HBO: The Last of Us

[Ello Sailor]

TLOU players are the new GoT book readers. Warms the heart.

[tree_]

I've never played the game, but to me the finale (like much of the show) felt abridged and abrupt. I like both actors but Joel and Ellie do not feel like a developed pair at this point and I'm supposed to care about Joel making that stupid, stupid decision because he loves her so much. It did not register as poignant, as it was clearly supposed to, but as hollow. It was fun seeing Joel go on a berserker rage but the fact that I kept thinking of so many obvious ways this outcome could've been avoided made it all feel cheap.

I agree with it feeling abridged. They could've done a much better job with the material, which I like quite a bit, and it's why I keep watching. I think you're supposed to be conflicted with Joel and his decisions. As Ello said, he's pretty much insane at this point. And it does surprise me how many people don't think Joel necessarily made a poor, hasty, selfish decision with his actions. Part 2 deals with everything in a pretty interesting way. I hope they switch up the crew a bit for part 2. Give it a different style, come at it from a different angle. Make it more fleshed out.

[Ensign9]

The game is a superior delivery of and a smarter version of the story. I don’t miss the sometimes-horrific violence of it, though.

That extremity, especially in Part II, is in and of itself a critical part of the storytelling. It’s not the same kind of gratuitous, mindless blood and gore you’ll see in other games. That doesn’t make it any easier to digest but that’s kind of the point.

[Ensign9]

Was that the same way the game ended?

Carbon copy.

[Monkey_Driven]

They also more clearly spell out a plot point that was left more vague in the game. I didn’t like that and it’s been a recurring thing all season. The game is a whole lotta grey morality-wise and they’ve taken some of that away from the show in the name of giving us more clear cut good and evil.

I am constantly struck during this show by how much more respect and confidence the game seemed to have for its audience. A lot of tiny decisions being made here that demonstrate a lack of faith in people’s ability to understand a subtlety or consider an ambiguity.

The game is a superior delivery of and a smarter version of the story. I don’t miss the sometimes-horrific violence of it, though.

I feel like this is a problem with TV these days in general and this adaptation seems to suffer from it. I give this first season a solid B+. It could have used another 2 episodes or so to flesh out the story to show the development of Joel and Ellie's relationship. It did several cool things to expand the story that I wish would have been explored even more.

I'm really happy it exists. Seasons 2 and 3 can really go into some uncharted territory for prestige TV if they sharpen their focus and take more chances.

[spike]

In every city that our heroes have encountered, they sneak around like crazy to avoid either clicker or human danger. Then in SLC, they’re just casually strolling along in the wide open and are attacked. They even stop and lean on some debris at one point, like they’re walking through the park. Behavior makes no sense.

[wease]

Was that the same way the game ended?

Carbon copy.

Roger that

[wease]

Why do you guys keep referencing upcoming 2nd and 3rd seasons? I know they’ve okayed a 2nd but haven’t seen anything regarding a 3rd.

Does the game’s narrative actually have an ending the show will build to or is it open-ended allowing for further volumes?

[tree_]

Was that the same way the game ended?

Carbon copy.

Roger that

Well, not really. There was much more violence, and sometimes Joel would die, and then try again, depending on the difficulty setting.

[Monkey_Driven]

Why do you guys keep referencing upcoming 2nd and 3rd seasons? I know they’ve okayed a 2nd but haven’t seen anything regarding a 3rd.

Does the game’s narrative actually have an ending the show will build to or is it open-ended allowing for further volumes?

Both games have had a definitive ending. They haven't announced a third game, but it COULD happen at some point. The second game is roughly twice as long as the first with more characters and plot points. I don't think there's a way they could cover everything in just one season. A third season seems inevitable.

[Bi_3]

They also more clearly spell out a plot point that was left more vague in the game. I didn’t like that and it’s been a recurring thing all season. The game is a whole lotta grey morality-wise and they’ve taken some of that away from the show in the name of giving us more clear cut good and evil.

I am constantly struck during this show by how much more respect and confidence the game seemed to have for its audience. A lot of tiny decisions being made here that demonstrate a lack of faith in people’s ability to understand a subtlety or consider an ambiguity.

The game is a superior delivery of and a smarter version of the story. I don’t miss the sometimes-horrific violence of it, though.

I feel like this is a problem with TV these days in general and this adaptation seems to suffer from it. I give this first season a solid B+. It could have used another 2 episodes or so to flesh out the story to show the development of Joel and Ellie's relationship. It did several cool things to expand the story that I wish would have been explored even more.

I'm really happy it exists. Seasons 2 and 3 can really go into some uncharted territory for prestige TV if they sharpen their focus and take more chances.

You'll never win trying to compare media and art from the before times (i.e. 2015 and earlier) and today.



Overall I thought this was really good though, second only to Andor in terms of content from the last few months.

[Ensign9]

Why do you guys keep referencing upcoming 2nd and 3rd seasons? I know they’ve okayed a 2nd but haven’t seen anything regarding a 3rd.

Does the game’s narrative actually have an ending the show will build to or is it open-ended allowing for further volumes?

Mazin keeps saying (I think) that he needs two seasons to cover Part II.

Part II definitely has one hell of an ending but there is plenty of room (and hope, from me) for a Part III.

Edit: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/a ... -interview

People are also speculating how Season 2 will encompass such a large game. Will the next season span the entire course of the second game?

Mazin: [shakes head] No. No way.

Druckmann: It’s more than one season.

Can you tell us if it’s two or three seasons?

Mazin: You have noted correctly that we will not say how many. But more than one is factually correct. [Laughs].

Druckmann: Some of the stuff I'm most excited for [in Part 2] are the changes we've discussed and seeing the story come to life again in this other version. And I think it's exciting because it leans into those feelings you had from the game, really heavily, in a new way.

[spike]

Why do you guys keep referencing upcoming 2nd and 3rd seasons? I know they’ve okayed a 2nd but haven’t seen anything regarding a 3rd.

Does the game’s narrative actually have an ending the show will build to or is it open-ended allowing for further volumes?

Mazin keeps saying (I think) that he needs two seasons to cover Part II.

Part II definitely has one hell of an ending but there is plenty of room (and hope, from me) for a Part III.

Edit: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/a ... -interview

People are also speculating how Season 2 will encompass such a large game. Will the next season span the entire course of the second game?

Mazin: [shakes head] No. No way.

Druckmann: It’s more than one season.

Can you tell us if it’s two or three seasons?

Mazin: You have noted correctly that we will not say how many. But more than one is factually correct. [Laughs].

Druckmann: Some of the stuff I'm most excited for [in Part 2] are the changes we've discussed and seeing the story come to life again in this other version. And I think it's exciting because it leans into those feelings you had from the game, really heavily, in a new way.

would you rather have a third game or a fourth season and beyond of the show?

[Monkey_Driven]

Game, no question

[Ensign9]

1000% a third game.

[Simple Torture]

This series has had its ups and downs, but my favorite decision they made was making the finale a tight 43 minutes. I know some people have used the word "rushed" to describe the series at various points, but one thing I know I do not want are 80-minute episodes.

[Rangi Guy]

I just finished episode 6, and I'd say that overall - I'm really enjoying this series

[Revelator]

1000% a third game.

10000000000000000% agree, third game. Not even close.

[Jorge]

Maybe I'm too hard on this show, but I felt deflated after almost every episode despite really enjoying the two leads

[epilogue]

Meh

I'm glad fans of the show were happy with the ending. But I'm not sure this show was ever for me.