The Last of Us (HBO) TV Show • Page 150

Very interested to hear reactions to this one

 

I definitely enjoyed the season, but agree it was a big step down from S1.

I also recently watched a YouTube compilation of all the cutscenes up to the end of this episode actually, and man, the game did it all so much better haha. Very weird choices. Everyone acts so differently.

Kinda wish they ended this episode Sopranos style when the screen went black. Would have been more impactful.

 

It has nothing to do with it being an incomplete story. The writing just isn’t as good.

 

I hope people stick with this because as long as they have the budget, S3 will be a certified banger, but admittedly, they fumbled their way through S2.

 

Craig Mazin has made some interesting choices. The Joel flashback episode was directed by the creator of the game and it's no coincidence that it's the best one of the season imo

 

Funny you say this because I’ve seen that episode piss off game fans a bit more than anything else that’s happened so far this season. I’m ultimately enjoying it, but season 1 felt a bit more true to the source material, not that I expect adaptations to be 1:1.

 

Yeah I’m sorry but ending a season of TV with a “gunshot but it’s probably not what it seems” cliffhanger was already cheap storytelling back when shows only had an 8 month break between seasons. Doing that when you know your show’s not returning for 1.5-2 years is fucking annoying

 

Lol watch the entire next season just be Abby flashbacks up to the point of this episode and we won't know what happened in the theater till the end of the season or even season 4

 

The stadium scene was weird to me. Specifically, when Abby walks outside. Each shot from behind looking out looks great. Each shot of seeing Abby looked so off from the other direction. Is it just me?

 

I mean, that would be really dumb. But having played the game, I’d also laugh.

 

Very cheap ending

Island thing was incredibly pointless

 

I feel like at the least, the scars would have left her hanging to death. Just simply letting her leave made no sense

 

The boat cgi was really bad.

 

Jesse in this episode might have broken the all-time record for “this character is going to die within 30 mins” dialogue lol

 

How so? I might agree with you, but as someone who has played the game, I have a different perspective on some choices made this season. What sticks out to you as not good?

 

I enjoyed this season

 

I for one enjoyed it a lot tbh. I think my only complaint is, much like season 1, once they’re traveling, it’s all very quick and no infected at all. Not a huge complaint.

the detour to the island just to have her have no interaction with the scars beyond them trying to kill her did seem a little dumb/rushed tho

 

the writing is just as good imo. it’s lacking the bottle episode high of the bill and frank episode and the acting is way worse but as a whole i still liked this season a ton. overall it felt more like them trying to service the fans than make it a show more set in the universe but telling new stories too like it season one

 

Increasingly seems like Chernobyl was just a weird stroke of genius for Craig Mazin

 

I thought the c-section scene was pretty intense and heart breaking. Well done there.

 

I'm a dumbass and thought she was talking her through pulling a bullet out of her neck until they showed Ellie lower her shirt at the end

 

After the shot, Mel turns to see the hole the bullet left on the wall or whatever behind her. Then we see her neck bleeding.

 

I think the island was to establish a timeline/storytelling beat that'll carry on next season for non game player audiences so they have a general idea of what is coming when the timeline rewinds from a different POV

But I agree it wasn't the best way to do it. They could have just had her see an explosion in the distance.

 

I know nothing about the game(s) so I am watching strictly as a TV viewer.

Season 1 was an all-timer for me.

Season 2, while still overall enjoyable, seemed like a jumbled mess. Truly all over the place. Especially since I know nothing about the source material so I can’t sit back and say something like “interesting choice” or “I wonder why they’re doing it this way” or “it’ll make sense once we get to this point” or whatever.

Also, that’s a cheap ass Walking Dead-type cliffhanger.

 

It's weird for me because I loved the story of TLOU Part II way more than the first game but I agree this is the weaker season. Partly because the narrative structure of that game just doesn't adapt very well to TV.

Next season adapts my favorite section of the game so we'll see how that goes.