The Last of Us (HBO Max)


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  • 1 month later...

I (finally) got round to watching it last week and thought it was great!

I've played the games and thought that it was very close to the original material. I've seen that there are going to be some bits that are removed for the TV show (for example, spores won't be present), but hopefully that won't take away from it too much and will also mean I have some surprises in store for those of us that know how the story goes.

The only thing I would say is this:

Spoiler

Sarah's death wasn't as impactful for me as in the game. I don't know whether that's because I knew it was coming, or because of the difference between watching it unfold compared to playing as the characters at the beginning of the game.

My mother has also watched it, and she hasn't played the video games. Her opinion was that it was a great start, very intriguing and she would enjoy watching it further. However, she did think that it was a bit disjointed in places. She said there were moments where she had questions, although she did appreciate that it's a TV series so perhaps those questions get answered further down the line.

I'm looking forward to episode 2, and according to something I read it really gets going in episode 3...

Spoiler

I wonder if that will be showing the broken city and having the giraffes make an appearance?

 

On 23/01/2023 at 03:19, Nick H. said:

The only thing I would say is this:

  Hide contents

Sarah's death wasn't as impactful for me as in the game. I don't know whether that's because I knew it was coming, or because of the difference between watching it unfold compared to playing as the characters at the beginning of the game.

Spoiler

I think it was a combination of both those things, because it was a well put together scene but I felt the same way as you.

First time I played through that in the game I straight up broke down and had to give myself a moment before continuing.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode so am looking forward to going home tonight to watch episode 2 :) 

They need to make their minds up on the spores being included or not. In recent interviews they have said they won't be included then another guy says they will be part of the story later on. I understand what they mean by it not being that realistic in a more reality based approach (that was the only part of the game that bugged me), but if you watch that intro video you can see them clear as day just not as obvious as the game made them.

I do like that they are showing the back story of specific characters that they didn't show in the game but only gave hints of. I really want to see Offerman's take on Bill lol

 

On 23/01/2023 at 16:01, Zathras5 said:

Looks like HBO has a new hit on their hands... Episode 2 had me glued to the screen.

  Hide contents

I thought Anna Torv would have been on the show for longer... guess I thought wrong lol.

 

Spoiler

Probably see her in some flashback scenes to early quarantined life.  

 

On 23/01/2023 at 22:08, David B. said:

They need to make their minds up on the spores being included or not. In recent interviews they have said they won't be included then another guy says they will be part of the story later on. I understand what they mean by it not being that realistic in a more reality based approach (that was the only part of the game that bugged me), but if you watch that intro video you can see them clear as day just not as obvious as the game made them.

I do like that they are showing the back story of specific characters that they didn't show in the game but only gave hints of. I really want to see Offerman's take on Bill lol

 

It is entirely possible that this reference to them being part of the story later on is related to flashbacks.  Maybe the spores were super prevalent early in the outbreak but after 20 years have subsided?  Who knows.

I had my reservations after the first two episodes. While I knew that I would fall for the characters eventually, I thought the story was sort of cliched, and kind of felt like "okay, good enough for a video game, but I don't see the big deal." Mind you, I only know that the game exists, and that's about it.

Episode 3, however, was incredible, and I'm fully on board now. They tell an incredible, heartbreaking story over the span of a single episode, that can be watched on its own basically, but also manage to nicely tie it back to the main character and his motivation. Bang up job of writing an amazing episode, something a lot of shows, especially on streaming, fail to achieve. Reminds me of Craig Mazin's best moments on Chernobyl.

On 30/01/2023 at 10:50, Syanide said:

Episode 3, however, was incredible, and I'm fully on board now. They tell an incredible, heartbreaking story over the span of a single episode, that can be watched on its own basically, but also manage to nicely tie it back to the main character and his motivation. Bang up job of writing an amazing episode, something a lot of shows, especially on streaming, fail to achieve. Reminds me of Craig Mazin's best moments on Chernobyl.

Brilliant episode! Not what I was expecting in the chronology of things, but it captivated the moment FEDRA left the scene.

On 30/01/2023 at 13:24, OldGuru said:

Sa after the first 20 minutes of episode 3 I realized what colossal woke trash this show is and that's where it ends. 

You didn’t come to that conclusion in the first two episodes? It took a third? Slow learner I guess. 

On 30/01/2023 at 21:24, OldGuru said:

Sa after the first 20 minutes of episode 3 I realized what colossal woke trash this show is and that's where it ends. 

 

What exactly is "woke" about it? Unless being gay is considered woke nowadays. There is literally zero underlying political messaging in this episode, the entire focus was just on lonely/broken people finding a connection, and devoting themselves to others. The Bill-Frank situation then ties back into Joel-Tess and Joel-Ellie, Bill basically spells it out for Joel, and the remaining episodes will probably just be Joel taking on and accepting the savior/parent figure for Ellie.

It was a beautiful episode in more ways than one, but I guess if you can't see past the facade, it's your loss.

On 31/01/2023 at 00:06, Syanide said:

 

What exactly is "woke" about it? Unless being gay is considered woke nowadays. There is literally zero underlying political messaging in this episode, the entire focus was just on lonely/broken people finding a connection, and devoting themselves to others. The Bill-Frank situation then ties back into Joel-Tess and Joel-Ellie, Bill basically spells it out for Joel, and the remaining episodes will probably just be Joel taking on and accepting the savior/parent figure for Ellie.

It was a beautiful episode in more ways than one, but I guess if you can't see past the facade, it's your loss.

Well said.

I can't stand shows that stuff politically correct nonsense down your throat, but this wasn't trying to "school" anyone, only to tell a beautiful story.

  • Like 2

Woke is pretty much anything (mostly older white "men") hate and don't want to see or hear. While acting like it's being forced on them 24/7 when it's actually not and never has been

Two men caring for each other? Trash

Two women? Trash (until they close their eyes when lonely)

Anything they hate.....woke trash. Never giving an actual reason. Just woke trash.

Edited by David B.

Well, considering Bill had a male partner in the video game that came out in 2013 that this is based off of, yeah, how dare they push such an agenda!  /sarcasm

 

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to bring up this ridiculous commentary.  This episode was great, and this show has been fantastic thus far.  There's been nothing "woke" about it.  Go back to your bunker.

  • Like 2
On 30/01/2023 at 12:24, OldGuru said:

Sa after the first 20 minutes of episode 3 I realized what colossal woke trash this show is and that's where it ends. 

What you just spewed out of your mouth just had to make this Political. You Desanticans need to wake up to the rest of the world. Homosexual lives are a freaking reality, and it has nothing to do with what religion one believes in or what side of the aisle one is on. When will people like you really get the picture that the world doesn't revolve around your personal beliefs, nor does it revolve around a specific group of people whose sole purpose is to force the rest of the world that only their beliefs are allowed to be heard and that everything else is a crime. That sure sounds like 100% fascism. What do you think the recently created group you guys' call "Antifa" means? Give up? The answer is "Anti-Fascism". In other words, "Anti-Hitler" or Anti-Nazism". This brings me to my last point. The Democracy in the USA will prevail over your Fascism or Communism, so I suggest that you go crawl back into your bunker and never come back out. Sure, we can dislike other's beliefs, but we can't HATE other's beliefs that don't physically harm others or psychologically manipulate others to join their cult whose sole purpose is promoting Fascism or Communism. 

I actually find myself often on the critical side of woke activism or activism in general, because it's got this air of moral grandstanding that I despise (especially in a political context), non-subtlety (especially in fictional media context), and it's full of absolute airheads.

But this guy is a just plain old ignorant. Like duh, the characters could have been male and female, it would hardly change much about their story. Making them gay doesn't make them better or worse, they just... are. But it's interesting to see that connection in the context of the world of the show, where the personal clashes with such dire external situation.

But whatever. Looking forward to the fourth episode, hoping that people like the guy above stick to their word and never drop in here again. Let's not give him any more attention than he deserves, which should be none to begin with.

On 31/01/2023 at 12:44, jesseinsf said:

What you just spewed out of your mouth just had to make this Political. You Desanticans need to wake up to the rest of the world. Homosexual lives are a freaking reality, and it has nothing to do with what religion one believes in or what side of the aisle one is on. When will people like you really get the picture that the world doesn't revolve around your personal beliefs, nor does it revolve around a specific group of people whose sole purpose is to force the rest of the world that only their beliefs are allowed to be heard and that everything else is a crime. That sure sounds like 100% fascism. What do you think the recently created group you guys' call "Antifa" means? Give up? The answer is "Anti-Fascism". In other words, "Anti-Hitler" or Anti-Nazism". This brings me to my last point. The Democracy in the USA will prevail over your Fascism or Communism, so I suggest that you go crawl back into your bunker and never come back out. Sure, we can dislike other's beliefs, but we can't HATE other's beliefs that don't physically harm others or psychologically manipulate others to join their cult whose sole purpose is promoting Fascism or Communism. 

It is funny how people project themselves by accusing others of something they are not. But then it stops being funny at some point and it becomes sad. I guess you are upset that there are people who are not in line with the mainstream narrative, it is called Democracy, and nothing you can do about it. As I said you guys have fun watching the show, don't care.

cleaned up thread

Did some cleaning. I understand there may be some elements that don't sit right with some of you but don't use said elements to go out of your ways to ruin it for other viewers.

Please keep discussions civil.

Thank You

  • Like 3
On 31/01/2023 at 11:02, OldGuru said:

It is funny how people project themselves by accusing others of something they are not. But then it stops being funny at some point and it becomes sad. I guess you are upset that there are people who are not in line with the mainstream narrative, it is called Democracy, and nothing you can do about it. As I said you guys have fun watching the show, don't care.

Arguing with you is useless. Yes, there is the mainstream and there is not the mainstream. But then there is hatred which is not welcomed.

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