[Spoiler Alert: While this review is meant to keep the story relatively generic in nature, elements of the game are discussed below. I highly suggest that if you have an interest in The Walking Dead, you should just pick up and play from the beginning of Season 1 prior to getting into the details below.]

When we last left the group, Rebecca had her baby shortly after Jane and Clementine found a safe area, but encountered a stranger whom they weren’t too friendly with over a bag of medical supplies. Despite some life and death decision-making, the group then weathered a storm of zombies that caused more chaos within the group.

When the dust settled, Jane ended up leaving the group with only Clem the wiser, and the gang decided to move on as it began to get cold in their current location. However, along the way, Rebecca was physically winded by a loss of blood during the delivery, so the group decides to stop and rest. As they do, the stranger returns and it is at this point that there is No Going Back…

Rejoining our fearless group on their way down the cold, snowy road looking for sanctuary, we recall they were in the middle of a firefight with a Russian group also trying to survive, started by the killing of Rebecca as she turned and was about to devour her own baby. Picking up where Episode 4 left off, the action begins at a frantic pace. With Clementine playing peacemaker, we quickly realize that the baby is the focal point of the finale in The Walking Dead: Season 2: Episode 5 – No Going Back.

With baby in hand, the group realizes that he wasn’t named yet, so they honor fallen Alvin and Rebecca by providing the name AJ, or Alvin Jr. More than anyone else, Kenny takes little AJ under his wing in the attempt for a fresh start, knowing he will do better this time around than when he still had his wife and kid, Duck. Unfortunately, Kenny’s obsession with raising Alvin Jr. becomes the driving factor in all actions to come and has the negative effect of dividing the group.

Like other great episodes within the TV series and the game franchise, TWD: Season 2: Episode 5 is not short of surprises. Loss tends to be a central theme with Season 2, and during the hunt for lodging, No Going Back doesn’t disappoint. Depending on your actions, however, the repercussions can sway opinions regarding Clementine’s role in things. Division can run rampant in this final episode.

Continuing the desire to make it to Wellington in the north, Kenny is able to get an old truck running, but the dysfunction of the group at this point causes friction that cannot be undone. Resourceful newcomer Jane goes at Kenny’s throat throughout the entire episode, with Clementine always caught in the middle taking sides. These heated discussions also seem to be based on thoughts surrounding AJ, what the group’s next step will be, or Kenny’s mental health. Regardless of the reasoning, there is no shortage of entertainment in Episode 5.

With Season 2 under our belts, we got to see a lot of character development from our young heroine, Clementine. Previously, she was very obviously a child not just in body, but also in mind. The grueling circumstances that surround her unfortunately have caused her to have to age far more quickly mentally, and it shows in many of the decisions and actions required of her throughout these past five episodes.

Once again, we see that most of the main decision points still lead back to the same linear storyline for the most part. Aside from some alternate character reactions and interactions, this becomes all too evident until the very end (see below). Most importantly, however, was that we were a part of Clem’s growth process and the developers did a great job of allowing us to feel her emotion from the early days with Lee in Season 1 to the new persona that she is developing before our eyes.

There is no way I want to spoil the ending of Season 2 because it is your duty to get out and play this game in full. What I will say is that if you are keeping track, I counted 4 unique endings by going back and replaying the game, so my curiosity is already running wild on how things will tie together in the future. But let’s just say that the open ended nature of The Walking Dead: Season 2: Episode 5 – No Going Back leaves many possibilities for the start of Season 3 whenever Telltale Games starts us down another road of decision and terror next time, on The Walking Dead…