TWD: A New Frontier - Episode Four: Thicker Than Water

"They call themselves The New Frontier. They used to be decent people, but now they're something else"
...said Clem way back in Episode 2. Now that we know the full story of her joining them, later exiled - and, let's not forget, Ava giving her supplies - on what does exactly Clem base her judgement about TNF? Unless Ep5 states that she had a run-in with them later, there's nothing that justifies Clem's opinion. They took AJ from her - but their reason was that he had a better chance of survival with a group than with just Clem, since he was sick.

"We don't have a go-ahead!"
"Fuck you and your go-ahead. Ram the fucking gate!"
(...)
"It's not like I don't have a heart, okay?"
...argued Max and Badger, as well as that's how Javi was greeted at the gate in Episode 2. Since we know right now that both Max and Badger were taking part in Joan's schemes in taking down communities and stealing supplies from them, their behavior seems illogical. Since Javi & the group were witnesses to TNF killing Mari just like that in the junkyard - without any reason at all - as well as being refugees from Prescott, they should've been killed or turned away at Richmond in an instant without any further discussion. Shouldn't Max cover his tracks and think that letting this group into Richmond would risk the exposure of Joan's plans to the community? While we're at it...

"This isn't how we do things!"
Jesus states that "he lost touch with some good people when the New Froniter took over [Richmond]," surprising Javi's group. Episode 4 states (can't remember where, but I know that someone said that) that it's been several years now that TNF resides in Richmond. (I won't even mention that, if it's true, then it's weird Prescott people didn't cross paths with them earlier. Eleanor suggested to try and get to Richmond in the first place in Ep2, and she didn't know who runs the place? Think about it - someone mentions Richmond in passing without disclosing that particular detail that people there are supposedly quite dangerous?)

Quick question - if TNF community is truly unaware of Joan's schemes and they are good people, as David says... then how did they gain control over Richmond? Did TNF just get there, told the people who originaly created this community that "hello, we are now in charge"? (and would those people simply and peacefully hand over leadership to some strangers? I think not) Or did TNF kill the original inhabitants and took over Richmond for themselves? (likely option, since Jesus couldn't contact said 'good people')

If we go with the first option, the original residents of Richmond would likely cause a revolt - or, if they accepted TNF leadership, would definitely know that these people are not to be trusted if they took over. If we go with the second option, then it would mean that the whole TNF group is aware of the violent actions their leaders take to claim Richmond.

Regardless of the option, it means it's total bullsh*t that the TNF community isn't aware of the violent approach of its leaders. Thus, the whole ending sequence of Episode 4 is illogical, because Joan cannot step up and say that she defends the community while David goes around killing people and putting them in danger. The community can't be that dumb. Given the history of the TNF shown Eps 1-3, they should be aware of the leadership's actions and call bullsh*t on Joan's reasoning. Telltale, however, decided to present the entire TNF community as unaware of all the killing, which is just not possible. Further proof for Joan being a psychopath - buliding the gallows for a public execution? In a community that, as Clint says, exiles and not kills? Why didn't anybody protest if they're supposedly good people?

Oh, and one more thing - whether raids were blamed on David or Joan admitted to them in Ep3, Clint suddenly had a change of heart. (hence the quote above) They were talking in Ep3 about innocents being killed in those raids and you were fine with it, and suddenly - when Ava/Tripp is killed and David's about to be hanged - you say that it's not right? Who the hell writes this sh*t, a ten-year-old kid or a professional writer?

And set one version in stone, Telltale. As per Ep4, TNF was in Richmond for several years - contrary to Jesus's information from Ep2, from which it could be concluded that the Richmond takeover was recent.

"I know you didn't have much stake in Prescott, but they burned the place to the ground for no reason."
...said Tripp. Now, I don't know whether it changes much, but I killed Conrad and no one will convince me it's a bad decision. Whatever his feelings were, he put a gun to a kid's head. It's non-canon, sure, but if you don't make a decision, Conrad kills Gabe. So I killed Conrad and that's it.

Now to the point - Eleanor, after coming to Richmond, is imprisoned. So was Tripp. Anyways, Eleanor somehow - and we don't find out how - had time to familiarize herself with TNF and Joan enough in a matter of a day or two at best to advocate on staying in Richmond instead of escaping - hell, she had time to tell Joan of the group's plans! You know, Eleanor - a person who's home was destroyed by Joan's goons. WTF? And Tripp, after finding out about Conrad - and having the situation explained to him - decides to abandon the group and not go against TNF, instead deciding to stay among them? Among the people who killed Francine and, as Tripp said in Ep2, a lot of his friends? WTF? Two episodes ago you wanted revenge for what they did to your home and now you want to join Joan? For fuck's sake, who wrote that?

"Sorry, David. My hands are tied"
It is said that TNF is run by a council. Lingard is one of the deciding voices. He is unsure of what to do in Ep3. So the most logical thing would be to appeal to him, right? But hey, suddenly he's high on drugs and decides to kill himself, because he doesn't want to live in this place, with Joan doing horrible things.

Fuck, man! You can stop her! You're part of the council! You don't want to live in a place where she's in charge? Then fucking stop her from doing that, you have a power to do it! But no... that would be too easy, right? Thing is, you can put obstacles in protagonist's way, but you have to make them at least slightly logical and not convenient. That's what I'd expect from a professional writer, at least.

I would write more - about superfluous flashbacks, Gabe & Clem nonsense, idiotic forced romance between Javi & Kate, or about why on Earth did TNF had a hideout in the junkyard when they kept all of their shit in the magazine on the outskirts of Richmond - but I don't think that it's worth it. Besides, with Joan being determinant, I'm 100% sure that the final showdown of the season - given the presentation of Ep4 - would be Javi vs. David. Who gives a shit if it doesn't make a lot of sense - with what they did so far, there's literally everything that can happen in the finale. After all, who expected Kenny vs. Jane...

Congratulations, Telltale. The people you've put in charge of your most important franchise are a bunch of idiots who can't keep continuity or consequence within a single season.