I’m watching. I love the show but I did not like tonight’s episode! So many awful decisions and pauses (I’m the one yelling at the tv that they need to run and don’t have time to sit there and hug) but I guess that shows how Ellie is just a kid DH caught onto the cannibalism immediately, like at the leaders first speech. I was in denial but he was right.
He basically had to hug her to pull her out of it. She was so traumatized and dazed from what happened with the meat cleaver, she needed a reset in order to function. She just stumbled out of the burning building out into the open.
Now, do I think it is realistic that no one was around, no… 🤣 Do I think Joel recovered a little too quickly… yes. 🤣 I wish they could have given the show a few more episodes to slow the pacing, but I am in love with the emotional, human notes they have been able to hit. They have the realism in characterization down. Infection healing… not so much.
HBO, I am assuming, didn’t want to spend even more money, but I would have liked to see 12 episodes.
I'm surprised y'all are so focused on the cannibalism as opposed to the pedophile. The grooming and vibes from David to Ellie and that other little girl, OMG - nightmares. I wasn't clear if the other guys knew about that, but I figured they did -seems like they just fell into line regardless of the ask.
I knew going in it would be the most 'Walking Dead'-like episode.
I'm surprised y'all are so focused on the cannibalism as opposed to the pedophile. The grooming and vibes from David to Ellie and that other little girl, OMG - nightmares. I wasn't clear if the other guys knew about that, but I figured they did -seems like they just fell into line regardless of the ask.
I knew going in it would be the most 'Walking Dead'-like episode.
It was the most Walking Dead-like, but the characters were still human, which is the big difference in the two shows and make this so much better. Like - I don't know if David's group would have turned to cannibalism if it hadn't been the winter and they were all gaunt, sickly and starving. Walking Dead showed people turning to it just because...they were sadistic and awful.
Anyway, yeah - felt massive cult vibes from David. And right in the middle of the fire, I swear he was undoing his pants.
Final thoughts - I kind of felt like they almost didn't need to make a run for it afterwards because...who was left? The leader was gone, and so were half of the henchmen.
As a non video game player, I'm still so confused as to how things can track so closely to the game. Doesn't the game and its "scenes" depend on what you do as a player? How are there these whole scenes that everyone is like "Yep, that was in the game"?
As a non video game player, I'm still so confused as to how things can track so closely to the game. Doesn't the game and its "scenes" depend on what you do as a player? How are there these whole scenes that everyone is like "Yep, that was in the game"?
They are sticking mostly to the “cut scenes” vs. the game play scenes.
So, the little interlude scenes between missions that are the same no matter how you choose to play.
For instance, in the game, you kill David, and then it is a cut scene where you see her still flailing and Joel pulls her off and she fights him like in the show/he calls her baby girl like he did Sarah, and he walks off with her.
In the cut scene, it was in the building but basically word for word/action for action.
As a non video game player, I'm still so confused as to how things can track so closely to the game. Doesn't the game and its "scenes" depend on what you do as a player? How are there these whole scenes that everyone is like "Yep, that was in the game"?
They are sticking mostly to the “cut scenes” vs. the game play scenes.
So, the little interlude scenes between missions that are the same no matter how you choose to play.
Oh! I didn't know these were a thing. So it's like background info or things that happen to everyone? Thank you, that makes sense.
As a non video game player, I'm still so confused as to how things can track so closely to the game. Doesn't the game and its "scenes" depend on what you do as a player? How are there these whole scenes that everyone is like "Yep, that was in the game"?
Something I didn't know until I met my H is that a lot of games are really heavy on storylines where there are entire acted scenes that give a lot of richness to the plot. You also sometimes have to go "talk" to people to find out where to go next or what needs doing. I personally have little interest in playing a game like that but my H strongly prefers that kind of game over a more traditional shooter type game.
I remember I stopped watching The Walking Dead for a number of reasons, but one was that it was SO depressing to think that humans wouldn't band together and help each other out in an apocolyptic situation like that but instead would treat everyone like an enemy and be brutal about it. Then COVID and the last 7ish political years happened, and I was like.... oh. People really are shit and don't care about each other.
I liked this episode. I thought Joel killing all of those people was a little much... especially since he had just been near death like 10 minutes earlier. But I'm not sure he realistically could have gotten Ellie away from there if they were still being hunted, either.
I remember I stopped watching The Walking Dead for a number of reasons, but one was that it was SO depressing to think that humans wouldn't band together and help each other out in an apocolyptic situation like that but instead would treat everyone like an enemy and be brutal about it. Then COVID and the last 7ish political years happened, and I was like.... oh. People really are shit and don't care about each other.
I liked this episode. I thought Joel killing all of those people was a little much... especially since he had just been near death like 10 minutes earlier. But I'm not sure he realistically could have gotten Ellie away from there if they were still being hunted, either.
Ellie is a badass.
One of the cool threads of The last of us is that people will fight for each other, but the problem is, without civilization and people having their basic needs met, everything is secured by violence. Everyone is on a scale between good and evil, but it isn’t a clear cut line. Joel was a hunter while trying to keep him, Tess, and Tommy alive. The fireflies regularly kill Fedra and vice versa. Henry got a guy killed to get the cancer cure for Sam. Everyone thinks they are justified because they are protecting themselves or their people. David is obviously on the far end of evil on the scale, but for the most part, everyone is pretty gray.
Joel is gaining back some humanity but at the same time, that is going to push him farther into any means necessary to protect Ellie. Meanwhile, she is growing more violent and becoming the way he was after losing Sarah.
Post by exploding people on Mar 6, 2023 11:51:48 GMT -5
I'm going with a combination of the penicillin and adrenaline made Joel able to get up and kill people (he was clearly still having a Bad Time), but also- suspension of disbelief. It's just TV. Shrug.
The whole episode I was thinking about how the infected stressed me out a lot less than the violent survivors they've been encountering. Still wish there were more than 9 episodes though.
I swear my husband mentioned that and I was like no! That's like horse meat or something! I refused to believe it (neither of us played the game). So then when they showed the hanging human carcasses I said well shit, guess you were right!
I haven't played the game but she asked what is it, and the guy said venison and there were a lot of pauses and hesitations and I thought ohhhh noooooo that's definitely people meat.
But damn why they need to be greedy, there's 3 people and a deer in the barn you don't need to chop up Ellie!
And the horse. But really if you have a violent captive, and you've already resorted to cannibalism you probably are going to treat them as meat. :: shudders ::
I picked up the cannibalism immediately. For me it was that they were snowed in and they were talking about rations, so my mind immediately went to the Donner Party.
I'm surprised y'all are so focused on the cannibalism as opposed to the pedophile. The grooming and vibes from David to Ellie and that other little girl, OMG - nightmares. I wasn't clear if the other guys knew about that, but I figured they did -seems like they just fell into line regardless of the ask.
I knew going in it would be the most 'Walking Dead'-like episode.
Yeah, David definitely gave off groomer vibes even before he gave his little speech before Ellie broke his finger, and the rapey scene during the fire. But even without a zombie mushroom apocalypse there are religious creeps who are pedophiles while their little acolytes look the other way, so while it's absolutely gross and awful, somehow it seems less shocking. I'm not sure if I'm explaining that right. We have more asshole creeps abusing kids now than we do cannibals (presumably), so the taboo of cannibalism seems more shocking than the taboo of child abuse.
I just watched all 8 episodes this week. The thing that freaks me out most about these shows is that elements of it seem too real; I worry that this is what my child's future will look like. Not mutant fungus and zombies per say, but the collapse of society and the creation of a new life.
This show is so well done and so intense! I really love Ellie.
I thought there were 10 episodes for this season, not 9? Maybe I am misinterpreting what I am seeing on IMDB, lol. I just hope that there is resolution of some sort and the series ends far sooner than TWD did. I had to finally give up on that after a few years.
I kind of liked it? I don't know I'm still processing. I wish it had ended on a bigger note but it being the first season they probably wanted to bring it to some sort of semi-conclusion in case it wasn't renewed.
I'm having issues with the medical plan they came up with for Ellie, seems kind of bananas to go straight to cutting her head open like 30 minutes after she arrives. Maybe do some blood work? Whatever it is, it's in her blood right? Otherwise the wound wouldn't heal on her arm, but ok I guess this is the story from the game and I just have to go with it.
I'm also struggling a little with how she was infected. I might go back and rewatch the birth scene again tomorrow.
This episode kept almost exactly to the cut scenes in the game… including the ending lines.
The main change was Joel’s suicide attempt was only alluded to in the game and that conversation with Ellie was new… “it wasn’t time that did it.”
Even though that line was “on the nose,” I loved that scene.
I also loved him watching her feed the giraffe… it is sad that he is now opening up while she is closing up. He is coming alive again, and she is going into her shell over the trauma.
Their timing never matches up except for that brief ride when they left Jackson.
I know I am supposed to be morally conflicted over his brutality in the hospital, but the fireflies were willing to kill Ellie for a chance at something they “think” might help create a vaccine. They didn’t give her a choice. She wasn’t informed. He wasn’t allowed to say goodbye. His decision isn’t “right,” but she is his only reason to live, so he figured, save her or die trying. As with everyone, including Joel, most people are gray on that continuum of good and evil in TLOU and they all think they are “justified.” Most violence in the show/game and all hope is driven by love.
I kind of liked it? I don't know I'm still processing. I wish it had ended on a bigger note but it being the first season they probably wanted to bring it to some sort of semi-conclusion in case it wasn't renewed.
I'm having issues with the medical plan they came up with for Ellie, seems kind of bananas to go straight to cutting her head open like 30 minutes after she arrives. Maybe do some blood work? Whatever it is, it's in her blood right? Otherwise the wound wouldn't heal on her arm, but ok I guess this is the story from the game and I just have to go with it.
I'm also struggling a little with how she was infected. I might go back and rewatch the birth scene again tomorrow.
I kept saying why can’t they just try a biopsy first??
I think she was infected because the cord wasn’t cut when mom was bit. Or because mom cut the cord with the knife that just killed an infected?
I also wondered how a herd of giraffes survived through cold Sat Lake City winters.
ETA- the actress who played Ellie’s mom, did the voice & motion capture of Ellie in the video game
This episode kept almost exactly to the cut scenes in the game… including the ending lines.
The main change was Joel’s suicide attempt was only alluded to in the game and that conversation with Ellie was new… “it wasn’t time that did it.”
Even though that line was “on the nose,” I loved that scene.
I also loved him watching her feed the giraffe… it is sad that he is now opening up while she is closing up. He is coming alive again, and she is going into her shell over the trauma.
Their timing never matches up except for that brief ride when they left Jackson.
I know I am supposed to be morally conflicted over his brutality in the hospital, but the fireflies were willing to kill Ellie for a chance at something they “think” might help create a vaccine. They didn’t give her a choice. She wasn’t informed. He wasn’t allowed to say goodbye. His decision isn’t “right,” but she is his only reason to live, so he figured, save her or die trying. As with everyone, including Joel, most people are gray on that continuum of good and evil in TLOU and they all think they are “justified.” Most violence in the show/game and all hope is driven by love.
I agree that I think we were supposed to be shocked but we were cheering him on in our house 🤣
Damn if that was my kid of course I would do whatever it takes to get him out of there.
This episode kept almost exactly to the cut scenes in the game… including the ending lines.
The main change was Joel’s suicide attempt was only alluded to in the game and that conversation with Ellie was new… “it wasn’t time that did it.”
Even though that line was “on the nose,” I loved that scene.
I also loved him watching her feed the giraffe… it is sad that he is now opening up while she is closing up. He is coming alive again, and she is going into her shell over the trauma.
Their timing never matches up except for that brief ride when they left Jackson.
I know I am supposed to be morally conflicted over his brutality in the hospital, but the fireflies were willing to kill Ellie for a chance at something they “think” might help create a vaccine. They didn’t give her a choice. She wasn’t informed. He wasn’t allowed to say goodbye. His decision isn’t “right,” but she is his only reason to live, so he figured, save her or die trying. As with everyone, including Joel, most people are gray on that continuum of good and evil in TLOU and they all think they are “justified.” Most violence in the show/game and all hope is driven by love.
I agree that I think we were supposed to be shocked but we were cheering him on in our house 🤣
Damn if that was my kid of course I would do whatever it takes to get him out of there.
The writer said in the podcast that neither Joel nor Marlene would have given Ellie a choice. He wanted her to live. Marlene wanted the cure.
While I understand that Ellie would have probably chosen to sacrifice herself, I don’t see how you could ethically ask her to make that choice considering she is clearly traumatized. Like Joel after losing Sarah… he was ready to go.
Plus, I am highly skeptical this whole one “cure” was even plausible. The fireflies have been searching for a fix for twenty years and killing Ellie means it is a one shot attempt.
I have a hard time not believing Joel was doing the only thing he could do.
But, of course, if the story was told from the doctor’s perspective, I would probably think differently and that is the whole point.
I enjoyed the whole season and am satisfied with the adaptation. Humanizing Joel more was great and they kept what was good about the game as well. A good mix.
Yeah I haven't listened to the pod yet, I'm looking forward to it!
I agree I keep thinking about the doctors choices, why are they rushing to kill her! If you're wrong or mess up, she is dead! I don't feel like that's the way to cure this thing but I keep telling myself, well that's how the game probably goes and we need to stick to it and quit analyzing the medical angle that's not what the show is about lol.
My husband told me that in the game Ellie knew the choice and that she would die and made the choice anyway. So Joel saving her isn’t a great look in the game play. He hasn’t watched the show but gets my texts every Monday am when I catch up. He wonders if it was too make the fireflies look worse.
My husband told me that in the game Ellie knew the choice and that she would die and made the choice anyway. So Joel saving her isn’t a great look in the game play. He hasn’t watched the show but gets my texts every Monday am when I catch up. He wonders if it was too make the fireflies look worse.
I wonder if they changed it in the revised game because in the remastered, the scene is the same. She isn’t told. That is how Joel is able to lie that there are other immune and that they have stopped looking for a cure. She is suspicious but doesn’t know about the surgery that would have killed her.
Post by onomatopoeia on Mar 13, 2023 10:40:04 GMT -5
I don't know, I was kind of disappointed by this episode. I didn't like the fact that they went straight to killing her, but at the same time what exactly did Joel and Ellie think was going to happen when they caught up with the FireFlies? They'd just take a few vials of blood and send her on her way? I also felt like they hit us over the head with Joel now thinking of Ellie as a daughter. We get it - he just wiped out the best hope for humanity when he killed Marlene and the doctor to save her. He honestly sounded a bit unhinged to me at the end, like he'd start actually calling her Sarah instead of Ellie. It seemed that Ellie was also a little weirded out by it.
The giraffe thing bugged me as totally unrealistic.
I'm looking forward to see what happens in season 2 but I was not left begging for more, like I expected.