payn
He'll flip ya...Flip ya for real...
I wouldnt be surprised if the tone down is to try and make Joel a bit endearing to the audience before pulling the rug out. Which might be happening next week.
The Last of Us (HBO Max)
- Thread starter payn
- Start date
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
To be fair, if instead of being in an improbable Canadian wilderness outside of Boston, he had come out in Pawnee, everything in the episode would have worked as a very weird Parks & Rec epilogue.
Gradine
The Elephant in the Room (she/they)
Ron Swanson would never descend to eat poultry. Or drink wine. Rare steak and scotch til the day he dies.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Ron's been through some stuff at this point in the story.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I've heard it compared to the beginning of "Up," which I think a lot of adults find similarly traumatic.
Aeson
I learned nerd for this.
I can see that.
billd91
Not your screen monkey (he/him)
There are definitely a lot of adult emotions tied up in both examples, but I don't think either is really traumatic to us, the witnesses. We're invited to share the lives and loves of two couples and, ultimately, witness a certain amount of emotional closure in both stories. Carl loses Ellie but finds new purpose in a new adventure in her memory and its aftermath. And, as is appropriate for a Pixar movie aimed at kids, it ends on a happy note. Episode 3's main narrative may end on a sad note, but that's leavened with tenderness because Bill, in particular, has achieved a purpose he didn't even know he had at the beginning of the episode. And the journey we take to get there is beautiful, particularly when you compare it to the overall setting.
Flamestrike
Legend
After Joel casually beats and tortures him by snapping his arm:
They've made Joel a lot less 'evilly aligned' in the show compared to in the game. I prefer his arc better with him being a lot darker TBH, but lets see how it plays out in the show.
Flamestrike
Legend
There was nothing depressing about it.
Everyone dies. Often in great pain. Most people die alone. Many dont find the kind of love those two had, and all of us spend our lives looking for it.
Whether we like it or not, that's what we're all hurtling towards. Death.
It took a Zombie Apocalypse, but they found each other. And loved each other as much as anyone could. And went out together, in each other's arms, in a manner of their choosing, peacefully.
Of all the ways to go, that's the best way possible. To have a life where you find 'the one' - especially in a freaking Zombie Apocalypse - and have 20 years of a loving relationship with your soulmate and a peaceful loving and quiet death in each other's arms.
It's not depressing at all. It's quite the opposite.
The show runners wanted to show Joel 'what he stands to gain' by loving again, instead of showing him what he stands to lose.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Are we telling people how they get to feel about things now? Do you happen to know everything going on in @Aeson's life right now, which might make the episode hit differently for them?
Aeson
I learned nerd for this.
It wasn't the deaths. The song would have been for a woman for me. I've been alone and lonely all of my life. I'm closing in on 5 decades of feeling like this. I felt for Bill. I was envious of them as time passed. The depression came when I realized I probably will never have what they had. "It's better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all." I wouldn't know and most likely never will. Shroombie apocalypse or not.
I wasn't saddened by their choices at the end. I applaud their strength. Making that decision isn't easy.
I wasn't saddened by their choices at the end. I applaud their strength. Making that decision isn't easy.
Bolares
Hero
Hey… I know this might sound hollow, but it’s never to late to find someone. If bill could, so can you
If I could I’d offer you a hug right now.
Flamestrike
Legend
The incels are review bombing Episode 4 now.
This looks like it's going to be a theme for them going forwards.
This looks like it's going to be a theme for them going forwards.
payn
He'll flip ya...Flip ya for real...
Episode 4 was sort of a let down for me. I dont know if it was just coming down from such a great episode, or just that this was a very transitory hour between the story. Also, the revolution squad bit they added (not in game) is starting to feel a little like The Walking Dead which I was hoping the showrunners would avoid.
Guess we shall see how things develop next week. Friday drop because of Super Bowl!!!
Guess we shall see how things develop next week. Friday drop because of Super Bowl!!!
It's pretty much reached the point where crowdsourced reviews are kinda pointless.
Bolares
Hero
I think it's a bit of both. Even then I think there were some really cool parts of the episode. Ellie and Joel starting to bond, the part with the boy ellie shoots and the emotional fallout of that...
payn
He'll flip ya...Flip ya for real...
True. I wasnt terribly impressed with the new character and it kind of spoiled the good stuff for me. Just seemed like a very cliched portrayal to try and make the "NPCs" of the game more impactful. I fear it might have the opposite effect.
Bolares
Hero
I'm not enthralled by the new characters or anything (eventhough it's cool to see Tomy's voice actor play such a cool looking role in the series) but I found it interesting that this were rebels against FEDRA, that became pretty similar to FEDRA when they got the power.
payn
He'll flip ya...Flip ya for real...
Sure, its not so much the details, its how they are telling it. They are not showing things to keep the audience in the dark, but showing enough things to foreshadow a bit. It will put a lot of wieght on the following episode(s) and perhaps it will work out great, but maybe it falls flat.
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