The Last of Us (HBO) TV Show • Page 82

Yeah a change like that would completely undermine the character motivations for the second game. And some people already have problems with it as it is lol.

 

I thought last night's ep was very well done, very faithful to the game overall, but I am starting to feel the cuts just a bit. maybe I'm way off base here but I feel like everything hits just a bit harder in the game because of how much time you spend with each character, e.g. in the game you spend a long time wondering whether David is actually good or not because you actually fight alongside him, etc. whereas in the show the reveal is so quick. similarly the final stand-off in the lodge is a lot scarier/creepier because it's basically the longest/most difficult boss fight in the game, and again it was over so quick. but that's just me, I've said it before that I don't think any adaptation can touch this game for me, but it's been about as good as I could hope for.

 

This is a really great perspective and post, and kind of sums up what I was feeling but didn't know how to say. It's very unique pacing for this short of 'prestige hbo' drama, in that every week has had a complete arc, and it's not taking you all over the place, dangling multiple plot points at a time. I can say that without spoilers, season 2, and the 2nd game, are more traditional TV pacing, but the structure of this 1st season is definitely a little unique. I am glad to see that it's working for a lot of people who aren't familiar with the story. I really want to watch this episode again (especially with my wife who has not played the games but loved the show and missed this one) and see her reaction and ask her if she felt it was rushed. I think this one will get to her as it certainly is the most 'graphic' and violent (from a human side).

But yea, I normally hate 'monster of the week' shows, which is why I struggled with the Witcher at first until the overarching themes set in, and why I avoid a lot of CSI/medical drama type shows, but it's interesting to consider that sort of comparison for this show as I've been connecting each week when some new viewers may continually be like okay... another character, another town, another issue 'resolved' by episodes end.

 

I have seen this opinion a lot, but in the game (and especially in the remaster), I got major creepy vibes from David the moment he was introduced so I'm interested to learn that a lot of people didn't. I am glad that they cast someone in the show who doesn't sound like a south park character though. I always imagined Trey Parker as being the voice actor in the game.

 

Yeah like, I'd really like it more I think if we had an extra 10-15 mins every episode, or maybe even like 12 episodes instead of 10, where we get to spend more time with and feel out some of these locations/enemies/people more...but because the acting is so good and the major events are so exciting/enthralling, it's not really "bad", and on TV it comes off as really really good. It just COULD possibly be even more amazing with the right combo of writing/expanding some of these things.

 

In all honesty i've enjoyed the episodic feeling of the show. Each episode has felt self-contained, whilst still having the same through lines and themes.

I dont feel like the characters of Joel and Ellie haven't been fleshed out and I'd rather be left wanting more. A lot of people complain about the lack of action/ zombies, but it's been pretty refreshing to me. Sometimes less is more and the impending threat is more effective than just having zombies show up every episode, which would dilute it.

 

I think the pacing is weirdly fast but I also remember watching the first few seasons of the Walking Dead where they’d have taken 2 seasons to accomplish the David episode and I prefer erring on too fast.

 

Agreed, I don't have issues with the pacing except too many episodes have rushed towards the final shot, I think 5-10 minutes here and there would help. But it is a bit unique and a gamble to have it be this episodic. If the game creator wasn't involved, I can 100% see other creators introducing characters like Sam and Henry and David etc. and cutting their stories throughout each episode and converging plot lines together vs doing it beat by beat just like the game.

 

I think your observations make a lot of sense. I thought the episode was good but both of those things sound like they had a better payoff in the game. As a book reader I rarely find a movie as good as the book so it’s important to let the film version stand on its own but nothing wrong with feeling like the other medium did some things better.

 

idk playing the game and watching the show the pacing for the show adaptation has been fine for me. There’s only so much you can do when you have 9 hours ish of tv time to tell a story from a 35-40 hour game or so. Sure the show has an accelerated storyline for a bunch of it, but I mean experiencing it more deeply through the game (personally) I don’t care if it’s more condensed in the show, like I’m gonna have a deep connection to these characters no matter how it’s told.

 

Might be a question not addressed in the game…but is the reason we see so few infected in cold weather climates is because they’d freeze to being no longer warm-blooded?

I think this was the reasoning they used in the World War Z novel for why people were settling in cold climates.

 

The reasoning explained so far in the show, is that all the human survivor settlements are where people weren't before. The cities are full and rampant, but the wide open rural parts of the country, seem to be relatively safe and that's where we have met survival camps so far (Jackson, the couples cabin, David's group).. There's no explanation that's weather related, and in fact, in the game, there are infected EVERYWHERE. The show, to avoid making Joel and Ellie over the top assassins'/killers, has tried to explain it in a way that they are dangerous and limited (which is smart - if the infected took down the world, it wouldn't make sense for the 2 of them to handle hordes of them just like in the game). Basically, if it was a small rural town far enough away from a city, whatever infected there were have been dealt with.

EDIT: The cold locations are also just a product of the games journey and a coincidence. I assume if for whatever reason, the search for the fireflies took Joel and Ellie to the Southwest, the same logic would apply in that the middle of nowhere desert communities would be just as safe.

 

I agree with your sentiments, but to be fair, TLOU part 1 + the DLC, is 20 hours at absolute max, and probably closer to 13+3 if you are competent at the gameplay and don't stealth crawl absolutely everything. The 2nd game though, even when mastered is a 25-30 hour experience and has already been stated it'll be split (though HBO has only announced a 2nd season so far). There isn't that much story in 1, it's just that a lot of the villain's are just nameless obstacles, with no objective and that's not good TV.

 

There is a zombie show that’s like 18 seasons long and spends 3 seasons in each location if that’s what you’re looking for.

 

I could honestly say that like, each episode of this show, TWD would have milked it for an entire season.

But that is what I love about this show so far. There is absolutely no filler.

 

Is there a reason they went with 9 episodes instead of the traditional 12-13? They could have let a lot of things breathe more.

 

It was originally 10 episodes but they combined the first two. The first episode ended with Joel throwing the body in the fire but they felt it wasn't landing well and decided to combine them to get Ellie's introduction in the premiere. As to why they chose 10 and not more, I'm not sure.

 

Out of interest, which elements of the show do you feel could have benefitted with more time?

 

I would say giving us an episode that takes place over the 4 month journey would have been good to have. Not for explaining how they end up the way they do, but really to see that growth in chase in interactions. It would deepen a lot for Ellie and Joel. Make it more powerful than it already is. It’s not necessary, but I think it would have made the show even better.

 

Shoutout to the Pittsburgh QZ that fell in 2017 according to last night’s episode btw

 

that checks out because that was probably the worst year of my life

 

I posted this in here a few weeks ago, but it's worth repeating. I absolutely LOVE the fact that this show doesn't focus on the infected, or spend 5-10-15 minutes every episode on big battles with the infected. I feel like some of the complaints are from the game players who want to see more of that action?

I'm happy they are cutting through a lot of that bullshit, because we know that Joel and Elle aren't going to die (at least this early - no idea what happens in the game) and at that point it becomes pointless action to fill time. This is where The Walking Dead became overkill after 2-3 seasons (that, and introducing a billion different characters).

 

can only speak for myself here but I absolutely was not advocating for more zombie fights with my complaints. or more action at all, really.

 

Me either...

- I'm talking about things like at the end of this episode where it ended and didn't explain where everyone else was in the town during the fire, or didn't really deal with the aftermath of the episode in a way that I personally felt was satisfying. The fade at the end just felt rushed towards. Like a Stephen king novel, great for 90%, then the last 10% seems to be just getting to the words 'the end' as quick as possible.
- I also thought the fight where Joel got injured and his subsequent fall off the horse were too short, and didn't have enough weight. (Same as above, a rush to the final scene).
- The flashback episode didn't contain enough of the present, to justify the intertwining of the two that the game did.
- There certainly could have been a few more bonding moments between Ellie and Joel. More time teaching Ellie how to shoot, or how to hunt, or another minor infected encounter - (even if it was teaching her to be aware of her surroundings and sneak past them or something to avoid a big set piece).

They're all little pacing issues, but they're not 'more infected/action'. It's hard to pin point, but there's just a general feeling of rushedness during pivotal moments.