no doubt, having Neil be directly involved, as the creator of the IP, was absolutely necessary. I'm really happy with the casting and the work they put in to expand on what we played but stay faithful to it as well. I thought Bella did a good job with Ellie and really captured how angry she was in the early-going, will see how she does the rest of the way but I was pleasantly surprised, I like that they captured the intensity of Tess, not sure I love the actress and I would really have liked to see Annie Wersching get the role, but it was played well. All around really good and I'm excited for the rest, really wish I could binge it but time is a closed loop and we're back to weekly shit now, oh well
There was a post-show part where Mazin and Druckmann and others were interviewed. Mazin, show creator and writer, was talking about Ellie watching Joel attack that soldier, saying that “she likes the idea of someone defending her like that, and she likes the idea of that guy being punished.” I feel like Bella Ramsey did a great job capturing the essence of Ellie, and so did the writers (obviously), but that line from a creator/writer makes me cautiously optimistic for the show as opposed to knowing it will be good based on this first episode. I clearly played the first game and very much enjoyed it, and my wife has seen me play through it. We saw the first episode and she said it was fine, but also that “because the game did so well of a job with storytelling and the voice actors, that she’s not excited by what appears to be an inferior telling of the story.” And although I’ll watch the show happily, I agree. I’m sure they’ll do everything right and hit all the notes, but I played through the first game a dozen times and the inflections of certain lines, the pacing, the music…it was as close to a perfect story that I’ve seen in media. Thanks for coming to my TED talk
Yeah this is and probably will remain the largest problem I have with the show, that Ashley and Troy just did such a perfect job in the game that I don't think anything can ever surpass it. The scene where Ellie runs away to the abandoned house and her and Joel have it out over Sarah and all that, it is the most perfectly-acted scene I've ever experienced in any kind of entertainment, and its what I have thought of every time I saw or heard about anything to do with the show. I will still love the show, I'm sure of it, but I agree, its not likely to top the game.
Yeah that was definitely uncomfortable to watch but it fit with the new lore they are trying to establish and it was actually a compelling bit of body horror to show how the disease affects people as it takes over. I prefer how the game handles this section and the battle afterward but I didn't hate this take on it. But that is certainly the most divisive thing to come from the show so far.
I actually kind of like the change for how the disease spreads in the show. They’re not wrong that logically the spore thing wouldn’t make as much sense, especially in the TV context. No idea why but I was more able to suspend disbelief playing the game versus watching the actors kicking up “dead” spores all over the place. The kiss felt weird but whatever. They fucking NAILED the Clickers which was really cool and really helped give you that feeling of terror you get playing the game.
Yeah they did nail the clickers for sure, way scarier than the game, more agile, stronger, harder to kill, etc. I was strangely bothered by the symmetry of the stuff on their faces but maybe the game had more of that than I remember, they really did a great job, and love that its all practical too and not CG
Ok so this is a major show spoiler so I’m putting it here. But one baffling decision to me is the end of the first game they give you the option to take out the doctors. I’m fairly certain on my first play through I just let them be since they weren’t armed and I didn’t think anything of it. Looking back I can’t believe you had the option. what Joel does in canon (as it goes into part II) is just so critical and it forces you to think of him so differently in just shocked they don’t force you, the player, to do the bad thing. anyway the end of season 1 is going to shock people but not as much as S2E1
I was in full blown everyone dies mode so they never stood a chance on mine. But agreed but I'm sure they didn't have the idea for the second game yet. I just hope they handle it similarly. Especially where Marlene is concerned... "you'd just come after her"
That could be true. But I also think it just makes the final moment of the game “ok” so much stronger if you know the evil Joel committed. But then yeah even more so based on the game 2 plot. Speaking of which I am really curious if they introduce a young Abby at the end of S1. I don’t think it would be a bad way to have a cliffhanger even as a post credits scene where Abby discovers what happened. Could be really compelling.
I'm guessing it won't be right away in season 2 but it might be. Maybe at the end of the first episode?
I think it needs to be right away for the shock value. Basically just how the game did it but maybe halfway through the first episode is when it happens. Then rest of episode is initial set up and it goes up from there.
I’m rooting for it to be S2E2. Give the strictly show fans time to think season 2 is a continuation of both stories and then rip them from their sense of security moments into the second episode.
I'm sure she might have a small Easter egg or something but I don't want the finale bogged down with her.
You need to end with Ellie saying her last line BUT I think you can have a cliffhanger with Abby. Ellie doesn’t really leave a cliffhanger although it’s a really gut of an ending. But if they want to lead to s2 Abby has to make an appearance even if it’s quick with her seeing her dad and that’s it. Doesn’t have to be more than that.
I'm sure it will still be good but I could not be less interested in another Last of Us. Part 2 was great but was so damn depressing it was a bit of a slog to get through.
This is how every Remaster should be if you're going to charge full price, with new modes and content, AND they have a $10 upgrade option, fuck yes I'm in.
This is the game thread no? I’ve seen the show. Played the first game. I’m just now starting the second game today.
My bad. Thought it was the show thread. Anyway, always jealous of someone experiencing the games for the first time.
Gotta say it’s kinda weird playing as Abby. Her story is interesting and sad. Girl is yoked. Never misses a training sesh.
I had no idea how long this game was. Seems like they had several cut to black and that’s it for it to go right back into something else. I’m not hating I just had no idea. This is way better than the first game.
What a great game. Great story. Sad as all hell. I found myself wanting to play as Abby at the end. Almost felt like Ellie was the bad guy. Is there going to be a 3rd?
No confirmation yet but seems likely. Personally I would rather they didn't but I'm sure I'm in the minority. I'm ready for ND to work on something else.
Feels like it was a natural ending. Not sure where they would go with it that wouldn’t cheapen the first two.
When they first switched me to Abby, I was fucking livid. I wanted to play as Ellie and only Ellie. By the end of the game, I was like you. I enjoyed playing as Abby. Kind of found myself continuously saying "God damnit, Ellie. Stop!"
The first game is my favorite piece of media, full stop, that means tv and movies and all of it. I would have been perfectly happy with them never doing a sequel, didn't want one. I loved the second one and think it is a better game in most aspects, but I think it needs a third game to close out the story. To me, the ending of Part 1 felt just fine, it let you make up your mind about whether Ellie truly believed Joel, but it just felt like a finished story. The ending of Part 2 is great but I think it feels less finished, I just really want to see a conclusion for all the characters in a way I didn't need to after Part 1. Spoiler: Thoughts on story for third game I really hope when she walks off to the woods that she is going back to Dina and the baby, but I don't think she is. I want to see a Part 3 where she goes back and makes amends with them and they can be a family again. Then she finds another kid who is immune and they decide to search for a cure, and by doing so she redeems herself, gives her life the meaning she wanted it to have when Joel took it away from her, and also redeems Joel for the choice he made. Neil said the first game is about love, the second one about hate, I can see the third being about redemption as an idea he would want to pursue in the story.
I never had a problem with the idea of playing as Abby and I did the same with regards to Ellie, I just wanted her to see what she was doing and stop, especially when she left for California
I wouldn’t mind seeing a third game that maybe doesn’t even include Ellie. I think the world needs resolution. Maybe that’s through Ellie. Maybe it’s someone else. But it feels unfinished
Spoiler now that we know how she became immune I would be shocked if they found someone else. But maybe there’s another way they figure out