The Last of Us (HBO)

[LJC123]

Just watched episode 1. EPIC. Felt like you were in the game too.

Was on the edge of my seat throughout.

And daddy Pedro

[Thriller]

Need to watch this, heard very good things! Could be the next Game of Thrones.

[aRat]

And daddy Pedro

Exactly.

Cute first episode. I don't know the game so I don't get the hype that much

[aaliyahman]

Never played the game but loved this. Reminded me of TWD but more game like.

I wish the child actresses had of been swapped

[LittleLinda]

I wish the child actresses had of been swapped

Dear me, that would’ve caused so many meltdowns! So many people were already furious about Bella as Ellie (due to looks) and that they race swapped Sarah (a minor character) - if their beloved Ellie would’ve turned black you’d see all kinds of calls for boycotts on the net.

I’m a gamer and TLoU is one of my favourite franchises ever made, so I had high standards for this one.
I think they struck a nice balance between being faithful to the game and diverging from it to keep it interesting for those who have played it. Still have to warm up to Ellie, but she didn’t have many significant scenes in it yet.
There’s quite a few key moments from the game that I am curious to see how they adapted them. Looks like this could be the best game adaptation ever (which, sadly, isn’t saying much, as most of them are atrocious ). This will definitely raise standards!

[GreekGeek]

I was so anxious about the tv series but after watching the first episode I feel relieved because it stays true to the source material of the game. The episode was amazing and i believe the show as a whole will be great. Just like the game!

[Thriller]

Not familiar with the game so watching this with fresh eyes - I liked the first episode but the hype seems a bit excessive, I wouldn’t say it was outstanding. The best bit was everything from 2003! Looking forward to seeing how it evolves though from here on in.

I was a bit confused why the girl was called Veronica then all of a sudden Ellie. Was she simply lying?

[GreekGeek]

I was a bit confused why the girl was called Veronica then all of a sudden Ellie. Was she simply lying?

Yeap, she was lying. You can see that by the fact that Marlene knew her true name and Ellie-Veronica felt embarassed.

[Thriller]

Episode 2 was so sad at the end. Loved seeing more of the creatures though, very creepy.

[aaliyahman]

The second episode was boring to me. It felt like playing a certain part of Fallout 4.

I can’t ship Bella, she annoys TF out of me, is the character this annoying in the game (until you warmed to her).

The world building is quite slow and I was sad at the end.
Parts were genuinely scary although apart from the snappy moments, the ‘zombies’ just looked like actors with pretty flowers on they heads.

[aRat]

Oh wow the 3rd episode was so beautiful. Good thing I have home office today coz I really shed some tears when they had their last dinner

This has to be the best represantation of gay love maybe ever in a film or series. Their marriage is #GOALS

That was seriously one of the most beautiful pieces of television i’ve ever seen

[Mugen]

Oh wow the 3rd episode was so beautiful. Good thing I have home office today coz I really shed some tears when they had their last dinner

This has to be the best represantation of gay love maybe ever in a film or series. Their marriage is #GOALS

That was seriously one of the most beautiful pieces of television i’ve ever seen

[spiritboy]

It was a great episode.

[aaliyahman]

I had tears. I hope to find a love like that (without the apocalypse).

At the start of the episode though, I thought that these must be side characters/DLC’s in the game! Are they even in the game?

[LittleLinda]

I had tears. I hope to find a love like that (without the apocalypse).

At the start of the episode though, I thought that these must be side characters/DLC’s in the game! Are they even in the game?

---

They are, but it’s not nearly as romantic.

Spoiler!

Joel and Tess know Bill and have been trading with him, like in the series, but nothing indicates that they know Frank. Joel goes there with Ellie in hopes of calling in a favour and get a car from Bill. After they run into one of his traps, Bill saves them and reluctantly agrees to help get a car battery. During that mission he keeps giving Joel unsolicited advice about ditching Ellie, because other people are just a liability that will get you in trouble - mentioning a “partner” that he used to have, and how he eventually wisened up and decided to stay on his own. You can tell that he probably cares a lot more for that Ex than he wants to admit, but he pretends to be happier on his own. Towards the end of the “joint venture”, the three of them find Frank’s corpse hanging from the ceiling of one of the houses, with a farewell letter to Bill.
The point that Bill is indeed gay is driven home by Ellie pinching some magazines from his stash, including gay porn.

In the game, Bill was also a paranoid prepper, but a lot more quirky, often talking to himself. And constantly quarrelling with Ellie, which is something that I am sad they didn’t include in the series, as it was quite entertaining. But obviously it wouldn’t have fit with the much more tragic route the episode took.

I would say that up to the fight between Bill and Frank where they argue about letting other people into their town, the series can be considered canon. From there, the story of the two diverges.

[Thriller]

Beaut episode, so well written and acted. Loved how it led back to Joel too.

[Jason2379]

Oh this show is something else. I am LOVING it!

[GreekGeek]

Even if we didn't see anything like that in the game between Bill and Frank and even if their original story went through changes for the show, this episode was so touching. The last scene from the window captures perfectly the feelings that the game gives to the player.

[aaliyahman]

---

They are, but it’s not nearly as romantic.

That would have been devastating! I am glad they made that deviation to give us this love story.

What was the significance of looking through the window at the end?

[LittleLinda]

That would have been devastating! I am glad they made that deviation to give us this love story.

What was the significance of looking through the window at the end?

I thought it was just a nod to the games menu screen, but I might have missed something there.

Regarding Bill‘s and Frank‘s story in the game

Spoiler!

while it is devastating, I liked the question it raised towards Joel: As mentioned, Bill and Frank fell out because of Bill‘s paranoia and his reluctance to let other people into their lives. Frank was tired of holing up with Bill and never leaving their little fortress, because he didn’t feel it was a life worth living.
Bill on the other hand tries to tell Joel that not caring for others is the way to go, because having to protect them will only get you in danger. Given that both Sarah and Tess died on Joel’s watch, his brother is estranged and he is now stuck with Ellie on a dangerous journey, making it very likely that she might suffer the same fate as the other ladies, it is not hard to imagine that Bill would be able to convince Joel that he’d be better off remaining a lone wolf.

Then, in Frank’s (btw, pretty harsh) farewell letter we learn that Bill was kinda right, as Frank got bitten and infected soon after he left. Choosing suicide over “turning”, he makes it very clear in the letter that he has no regrets and dying was still better than remaining in eternal solitude with Bill. As much as Bill insists that you are better off alone and not caring for others, you can tell that he deeply regrets losing Frank. So even though it seems Bill was objectively “right”, the big question is if Bill’s life is even worth living and whether death is an acceptable price to pay as long as you spend your days happily. In a way, their story is a lesson for Joel that even though he is still traumatised by his daughter’s death, he shouldn’t shut himself off from caring for Ellie just because of his fear of something happening to her.

In the series I felt like Bill’s and Frank’s story had little relevance to the main characters and thus it seemed a little “tacked on” merely for the purpose of showing a love story.

That being said, I don’t mind that they change stuff up, at least it keeps stuff interesting for those who know the games.

[aaliyahman]

Ahhh ok. I see both sides of it now. It’s crazy because I play a lot of RPG’s but not ‘horror’ ones anymore. I absolutely love the interwoven stories in them and they stick with me.

Seeing the way the story was changed makes me think it was awesome insight (catering to a mass audience) and elevating what could be a gameplay experience.

[Wayne]

Binged the first three episodes this evening - seems to follow a well trodden path (disaster brings an end to the world as we know it, which gives rise to a security state and eventually a resistance to the security state - not sure if that’s entirely right or the main plot though as haven’t followed the game).

All that said, episode 3 was outstanding television - Bill and Frank were made for each other and their final scenes were touching and heartbreaking. By the time the window scene happened and the incredible Linda Ronstadt started to play, I was in tears. Really beautiful.

[GreekGeek]

^No, it's not the main plot. Soon, you'll find out the main plot.

[spiritboy]

That strawberry scene in episode 3

[Thriller]

Episode 4 was kinda underwhelming after last week's but still good. Ellie is really growing on me.

I'm always a bit confused when they cut to scenes so suddenly with all these new people and we're meant to understand what's happening - some woman's brother is dead/missing and someone called Henry is being blamed for it? I'm guessing the guy and his kid at the end were Henry and Sam? They're a separate community who are against FEDRA and Fireflies?