The Last of Us (HBO Max)

[Ralif Redhammer]

Ugh, because of course they are.

Ep 3 is currently being review bombed by the usual incel gamergate crowd for obvious reasons.

Jesus I hate those guys.

So far I've been doing alright at keeping the two separate. I think it helps that I'm watching it with my wife, who has not played either of the games, so I really need to be careful not to spoil the story for her. I need to compartmentalize the part of me that's played them both.

Shows been really good so far. It's hard for me coming in from having played both games many times and rating the first one especially as my number 1 game of all time, and still the best example of what the gaming medium can offer a story.

I've never been affected by any story medium (book, movie, play etc) to the extent that the 1st game had me deep in introspection for days if not months afterwards.

I find myself watching it from an academic viewpoint, contrasting it to the game, rather than being able to just sit back and watch it like any other show, which is bumming me out a bit.

That's my problem, not any fault of the show though.

One of the things that struck me last night about the difference between The Last of Us (TV show and videogame) and The Walking Dead is that TLoU lingers longer on moments of beauty, whether it's the reclamation of civilization by nature, Bill and Frank's relationship, even some of the rampant fungal growth. TWD frequently doesn't give those moments anywhere nearly as much time to breathe.

Episode 3 was as powerful a piece of TV as I've seen in some time.

That was a good episode! I've been over the zombie thing for a long time, so that Walking Dead aspect of the show is a bit of a hurdle for me, but this episode was such a good solid character piece that it's won me over.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Ep 3 is currently being review bombed by the usual incel gamergate crowd for obvious reasons.

Jesus I hate those guys.

Yeah, I think it's pretty pathetic. I think they are extra angry because one of their own (a hardcore survivalist) is depicted as gay and they can't handle it.

 

[Flamestrike]

One of the things that struck me last night about the difference between The Last of Us (TV show and videogame) and The Walking Dead is that TLoU lingers longer on moments of beauty, whether it's the reclamation of civilization by nature, Bill and Frank's relationship, even some of the rampant fungal growth. TWD frequently doesn't give those moments anywhere nearly as much time to breathe.

Episode 3 was as powerful a piece of TV as I've seen in some time.

The thing about the Zombie genre is its almost always a morality play. Who are the real monsters; us or the Zombies? TWD was at its best when exploring this theme, and others in the genre were also best when exploring it (I am Legend for example).

The video game leans into this heavily as well, with the ending (and subplots) all directly on point with this exact theme of morality and human relationships.

Some of the non-bigoted criticisms of the show totally miss this point, and bemoan the relationships and lack of zombie killing from the game play.

This is a show about the complexities of human relationships and love, not about killing monsters.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Ep 3 is currently being review bombed by the usual incel gamergate crowd for obvious reasons.

They're really going to be upset next awards season.

 

[Gradine]

Yeah, I think it's pretty pathetic. I think they are extra angry because one of their own (a hardcore survivalist) is depicted as gay and they can't handle it.

It's like they missed the parts of the game where he was also gay. ><

 

[payn]

They're really going to be upset next awards season.

lol, you can tell that many commenters not only dont watch the show but read anything about it. I kept seeing, "wont get second season because of this..." being posted yesterday.

 

[Gradine]

I feel like Joel is less 'Evil' in the TV version (in the game he casually engages in torture early on, and doesnt blink when Tess flat out murders several people in cold blood) in an effort to make him more sympathetic. In the game he's implied to have engaged in many a cold-blooded murder himself, and expressly engages in torture and murder a few times later on as well.

The real tell for me will come next episode with

Spoiler: Game/Show Spoiler

the ambush in Pittsburgh. In the game Ellie asks how he knew what it was, and his comment is along the lines of having been on both sides of it before. That to me, even more than the murdering or even torturing gang rivals, is the point that gets that part of Joel's past across the best.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Absolutely. Zombies behave a certain way because it's their nature, but the humans you encounter do the things they do because they choose to. What makes TLoU shine as a show and as a game are the human relationships and connections.

The thing about the Zombie genre is its almost always a morality play. Who are the real monsters; us or the Zombies? TWD was at its best when exploring this theme, and others in the genre were also best when exploring it (I am Legend for example).

The video game leans into this heavily as well, with the ending (and subplots) all directly on point with this exact theme of morality and human relationships.

Some of the non-bigoted criticisms of the show totally miss this point, and bemoan the relationships and lack of zombie killing from the game play.

This is a show about the complexities of human relationships and love, not about killing monsters.

Agreed on both counts. I suspect that there's a bit of conflating Nick Offerman with his role as Ron Swanson in there as well.

Yeah, I think it's pretty pathetic. I think they are extra angry because one of their own (a hardcore survivalist) is depicted as gay and they can't handle it.

It's like they missed the parts of the game where he was also gay. ><

 

[Sacrosanct]

It's like they missed the parts of the game where he was also gay. ><

The people review bombing probably never played the game, and if they did, probably couldn't make it past the first chapter.

 

[RangerWickett]

I'm digging the show. My wife is asking me about the game to compare, and I'm keeping my cards close to my chest, trying to remember if I ever spoiled anything in the past. I played the sequel after we started dating, but not in her presence.

One thing I'm aware of is that, in a game, you're inhabiting the person doing the morally ambiguous things, and The Last of Us wasn't like Mass Effect where you could choose to be good or bad. You were Joel, and that meant you did some stuff that I'd never imagine I'd do myself, but by centering you in his perspective you're forced to empathize with him.

Since the show can't do that, I understand why they'd tone down some of the dark actions early on. Like, in the game by the time you meet Ellie, Joel has probably already choked out a handful of people, and Tess has shot a helpless dude.

And on the third hand, when TLoU game came out, people weren't burned out on tragedy porn in zombie TV like many are now thanks to The Walking Dead. You've got a different audience expectation to play with.