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Marlon is a main character and a former antagonist, as well as a survivor of the outbreak in The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series. He was the leader of Ericson's Boarding School and has a pet dog named Rosie. After his secret is discovered he becomes the primary antagonist of the episode "Done Running".
Overview
At first, Marlon seems like a fair and good-hearted leader, rescuing Clementine and Alvin Jr. and taking them in. However, he is paranoid, indecisive and somewhat cowardly. While not shying away from personal combat, he is extremely paranoid about his group's safety, a feeling which only increases after Marlon is forced to give up Sophie and Minerva to a group of raiders, going as far as establishing a small perimeter around the Boarding School and refusing to have his group venture out of it, even when faced with a food shortage. He also continuously pulled back this perimeter, until it only encompassed a few patches of wood around the school.
His position as leader stresses him greatly, resulting in him lashing out against anyone who criticizes his leadership, culminating in him accidentally killing Brody in a fit of rage when she was about to reveal that Marlon planned on giving Clementine and AJ to the raiders if they came back. Panicking, he attempts to pin the murder on Clementine after locking her in with a soon-to-be-reanimated Brody, whereupon his true nature is finally revealed to the group.
Despite this, Marlon is not fundamentally a bad person, as he is wreaked by guilt over giving up Sophie and Minerva to save the rest of his group and is genuinely horrified when he accidentally kills Brody. If Clementine attempts to reason with him, he will come to regret his actions and will only ask to be allowed to leave the Boarding School as a bad memory.
Pre-Apocalypse
Ericson's Boarding School
Nothing is known about Marlon's life prior to or as the outbreak began, except that he was born in either 1992 or 1993, was a student at Ericson's Boarding School for Troubled Youth, and played on the school's football team with his best friend Louis.
Post-Apocalypse
During the early days of the outbreak, all but one of the adults at the school abandoned the students, making them fend for themselves.
Marlon took over and helped keep the rest of the children safe. He also took care of Rosie, the Headmasters dog who was left behind. Initially, Marlon wanted to attract other survivors or perhaps help to the school but eventually decided that isolation was the best way to keep the school safe so he took down the signs that lead to the school.
About a year before meeting Clementine, he traded away Minerva and Sophie away to a group of raiders to save his group from an attack. He made Brody, his accomplice, swear not to tell anyone.
The Final Season
"Done Running"
While hunting, Marlon and his hunting group found AJ and Clementine crashed in a car by the train station with walkers swarmed around them. Marlon proceeded to kill some of the walkers and pulled AJ from the car wreckage while the others saved Clementine.
Back at the school, he tied Clementine to a bed, possibly because she could have reanimated or Marlon didn't want a stranger to be able to roam free once awoken When Clementine finally wakes up, she finds him with Tenn, either threatening him or talking calmly. If the former, he aims his bow at her, talking her into submission. (Determinant)
After that, Marlon shows Clementine around the former school. However, he leaves Clementine to tend to an attack outside the wall. Later when Clementine and AJ have been reunited, Marlon asks Clementine to help repel a walker attack so a hunter group is able to get into the school. That night, Marlon tries to get AJ's attention by touching his shoulder from behind, but AJ, in a knee-jerk reaction elbows him in the groin. He tell Clementine such behavior is not tolerated, leading AJ to apologize.
After supper, he plays a card game with Violet, Louis, and Clementine to learn more about her. Marlon can be asked about his hair cut, and he will reply by saying that his haircut is cool (Determinant). The next day, while staying there, Marlon can help Clementine get over her fear of dogs, caused by the death of Sam. (Determinant) He then requests Clementine to help with either Aasim and Louis with hunting or Brody and Violet with fishing.
After Louis, Violet, Clementine and AJ arrive home with an abundance of home, Marlon is surprised by the food but Brody is skeptical when it is revealed they ran into a raider, outside of the safe zone and begins to act hysterical telling Marlon he knows what's going to happen. Marlon calms her, saying that there is just another hungry man out there but Brody leaves unconvinced.
That night, Clementine and AJ are awoken to the sounds of Marlon and Brody voices coming through the pipes. Marlon is found to be arguing with Brody in the basement. Brody then reveals the truth to Clementine about Marlon of what he did to Tenn's sisters. Enraged, Marlon strikes Brody between the eyes with his flashlight, fatally injuring her by causing brain damage. Marlon, visually shocked, searches for a first aid kit as he regrets his extreme action. Unable to find one, he comes back to Brody telling Clementine about Sophie and Minerva who were traded away by Marlon but soon dies. Panicking, he flees the basement as Clementine runs after him, managing to lock the both of them in the basement.
Outside, Marlon is confronted by the rest of the group and AJ who is waving a gun at Marlon demanding to know where Clementine is. Marlon begins to lie about Clementine killing Brody realizing they are more likely to believe him but Mitch points out blood on his face. Clementine escapes the basement, calling Marlon's accusations bullshit. Marlon, in a panic, grabs AJ's gun and points it at Clementine and AJ and continue to tell the other kids that Clementine killed Brody. Initially, Marlon is able win over the group, however Clementine begins to tell what Brody made sure to tell her. As the story about the raiders begins to unravel the group seem to believe Marlon less and less, only making Marlon more furious at their disloyalty. Eventually, either Violet or Louis step in front of Marlon blocking his field of view of Clementine shocking him. He begins to break down but remains a threat, admitting he would trade more of the group to the raiders for the safety of him and the school. When Clementine is able to successfully disarm Marlon through physical force or by talking him down, he agrees to leave but before anything else is agreed to, Marlon is shot in the back of the head by AJ believing him as a true threat to Clementine's safety.
"Suffer The Children"
Marlon appears in a flashback after being shot in the head by AJ, everyone is horrified and saddened by his death.
In the morning, his corpse is buried with Brody. Saying goodbye to him and Brody saying their condolences to them, except for Violet, who doesn't want to talk about him after what he did. Clementine and Alvin Jr. also attend their funeral.
When Clementine checks the preparation for the Delta's attack, she can visit his grave. She also has the option to spit on it.
Death
- Killed By
- Clementine (Indirectly Caused)
- Himself (Indirectly Caused)
After accidentally bludgeoning Brody to death in a fit of rage, Marlon tries to blame Brody's death on Clementine. But when the group finds out the truth about Minerva and Sophie that he gave them to the raiders. Clementine convinces everyone and Marlon is in the minority. He is beginning to be believed less and less and begins to split for his actions. Marlon gives up and decides to leave and asks forgiveness for everything he did.
Before Clementine decides what to do with him next. Suddenly behind him Alvin Jr. shoots Marlon in the head, killing him instantly. In the morning, his corpse is buried along with Brody.
Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Marlon has killed:
Relationships
For a more in-depth look all Marlon's relationships, read here; Marlon (Telltale)/Relationships
Allies |
Enemies
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Quotes
The following is a list of some of Marlon's most memorable quotes.
The Final Season"How about you do the same? (…) We're not gonna hurt you. We've got your boy. He's safe. If you want to see him again, you'll drop that knife. Now. I'm not fucking around. Let him go, or I let go. And you'll see how good of a shot I am." "Look, if we wanted to hurt you, we would have by now. Considering the circumstances, I'll let this little standoff slide. But you only get one strike. Now, are you gonna behave so I can take you to see your boy? Because if you really want to fight... You're a little outnumbered." "Well... I am. Probably sounds strange, kids run by a kid. But we do alright for ourselves. We've got good walls, good defenses. Good location, too. No one really comes out this way anymore. We've carved ourselves the perfect camp. Kids are safe here. We make sure of it." "I got us a system in place that works well enough. Allow me to make it formal: welcome to Ericson's Boarding School for Troubled Youth. You and your boy, it feels like you both fit that description. It's hard to survive too long these days without being a bit..."troubled"."  " She's as cuddly as they come. Except when she's mauling walkers, that is." "Good girl! (pets Rosie) Shh, shh. Hey, hey, it's alright, girl. It's alright. Hey, I see you and Rosie are making friends. (…) Well, Rosie here can help you get over it. She's as cuddly as they come. Except when she's mauling walkers, that is." "Shit... Kid packs a goddamn wallop, huh? (…) Look, he can't go around punching people in the...you know...and expect them to eat at the same table." "Don't sweat it, buddy. You can make it up to me by teaching me your technique. You are a regular heavyweight."  "Uh, I look cool." "Uh, I look cool. (…) I say I look cool." "I hope you know Louis didn't mean any harm there. He's just the world's biggest dumbass. He's my best friend, so I can legally call him that." "You said dogs brought back bad memories. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were so scared of them. But I swear, Rosie's not as frightening as she seems. (whistles and holds up fist) Sit, girl. (Rosie sits) See? She's harmless. She just needs to get to know you, is all. Here. I'll show you. (offers hand) Do you trust me? (Rosie growls) Rosie, shh. Sorry. I promise, she's not gonna bite." "She was the headmaster's dog, back when this place was still functional. But when the world went to shit, he bailed. All the other adults did. Left us behind to fend for ourselves. (…) Understatement of the century. Now it's just us kids left. And I'd like it if you and AJ were a part of that. Both of you are plenty capable, and we need that. Here... This is the current state of our plan for gathering food." "We can't. whenever someone goes outside the safe zone, bad shit happens. People die or disappear. I just... I could really use the help, Clementine. Taking care of these kids, it's not easy. I'm worried that if I don't figure something out, if... if I don't fix our food situation... I can't lose anyone else. We've already lost so much. Friends, siblings... I can't let another kid die. It could break us." "Everyone's counting on me to step up. Be the leader they need me to be. I really want to be that for them. You and AJ are two more mouths to feed. But maybe you can help me feed the rest." "ENOUGH! It just means there's a hungry guy out there looking for food. It's happened before. You are overreacting. (…) Come on, let's go somewhere and talk about this." "You know, maybe... maybe it doesn't matter. It probably doesn't matter at all. It's just a couple of cigarettes. I mean... just one fucking guy! And this is an insurance policy." "Brody... Don't listen to her, Clem, she's acting crazy. She gets this way sometimes, you just gotta tune it out." "I SAID SHUT UP!"  "Goddamn it, help! Why did you say that, Brody? I... I told you not to say it." "Oh, shit, Brody. I'm sorry! (…) I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. You're gonna be okay, I promise. Goddamn it, help! Why did you say that, Brody? I... I told you not to say it. Please be okay. (…) Just... just stay with her. There's a first aid kit down here somewhere, right?" "Oh, fuck, no. (drops flashlight) Oh, no. Oh, no. What the hell am I gonna do? She's gonna turn. (…) I'm sorry... I can't... I can't let you talk to the others. "She's- she's in the basement. Sh- she murdered Brody! (…) That's a lie! I saw you kill her! Look at her hands! She's covered in Brody's blood!" "We saved their lives when anyone else would've kept walking! We fed them, we kept them warm! And this is how they thank us?! Guns being pulled and murder! Well, FUCK. THEM." "Aw come the fuck on! They only met up with these "raiders" because Clem insisted they out there. Quite the coincidence, isn't it? Shame I don't believe in those. Think about how scared we all were when the adults left. I pulled us out of that fear. I gave us all courage again. Who are y'all gonna to believe huh? Johnny-come-lately and her little fucking lunatic? Or me? Your friend?" "Don't let her get in your head. Hey, what would Minnie want you to do? She was my friend, too. And so was Brody." "You don't know what you're doing man." "Violet being difficult. Why am I not surprised?"   I'm trying to PROTECT YOU! ALL OF YOU! EVERY. FUCKING. ONE OF YOU!" "You don't get it. You- you don't understand at all, do you? I'm trying to PROTECT YOU! ALL OF YOU! EVERY. FUCKING. ONE OF YOU!" "Shut your fucking mouth! I made the right call! I saved the lives of everyone in this fucking school! If they came back... I'd do it again!" "I wanted to get them. Stage some kind of rescue. Honest, Tenn. I just couldn't. I was... I was too afraid. I didn't mean to. I didn't want this. I wanted to save all of you. Sophie, Minerva. I didn't want to hurt them." "I'm done. I'm done. (…) You already beat me. You don't have to lie to me too." "I know. Always was. (…) No, Louis, it is. You were just the only one who couldn't see it." "You win. I can't-" I know I betrayed you. All of you. Just let me leave. You'll never have to see me again. Just let me become...a bad memory. Just give me that. Please." |
Appearances
The Telltale Series
The Final Season
- "Done Running"
- "Suffer The Children" (Flashback, Corpse)
Trivia
- Marlon's death is ironic in the sense that earlier in the episode, he accidentally takes Alvin Jr. by surprise by placing a hand on his shoulder from behind, which results in AJ elbowing him in the groin. When Marlon dies, it ends up being a role reversal, with AJ shooting Marlon from behind.
- Marlon is Alvin Jr.'s first victim and the only one he kills directly regardless of the player's choice.
- Marlon is the first main antagonist of the Final Season, although he was initially an ally.
- Marlon claims to have eaten slugs at one point. (Determinant)
- During the first game of "War" with Louis, Violet, and Marlon, when asked who she thinks of the 4 would die first, Clementine can say "probably Marlon", foreshadowing his death later in the episode.
- He is the first character to kill another survivor in Season Four, this character being Brody.
- Marlon is one of eleven kids/teens in The Walking Dead franchise to later become an antagonist, the others being Ben, Lizzie Samuels, Gill, Ron Anderson, Christopher Manawa, Mitch, Minerva, Gage, Dakota, and Mason Beale.
- Marlon is one of only three of these characters to renounce their antagonistic ways, the others being Mitch and Gage.
- Marlon is the fourth main character who later becomes an antagonist, with the first being Bonnie, the second being Arvo, the third being David García, the fifth being Lilly, and the sixth being Minerva.
- Marlon is the tallest of all the kids at Ericson's Boarding School, being only slightly taller than Mitch.
International Dubbers
| Language | Dubber | Other Characters Voiced |
|---|---|---|
| French | Arnaud Laurent | Kenneth Sutton Felix Carlucci (young) |
| German | Jesse Grimm | N/A |
| Portuguese | Fábio Campos | N/A |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Abraham Vega | Tobias |