He wasn't a hero. Not at first. When we first meet the protagonist of The Walking Dead game Lee Everett, he’s sitting in the back of a squad car, handcuffed, heading to prison for killing a state senator who was sleeping with his wife. It’s a messy, violent, and deeply human beginning. There are no capes here. Just a guy whose life had already fallen apart before the world decided to follow suit.
Thirteen years after Telltale Games released the first episode, Lee remains the gold standard for how you write a video game lead. It’s rare. Usually, we get silent protagonists or power fantasies. Lee was different because he was a teacher. A man of words who had to learn how to use a fire axe.
The Accidental Father Figure
The genius of Lee Everett isn't in his combat skills. It’s in his relationship with Clementine. Finding that little girl in her treehouse changed the entire trajectory of the series. It wasn't just a "protect the NPC" mission. It felt like a chance at redemption. He couldn't fix his marriage or the life he threw away in Athens, Georgia, but he could make sure this one kid survived the night.
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Most players don't realize how much their dialogue choices shaped Lee's soul. You could play him as a hardened pragmatist or a compassionate mentor. But regardless of your choices, the bond with Clem was the anchor. You weren't just playing a game; you were parenting.
Remember the pharmacy in Macon? That tension wasn't just about zombies (or "walkers," as the game calls them). It was about the social collapse. Larry, Kenny, Lilly—the group was a powder keg. Lee had to be the glue. Or he could be the spark. That’s the beauty of it. You felt the weight of every lie you told to cover your past. You knew that eventually, the handcuffs would come back to haunt you.
Why The Walking Dead Game Lee Everett Works Better Than Most RPG Leads
In most games, your "choices" are just flavor text. In Telltale's masterpiece, they felt like character defining moments. Even though the broad strokes of the plot were fixed, the way Lee died and the way he lived was entirely up to you.
The voice acting by Dave Fennoy is a huge part of this. There’s a specific timbre in his voice—a mix of exhaustion, regret, and fierce protection. When he calls out for Clementine, you feel the panic. It’s visceral. Fennoy didn't just read lines; he built a person. It’s no wonder he won a Spike Video Game Award for the performance. He made a convicted murderer someone we wanted to be.
The Savannah Problem
By the time the group hits Savannah in Episode 4, everything is falling apart. The boat plan is a mess. Crawford is a nightmare. And then, the bite.
That single moment—Lee reaching for a walkie-talkie in the trash and getting nipped by a hidden walker—is one of the most devastating scenes in gaming history. It was so mundane. It wasn't a heroic stand. It was a mistake. A moment of lowered guard.
The pacing of the final episode, "No Time Left," is relentless. Lee is literally falling apart. Depending on your choices, he might even have his arm amputated. Seeing him push through a literal horde of undead with nothing but a meat cleaver and sheer willpower to find Clementine? That’s legendary. It’s the kind of stuff that stays with you long after the console is turned off.
Breaking Down the "Lee vs. Rick" Debate
People always compare Lee to Rick Grimes from the comics or the show. It’s a natural comparison, but they serve different purposes. Rick is a leader of a community. He’s a sheriff. He’s about building a new world.
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The Walking Dead game Lee is much smaller in scope. He’s about one girl.
He doesn't care about rebuilding society. He cares about teaching Clementine how to cut her hair short so it can't be grabbed. He cares about teaching her how to shoot. He’s preparing her for a world he knows he won't be part of. That intimacy makes his story more impactful for many than the sprawling epic of the TV show.
Technical Limitations and Narrative Strengths
Let’s be honest: the Telltale engine was janky even in 2012. The animations could be stiff. The graphics were stylized but not cutting-edge. But it didn't matter. The writing was so sharp that the "choice" system, which was often smoke and mirrors, felt real.
When you had to choose between saving Carley or Doug, it felt impossible. When you had to decide whether to feed the kids or the adults with the limited rations, your stomach actually turned. Lee was the vessel for those impossible ethics.
- The Stranger: This antagonist was the ultimate mirror for Lee. He was a man who lost everything because of the group’s actions (stealing the supplies from the station wagon). He represented the consequence of "survival at any cost."
- Kenny: The relationship between Lee and Kenny is one of the most complex friendships in gaming. They could be brothers-in-arms or bitter rivals. It all depended on how much you humored Kenny’s increasingly erratic behavior.
The Legacy of the Final Scene
We have to talk about the jewelry store. The ending.
If you didn't cry when Lee told Clementine "I'll miss you," you might be a walker yourself. It was a role reversal. The protector became the one needing protection—or at least, needing a final mercy. Whether you had Clementine shoot Lee or leave him to turn, the impact was the same. The torch was passed.
Clementine’s entire journey in the subsequent three seasons is defined by Lee. Every time she tells someone "Keep your hair short," it’s a tribute. He only existed for five episodes, but his shadow looms over the entire franchise. He is the moral compass that Clementine uses for the rest of her life.
Actionable Insights for Players and Writers
If you’re revisiting the game or looking to understand why it worked, here are the takeaways:
- Flaws make the man: Lee’s status as an ex-convict makes his redemption earned, not given. If he started as a perfect guy, the story would be boring.
- Specific stakes over global ones: Don't try to save the world. Try to save one person. The emotional resonance is ten times stronger.
- The "Slow Burn" of Trust: Notice how Lee and Clem’s relationship evolves. It’s built on small moments—fixing a radio, sitting on a train, talking about school. These "quiet" scenes are more important than the action beats.
- Consequence via Character: Even if the plot doesn't branch wildly, the character relationships do. Focus on how characters feel about you rather than just what happens next.
Lee Everett proved that video games could handle complex, adult themes of guilt and parenthood without falling into clichés. He wasn't just a character in a zombie game. He was a man trying to do one good thing before the end. And he did. He saved the girl who would eventually save everyone else.
To get the most out of Lee's story today, try a "silent" or "jerk" run. It's fascinating—and often heartbreaking—to see how the group reacts when Lee isn't the moral center they expect him to be. It reveals just how much the narrative relies on your willingness to be the hero he was never supposed to be.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, check out the The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series. It includes "Graphic Black" art style updates that make the first season look more like the original comics. Also, pay close attention to the dream sequences in Season 2 and the Final Season; they provide crucial retrospective context on Lee's internal guilt that you might have missed on a first playthrough. If you're writing your own characters, study the "pharmacy scene" in Episode 1—it's a masterclass in introducing a large cast and their conflicting motivations in under twenty minutes.