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General => Movies and TV => Topic started by: lonestar on January 15, 2023, 10:02:36 PM

Title: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 15, 2023, 10:02:36 PM
Halfway through EP 1,this is fucking intense.

On HBO Max, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey from GoT.


Finished the first episode.. This is gonna be a good one..
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 15, 2023, 11:54:22 PM
Insanely excited for this show. The games are among the very best of storytelling in video games, the writer of the games is one of the two showrunners (the other being the guy who made Chernobyl, which was also incredible), and reviews have been amazing.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 16, 2023, 02:28:31 AM
It'll be nice to see a video game adaptation that is actually good for a change. But yes, Pedro + Chernobyl leads made this an instant win for me.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 16, 2023, 03:29:43 AM
The first episode was amazing. That first half hour destroyed me just like it did in the game. The long runtime was spot on too, they paced it perfectly to introduce all the key characters and ideas and really set up this season.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: soupytwist on January 16, 2023, 03:59:45 AM
That was a great start.  Only minor concern is the Ellie seems older in the show.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 16, 2023, 05:55:39 AM
Full disclosure I never played the game, so the whole thing is new to me
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 16, 2023, 06:01:21 AM
That was a great start.  Only minor concern is the Ellie seems older in the show.
The actress is older but she looks young so I think the character is still very much a teen. Not a concern anyway if they've made her slightly older than in the game, and also means they can move on to season 2/TLOU2 without having to recast or wait ages.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: soupytwist on January 16, 2023, 06:35:52 AM
That was a great start.  Only minor concern is the Ellie seems older in the show.
The actress is older but she looks young so I think the character is still very much a teen. Not a concern anyway if they've made her slightly older than in the game, and also means they can move on to season 2/TLOU without having to recast or wait ages.

Yeah that's true.  I presume season 1 is all of game 1?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 16, 2023, 07:30:47 AM
Yep, first season will be the first game.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: SoundscapeMN on January 16, 2023, 10:05:47 AM
I'm unsure if I'm going to watch this, but I do like Anna Torv who was really good in Fringe.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 16, 2023, 10:59:40 AM
I'm unsure if I'm going to watch this, but I do like Anna Torv who was really good in Fringe.

I think the first 20 minutes will sell the show on you
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Evermind on January 16, 2023, 11:16:15 AM
I played the first game in the beginning of Covid (March 2020 I think?) and loved it, but I don't remember a lot of details. I'll probably go through it again and only then will I watch the show.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zantera on January 16, 2023, 01:20:23 PM
Strong first episode!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 16, 2023, 02:30:34 PM
Oh another cool thing about the show is that Merle Dandridge voiced (and presumably motion-captured) Marlene in the game and is now playing her in the show as well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on January 16, 2023, 02:45:17 PM
Never played the game and know minimal about the story but I watched the first episode based on the rave reviews. I honestly thought it was extremely slow moving and pretty boring at times. There were some great moments and I can see that some of the shots and set up would have come straight from the game, ie the view through the back of the car which was really well done. I'll stick with the show as I am sure it will get better but to be honest if the show hadn't got such amazing reviews I may have given up on it as it does also feel very similar to The Walking Dead - there is an element of seen it all before coming through so far.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 16, 2023, 03:42:15 PM
I really like the additions and expansions they managed by not having to conform to a player POV. That bit at the start of the timeskip was heartbreaking.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 16, 2023, 03:57:53 PM
I really like the additions and expansions they managed by not having to conform to a player POV. That bit at the start of the timeskip was heartbreaking.

It really was...and I love how they kept focusing on the watch after the timeskip. It'll be interesting to see how the narrative around the watch develops, it's obviously going to be a big part of the story.


If it's in the game, please don't tell me. Does that count as spoilers?  :lol
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 16, 2023, 05:47:08 PM
Full disclosure I never played the game, so the whole thing is new to me

Same. Gonna watch later tonight.

but I do like Anna Torv who was really good in Fringe.

And Mindhunter on Netflix…..she was great in that. But I LOVED her in Fringe as well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on January 16, 2023, 11:23:53 PM
Haven't played the game, first episode was pretty good.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on January 17, 2023, 03:44:52 AM
Oooh, huge fan of the games (my current avatar is game Joel). I am probably going to spare up episodes and binge watch it. Good to see it has been received very well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: soupytwist on January 17, 2023, 05:30:25 AM

And Mindhunter on Netflix…..she was great in that. But I LOVED her in Fringe as well.

Poor mans Scully  ;D
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Grappler on January 17, 2023, 08:09:30 AM
Watched the episode last night and really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 17, 2023, 11:25:57 AM
I enjoyed the first episode, but I feel it may be a bit overhyped on that first episode.  I say that, because all these Zombie shows/movies start like this so other than the opening scene with the daughter, I didn't really feel a strong connection to the show.  I also didn't play the games so this is new to me.  I did like the episode though, don't get me wrong.  I just see high praise for it, and I'm not sure I agree with that yet.  Obviously the potential is there and I am excited to see what happens. 
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zantera on January 17, 2023, 12:52:34 PM
I enjoyed the first episode, but I feel it may be a bit overhyped on that first episode.  I say that, because all these Zombie shows/movies start like this so other than the opening scene with the daughter, I didn't really feel a strong connection to the show.  I also didn't play the games so this is new to me.  I did like the episode though, don't get me wrong.  I just see high praise for it, and I'm not sure I agree with that yet.  Obviously the potential is there and I am excited to see what happens.

The personal tragedy at the start of a story has been done before but The Last of Us does it really well and without getting too spoilery it plays a huge part in the story just in how it affects Joel as a character. The Walking Dead might have done the 'big successful zombie story' before, but IMO The Last of Us does it even better.

I hope the show continues on the same level as the pilot though. :)
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 17, 2023, 12:58:18 PM
I enjoyed the first episode, but I feel it may be a bit overhyped on that first episode.  I say that, because all these Zombie shows/movies start like this so other than the opening scene with the daughter, I didn't really feel a strong connection to the show.  I also didn't play the games so this is new to me.  I did like the episode though, don't get me wrong.  I just see high praise for it, and I'm not sure I agree with that yet.  Obviously the potential is there and I am excited to see what happens.

The personal tragedy at the start of a story has been done before but The Last of Us does it really well and without getting too spoilery it plays a huge part in the story just in how it affects Joel as a character. The Walking Dead might have done the 'big successful zombie story' before, but IMO The Last of Us does it even better.

I hope the show continues on the same level as the pilot though. :)

Yeah, I can see that.  I knew the GoT girl was the main character so when the show started with a different child, I called it out to my gf "she's going to die in this episode and that's going to be why he cares so much for the main character girl" (like I said, I didn't play the game, but I knew there was an adult male and young female who are the main characters from the game).  Then of course you see the flashback at the end of the episode when the guard points the gun at him and her.  I can only imagine there's more similar moments that's going to make those two form a strong bond.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 17, 2023, 04:51:42 PM
I enjoyed the first episode, but I feel it may be a bit overhyped on that first episode.  I say that, because all these Zombie shows/movies start like this so other than the opening scene with the daughter, I didn't really feel a strong connection to the show.  I also didn't play the games so this is new to me.  I did like the episode though, don't get me wrong.  I just see high praise for it, and I'm not sure I agree with that yet.  Obviously the potential is there and I am excited to see what happens.

The personal tragedy at the start of a story has been done before but The Last of Us does it really well and without getting too spoilery it plays a huge part in the story just in how it affects Joel as a character. The Walking Dead might have done the 'big successful zombie story' before, but IMO The Last of Us does it even better.

I hope the show continues on the same level as the pilot though. :)

Yeah, I can see that.  I knew the GoT girl was the main character so when the show started with a different child, I called it out to my gf "she's going to die in this episode and that's going to be why he cares so much for the main character girl" (like I said, I didn't play the game, but I knew there was an adult male and young female who are the main characters from the game).  Then of course you see the flashback at the end of the episode when the guard points the gun at him and her.  I can only imagine there's more similar moments that's going to make those two form a strong bond.

I had the same thoughts, pretty much verbatim.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: DTwwbwMP on January 17, 2023, 05:17:18 PM
Just finished. It was ok. Did not immediately grab me like TWD!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 17, 2023, 05:27:34 PM
Just finished. It was ok. Did not immediately grab me like TWD!

I couldn't help but think about TWD during the episode.  I think this has more potential than TWD during it's start.  TWD wore me out and it was a rare show where I stopped watching a few seasons in.  I think that's kind of the hard part about doing a zombie show.  So much has already been done.  But like I said, I do think there's a lot of potential here.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on January 17, 2023, 06:23:40 PM
Just finished. It was ok. Did not immediately grab me like TWD!

I couldn't help but think about TWD during the episode.  I think this has more potential than TWD during it's start.  TWD wore me out and it was a rare show where I stopped watching a few seasons in.  I think that's kind of the hard part about doing a zombie show.  So much has already been done.  But like I said, I do think there's a lot of potential here.

Yes, I agree with all this too. I am amazed at the gushing love for this so far but can only think it is because so many people love the game and are loving seeing this portrayed in a tv show (as I said above I know nothing about the game). Looking forward to seeing where it goes but after one episode it wasn't anything special.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 17, 2023, 11:02:26 PM
The problem with the Walking Dead was that there was never really any point to the storytelling (I'm talking about the show, can't speak for the comics). The start was so good and so promising, but they never set out with a clear idea of the story they were telling. They had a great start, because the setting was so good, but they just milked that setting and by season 2 the show just started meandering as they dragged it out for as long as they possibly could. I gave up a couple of seasons ago.

The Last of Us is very different. Both games have very coherent, powerful stories that are all about the characters, their motivations and journeys and relationships between each other. I don't only mean Joel and Ellie, but all the characters really. And it looks like the show is going to be adapting these in an amazing way.

So I get why some non-gamers might think "seems cool but what's with the hype, it's a lot like TWD" for now, but stick with it. I also understand that people who want action and aren't too interested in nuanced character stories might find it a bit slower than they'd expected, but that's the nature of the storytelling and I personally think it's wonderful.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 18, 2023, 08:00:22 AM
Yeah, it's just one episode and as I said to my gf, "all zombie stories start the same" with the outbreak scenario.  It's where it goes from here that makes the difference. Being HBO, I expect just an overall much better job than AMC at this story.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on January 18, 2023, 09:30:21 AM
Without delving into spoilers, The Last of Us is a straight forward story. Both games focus on characters, dialog, themes etc. I think Ariich has described it well.

Both games excel at what they do and do it better than most multimedia products, including film. I don't think The Walking Dead games or series are even remotely close in terms of quality to be honest.

In terms of films, I think Logan and The Road have a similar feel in ways. But those are also clearly different stories overall.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zantera on January 18, 2023, 09:31:24 AM
One problem with a zombie show that definitely was my main issue with TWD was that there was no 'endgame' or plan. No "we have to get to this safe spot" or a natural place to end the story in, it's pretty much just "survive" and that's it. The first Last of Us game for sure has a nice story and I'm assuming S1 will span that, for me the only worry would be future seasons when we move past that. Hopefully we get something good though.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 18, 2023, 10:58:26 AM
Yeah, it's just one episode and as I said to my gf, "all zombie stories start the same" with the outbreak scenario.  It's where it goes from here that makes the difference. Being HBO, I expect just an overall much better job than AMC at this story.
In terms of production vales for sure, but I don't feel HBO alone means much for the storytelling. Game of Thrones fell off a cliff at the end. My trust is in the showrunners - Druckman who created the games and Mazin who made Chernobyl - and the statements they've made about their plans for the show.

One problem with a zombie show that definitely was my main issue with TWD was that there was no 'endgame' or plan. No "we have to get to this safe spot" or a natural place to end the story in, it's pretty much just "survive" and that's it. The first Last of Us game for sure has a nice story and I'm assuming S1 will span that, for me the only worry would be future seasons when we move past that. Hopefully we get something good though.
They've said the show will only adapt the games and not go on forever (like TWD did and its spinoffs are still doing). I think they hinted that, assuming it's renewed, the second game would probably need two seasons. I'll be very interested to see how they tackle it. The format of the game first time was incredible but I don't see that working for the show, so that might be one where they need to do more adapting to make it work for the medium.

There's been talk of a third game at some point, but they've given the impression they wouldn't take the show beyond the games that have been released.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 18, 2023, 11:05:05 AM
Yeah, it's just one episode and as I said to my gf, "all zombie stories start the same" with the outbreak scenario.  It's where it goes from here that makes the difference. Being HBO, I expect just an overall much better job than AMC at this story.
In terms of production vales for sure, but I don't feel HBO alone means much for the storytelling. Game of Thrones fell off a cliff at the end. My trust is in the showrunners - Druckman who created the games and Mazin who made Chernobyl - and the statements they've made about their plans for the show.

As far as I know, yeah, HBO is not writing the show, but historically, for my tastes, HBO often makes the best TV shows.  I'm assuming they just have the money or have the brains to hire the best people (I really don't think it's because HBO has curses/nudity/gore).  Chernobyl, another HBO show.  The girl actress, from GoT (Pedro as well).  HBO re-uses a lot of the same people for their shows (the guy conducting the interview in the opening scene was in HBO's Silicon Valley too).  I really don't know what it is, but HBO just consistently wins me over with their TV shows.  And if you presented me two similar shows, one on AMC and one on HBO, I'd always bet the HBO show was better.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Grappler on January 19, 2023, 07:09:19 AM
One problem with a zombie show that definitely was my main issue with TWD was that there was no 'endgame' or plan. No "we have to get to this safe spot" or a natural place to end the story in, it's pretty much just "survive" and that's it.

If you've followed what Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead writer/creator) has always said about The Walking Dead, it's that he hated zombie stories that ended with "getting to the safe spot."  Every Living Dead zombie movie does that - they get to a safe spot or a helicopter and then it's over - but what happens next?  His story was open ended and more about survival in that kind of world in the years afterwards, than it was about finding an immediate safe spot.

I've never played any of the Last of Us games, so I'm looking forward to watching the show. 
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: WilliamMunny on January 19, 2023, 07:14:09 AM
Well, it only took three days (oh, the joys of parenthood), but my wife and I finally finished episode 1.

I do not play video games and know nothing about the source material, but I LOVE the zombie/post-apocalyptic genre.

Expectations were high, but this show more than exceeded any and all.

I am all in and super excited to see where this goes.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zantera on January 19, 2023, 09:42:36 AM
One problem with a zombie show that definitely was my main issue with TWD was that there was no 'endgame' or plan. No "we have to get to this safe spot" or a natural place to end the story in, it's pretty much just "survive" and that's it.

If you've followed what Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead writer/creator) has always said about The Walking Dead, it's that he hated zombie stories that ended with "getting to the safe spot."  Every Living Dead zombie movie does that - they get to a safe spot or a helicopter and then it's over - but what happens next?  His story was open ended and more about survival in that kind of world in the years afterwards, than it was about finding an immediate safe spot.

I've never played any of the Last of Us games, so I'm looking forward to watching the show.

I think it's an interesting idea in theory and one that could work well in comic book form because you can still be very creative with visuals but the show really suffered for it IMO. So far TLOU delivers a lot better visually but they usually go big on the pilot and the finale and I fully expect to get some 'cheaper' episodes in between with fewer effects or sets. However, I do think (and hope) that they can compensate for that with strong characterization to keep us engaged.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 19, 2023, 01:04:13 PM
I get what Kirkman was doing with the Walking Dead comics - I've not read them myself, but I understand from fans of them that there's good characterisation. The problem with the show is that it just meandered so much and didn't go anywhere. It doesn't need to be "getting to the safe spot" - the setting can be unchanging - but then it's even more important that the character arcs are engaging. TWD had moments of greatness in that regard but too few and far between.

In the games (and therefore probably the show), TLOU is very different. It's wholly focused on character stories and motivations and it won't take 11 seasons to get there.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 19, 2023, 02:52:01 PM
I get what Kirkman was doing with the Walking Dead comics - I've not read them myself, but I understand from fans of them that there's good characterisation. The problem with the show is that it just meandered so much and didn't go anywhere. It doesn't need to be "getting to the safe spot" - the setting can be unchanging - but then it's even more important that the character arcs are engaging. TWD had moments of greatness in that regard but too few and far between.

In the games (and therefore probably the show), TLOU is very different. It's wholly focused on character stories and motivations and it won't take 11 seasons to get there.

My issue with TWD show was/is they felt the need to deviate from the source material in order to create surprise and uncertainty.....and in nearly every instance that they did so it was done really bad and diluted the story. I would have loved to have just seen a (more or less) straight adaptation of the Comic.

I've never played the game this show is based off of so I'll just enjoy it for what it is I suppose.

That is when I get the chance to watch....we're day three with no internet  :(  New equipment should be delivering any moment
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 20, 2023, 07:30:13 AM
Finally got a chance to watch.....I enjoyed it a lot. I didn't know the 'lore' behind that style of zombie....that's really interesting and a neat take. Gut wrenching with the fate of his daughter....that was a brutal scene.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: MinistroRaven on January 20, 2023, 09:40:17 AM
I haven't played the games, I have not watched TWD past the first episode of season 1.

I watched the first EP of TLoU and man, that was fantastic. I hope this one is good enough to keep running for at least 2 more seasons.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 20, 2023, 10:03:54 AM
I think I made it to S3 of Walking Dead...and I realized they were just beating a dead horse over and over again.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on January 22, 2023, 10:40:25 PM
Wow! That second episode was amazing. Loved it. Extremely intense and really well done. The acting was top notch and the production values are also amazing.

As I stated earlier I wasn't at all blown away by the first episode but it did enough to drag me in, but this really ramped it up a few notches.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on January 23, 2023, 06:45:21 AM
I'm waiting until next month to get that HBO Max subscription. At that point, I won't need to keep it for more than another month or so. I'm trying not to have too many of these streaming services going at once. :lol

As someone who knows the games well, I'm really excited to watch the show. It doesn't surprise me that this first season is a hit. I'm very curious to see what they do with Part II. Unlike the first game, which feels very much like a movie or television series anyway, Part II feels more like a novel. I won't say much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but as big a challenge as adapting Part I was, Part II will be even moreso.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 23, 2023, 07:15:02 AM
Wow! That second episode was amazing. Loved it. Extremely intense and really well done. The acting was top notch

Loving what I'm seeing this far....I have zero history with the source material and am just taking it for what they're giving us and I am digging it for sure....it's been great


and the production values are also amazing.

While I agree the sets have been incredible and the whole show has a great feel and atmosphere......there were a couple scenes of the 'daytime' city that you could really tell the difference between the set they were on and the CGI'd city/landscape beyond. It was very well done.....but.....it was noticeable. It's not a detriment or even a gripe, it's amazing what can be done these days but if I'm comparing it to say The Mandalorian or House of the Dragon where those differences are near impossible to spot, that's when it's noticeable to me.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Grappler on January 23, 2023, 07:19:40 AM
The second episode was awesome - I was very unnerved by the tendrils and the living fungus inside of the zombies. 
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 23, 2023, 08:53:34 AM
The second episode was awesome - I was very unnerved by the tendrils and the living fungus inside of the zombies.

Yeah.. When the zombie "kissed" her.... Very unnerving
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Grappler on January 23, 2023, 09:05:18 AM
The second episode was awesome - I was very unnerved by the tendrils and the living fungus inside of the zombies.

Yeah.. When the zombie "kissed" her.... Very unnerving

Even the beginning as well - pulling squirming tendrils out of a zombie's throat.  I can handle brain-dead zombies any day, but the idea that this living fungus is doing that inside of a person really made me feel weird. 

Having watched the behind the episode stuff, I like that they're not afraid to make some changes to the game to make things work better for TV.  I was surprised at the end as well, losing someone already.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on January 23, 2023, 10:57:49 AM
2nd episode was fantastic and the cinematography was gorgeous. I wonder if some scenes appearing to look a bit fakey is maybe a nod to the game itself. Either way I haven't played the game so going in blind on story-wise and enjoying these two episodes quite a lot so far.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on January 23, 2023, 02:30:33 PM
Wow! That second episode was amazing. Loved it. Extremely intense and really well done. The acting was top notch

Loving what I'm seeing this far....I have zero history with the source material and am just taking it for what they're giving us and I am digging it for sure....it's been great


and the production values are also amazing.

While I agree the sets have been incredible and the whole show has a great feel and atmosphere......there were a couple scenes of the 'daytime' city that you could really tell the difference between the set they were on and the CGI'd city/landscape beyond. It was very well done.....but.....it was noticeable. It's not a detriment or even a gripe, it's amazing what can be done these days but if I'm comparing it to say The Mandalorian or House of the Dragon where those differences are near impossible to spot, that's when it's noticeable to me.

Yeah, I get that. I was more talking about the overall look and feel. I don't know the game at all but it is my understanding that the city scapes and backgrounds are all pretty faithful to the game. I just think the 'look' of the show is really great. I mean some of it is simple, like seeing Ellie wake up with the golden glow of the sun shining on her (similar to how Jesus is depicted in paintings etc) while Joel and Tess are cloaked in shadow.

There are also so many great and subtle characterisations going on and these things really build a connection with the audience. While, a completely different show, this aspect reminds me a lot of Andor another recent show I also loved.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: DTwwbwMP on January 23, 2023, 11:26:55 PM
ep 2 was really good. Love the openings of both eps so far!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 24, 2023, 01:33:39 AM
This show is so damn great. All the small changes they've made from the games completely make sense for adapting the story for TV, but all the big points they're absolutely nailing.

I've also listened to the first two HBO podcasts (hosted by Troy Baker who voiced Joel in the games, and he interviews Druckman and Mazin) which give a lot of interesting insight into just how deliberate and careful everything they've done is, and the rationale for things that are slightly different from the games. Like, the scene at the end of episode 2, having it be infected instead of FEDRA soldiers arose from Mazin asking "why would FEDRA even be patrolling out there in the first place?". It's not a major plot hole in the game of anything, but the tweak for the show makes it a little more logical.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: PixelDream on January 24, 2023, 04:23:23 AM
First two episodes were absolutely fantastic. Nailed the whole vibe, everything feels right. Love the addition of the origin story and some of those changes and additions really make for a better show. So far it’s 10/10 for me. Loved the games (completed them both), love the show. Some of those moments with the clickers really felt like how it was in the game.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 24, 2023, 08:51:22 AM
This second episode definitely helped drag me in.  Started getting the story going and I'm hooked.  The fungus aspect of these zombies is interesting and gives it something different but also adds a lot of suspense.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: axeman90210 on January 25, 2023, 04:32:57 AM
Two episodes in and I'm a fan as well. Coming at this with no experience with the game, but I love the world and the story they've set up so far.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 25, 2023, 01:21:28 PM
All the little details and nuances in this show are fantastic to immerse yourself into. The opening to episode 2 mentioned that that patient in Jakarta had been working in the flour mill (which in real life is apparently the largest flour mill in the world), and it turns out in episode 1 Joel, Sarah and Tommy had not been eating anything with flour in because 1. they'd run out (so Sarah made eggs instead of pancakes) and 2. Joel was on the atkins diet so avoiding carbs.

In the game, it was hinted (in a newspaper you can pick up and read when playing as Sarah in the intro) that it started from contaminated food products, so it's really cool how they're expanding on that but still in small, subtle ways that don't make a big deal about it and keep the main focus on the emotional character stories.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 25, 2023, 01:26:17 PM
That's a good catch
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 25, 2023, 03:15:49 PM
I wonder if some scenes appearing to look a bit fakey is maybe a nod to the game itself. E

I don't know the game at all but it is my understanding that the city scapes and backgrounds are all pretty faithful to the game. I just think the 'look' of the show is really great

So I ran down a bit of a Youtube Rabbit Hole on some of the game cut scenes and you guys might be on to something as far as the intentionality of the way those city scape scenes looked. They were pretty faithful to the 'look' of the cut scenes I saw....and makes sense being that HBO has clearly demonstrated they have the CGI/Rendering ability to produce scenes where you can't tell the difference between CGI and practical effects.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 29, 2023, 09:52:14 PM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zook on January 30, 2023, 01:58:40 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 30, 2023, 02:28:44 AM
Yes he is. Snippets of his relationship with Frank are also in the game through notes and stuff you can read but it's pretty subtle (no direct flashbacks or anything) so they expanded on it in the show.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: axeman90210 on January 30, 2023, 04:40:59 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Nick Offerman and the other guy absolutely killed it.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 30, 2023, 04:51:00 AM
That episode was beautiful. While it was a shame we never got to see Joel and Ellie interact with Bill in the way they did in the game, I can see why they went with a different approach here and it worked wonderfully (and still ultimately ends up with the same outcome).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 06:14:23 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Nick Offerman and the other guy absolutely killed it.

Agreed, both incredible performances
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on January 30, 2023, 06:56:41 AM
Great slow burn episode, I like seeing more of the world and enjoyed the intersection between Joe and Bill. I loved the structure of this 3rd episode so much going through Bill's character. The character development has been excellent so far, it gives so much more depth.


Was interesting to hear about the spread of the fungus, liked how it was a lot more straight forward. I would love more flashback scenes with different characters and different countries etc..
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 07:12:41 AM
Great slow burn episode, I like seeing more of the world and enjoyed the intersection between Joe and Bill. I loved the structure of this 3rd episode so much going through Bill's character. The character development has been excellent so far, it gives so much more depth.


Was interesting to hear about the spread of the fungus, liked how it was a lot more straight forward. I would love more flashback scenes with different characters and different countries etc..

Based on what they did in this episode, I'm pretty sure they'll be doing a great deal more flashbacks.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2023, 08:06:10 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?

I wouldn't go that far, but I wonder what the point of so much time spent on this story just for both of them to be dead. (maybe game players understand this more than I do?)   It was certainly an emotional story and they portrayed it fairly well, I just don't understand the why.  I ended up feeling a bit bored with the episode myself mostly because I thought the side story dragged a bit and when you realized they both took the meds it just made me wonder, why should I be emotionally invested in this now like I was 5 minutes earlier?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zook on January 30, 2023, 08:23:28 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?

I wouldn't go that far, but I wonder what the point of so much time spent on this story just for both of them to be dead. (maybe game players understand this more than I do?)   It was certainly an emotional story and they portrayed it fairly well, I just don't understand the why.  I ended up feeling a bit bored with the episode myself mostly because I thought the side story dragged a bit and when you realized they both took the meds it just made me wonder, why should I be emotionally invested in this now like I was 5 minutes earlier?

Exactly. They started building Bill as a badass, and then it turns into a neverending love story, and then they die. I would have liked to see more of Bill, and surviving the infected. The episode dragged so much and for characters we will probably never see again. It's like that episode of Lost where they devote an entire episode to side characters we hardly saw, just to kill them off.

And old Frank looked like Jordan Peterson. I thought that was funny.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 08:43:14 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?

I wouldn't go that far, but I wonder what the point of so much time spent on this story just for both of them to be dead. (maybe game players understand this more than I do?)   It was certainly an emotional story and they portrayed it fairly well, I just don't understand the why.  I ended up feeling a bit bored with the episode myself mostly because I thought the side story dragged a bit and when you realized they both took the meds it just made me wonder, why should I be emotionally invested in this now like I was 5 minutes earlier?

For me, it just stressed the value of saving one life. In the beginning we have the mass killing of people for apparently no real reason, just a mass wasting of life out of fear. Then we have the saving of one life pretty much on a whim, which turns out to be an absolute godsend to a man who was constantly isolated and angry, which he stresses in his note to Joel, who is in process of saving one life, Ellie's. I think it's going to pave the way from Ellie being a burden to her being so much more to Joel, to being a daughter figure.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2023, 08:51:33 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?

I wouldn't go that far, but I wonder what the point of so much time spent on this story just for both of them to be dead. (maybe game players understand this more than I do?)   It was certainly an emotional story and they portrayed it fairly well, I just don't understand the why.  I ended up feeling a bit bored with the episode myself mostly because I thought the side story dragged a bit and when you realized they both took the meds it just made me wonder, why should I be emotionally invested in this now like I was 5 minutes earlier?

For me, it just stressed the value of saving one life. In the beginning we have the mass killing of people for apparently no real reason, just a mass wasting of life out of fear. Then we have the saving of one life pretty much on a whim, which turns out to be an absolute godsend to a man who was constantly isolated and angry, which he stresses in his note to Joel, who is in process of saving one life, Ellie's. I think it's going to pave the way from Ellie being a burden to her being so much more to Joel, to being a daughter figure.

and then they both die?  :biggrin: I'm sure it's a parallel and the story does shed some light on life of someone on their own in this world. Maybe the story of this episode has pay offs down the road.  I hope so.

Exactly. They started building Bill as a badass, and then it turns into a neverending love story, and then they die. I would have liked to see more of Bill, and surviving the infected. The episode dragged so much and for characters we will probably never see again. It's like that episode of Lost where they devote an entire episode to side characters we hardly saw, just to kill them off.

And old Frank looked like Jordan Peterson. I thought that was funny.

Bill was a badass and I agree, showing more of him and his survival might have been cool, but also, if the end is just him dead, I'm a bit lost as to the why show it.  I've got to think this story will play a role somehow beyond just supplying them with goods left behind.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zook on January 30, 2023, 09:02:06 AM
Tonight's episode left me absolutely speechless. Just outstanding.

Outstandingly boring. Most of the episode was pointless. Is Bill even in the game?

I wouldn't go that far, but I wonder what the point of so much time spent on this story just for both of them to be dead. (maybe game players understand this more than I do?)   It was certainly an emotional story and they portrayed it fairly well, I just don't understand the why.  I ended up feeling a bit bored with the episode myself mostly because I thought the side story dragged a bit and when you realized they both took the meds it just made me wonder, why should I be emotionally invested in this now like I was 5 minutes earlier?

For me, it just stressed the value of saving one life. In the beginning we have the mass killing of people for apparently no real reason, just a mass wasting of life out of fear. Then we have the saving of one life pretty much on a whim, which turns out to be an absolute godsend to a man who was constantly isolated and angry, which he stresses in his note to Joel, who is in process of saving one life, Ellie's. I think it's going to pave the way from Ellie being a burden to her being so much more to Joel, to being a daughter figure.

and then they both die?  :biggrin: I'm sure it's a parallel and the story does shed some light on life of someone on their own in this world. Maybe the story of this episode has pay offs down the road.  I hope so.

Exactly. They started building Bill as a badass, and then it turns into a neverending love story, and then they die. I would have liked to see more of Bill, and surviving the infected. The episode dragged so much and for characters we will probably never see again. It's like that episode of Lost where they devote an entire episode to side characters we hardly saw, just to kill them off.

And old Frank looked like Jordan Peterson. I thought that was funny.

Bill was a badass and I agree, showing more of him and his survival might have been cool, but also, if the end is just him dead, I'm a bit lost as to the why show it.  I've got to think this story will play a role somehow beyond just supplying them with goods left behind.

Like, he lied to Frank and didn't take the meds, and he's still out there, and he'll randomly show up later for a deus ex Machina save? That's something the writers of The Walking Dead would do. It doesn't make sense, but fans liked the character so we won't show that he actually died so we can bring him back. "Don't open the door, Joel. I don't want you to know I'm actually not in there... For some reason. They always said I was dramatic."
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 30, 2023, 09:12:55 AM
Bill was a badass and I agree, showing more of him and his survival might have been cool, but also, if the end is just him dead, I'm a bit lost as to the why show it.
Not sure I understand. Why show any story? We're all dead in the end.

This episode started with Joel still pretty closed off and sceptical about the value of saving one life. It then shows the journey that Bill went on with Frank, and how he came to feel differently over time, leading to him opening up to Joel in his letter about it. Regardless of what happens in the plot itself, it's absolutely relevant to the emotional journey that Joel and Ellie are on.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 09:14:36 AM
Bill was a badass and I agree, showing more of him and his survival might have been cool, but also, if the end is just him dead, I'm a bit lost as to the why show it.
Not sure I understand. Why show any story? We're all dead in the end.

This episode started with Joel still pretty closed off and sceptical about the value of saving one life. It then shows the journey that Bill went on with Frank, and how he came to feel differently over time, leading to him opening up to Joel in his letter about it. Regardless of what happens in the plot itself, it's absolutely relevant to the emotional journey that Joel and Ellie are on.

That's how I saw it... Bill stated as much in his letter to Joel
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2023, 09:23:21 AM
Bill was a badass and I agree, showing more of him and his survival might have been cool, but also, if the end is just him dead, I'm a bit lost as to the why show it.
Not sure I understand. Why show any story? We're all dead in the end.

This episode started with Joel still pretty closed off and sceptical about the value of saving one life. It then shows the journey that Bill went on with Frank, and how he came to feel differently over time, leading to him opening up to Joel in his letter about it. Regardless of what happens in the plot itself, it's absolutely relevant to the emotional journey that Joel and Ellie are on.

Because it was 40 minutes of an hour episode (rough estimation) with no investment on these two guys.  Everyone seems to be saying (including my gf) that it was so sad and so emotional, but I just sit back and say, but yeah it is but still why should I care? The guy is gone before I even got to know him.  What significance does his personal story really have on Joel?  I think lonestar may have been right about a parallel to his own journey.  Fair enough, but it doesn't mean that in the end, I care about Bill and Frank.  I think my bigger point really is, the before and after the love story were more interesting to me.  The scene in the conviencene store, the scene of the skeletons in the ditch and the ending when they get to the house.  I feel the love story could have been cut a bit and got to the point without feeling like it's dragging on.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 09:52:22 AM
But, for me at least, it didn't drag on. I think it's really important to show that beauty can exist even in the worst of times and places... The scene with the strawberries, so simple, yet totally worth the few moments it took because it showed the value of what love can bring back to such a dark world.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on January 30, 2023, 10:53:22 AM
.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 11:38:14 AM
I thought the purpose of Bill and Frank's story was obvious. Showing the mundane can be just as powerful as the spectacular, and it showed two lovers spending their time in this apocalypse being genuinely alive, as opposed to Joel who has only been surviving. I also don't think every single event portrayed needs to have a grander purpose in the narrative, because that's not how reality works anyways. Joel is our protagonist, but he isnt the single most important person in the world. Showing us a side character's story like this helps drive home the fact that there are other people with deep, enriching lives all their own that are worth acknowledging.


And in turn, enriches the viewing experience. It makes the world so much richer, so much more.

Thanks for that man.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 30, 2023, 11:48:08 AM
That episode was sublime. Talk about elevating the source material.

I really don't understand how anyone could view that as pointless: it gave us a poignant and heartfelt short story about how you can find the best of yourself and others even when the world has gone to hell, and paralleled the main protagonist's journey while doing so.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 12:04:15 PM
That episode was sublime. Talk about elevating the source material.

I really don't understand how anyone could view that as pointless: it gave us a poignant and heartfelt short story about how you can find the best of yourself and others even when the world has gone to hell, and paralleled the main protagonist's journey while doing so.

I still go back to the bit with the strawberries...of all the heartfelt moments in this one, that was the one that really choked me up...first the Gift of the Magi moment when he admits to trading in his gun for the seeds (one of the small ones  :lol ), then the bliss of tasting the strawberry (I know that face all too well) and the passion taking them over to the point where they almost crush said strawberries. It's such a simple thing we all take so much for granted, and it really drove home how fragile and precious so much of what we treasure in life is.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 30, 2023, 12:15:44 PM
Indeed. This entire episode was just a lovely little slice of humanity.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Zantera on January 30, 2023, 12:48:05 PM
Fantastic episode.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on January 30, 2023, 01:56:59 PM
Just a brilliant episode. Murray Bartlett (Frank) is a star. After his Emmy winning performance in The White Lotus season 1, he goes and knocks this out of the park.

My wife isn't even watching the show but she was pottering around the house while it was on and she just got drawn into it and by end of the episode was on the couch next to me with tears in her eyes.

Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on January 30, 2023, 02:09:38 PM
Murray Bartlett (Frank) is a star. After his Emmy winning performance in The White Lotus season 1, he goes and knocks this out of the park.

Ahhh, I knew he looked familiar but couldn't figure out from where.  Another HBO actor.  And while I may have found the episode a bit boring as it dragged on, the acting from the two guys was fantastic.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 30, 2023, 02:54:19 PM
Question: Were these two characters together/lovers in the game?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 30, 2023, 04:56:16 PM
It was never 100% explicit, but pretty heavily implied. But their story does not end well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 30, 2023, 06:38:02 PM
It was never 100% explicit, but pretty heavily implied. But their story does not end well.

Just curious being I’m watching with no reference. Wondering how closely adapted the show is vs the game.

I’m digging the show big time. It’s all done very well….across all aspects
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 30, 2023, 08:09:21 PM
Talked with my kid this morning, and she's watching it while playing the game for the first time. It'll be interesting to hear her take on it.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: DTwwbwMP on January 31, 2023, 12:48:00 AM
Good ep, but the whole gay thing seemed very forced! Was it needed? :tdwn
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on January 31, 2023, 12:57:46 AM
It's fiction. Literally every plot point is "forced".
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on January 31, 2023, 02:11:50 AM
Good ep, but the whole gay thing seemed very forced! Was it needed? :tdwn
Are heterosexual love stories needed?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Lynxo on January 31, 2023, 02:36:49 AM
Good ep, but the whole gay thing seemed very forced! Was it needed? :tdwn
Are heterosexual love stories needed?
Exactly. If they were of opposite genders, would you still have called it forced?

I agree with most of the sentiments - especially about the strawberries scene. But the scene that got me was them getting married - especially considering same sex marriage was illegal in that state at the time of the outbreak. So neither of these two probably thought they would ever get married. It takes a zombie apocalypse for them to be able to finally be given the exact same rights as everybody else.

Man, I'm getting teared up just thinking about it.  :lol If I can handle it, I'm gonna watch that episode again.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 31, 2023, 05:13:09 AM
Good ep, but the whole gay thing seemed very forced! Was it needed? :tdwn

The gay thing?  :lol
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 31, 2023, 07:53:22 AM
When did Bill leave the note on the table? I'll need to re-watch to see if it was already on the table when they were having their last meal....but seemed like he wasn't coming back out and about after they went to bed.

And....I've watched far too many post apocalyptic shows/movies because the entire time Frank was in the home when they first met I just kept thinking at any moment he was going to turn on Bill and either kill him or just rob him blind and leave him for dead. This was a much better version of meeting a random stranger in the aftermath of society collapsing.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on January 31, 2023, 08:19:05 AM
And....I've watched far too many post apocalyptic shows/movies because the entire time Frank was in the home when they first met I just kept thinking at any moment he was going to turn on Bill and either kill him or just rob him blind and leave him for dead. This was a much better version of meeting a random stranger in the aftermath of society collapsing.

Seriously  :rollin
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Podaar on February 01, 2023, 06:33:32 AM
It's going to be difficult to top that episode. Joel and Ellie have a very long row-to-hoe if their story is going to provide the same level of emotional impact. The ladder for Frank, the first meal, Bill's rendition of Long, Long Time, Franks' gift of the Strawberries...oh man, what an episode. There were so many subtle details in the episode that really added to it. I loved how outside of the house and compound start out so white and idyllic, but 14 years later everything has faded to grey/yellow and peeling paint, rust is everywhere, but still tidy. Inside the house everything starts nice and tidy but impersonal, yet by the end there are different paintings of Bill hanging everywhere, more flower pots, books laying on end tables, light streaming in through open windows. I thought it very effective.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 01, 2023, 06:41:35 AM
Very good point about the house... By the end it looks thoroughly live in, it looks loved
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on February 01, 2023, 06:58:13 AM
And....I've watched far too many post apocalyptic shows/movies because the entire time Frank was in the home when they first met I just kept thinking at any moment he was going to turn on Bill and either kill him or just rob him blind and leave him for dead. This was a much better version of meeting a random stranger in the aftermath of society collapsing.

I was expecting that too, been conditioned to think something terrible is going to happen at such moments by shows like Walking Dead. I think this show has handled those moments really well. Several examples of really not giving in to very obvious turn of events like the scene in ep 2 where the clicker just comes by calmly and fungal kisses Anna Torv instead of violently attacking like we always see. Then Bella going into the pit and waiting to be surprise attacked but that doesn't happen. There are so many more like these that really keeps the show interesting and engaging for me.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 01, 2023, 07:09:31 AM
And....I've watched far too many post apocalyptic shows/movies because the entire time Frank was in the home when they first met I just kept thinking at any moment he was going to turn on Bill and either kill him or just rob him blind and leave him for dead. This was a much better version of meeting a random stranger in the aftermath of society collapsing.

I was expecting that too, been conditioned to think something terrible is going to happen at such moments by shows like Walking Dead. I think this show has handled those moments really well. Several examples of really not giving in to very obvious turn of events like the scene in ep 2 where the clicker just comes by calmly and fungal kisses Anna Torv instead of violently attacking like we always see. Then Bella going into the pit and waiting to be surprise attacked but that doesn't happen. There are so many more like these that really keeps the show interesting and engaging for me.

Yep.....agree with all that. They're doing a really good job of still providing angst and suspense without then resorting to some sort of 'brutal'....zombie cliche style attack or scene.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: MrBoom_shack-a-lack on February 05, 2023, 05:43:12 AM
Such a beautiful episode. Was he gay or just someone really lonely looking for company, it really dosen't matter. He found a purpose in his life and I thought that was very touching, especially how it ended.

Btw I never played the game but it's the only game i've ever watched a whole playthrough off. The game comes finally out on PC in march after 9 years. Oh how I hate exclusive titles.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: HOF on February 05, 2023, 02:47:19 PM
Haven’t watched The Last of Us, but this was pretty funny:

https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1622127831668097024?s=46&t=naTWucJy6Py1cA4L2sOjTg
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 05, 2023, 03:36:44 PM
Just watched the first three episodes. I won't spoil game stuff, though it seems the show will have some surprises for the gaming crowd as well.

I think it is great thus far. Visually spot on, from coloring to the environments. The first two episodes were very close to the game, with some omissions and additions here and there. The third episode did something different and also took a narrative risk (taking a whole episodes for two non-lead characters). For me it worked, it for sure touched me.

For me the letter at the end tied it together thematically, in drawing a comparison between Joel and Bill. In both Uncharted (4) and The Last of Us games (1/2) the writers use storylines that parralel the protagonists journey  (usually told through letters, more as an optional thing in the games). Here they used an entire episode for that approach. It is a bit unconventional and halfway the episode I did wonder what this was leading to, but for me it paid off due to the excellent excecution.

For those interested in playing the game, the Bill section is very different in many ways. I was looking forward to Ellie and Bill banter, but can't complain about what they did here.

Ellie and Joel still have quite the (intense) journey ahead of them, asssuming it will follow the game mostly.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 05, 2023, 09:23:48 PM
Another solid episode, though this one seemed a bit transitional in nature, with something seriously big happening in the next. I think the biggest take from this one is the real deepening of Joel and Ellie's relationship, they're definitely bonding, and Ellie's quirky nature is starting to worm through the chinks in Joel's armor.


And please let them continue the puns...that last bit had me in fucking stitches.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on February 05, 2023, 09:39:41 PM
The puns were right up my alley as a dad lol. Fantastic chemistry between the two. Love seeing more of the world and some challenges you'd face like the gas going bad, Joel not getting angry with Ellie for lying about the gun. so many great moments. At least next episode is airing on Friday instead of Sunday, so will be a shorter wait.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 05, 2023, 09:42:56 PM
The puns were right up my alley as a dad lol. Fantastic chemistry between the two. Love seeing more of the world and some challenges you'd face like the gas going bad, Joel not getting angry with Ellie for lying about the gun. so many great moments. At least next episode is airing on Friday instead of Sunday, so will be a shorter wait.

But it'll be a longer wait after...let's hope they don't pull a mini-cliffhanger...
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on February 05, 2023, 09:46:15 PM
lol I wasn't even thinking that.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 06, 2023, 02:49:14 PM
Another solid episode, though this one seemed a bit transitional in nature, with something seriously big happening in the next. I think the biggest take from this one is the real deepening of Joel and Ellie's relationship, they're definitely bonding, and Ellie's quirky nature is starting to worm through the chinks in Joel's armor.

And please let them continue the puns...that last bit had me in fucking stitches.
Yeah seems this and the next episode are a sort of two-parter really - driving to and arriving in Kansas City (not sure why they changed it from Pittsburgh in the game - possibly wanted it narratively to be further from Boston and closer to Wyoming) and then setting up some shit going down in the next episode. I love how they're showing us more of the group they're up against too - in the game there's no reason to really sympathise with this particular group but the way they're expanding on it in the show contributes more to the key themes that both the game and the show explore so well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Shooters1221 on February 06, 2023, 06:31:50 PM
Another solid episode, though this one seemed a bit transitional in nature, with something seriously big happening in the next. I think the biggest take from this one is the real deepening of Joel and Ellie's relationship, they're definitely bonding, and Ellie's quirky nature is starting to worm through the chinks in Joel's armor.

And please let them continue the puns...that last bit had me in fucking stitches.
Yeah seems this and the next episode are a sort of two-parter really - driving to and arriving in Kansas City (not sure why they changed it from Pittsburgh in the game - possibly wanted it narratively to be further from Boston and closer to Wyoming) and then setting up some shit going down in the next episode. I love how they're showing us more of the group they're up against too - in the game there's no reason to really sympathise with this particular group but the way they're expanding on it in the show contributes more to the key themes that both the game and the show explore so well.

That topic was brought up in the "inside the episode" on HBOMAX. I guess they were shooting in Calgary and just wanted a location city that would be a better visual match.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on February 08, 2023, 07:44:31 AM
Was the bridge they drove over in the beginning of the episode in Pittsburgh though?  It looked like it could have been.  I didn't know anything about the game locations, but I thought they might have been driving through Pittsburgh just based on that shot of the bridge.

Good episode, I'm just surprised, unless they aren't showing it, about the lack of zombies while driving so far.  I guess they really are all just concentrated in certain spots then?  Definitely enjoy the scenes on the road and of course Ellie saving Joel scene.  Those two have really bonded on the journey to KC
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 09, 2023, 09:06:44 AM
FYI.....next Episode will air tomorrow night to not interfere with the Super Bowl on Sunday. It'll also play on Sunday at the normal time.....but they're dropping it two days early this week.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 09, 2023, 04:00:59 PM
I think they handled this well as an inbetween episode. In the game the bonding between Ellie and Joel (and the puns!) happens gradually during loot/"puzzle" gameplay and in-between fights, but in a tv show you need a building episode like this.

I do hope shit will go down the next episode though, given the source material I do expect some brutal fights.

Was the bridge they drove over in the beginning of the episode in Pittsburgh though?  It looked like it could have been.  I didn't know anything about the game locations, but I thought they might have been driving through Pittsburgh just based on that shot of the bridge.

Good episode, I'm just surprised, unless they aren't showing it, about the lack of zombies while driving so far.  I guess they really are all just concentrated in certain spots then?  Definitely enjoy the scenes on the road and of course Ellie saving Joel scene.  Those two have really bonded on the journey to KC

One thing to keep in mind is that these are not necessarily immortal zombies, but living infected that will go to spots where they can thrive (via their apparent spore "network").

In the game there was a big section with infected in Bill's town, I assume they spared up certain elements for the coming episode, and I assume that shaking ground is one of those elements.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 10, 2023, 10:39:31 PM
Well that was a kick in the nuts.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on February 10, 2023, 11:00:13 PM
Holy fucking shit, each episode just completely tops the previous one. What a rush of emotions.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 11, 2023, 04:52:19 AM
Man, don't get comfortable with any characters in this show...
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Podaar on February 11, 2023, 05:43:37 AM
Mrs. P had nightmares, replaying the last bit with Sam and Henry. Great episode, a lot to love, fear, and praise...but I gotta think about it. I'm still kinda stunned.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on February 12, 2023, 02:49:57 AM
That 5th episode was full on! Wow! What a show.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 12, 2023, 07:44:29 AM
Yes, that was brutal  :'(

They adapted it very well and merged certain scenes and sections of the game. It paces more like a film, which I typically prefer over a series.

I wonder how they will adapt the story in the remaining episodes, there is still a lot of ground to cover. I do get the feeling that 4 and 5 perhaps were planned as a single episode of an 8 parter, but they could not get it to work in a timeframe less than 1,5 Hours. Considering the material that still follows, I am hoping for some longer episodes.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 12, 2023, 09:58:55 AM
Going by episode titles, I can see the next two episodes being longer. The next one seems like it'll cover the autumn/fall portion of the game while the one after is called Left Behind and will presumably cover winter + the relevant flashbacks. Then the final two episodes are directed by the same guy and will therefore probably be a two parter (like the latest two episodes) covering the endgame stuff.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 12, 2023, 10:09:15 AM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 12, 2023, 11:24:17 AM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 12, 2023, 11:38:32 AM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 12, 2023, 12:20:35 PM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.

Yeah, that is true, I know the feeling. I am glad the show is doing so well though, they really bring the game to life beautifully.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 12, 2023, 12:46:29 PM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.

Yeah, that is true, I know the feeling. I am glad the show is doing so well though, they really bring the game to life beautifully.

Good to hear, never was a video game guy myself. I think the last one I played was on the original Nintendo system.  :lol
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 12, 2023, 01:02:11 PM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.
Yeah I know what you mean. I wouldn't, and I make sure I explain broad settings/timelines in a way that game players will know what happens but mean nothing to newbies. But for sure if you're on Facebook, there are loads of spoiler articles and videos. Especially since it was renewed for season 2, generating spoliery discussion about how they'll adapt the second game.

If you're serious about avoiding spoilers then I'd say avoid any articles or vids that pop up on Facebook and we'll all keep doing our best here to avoid spoilers or at the very least to tag them clearly.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 12, 2023, 01:45:21 PM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.
Yeah I know what you mean. I wouldn't, and I make sure I explain broad settings/timelines in a way that game players will know what happens but mean nothing to newbies. But for sure if you're on Facebook, there are loads of spoiler articles and videos. Especially since it was renewed for season 2, generating spoliery discussion about how they'll adapt the second game.

If you're serious about avoiding spoilers then I'd say avoid any articles or vids that pop up on Facebook and we'll all keep doing our best here to avoid spoilers or at the very least to tag them clearly.

Like, for example, I got one bud on FB, and he's been doing mini reviews of each episode, and with them he has little add ons of "so the next episode should be brutal" and it puts me in a place of expectation instead of going in freely. Not sure that makes any sense, it does to me lol

I'm very curious to hear my daughter's experience of playing the game for the first time coinciding with the show, but she's being a slacker and is only on EP2.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 12, 2023, 01:52:23 PM
Man, at some point, someone who's played the game is going to accidentally drop a major spoiler...

I take care not to, don't worry. Which is also why I don't post about characters (unless their arc has wrapped up in the series).

The structure/order and some subplots are actually quite different, so there is no saying what happens when anyways. Which is nice because it keeps me wondering as well.

Not saying you guys in particular...just in general. Now that I'm thoroughly vested in the show, it's popping up more in my algorithms, and I just know someone in a comments section somewhere will drop the big bomb as I'm just trying to discuss what happened this week.

I've already been 'spoiled' from a headline that was just unavoidable thanks to the algorithm of the internet. It's not a massive bummer but it'd have been nice to experience it in real time rather than now "knowing" of ___________ to come
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 12, 2023, 02:33:10 PM
Keep in mind there are also "fake" spoilers, as failure in the game can lead to some non-plot death scenes/animations and people are comparing those to some kills in the show.

Don't read up on them obviously, but it can happen somebody thinks they are spoiled but the person posting it wasn't really deliberately posting an actual spoiler.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 12, 2023, 03:13:16 PM
Keep in mind there are also "fake" spoilers, as failure in the game can lead to some non-plot death scenes/animations and people are comparing those to some kills in the show.

Don't read up on them obviously, but it can happen somebody thinks they are spoiled but the person posting it wasn't really deliberately posting an actual spoiler.

Oh that'll help  :rollin
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on February 14, 2023, 09:59:03 AM
I finally got around to seeing the first few episodes. It's just so well done... Wow. Huge kudos to everyone involved.

The two main differences that stuck out to me in comparison to the game (thus far) are that Joel isn't nearly as brutal an a-hole as he is in the game and the show isn't especially frightening thus far, whereas the game had some sections the first time around that really put me on edge.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on February 15, 2023, 10:02:17 AM
That was a great episode.  What a sad ending and they didn't need to tell a whole side story unrelated to the main story/characters to portray it either. 

Also, it was quite satisfying to see the child clicker kill the KC Karen.  That lady was psycho the way she talked.  Might have been good storytelling to keep her around longer because she was really good at getting me mad/annoyed, but of course I can't complain that she got a satisfying ending.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 15, 2023, 02:06:51 PM
That child clicker was possibly the creepiest thing in the show so far. No CGI either, just a talented 9-year-old gymnast in make up and prosthetics!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 15, 2023, 02:26:19 PM
That child clicker was possibly the creepiest thing in the show so far. No CGI either, just a talented 9-year-old gymnast in make up and prosthetics!

Yeah.....so creepy that it hardly gives you enough time to realize how sad a scene it was.....a small life ended and now a 'monster'....most likely a part of the bunker school the group rested in earlier in the show.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: cramx3 on February 15, 2023, 02:33:39 PM
I'm also wondering, how did they lock up all the zombies underground and why aren't there more bloaters?  Maybe it's my limited understanding, but you become a clicker after some time and then after some extremely long time you become a bloater?  I kind of feel like there should be a lot more bloaters since civilization clearly hasn't recovered from the zombie day 1 20 (or so?) years earlier. 
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Realm on February 15, 2023, 02:43:20 PM
I think you only become a Bloater in specific circumstances - if the host is big and strong enough to survive the fungus for this long (ie it takes years to get to Bloater form). I think even Clickers are rare because the host doesn't survive.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on February 19, 2023, 10:57:30 PM
These hour long episodes go by so fast, I'm staying away from all discussion and the internet in general regarding this show now.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 19, 2023, 11:35:19 PM
Well that was fucked... And based on the preview clips for next week we'll have to wait till ep8 to see what happens to Joel.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 20, 2023, 07:48:14 AM
I really like how this show doesn't cheap out and just throw an infected 'zombie' battle in every scene or what not just to do it.


SPOILERY DISCUSSION:


Maybe it's just me....and I get it's a game/story so you have to create suspense and the story itself.....but wouldn't it have been smarter to just leave Ellie in the protected mountain sanctuary and then try to make contact with the Fireflies and tell them what's going on? Then hook up after the fact? I don't know...like I said....I 'get' that they have to create a reason for the drama and suspense and what not but I can't imagine after being out in the shit for months and months they'd want to just leave that place so soon. Especially Joel after just finding his brother.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 20, 2023, 12:53:32 PM
I really like how this show doesn't cheap out and just throw an infected 'zombie' battle in every scene or what not just to do it.


SPOILERY DISCUSSION:


Maybe it's just me....and I get it's a game/story so you have to create suspense and the story itself.....but wouldn't it have been smarter to just leave Ellie in the protected mountain sanctuary and then try to make contact with the Fireflies and tell them what's going on? Then hook up after the fact? I don't know...like I said....I 'get' that they have to create a reason for the drama and suspense and what not but I can't imagine after being out in the shit for months and months they'd want to just leave that place so soon. Especially Joel after just finding his brother.
Tommy and Maria made it very clear they don't want to give away Jackson's location to anyone (even the Fireflies) so that approach wouldn't work. Only option is to try and get to them.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 20, 2023, 01:06:11 PM
I really like how this show doesn't cheap out and just throw an infected 'zombie' battle in every scene or what not just to do it.


SPOILERY DISCUSSION:


Maybe it's just me....and I get it's a game/story so you have to create suspense and the story itself.....but wouldn't it have been smarter to just leave Ellie in the protected mountain sanctuary and then try to make contact with the Fireflies and tell them what's going on? Then hook up after the fact? I don't know...like I said....I 'get' that they have to create a reason for the drama and suspense and what not but I can't imagine after being out in the shit for months and months they'd want to just leave that place so soon. Especially Joel after just finding his brother.
Tommy and Maria made it very clear they don't want to give away Jackson's location to anyone (even the Fireflies) so that approach wouldn't work. Only option is to try and get to them.

Yeah, true. I see your point. I guess I'm talking more just as far as Ellie's safety. Leave her there....find the Fireflies.....don't bring them to Jackson but establish contact first 'then' hook up?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 20, 2023, 02:19:14 PM
I have not seen the episode yet.


Some game stuff that does not go beyond the plot of Tommy's town/place:

In the game Tommy clearly does not want anything to do with the fireflies. And in the game, up until this point, there are much more human conflicts going on, making it clear why you don't want to broadcast/search contact for anything. Furthermore, the Firefly locations and existence are all hearsay. They are kind of an extremist group and do not have a clear open presence (see first episode, where they bomb shit and try to recruit Joel in a cryptic way). I'd say a good chunk of the game is searching for locations/clues where to find the fireflies next. The original base where they were supposed to drop Ellie was completely massacred, after all (in the game this was done by humans, not infected). Also, in the game Tommy's town is under attack shortly after you arrive, so they have different priorities.

I am curious to see how they adapted it, but will likely save up this episode for a longer session
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Letter M on February 26, 2023, 11:10:08 PM
Episode 7 was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I really enjoyed learning more about Ellie and getting to understand why she is the way she is when we meet her earlier in the series.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on February 27, 2023, 07:17:49 AM
Episode 7 was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I really enjoyed learning more about Ellie and getting to understand why she is the way she is when we meet her earlier in the series.

-Marc.

Yeah....very beautiful, yet heartbreaking episode. The tension they build up in every scene while they're enjoying themselves with the every present 'threat' of the dead attacking is remarkable.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 27, 2023, 01:34:41 PM
God I love this show. The consistency is incredible. This was a fantastic adaptation of the flashbacks and how it tied into the present.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on February 27, 2023, 09:01:08 PM
I just love how this show keeps throwing in our faces the stuff that we take so much for granted everyday, and makes it so beautiful. The strawberries, the carousel, the fucking escalator...they keep doing it so damn good.

And the writing... "We could be all poetic and shit and lose our minds together..."  I mean fuck man, how good is that line.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 27, 2023, 11:03:58 PM
Ah man the escalator, that was amazing. I loved how she thought that was one of Riley's "wonders". :lol

And the writing... "We could be all poetic and shit and lose our minds together..."  I mean fuck man, how good is that line.
Yep that's from the game. A lot of the best lines are lifted direct from the game, like that one, and pretty much the whole scene between Joel and Ellie in the previous episode ("you have no idea what loss is" etc).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on February 28, 2023, 01:43:18 PM
Assuming they're going to finish out the first game with these next two episodes - and I truly am just assuming that, maybe someone knows different - they are going to be wild. I'm legitimately terrified to see the live-action version of David. :lol
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 28, 2023, 02:11:19 PM
Yep, although in fairness every episode has been pretty damn intense one way or another (normally in the emotionally devastating way).

Can't wait!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on February 28, 2023, 04:33:40 PM
I think the show is significantly less brutal/intense/horrifying, but not in a bad way at all. In an action game you need a lot of conflict in order to maintain a compelling gameplay experience. Naughty Dog crafted the story and characters around that. In the series Joel definitely is more kind, less unhinged, and it makes for a great character for Pedro to work with. All the while still staying true to the character overall.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on February 28, 2023, 11:02:50 PM
Indeed, although there's scope for him to become considerably more unhinged in the final two episodes. We saw flashes of it already in the first episode, when he beat up that FEDRA guy.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on March 02, 2023, 08:51:53 AM
I think the show is significantly less brutal/intense/horrifying, but not in a bad way at all. In an action game you need a lot of conflict in order to maintain a compelling gameplay experience. Naughty Dog crafted the story and characters around that. In the series Joel definitely is more kind, less unhinged, and it makes for a great character for Pedro to work with. All the while still staying true to the character overall.
Yea, those have been my two main observations as far as differences between the game and the show. In the game, Joel is completely brutal from the get-go and pretty unlikeable as a character until the end (and even then, some people still think he's pretty despicable). Also, the game is genuinely scary and stressful at times. When a clicker walks into the room in the game, you clench up immediately. :lol The show isn't scary at all in the horror, jump-scare kind of way, which I think is totally fine (just an observation).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 05, 2023, 10:34:07 PM
Holy fucking shit. I can't believe how amazing these episodes have been one after another. I mean they keep finding new ways to up the ante and just deliver week after week. I did read a blurb that the finale is going to divide the game fans. Not sure what it means but I cannot wait for the finale regardless.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: DTwwbwMP on March 05, 2023, 11:01:48 PM
last 3 episodes have been great and has turned a meh show into a damn good show!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 05, 2023, 11:38:57 PM
I did read a blurb that the finale is going to divide the game fans. Not sure what it means but I cannot wait for the finale regardless.
No that was Bella Ramsey saying she thought the finale will be divisive for fans, but she didn't refer specifically to game fans. Even if they adapt it closely, that could be what she's referring to, but we'll see.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 06, 2023, 04:52:45 AM
Yeah, fans can also mean fans of the show in general.

I never took the (original) finale as divisive, but it for sure has always led to many discussions.

I hope they stick to it, it would work really well with how they built up the characters.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 06, 2023, 05:13:52 AM
Yeah, fans can also mean fans of the show in general.

I never took the (original) finale as divisive, but it for sure has always led to many discussions.

I hope they stick to it, it would work really well with how they built up the characters.
Yeah I don't know that divisive is the right word. But without wanting to give anything away, it's definitely emotionally complex and got a fairly ambivalent reaction from me (as in, having contradicting emotions about it - not to be confused with "apathetic" as some people do!).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2023, 06:16:38 AM
Amazing episode again, on the edge would be an understatement. Can't believe we're already at the finale.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Letter M on March 06, 2023, 06:47:03 AM
What an incredibly tense episode! There was a sense of bubbling unease throughout that really worked for the show and it was another great showcase for Bella's acting chops again, but Pedro does get some time to shine, especially showing more of his brutal side.

Very hard to believe that there's only one more episode left! What a quick 8 weeks this has been so far.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 06, 2023, 08:13:37 AM
Fantastic once again. Like you guys have said....hard to believe we're at the end of the season. Been such a great show.

I read a blurb online that said the showrunners believe that there is more than a seasons worth of material for S2 (I'm assuming from the game?) Anyway, hopefully it's not just them being greedy and trying to stretch out the cash cow. I'd almost rather a (16) episode season than splitting it up.

Also, in this episode I liked the attention to detail with how sickly the people in that town looked being that they were eating human meat. Yeah...it was rough winter which can affect the physical appearance as well...but they also just added that 'look' of being sickly due to cannibalism.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 06, 2023, 08:37:10 AM
Definitely not just milking it - they certainly could have drawn out the first game for two seasons of they really wanted to do that, but they've made it clear they want to stick to just the games and tell a focused story.

Thr second game is bigger in scope, and is at least twice the length of the first game, so two seasons definitely makes sense or it would feel rushed. A longer single season is an option too, for sure, but I get the impression that's not HBO's style.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 06, 2023, 08:47:05 AM
Definitely not just milking it - they certainly could have drawn out the first game for two seasons of they really wanted to do that, but they've made it clear they want to stick to just the games and tell a focused story.

Thr second game is bigger in scope, and is at least twice the length of the first game, so two seasons definitely makes sense or it would feel rushed. A longer single season is an option too, for sure, but I get the impression that's not HBO's style.

Appreciate the insight.  :tup

I've not played a video game in literally 20 years....almost got back into it when the Dead Red Redemption craze hit cuz it sounded neat....but, this show makes me contemplate trying the game out.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2023, 09:57:43 AM
Definitely not just milking it - they certainly could have drawn out the first game for two seasons of they really wanted to do that, but they've made it clear they want to stick to just the games and tell a focused story.

Thr second game is bigger in scope, and is at least twice the length of the first game, so two seasons definitely makes sense or it would feel rushed. A longer single season is an option too, for sure, but I get the impression that's not HBO's style.

Appreciate the insight.  :tup

I've not played a video game in literally 20 years....almost got back into it when the Dead Red Redemption craze hit cuz it sounded neat....but, this show makes me contemplate trying the game out.

I think the last game I seriously got into was super Mario bros.  :lol
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 06, 2023, 10:01:05 AM
I may have missed if it's already been mentioned, just wanted to ask without googling too much... there are two games in total with an additional expansion pack on the playstation right?

1. The Last of Us - Part I
2. Left Behind (is this a whole game or just some backstory expansion pack?)
3. The Last of Us - Part II
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 06, 2023, 10:16:00 AM
Definitely not just milking it - they certainly could have drawn out the first game for two seasons of they really wanted to do that, but they've made it clear they want to stick to just the games and tell a focused story.

Thr second game is bigger in scope, and is at least twice the length of the first game, so two seasons definitely makes sense or it would feel rushed. A longer single season is an option too, for sure, but I get the impression that's not HBO's style.

Appreciate the insight.  :tup

I've not played a video game in literally 20 years....almost got back into it when the Dead Red Redemption craze hit cuz it sounded neat....but, this show makes me contemplate trying the game out.

I think the last game I seriously got into was super Mario bros.  :lol

I remember that when my wife and I were dating I was playing SOCOM Navy Seals and 'bragged' to her one night about some level I beat or something like that and she was not impressed at all. this was circa 03'-04'....so, I dialed the game playing back a bit then and just slowly stopped.

I do recall REALLY loving 'Siphon Filter' back in the day and of Course all the Madden Football iterations.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 06, 2023, 11:10:43 AM
Definitely not just milking it - they certainly could have drawn out the first game for two seasons of they really wanted to do that, but they've made it clear they want to stick to just the games and tell a focused story.

Thr second game is bigger in scope, and is at least twice the length of the first game, so two seasons definitely makes sense or it would feel rushed. A longer single season is an option too, for sure, but I get the impression that's not HBO's style.

Appreciate the insight.  :tup

I've not played a video game in literally 20 years....almost got back into it when the Dead Red Redemption craze hit cuz it sounded neat....but, this show makes me contemplate trying the game out.

I think the last game I seriously got into was super Mario bros.  :lol

I remember that when my wife and I were dating I was playing SOCOM Navy Seals and 'bragged' to her one night about some level I beat or something like that and she was not impressed at all. this was circa 03'-04'....so, I dialed the game playing back a bit then and just slowly stopped.

I do recall REALLY loving 'Siphon Filter' back in the day and of Course all the Madden Football iterations.

I think the oldest I've ever felt in my life was the first time I tried one of the new generation of games... Just so fucking lost  :rollin
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 06, 2023, 01:25:48 PM
I may have missed if it's already been mentioned, just wanted to ask without googling too much... there are two games in total with an additional expansion pack on the playstation right?

1. The Last of Us - Part I
2. Left Behind (is this a whole game or just some backstory expansion pack?)
3. The Last of Us - Part II
Left Behind was just a DLC (downloadable content, for anyone who doesn't know) expansion to the first game. Episode 7 basically covered it.

So yes, just two games.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 06, 2023, 01:49:15 PM
I may have missed if it's already been mentioned, just wanted to ask without googling too much... there are two games in total with an additional expansion pack on the playstation right?

1. The Last of Us - Part I
2. Left Behind (is this a whole game or just some backstory expansion pack?)
3. The Last of Us - Part II
Left Behind was just a DLC (downloadable content, for anyone who doesn't know) expansion to the first game. Episode 7 basically covered it.

So yes, just two games.

Ok cool thanks, yeah DLC is more like it, no one calls it expansion pack I guess. So I guess they'll cover the 2nd game in the 2nd season. Has any of the 2nd game stuff appeared in this season so far?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 06, 2023, 01:52:17 PM
I may have missed if it's already been mentioned, just wanted to ask without googling too much... there are two games in total with an additional expansion pack on the playstation right?

1. The Last of Us - Part I
2. Left Behind (is this a whole game or just some backstory expansion pack?)
3. The Last of Us - Part II
Left Behind was just a DLC (downloadable content, for anyone who doesn't know) expansion to the first game. Episode 7 basically covered it.

So yes, just two games.

Ok cool thanks, yeah DLC is more like it, no one calls it expansion pack I guess. So I guess they'll cover the 2nd game in the 2nd season. Has any of the 2nd game stuff appeared in this season so far?
No, not directly, but they have tweaked some of the moments or settings this season from the game to tee up stuff from the second game.

So yes, Part II will be covered in season 2 and, from what Mazin has said, potentially a season 3 as well.

There's talk of potentially a Part III being made. They won't take the TV show beyond the games that are out though, so I guess if Part III does happen, and isn't for a while, then the show will go on hiatus for a while too.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 06, 2023, 01:58:45 PM
They won't take the TV show beyond the games that are out though, so I guess if Part III does happen, and isn't for a while, then the show will go on hiatus for a while too.

But HBO has such a GREAT record for taking shows past their source material.....can't they just get like a little synopsis of what the creators of the game 'think' they 'might' do in the subsequent Pt. III and just use that as a guide?
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 06, 2023, 02:06:59 PM
I may have missed if it's already been mentioned, just wanted to ask without googling too much... there are two games in total with an additional expansion pack on the playstation right?

1. The Last of Us - Part I
2. Left Behind (is this a whole game or just some backstory expansion pack?)
3. The Last of Us - Part II
Left Behind was just a DLC (downloadable content, for anyone who doesn't know) expansion to the first game. Episode 7 basically covered it.

So yes, just two games.

Ok cool thanks, yeah DLC is more like it, no one calls it expansion pack I guess. So I guess they'll cover the 2nd game in the 2nd season. Has any of the 2nd game stuff appeared in this season so far?
No, not directly, but they have tweaked some of the moments or settings this season from the game to tee up stuff from the second game.

So yes, Part II will be covered in season 2 and, from what Mazin has said, potentially a season 3 as well.

There's talk of potentially a Part III being made. They won't take the TV show beyond the games that are out though, so I guess if Part III does happen, and isn't for a while, then the show will go on hiatus for a while too.

Interesting, I did not know about a 3rd game/season potentially on the line.




They won't take the TV show beyond the games that are out though, so I guess if Part III does happen, and isn't for a while, then the show will go on hiatus for a while too.

But HBO has such a GREAT record for taking shows past their source material.....can't they just get like a little synopsis of what the creators of the game 'think' they 'might' do in the subsequent Pt. III and just use that as a guide?

Oh you.. :D
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 06, 2023, 02:30:20 PM
I think TLOU is too big for a part III to never come out. And there are a lot of directions they can take with a hypothetical part III.

Unfortunately these games take like 5 years to make, so we won't be seeing one any time soon, unless it was already int the makings.



Part II is harder to adapt and much more divisive (I think it is on equal footing with I). I wonder how they will tackle it. Obviously won't discuss it here, for spoiler reasons. Part II is significantly longer and has way more characters and plot, so there is enough material for two seasons for sure.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: DTwwbwMP on March 06, 2023, 03:48:31 PM
Also, in this episode I liked the attention to detail with how sickly the people in that town looked being that they were eating human meat. Yeah...it was rough winter which can affect the physical appearance as well...but they also just added that 'look' of being sickly due to cannibalism.

I thought that too. THAT was great detail!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on March 08, 2023, 09:22:17 AM
Part II is harder to adapt and much more divisive (I think it is on equal footing with I). I wonder how they will tackle it. Obviously won't discuss it here, for spoiler reasons. Part II is significantly longer and has way more characters and plot, so there is enough material for two seasons for sure.

They have some big decisions to make that I am very curious about. For example (spoilers in tiny font below)...

Do they focus a bunch of episodes (or even a full season) on Ellie followed by another chunk of episodes (or even a full season) on Abby, which mirror the game more? Or do they continually cut back and forth between their stories, which is more conventional?

Either way, I feel like Part II could be two full seasons, since it is quite a bit longer than Part I.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 08, 2023, 01:16:11 PM
Just finished Winter. It was great. Fantastic acting performances, the cast is killing it.

One thing I do think the games handles better though is that Ellie and David survive an intense infected attack together. This builds up some degree of trust for Ellie towards David. I am not sure why they did not do this in the show, the episode is short and there was plenty of space to cover it. And, you know, it would allow the show for some more infected moments.  Still, they did a great job and as a fan of the game, the environments were spot on.

Part II is harder to adapt and much more divisive (I think it is on equal footing with I). I wonder how they will tackle it. Obviously won't discuss it here, for spoiler reasons. Part II is significantly longer and has way more characters and plot, so there is enough material for two seasons for sure.

They have some big decisions to make that I am very curious about. For example (spoilers in tiny font below)...

Do they focus a bunch of episodes (or even a full season) on Ellie followed by another chunk of episodes (or even a full season) on Abby, which mirror the game more? Or do they continually cut back and forth between their stories, which is more conventional?

Either way, I feel like Part II could be two full seasons, since it is quite a bit longer than Part I.

Yeah, I really wonder what direction they will take. I assume they have considered making season 2/3 when creating this show, so I assume they have a plan laid out.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 08, 2023, 03:51:55 PM
They covered that change in the official podcast. Basically it's another extension of keeping the show more grounded. They considered the wider plot implications of there being hundreds of infected in the middle of nowhere. The more I think about it, the less it makes sense in the game - not that it bothers me at all, but i can see why they avoided it in the show.

I don't think it was a reason for the change, but the other thing it allowed them to do is focus more on David's manipulative side. In the game, it was chance that they had to fight off infected such that Ellie started to trust him. In the show, it was all him working to win her over.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 09, 2023, 10:33:19 AM
They covered that change in the official podcast. Basically it's another extension of keeping the show more grounded. They considered the wider plot implications of there being hundreds of infected in the middle of nowhere. The more I think about it, the less it makes sense in the game - not that it bothers me at all, but i can see why they avoided it in the show.

I don't think it was a reason for the change, but the other thing it allowed them to do is focus more on David's manipulative side. In the game, it was chance that they had to fight off infected such that Ellie started to trust him. In the show, it was all him working to win her over.

Yeah, that is fair.

I do respect the decision to keep things more grounded. And in the Winter chapter it makes the most sense. With there being no infected, it gives the people a solid plot reason to keep surviving through the harsh winter as well.

The lack of infected makes for a unique "zombie" show. Actually, it really is more of a post apocalypse show where the infection started the downfall of society.

It keeps the game it's own experience as well, as that is much more of a voilent "against all odds" survival struggle through hordes of humans and infected. In the game's world it is offcourse also much easier to get infected (by breathing in an infectious amount of spores).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 09, 2023, 12:47:53 PM
They covered that change in the official podcast. Basically it's another extension of keeping the show more grounded. They considered the wider plot implications of there being hundreds of infected in the middle of nowhere. The more I think about it, the less it makes sense in the game - not that it bothers me at all, but i can see why they avoided it in the show.

I don't think it was a reason for the change, but the other thing it allowed them to do is focus more on David's manipulative side. In the game, it was chance that they had to fight off infected such that Ellie started to trust him. In the show, it was all him working to win her over.

Yeah, that is fair.

I do respect the decision to keep things more grounded. And in the Winter chapter it makes the most sense. With there being no infected, it gives the people a solid plot reason to keep surviving through the harsh winter as well.

The lack of infected makes for a unique "zombie" show. Actually, it really is more of a post apocalypse show where the infection started the downfall of society.

It keeps the game it's own experience as well, as that is much more of a voilent "against all odds" survival struggle through hordes of humans and infected. In the game's world it is offcourse also much easier to get infected (by breathing in an infectious amount of spores).
Which makes sense for the game, because a game needs enough active participation in the form of action (unless it's something like the Telltale games). I still think the storytelling in the games is phenomenal, but by virtue of being a game it has to sacrifice some realism/groundedness for the sake of gameplay.

I guess everyone interprets art and media differently, but I always saw TLOU as a post-apocalyptic story about people and societies, rather than actually about the infected. A lot of thought went into them for sure (in the games and the show) but mainly I saw them as the setting rather than the story.
 
And to be honest, I don't even agree with the view that the show has a lack of infected. They've appeared in more than half the episodes, and those they've not appeared in have been ones that focused on people conflicts.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Letter M on March 12, 2023, 07:52:56 PM
Well... that was... intense and interesting. I have no knowledge of the games outside of a slight spoiler I read about TLOU 2's plot.

I wonder how game fans feel about this finale?

This was definitely not what I expected for a finale, but I definitely see what Bella Ramsey means by how it could divide people given how it ended. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what I saw as far as character decisions and choices. Like, I get it, but it's definitely one to ponder upon.

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: Podaar on March 12, 2023, 09:28:36 PM
Wow. I wasn’t sure they could pull off the rest of the story in one episode. I was wrong, so wrong. Mrs. P has gone to bed crying. She’s totally wrecked over Joel’s choice but is totally on his side…fantastic storytelling.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 12, 2023, 10:19:46 PM
Wow. I wasn’t sure they could pull off the rest of the story in one episode. I was wrong, so wrong. Mrs. P has gone to bed crying. She’s totally wrecked over Joel’s choice but is totally on his side…fantastic storytelling.

I’m with her! I honestly don’t see the problem here. If the Fireflies and the Dr’s had something more concrete to go off of I’d see the point of sacrificing Elle. But that was some pretty loose speculation so I’m team Joel for sure.

Great season though! Enjoyed the heck out of it.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 12, 2023, 11:09:49 PM
Amazing finale! That opening scene threw me for a loop with me thinking that it was set in the future with a pregnant Ellie. That lady looked so much like Bella! Honestly it's one of the best zombie related series I've seen and love that they don't focus too much on the zombies. It was a gut wrenching episode though not in the traditional sense. Brutiful ending is what I'd call it.



Edit: Ok so just read that the lady playing the pregnant mom is the actress who played/voiced Ellie in the game, they sounded so similar!
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 13, 2023, 12:41:30 AM
I wonder how game fans feel about this finale?
It was pretty much identical to the game, other than the fact that as you're controlling Joel in the game, there's a lot of extended shootout segments. But I like that they showed that in the episode (and didn't drag it out), and included other references to the game (like how Joel gave Ellie a boost up so she could push a ladder down to him - I laughed out loud at that!).

God this season was so perfect. If anything, showing a bit more of Joel's emotional, caring side throughout the season makes Joel's decision even more impactful and emotionally devastating.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on March 13, 2023, 04:58:04 AM
I guess everyone interprets art and media differently, but I always saw TLOU as a post-apocalyptic story about people and societies, rather than actually about the infected. A lot of thought went into them for sure (in the games and the show) but mainly I saw them as the setting rather than the story.

Tbh, this has been a theme for a lot of "zombie apocalypse" media ever since Romero introduced the modern concept of the flesh eating zombie in Night of the Living Dead. The undead in that film are only featured for a comparatively small fraction of the runtime and the rest is character focused conflict. The giants of new zombie media, Romero's Dawn of the Dead and its sequels, The Walking Dead, World War Z, and such like also heavily focus on interpersonal or societal conflict as opposed to the dead and the fight against them being the core of the story.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 13, 2023, 06:25:33 AM
Great finale, they executed it very well. And yes, this was very close to the game. It is one of those endings that has led to many discussions over the years and sticks with you.

One thing I really think the series did very well was changing/adding some plotlines to mirror Joel's journey. Especially the conversation between Henry and Joel, where Henry tells the story of his betrayal to save Sam.

They covered that change in the official podcast. Basically it's another extension of keeping the show more grounded. They considered the wider plot implications of there being hundreds of infected in the middle of nowhere. The more I think about it, the less it makes sense in the game - not that it bothers me at all, but i can see why they avoided it in the show.

I don't think it was a reason for the change, but the other thing it allowed them to do is focus more on David's manipulative side. In the game, it was chance that they had to fight off infected such that Ellie started to trust him. In the show, it was all him working to win her over.

Yeah, that is fair.

I do respect the decision to keep things more grounded. And in the Winter chapter it makes the most sense. With there being no infected, it gives the people a solid plot reason to keep surviving through the harsh winter as well.

The lack of infected makes for a unique "zombie" show. Actually, it really is more of a post apocalypse show where the infection started the downfall of society.

It keeps the game it's own experience as well, as that is much more of a voilent "against all odds" survival struggle through hordes of humans and infected. In the game's world it is offcourse also much easier to get infected (by breathing in an infectious amount of spores).
Which makes sense for the game, because a game needs enough active participation in the form of action (unless it's something like the Telltale games). I still think the storytelling in the games is phenomenal, but by virtue of being a game it has to sacrifice some realism/groundedness for the sake of gameplay.

I guess everyone interprets art and media differently, but I always saw TLOU as a post-apocalyptic story about people and societies, rather than actually about the infected. A lot of thought went into them for sure (in the games and the show) but mainly I saw them as the setting rather than the story.
 
And to be honest, I don't even agree with the view that the show has a lack of infected. They've appeared in more than half the episodes, and those they've not appeared in have been ones that focused on people conflicts.

I agree with you (and as for the amount of conflicts of the game I made a similar post a while back, a game like this indeed needs a lot of conflict for gameplay). Having a bit more infected is just a personal preference, I just loved the design of the clickers in the series, I would've liked seeing a bit more later on at some point (delving into the horror elements that the game sometimes has).



Amazing finale! That opening scene threw me for a loop with me thinking that it was set in the future with a pregnant Ellie. That lady looked so much like Bella! Honestly it's one of the best zombie related series I've seen and love that they don't focus too much on the zombies. It was a gut wrenching episode though not in the traditional sense. Brutiful ending is what I'd call it.



Edit: Ok so just read that the lady playing the pregnant mom is the actress who played/voiced Ellie in the game, they sounded so similar!


She is indeed Ellie in the games. Amazing voice/motion capture actress, good to see her talents translate well to the screen too.

On a sidenote, Troy Baker, Joel in the game, played James in the last episode (David's right hand man).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 13, 2023, 09:46:41 AM
Quote
On a sidenote, Troy Baker, Joel in the game, played James in the last episode (David's right hand man).


I read that as well, I think there was another video game voice actor that was the right hand for that lady in episode 4 & 5. Glad they got to shine in the series. I'm going to rewatch the series again later, it was so good, not one episode was a dud. I generally liked that they used less zombies and were concentrating more on the survival aspect of things. I don't know about too many details about the games itself and I'm very happy not knowing. Being detached from what to expect has a lot of perks and it's going to be a bitch to try and stay from the 2nd game spoilers as I'm sure that's what will be the bulk of the storylines in season 2 and maybe 3.



Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on March 13, 2023, 10:21:02 AM
I read that as well, I think there was another video game voice actor that was the right hand for that lady in episode 4 & 5.

Jeffrey Pierce, he's Tommy's voice and mocap artist in the game.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 13, 2023, 11:05:40 AM
Quote
On a sidenote, Troy Baker, Joel in the game, played James in the last episode (David's right hand man).


I read that as well, I think there was another video game voice actor that was the right hand for that lady in episode 4 & 5. Glad they got to shine in the series. I'm going to rewatch the series again later, it was so good, not one episode was a dud. I generally liked that they used less zombies and were concentrating more on the survival aspect of things. I don't know about too many details about the games itself and I'm very happy not knowing. Being detached from what to expect has a lot of perks and it's going to be a bitch to try and stay from the 2nd game spoilers as I'm sure that's what will be the bulk of the storylines in season 2 and maybe 3.

Yeah good luck with that. Thankfully I also think many spoilers won't really land since there are quite a few new major characters in the sequel that you don't have any reference for.

In general I think this series is quite good at introducing new characters that are memorable despite a relavitely short presence.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 13, 2023, 01:37:24 PM
Still trying to wrap my head around the ending, and where it will lead to in the upcoming season. I'd hate to see that bond between Joel and Ellie broken by his actions, but I really don't see any other outcome once she finds out how vastly he lied to her.


Fucking amazing show though, the chemistry between Pascal and Ramsay is unbelievable.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 13, 2023, 01:42:03 PM
Still trying to wrap my head around the ending, and where it will lead to in the upcoming season. I'd hate to see that bond between Joel and Ellie broken by his actions, but I really don't see any other outcome once she finds out how vastly he lied to her.


Fucking amazing show though, the chemistry between Pascal and Ramsay is unbelievable.

I think she knows that he’s lying. She just doesn’t want to believe it yet.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ErHaO on March 13, 2023, 02:03:47 PM
Obviously I won't go into pt. 2. But it is interesting to see the same discussions pop up again from 2013. Goes to show they nailed the adaption.

Originally this ending was it though, there was no sequel, so everything was up to interpretation. I believe the sequel got announced in 2016 (and it released in 2020, 7 years after the original).

I was in the camp that we did not need a sequel. Thankfully, I absolutely loved pt 2. It is more controversial amongst fans, so it will be interesting to see discussions in a few years (and how close the adaption will be).
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 13, 2023, 02:28:25 PM
Still trying to wrap my head around the ending, and where it will lead to in the upcoming season. I'd hate to see that bond between Joel and Ellie broken by his actions, but I really don't see any other outcome once she finds out how vastly he lied to her.


Fucking amazing show though, the chemistry between Pascal and Ramsay is unbelievable.

I think she knows that he’s lying. She just doesn’t want to believe it yet.

In the post show bits, Bella said as much, that her character forced herself to believe it cause Joel is literally all she has.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: ariich on March 13, 2023, 03:06:19 PM
In that post-show Inside the Episode, when they replayed the moment where she says "Time heals all wounds" and he says "It wasn't time that did it" and the way she looks at him, god it hit me right in the feels.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 13, 2023, 05:05:04 PM
In that post-show Inside the Episode, when they replayed the moment where she says "Time heals all wounds" and he says "It wasn't time that did it" and the way she looks at him, god it hit me right in the feels.

Yup...I caught that too... :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: The Letter M on March 13, 2023, 05:24:15 PM
In that post-show Inside the Episode, when they replayed the moment where she says "Time heals all wounds" and he says "It wasn't time that did it" and the way she looks at him, god it hit me right in the feels.

Yup...I caught that too... :'( :'( :'(

Spoiler in this tweet, but related to this moment, so don't open it if you haven't seen the episode yet!
https://twitter.com/frnkiemorales/status/1635098354928750592?t=udp81-lVCayKR1fPxfbwMw&s=19

-Marc.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: gmillerdrake on March 13, 2023, 05:40:02 PM
Still trying to wrap my head around the ending, and where it will lead to in the upcoming season. I'd hate to see that bond between Joel and Ellie broken by his actions, but I really don't see any other outcome once she finds out how vastly he lied to her.


Fucking amazing show though, the chemistry between Pascal and Ramsay is unbelievable.

I think she knows that he’s lying. She just doesn’t want to believe it yet.

In the post show bits, Bella said as much, that her character forced herself to believe it cause Joel is literally all she has.

And the amazing thing she did was ‘tell’ the audience that very thing simply with her eyes and the emotion behind them. Was a great season ending scene
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on March 14, 2023, 10:00:55 AM
In that post-show Inside the Episode, when they replayed the moment where she says "Time heals all wounds" and he says "It wasn't time that did it" and the way she looks at him, god it hit me right in the feels.

"It wasn't time that did it. It was sage."
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: faizoff on March 14, 2023, 10:24:56 AM
Another aspect of that hospital shootout I really enjoyed was the fact that Joel had to keep switching guns as they got out of ammo, it's something you don't often see. It's there in almost every game as you don't get unlimited ammo. Made that whole scene so much more tense.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 15, 2023, 05:38:58 PM
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/335886832_604909407809456_6606626793931640948_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=Fm1Nku5XtCYAX8oxMtg&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AfCVgAR-fEORT1KlVRcyAkEjTg4fkg2n0hyvrgTNbWg3Wg&oe=641773E3)
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: XJDenton on March 15, 2023, 05:42:31 PM
I sense a new meme template becoming popular.
Title: Re: The Last of Us (HBO)
Post by: lonestar on March 15, 2023, 06:17:02 PM
It's definitely gaining traction.