with next to no evideance what so ever. In reality Ben's actions revealved what a potential loose canon Lilly was.

-Removes the fucking cleaver Lee jammed in the door to keep the zombies out. FUCKING. MORON.

Okay I'll give you that one that was a fucking stupid move

-Causes Kenny to go Bezerk at the worst possible time with Zombies breathing down our neck.

Again is that the fault of Ben or the fault of Kenny, yeah Ben could have chosen a better time to say what he said but as with Lilly his actions showed the potential underlying problems of another member of the group.

-"Clementine is playing in the backyard" while he's sitting inside drinking with Kenny.

So? Why no hate for Kenny here then?

I didn't hate Ben, fact was he was a young guy with none of the life experience that the other group members had. His reactions where pretty much what I expected from someone of his age stuck in the situation he was. He tried to bargain with the bad guys cause he thought it would save his friends (whom he assumed where captured by the bandits) and given how quickly and easily the bandits took the camp he actually helped the group.

Yes his actions and decisions could have come at a better time, telling Kenny about what he did at the time he did was poor but some of his actions highlighted greater character flaws within the group, Lilly and her total gun ho attitude being one of them.

 

[afroebob]

I find him to be relatable because he represents the extremely irrational side of humanity that becomes apparent during catastrophe. So, no I do not hate Ben as a character or a person. I understand why he does what he does, and he does show a lot of bravery a few times throughout the game.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Seriously...

-Gets deep over his head with the bandits, doesn't bring it to the group attention and ask for help.

Or from the other side you could say he was stopping the bandits from raiding the camp, given that the instant the medical supplies stop the bandits literally take the camp with next to no resistance, some might say that Ben's actions allowed the group to hold their location longer than they would otherwise have

-Indirectly causes Carly to get murdered because he wouldn't own up to it in the first place.

Well for me it was Dough that got killed here however the flip side of this is that Lilly basically became judge jury and exocutioner with next to no evideance what so ever. In reality Ben's actions revealved what a potential loose canon Lilly was.

-Removes the fucking cleaver Lee jammed in the door to keep the zombies out. FUCKING. MORON.

Okay I'll give you that one that was a fucking stupid move

-Causes Kenny to go Bezerk at the worst possible time with Zombies breathing down our neck.

Again is that the fault of Ben or the fault of Kenny, yeah Ben could have chosen a better time to say what he said but as with Lilly his actions showed the potential underlying problems of another member of the group.

-"Clementine is playing in the backyard" while he's sitting inside drinking with Kenny.

So? Why no hate for Kenny here then?

I didn't hate Ben, fact was he was a young guy with none of the life experience that the other group members had. His reactions where pretty much what I expected from someone of his age stuck in the situation he was. He tried to bargain with the bad guys cause he thought it would save his friends (whom he assumed where captured by the bandits) and given how quickly and easily the bandits took the camp he actually helped the group.

Yes his actions and decisions could have come at a better time, telling Kenny about what he did at the time he did was poor but some of his actions highlighted greater character flaws within the group, Lilly and her total gun ho attitude being one of them.

-He never told the group about the deal with the bandits. He caused Lilly to be paranoid, Caused duck to get bitten because he didn't bring it to the groups attention like he should have.

-The moment she went off halfed cocked at Carly, I defended Carly and kept waiting for the moment to accuse Ben of the crime. Really I probably would of let her on the bus had she shot Ben in blind rage than Carly.

-No. Telling Kenny was Ben's fault. It's clear to everyone that his family is a sore spot for him. Ben asks me multiple times "should I tell" and every single fucking time I told him "FUCK NO!" because all it would do is create more drama. In hindsight I wish I had told him to tell Kenny and we could of chucked the SOB off the moving train.

-No hate for Kenny because I didn't leave the mansion telling Ken to watch Clem. I looked at Ben, he clearly needed a job to pick his spirits up so I gave him a very simple job of just watch the girl. I come back in asking where Clem is, he doesn't know and on top of that gives me a snottish teenager attitude about it.

I can over look some these flaws in a person, I can forgive that he ran away from the Zombies instead of staying to protect Clem. I really can, but his inability to learn from his damn mistakes... To even take the effort to avoid them.... Sorry, he was a moron and moron's get dropped from the top of bell towers. It's like a rule.

 

[lucky_sharm]

Not everyone will turn out to be a hardcore hyper-masculine battle-hardened survivalist in the face of an apocalypse. I didn't give the poor kid too much shit even though some of his actions were pretty dumb. I'm willing to bet that a large majority of forumers would act just like Ben in a similar situation, contrary to the bad ass keyboard warrior persona that a lot of us tend to exibit.

 

[Solo-Wing]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

 

[Sassafrass]

I hated him til I replayed and didn't drop him and let him live, just to see the other path.
Yeah, I felt like a proper prick after a scene between him and Kenny back at the mansion.

 

[C.H.A.L.E.T.]

He was a fuck up, but I didn't hate him. He wasn't deliberately malicious like Larry, just a kid who tried and failed mostly. He's only human at the end of the day and certain humans just... well, keep fucking up.

Did save him, though I expected to regret it.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

I warmed up to Larry in the second episode after talking to Lilly... I saw him as a crotchety old man just trying to protect his Kin, plus it helped me when he kept stating how he didn't want to be rude to our hosts... If anything towards his untimely death I wanted Larry to *LIKE* me as fucked up as it were. I even gave him the axe over the new guy at the start to try and mend the bridge. Fed the fucker too. Yeah he punched me in the face, but if I was Larry and not Lee? I would of done that too. Lee *IS* a convicted killer after all. I had a lot of trouble siding with Kenny, I kept thinking it was retarded to pack up in the RV when we didn't even know where the hell we were going to go and that we should hold out until we exhausted Maccon. It didn't help that he was constantly threatening to leave the group. At least Lilly, allegedly, admitted to TRYING to see it from Kenny's perspective.

That's Carly... Funny thing about her, the only reason I saved her in Episode 1 was because she was a good shot and had a gun. I assumed saving Doug would mean we'd lose a firearm primary, a good shot secondary. Really that was the only reason, had Doug been holding the gun I would of saved him. The second episode she proved her invaluability to me by choosing NOT to eat the food I rationed to her, and then suggesting I come clean to everyone about Lee's past. The fact that she kept joking about Batteries really helped me warm up to her.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

He was a fuck up, but I didn't hate him. He wasn't deliberately malicious like Larry, just a kid who tried and failed mostly. He's only human at the end of the day and certain humans just... well, keep fucking up.

Did save him, though I expected to regret it.

Oh I'm not saying that. I totally am not saying that.

I never once doubted that he was a good kid. Clem even saw that in him. He's a good guy. I didn't personally judge him for not protecting Carly from the Zombies for that reason. If he had the courage, I believe he would have. Ben was a good guy.

BUT... Ben didn't learn from his mistakes. He didn't ask for help when he knew he needed it.

That shit don't roll in the Zombie Apocalypse. Especially when I got a little girl to protect. I'll give someone plenty of 2nd chances, and I did, but he kept fucking them up.

 

[Erttheking]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

 

[Erttheking]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

It was a rare comic relief moment in a very dark series, and does it really warrant freaking death?

 

[DudeistBelieve]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

It was a rare comic relief moment in a very dark series, and does it really warrant freaking death?

Dunno if it was comic relief. I get the feeling she wasn't very bright. Just saying.

 

[Erttheking]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

It was a rare comic relief moment in a very dark series, and does it really warrant freaking death?

Dunno if it was comic relief. I get the feeling she wasn't very bright. Just saying.

She was one of the best shots of the group, stood up viciously to Lilly where as Doug just tried to play mediator, and she never lost her temper with Lee because he didn't support a really fucking stupid decision like a good chunk of the other characters. Again, did screwing up with batteries really warrant being killed?

 

[DudeistBelieve]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

It was a rare comic relief moment in a very dark series, and does it really warrant freaking death?

Dunno if it was comic relief. I get the feeling she wasn't very bright. Just saying.

She was one of the best shots of the group, stood up viciously to Lilly where as Doug just tried to play mediator, and she never lost her temper with Lee because he didn't support a really fucking stupid decision like a good chunk of the other characters. Again, did screwing up with batteries really warrant being killed?

1. No.

2. just follow this for a minute:

I am having trouble with a radio. Should I bother to check the power source of the radio? N'ahhhhhhhhhhh!

It was a dumb move on her part, and she even lampshades it. In a split decision like that, i don't blame the guy for not rescuing her because of it. Hell, I only rescued her because she had a gun and was good at using it.

also bare in mind, NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE. I believe in that*. Unfortunately we human beings do die, and it's the Zombie Apocalypse, and more importantly not only do I desire to keep myself alive but this little girl.... Now personally I rather have someone who's a good shot in my group, this guy rather have the guy who's an engineer.

*Ben didn't deserve to die. In a civilized society I wouldn't mind, but when it comes to survival the chance of Clem living increases with his death.

 

[Erttheking]

No man the people I fucking hated was Larry and Lilly. Good god. The fact they were always screaming at me was more then enough to Side with Kenny. And during the meat locker who did I side with? The good guy who was always with me and was easy to get along with, or the Old man who punched my in the face and left me to die, always fucking screamed at me and was an asshole in general. Kinda easy choice for that matter.

The only other character I did not like was that reporter in Episode 1. But that was because she was a fucking idiot. Asking me to look for batteries for a radio cause "She would not know what to look for". Lady. They were batteries. Kinda easy. Then when I got her some she could not get the radio to work still. Why? Cause she put the batteries in the wrong fucking way. Did I save her? FUCK NO. She was idiot and would have been a fucking burden in the long run.

So she made a mistake with batteries and...you let her die because of it?...o.....k.

To be fair... C'mon, how come she didn't think to switch the batteries around herself first?

It was a rare comic relief moment in a very dark series, and does it really warrant freaking death?

Dunno if it was comic relief. I get the feeling she wasn't very bright. Just saying.

She was one of the best shots of the group, stood up viciously to Lilly where as Doug just tried to play mediator, and she never lost her temper with Lee because he didn't support a really fucking stupid decision like a good chunk of the other characters. Again, did screwing up with batteries really warrant being killed?

1. No.

2. just follow this for a minute:

I am having trouble with a radio. Should I bother to check the power source of the radio? N'ahhhhhhhhhhh!

It was a dumb move on her part, and she even lampshades it. In a split decision like that, i don't blame the guy for not rescuing her because of it. Hell, I only rescued her because she had a gun and was good at using it.

also bare in mind, NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE. I believe in that*. Unfortunately we human beings do die, and it's the Zombie Apocalypse, and more importantly not only do I desire to keep myself alive but this little girl.... Now personally I rather have someone who's a good shot in my group, this guy rather have the guy who's an engineer.

*Ben didn't deserve to die. In a civilized society I wouldn't mind, but when it comes to survival the chance of Clem living increases with his death.

I seem to recall her pulling off more than a few head shots.

So what, you're blaming someone in the middle of a zombie infested town for making a mistake and possibly not thinking as clearly as she should be? Really is it a big freaking deal?

I don't see how that is. How does Clem's chances of living increase with one less pair of hands around?