The Wolf Among Us: 10 Most Harrowing Decisions We Had To Make

2. Punishing The Crooked Man

The Crooked Man is first mentioned in Episode Two (and only through chatter with some characters) but he's somewhat of a master puppeteer in Fabletown. Originally thought of by Bigby and Snow as a loan shark, The Crooked Man has several illegal operations all over Fabletown and profits from slavery, violence and oppression. He finally appears during the climax of Episode Four but only briefly as part of the cliffhanger ending. Bigby's mission to bring him to justice is the sole focus of Episode Five though and there's several outcomes. Bigby can kill him without taking him in for a trial (this makes the gathered Fabletown community deem Bigby a monster) or he can arrest him and escort him to the Witching Well where a trial takes place. Here, your actions from across the game are laid out and used as weapons either in your favor or against you. Nearly every character in the game is present and they will speak out in favour of Bigby and Snow (if you've treated them fairly) or they will use your cruel actions to boost the Crooked Man's case. Either way, the Crooked Man wins the crowd over by suggesting that Fables wouldn't have to turn to him if the Fabletown government made life better. Thankfully, Narissa (The Little Mermaid), one of Georgie's slaves now free from her spell, arrives to deliver the final evidence which condemns the Crooked Man; she heard him give the order to execute Faith and Lily. The Crooked Man's punishment then follows; you can permanently transform him into a crow and lock him away in the Business Office; Bigby can outright kill him by tearing his head off; or you can throw him down the Witching Well. Whichever way you choose to end the Crooked Man's crime spree, it's a hugely satisfying conclusion to the series. Bringing back all your previous choices and using them as a way to criticise the story you've created is a neat touch and the Crooked Man is an engaging villain who perhaps could have had more screentime. At the very least, it makes you regret some of your earlier decisions and that's an interesting feeling to undergo in a choice-driven game.