#( mathis )

I liked how it sets up the next game and I liked how it subverts some expectations. Primarily how Mathis and Mackenzie both survived instead of there being some sort of big deadly showdown, Mathis sparing MacKenzie and basically having him join his group. However, while I like these choices in a vacuum there is the HOW. 

First all the lolwut contrived decisions they had Mackenzie do in order to get captured. “Hey we just finally reunited and all but lemme dramatically tell you how I need to go do some thing alone and unarmed while fully aware there are dangerous convicts around. Also it's a perfect place to take a nap.” And then Mathis… he was like this cartoonishly evil guy, ready to burn people in their houses, getting angry af whenever his plans got foiled, obsessing over killing Mackenzie, swearing how he’ll destroy everything the man loves, etc. But then, in the end, he’s like: “Man I hate Mackenzie and I’ll butcher his ass if you don’t do what I- Oh? They didn’t do what I told them. K lol. Come along Mackenzie.” “Sure thing. Btw, I want to give that old lady your group harassed a proper funeral.” “Cool lets go.”

Again, I like where they end up BUT they should have done more with the how. The dynamic between these characters needed more work for the ending to make sense. Like have their relationship gradually change from a purely antagonistic one to something with tentative respect. That as much as Mackenzie is a pain in Mathis' ass he's also a great asset with more tenacity and bravery than his own henchmen. Or just have Mathis be less like a saturday-morning cartoon villain from the beginning, have him be a threat but someone with more depth and relatability. They already had elements that could have been used for that with him obviously caring for his son, maybe the two could have even formed some unexpected connection over both having experienced the same loss.