The Last of Us (HBO Max)

[TiQuinn]

Sort of, that switch from Ellie to Abby happens immediately though and I dont have to stop playing Last of Us 2 and wait for Last of Us 3 some time between to finish the story. I think that is a significant difference.

One thing the show gets the benefit from is main characters not killing a million faceless bandits between the revenge sequence story beats that are supposed to have an impact of the violence on them. Although, I think all we have seen of Abby so far is this revenge driven shell of a person. I know thats about to change, but again, I think the time lapse of what folks are viewing and what they will later be getting is going to not land as well as it ought to.

It also won't help if they take another two years to come out with the next season.

 

[GrimCo]

Never played the games. So i'm commenting this just from tv series perspective. Wife and i watched seasons 1 and 2 back to back.

Killing of Joel was point at which i decided i'm done with show. Sure, killing protagonist's isn't anything new, but this was story about Joel and Ellie. It didn't have large cast of developed characters to connect with. It had 2, father daughter duo. Their relationship, growing up, growing old, surviving in the f uped world and how far is one willing to go for the sake of those he loves. Those were the themes i found interesting. Ellie and her revenge plot, not so much. Wolfs vs Scars- can't care less. Last few episodes of S2 gave me strong Walking dead vibes ( groups of survivors fighting each other in a world overrun with literal monsters).

One of the best episodes from entire series was one about Bill and Frank. It was so wholesome and heartwarming. Just two people that found each other, fell in love, and enjoyed their years together, till the end.

 

[Retros_x]

Killing of Joel was point at which i decided i'm done with show. Sure, killing protagonist's isn't anything new, but this was story about Joel and Ellie.

Well, Part 2 is not just about Joel and Ellie anymore, so evidently the story is not just about that. Although in my opinion Part 2 is still a lot about Joel and Ellie, even if he dies at the beginning. In the game the flashbacks about their relationship spread over the full game and the talk on the porch comes at the very end to recontextualize everything. I am not the biggest fan that they crammed the flashbacks into one episode.

The theme of Part 2 is basically the cycle of violence and the dramatic question is "Can it be broken and if so, who does it?" and IMO its a much better and coherent story than what TWD offers, although it remains open if the TV show will stick the landing. The second game was a much emotional affair to me than the first one, but for the TV show it seems to be vice versa with the first season being better than the second one. Lets hope the third one will bring it together but I have my doubts.

 

[GrimCo]

Like i said, i haven't played the game so i'm not familiar with the story in the game. Also, game and tv shows are different media types. What works for one, doesn't necessary works for other. From the perspective of S1, it was framed as a story about Joel and Ellie, with their relationship and their lives as main theme. Trough that frame, killing off Joel at the start of season was essentially killing of half the main cast.

 

[payn]

Like i said, i haven't played the game so i'm not familiar with the story in the game. Also, game and tv shows are different media types. What works for one, doesn't necessary works for other. From the perspective of S1, it was framed as a story about Joel and Ellie, with their relationship and their lives as main theme. Trough that frame, killing off Joel at the start of season was essentially killing of half the main cast.

If you view it as a show solely about actor characters then I suppose that’s true. That the continuation should be only about the main cast, but that’s not what is happening here. It’s an entirely new story with a new theme that happens to contain characters from a previous story. Though I’m guessing responses like this proves the show runners got their work cut out for them.

 

[Morrus]

Like i said, i haven't played the game so i'm not familiar with the story in the game. Also, game and tv shows are different media types. What works for one, doesn't necessary works for other. From the perspective of S1, it was framed as a story about Joel and Ellie, with their relationship and their lives as main theme. Trough that frame, killing off Joel at the start of season was essentially killing of half the main cast.

I haven't played the game either, and know nothing about it. The show doesn't bother me at all. I mean, I'm pretty zombied out and flaked out of The Walking Dead around s8 or 9 out of sheer boredom, and haven't watched any of the spin-offs, so the genre doesn't appeal, but this show, and its structure and story, I'm enjoying just fine. So it's nothing to do with having played the game or not, and more to do with our personal tastes.

Never played the games. So i'm commenting this just from tv series perspective. Wife and i watched seasons 1 and 2 back to back.

Killing of Joel was point at which i decided i'm done with show.

You noped out in episode 2 then went on to watch the whole rest of the season? That's some fortitude right there!

 

[GrimCo]

I like to finish the season. Also, i was interested in what way would Ellie's character arc and character development go or would any of the remaining characters get more spotlight ( kind a hoped for more focus on Tommy to be honest, he seemed like an interesting character).

I quite liked S1 and first half of S2.

I get bigger message, about circle of violence and revenge as main drive of S2. I just don't find it that interesting.

 

[Morrus]

I like to finish the season. Also, i was interested in what way would Ellie's character arc and character development go or would any of the remaining characters get more spotlight ( kind a hoped for more focus on Tommy to be honest, he seemed like an interesting character).

I quite liked S1 and first half of S2.

I get bigger message, about circle of violence and revenge as main drive of S2. I just don't find it that interesting.

Sure. I preferred s2 to s1 but each to their own!

 

[Velderan]

It's been a couple of years since I played the game, but IIRC, you experience the same dissonance in having to switch to Abby's perspective in the game, and I appreciate that the show is forcing the viewer to have to do the same thing. It's why if there's some attrition in viewership, I totally get it. It's challenging the viewer, and some people don't want to do that. It's why I'm hoping next season is the last one because realistically that should take us to the end of the game, and it's a good way to end it. All I can say is, give Abby a chance. You may not fully like her - I definitely remain Team Ellie, but Abby's story is pretty good.

The showrunner recently said there’s no way to fit everything into season 3 that they want to, so their hope is the show gets a season 4.

Will The Last of Us Get a Season 4? Showrunner Craig Mazin Says 'There's No Way to Complete This Narrative' in Season 3 - IGN

The Last of Us’ hugely successful TV adaptation was confirmed for Season 3 before Season 2 even kicked off. But will it have a Season 4? Showrunner Craig Mazin has indicated Season 4 is pretty much essential for the series.

www.ign.com

 

[Velderan]

I’m in the camp of never having played the games so I don’t know where the show is going or how faithful it’s been to the source material.

While I wouldn’t have been upset if they continued exploring the relationship between Joel and Ellie, the direction the story took to me is probably more interesting. Whether it was a good choice or a bad choice for the show will remain to be seen since the end of season 2 seems to shift to them showing Abby’s side of the story. I’m invested enough in what is going on to keep watching when the new episodes come out.