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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gorgon Zee" data-source="post: 8922164" data-attributes="member: 75787">Interesting. I'm not sure that I'd have compared the two. Are there really so few genre shows that are well-done, generally hopeful and feature same-sex romance that simply having those qualities makes them comparable? Without delving into spoilers, some essential differences are:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The thrust of the two episodes is different. One is designed to lead you to a big reveal -- it is drawing the viewer into a puzzle; the other tells you nothing new -- it is deepening a known set of facts and providing color and context</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The energy of the two differs; San Junipero is edgy, fast and upbeat. Long, Long Time is slow and thoughtful.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The worlds are very different. Spoilers are required to explain why.</li> </ul>Because Long, Long Time is part of an overall story, it has an added emotional and world-building depth not available to San Junipero. In LLT the moment that most deeply affected me was when Ellie paused in reading the letter; that only had meaning with the whole series as a context. This episode also established how long Joel and Tess had known each other, which makes their relationship and events in other episodes stronger.Overall, both episodes are sensational, but Long, Long Time wins by doing something harder, by being focused on character relationships and not on a reveal, and by integrating with the greater story. Having said that, it's like saying winning $12 million is better than winning $10 million. It's true, but honestly, you're going to be very, very happy either way.</blockquote>

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