So that release was under my radar.

I'll be getting into this one tonight, and I'll post my choices as I go. I figured I'd post this as a PSA for other people that were unaware of the release as well as a spot to discuss choices and whatnot. Have at it folks!

Wow, after a couple of so-so episodes pretty much coasting on the universe, Episode 3 really gets it right as much as any of the best Walking Dead episodes did. Perfectly handles pacing, and for the first time in this series I felt wrapped up in the roles I'd given these people.

In some cases it backfired (turns out I'd highly, highly overestimated how prestigious Mira was and felt real chills during an encounter with any of the HBO series' regulars this time around) and in some cases it played to the strengths of the show's ambiguity and bloodline-centric plot pushers. But it always felt right, and once the episode got into it's groove I really wanted it to just keep on going.

What I really enjoyed is that for the first time they NAILED what a great TV ending feels like. There are still several video game tropes in the writing, but so much of this felt like a television show, and at times like the Game of Thrones television show, it really is a bit of an accomplishment I think. Much like the first season of Walking Dead's first season, this shows a staff really getting into a groove with their subject matter. Hopefully it can land as smoothly as it's taken off.

CHOICES

You and 54%Saved Malcolm

You and 49.7%Obeyed Margaery, and Avoided Tyrion.

You and 1.6% remained silent at Britt's End.

You and 28.8% stood up to Gryff Whitehall.

You and 31.4% burned the Ironwood Decree.

This series has been generally pretty mediocre so far (especially in comparison to the consistently stellar Tales From The Borderlands), but i've got to say this was a really solid episode. There were multiple choices that had my palms sweating, and the pacing really didn't have those awkward cuts that were present in the last few episodes. The voice acting is, in my opinion, still absolutely awful for the most part (what was that Whitehill chick going for? Posh welsh-irish scot with a bit of west midlands?), and the animations can still be awkward and jumpy, but in terms of writing this was a marked improvement on what came before.

Episode 3 is a really strong addition to the series, everything suddenly feels important and all the characters story arcs are finally starting to reach a breaking point, also this episode does right in retrospectively making the previous 2 episodes better. For those holding off for the whole thing I think they've got it right, like 'The Wolf Among Us' I think this series will be vastly improved by playing it as a whole, on their own the first 2 episodes felt mediocre but the way everything from the first 2 episodes culminated in this one including references to past decisions has restored my faith in this particular series. But for those who haven't bought it yet I recommend waiting for the whole set.

I'm surprised to hear the reactions here. Perhaps it's because I'm a huge fan of the books, but so far I think this is the best series Telltale has released yet.

My biggest frustration with the series so far is the sense that every choice I've made so far is the wrong one, both for the characters themselves and their greater missions. I'll play through it again once the season's out to figure out if it's like Walking Dead Season 1 where certain bad things are set in stone, but man...

@fish_face_mcgee: You know, I have to agree with you. I'm constantly second-guessing my choices because I don't want things to turn out terribly, but that's exactly what seems to be the course as soon as I make a decision. There doesn't seem to be support for the decisions you make.