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Post by stephen on Jan 17, 2023 2:52:20 GMT
Also, apparently there is a fan theory that the cause for the cordyceps outbreak was contaminated flour . There was no flour to cook the pancakes, they didn't eat the biscuits, Sarah refused the raisin cookies and there was no birthday cake.
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VERITAS
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Post by VERITAS on Jan 17, 2023 3:05:13 GMT
As a fan of the franchise that's played/beaten both parts, the tiny little morsel they served up episode one was solid. Respect to the creators for fleshing out Sarah's arc (and not squandering a fraction of Ms. Parker's chops - that's delivery) as well as the expository preface; which could've been written ham-fisted but seamed in well as an unveiling of horrors to come for fresh eyes. I'm sure Ramsey will grow on me along the way but...the delivery's giving mannered cosplay at the moment. Crunchy. I say that with love though because I know what she's capable of. Pascal's back in saviour daddy mode which he wears so damn well. Typecasting perfection, slid into Joel flawlessly...what an image...
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Post by stephen on Jan 23, 2023 3:31:29 GMT
Anna Torv, ladies and gents. She damn sure brought Tess to bruised and badass life.
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jan 23, 2023 3:33:56 GMT
Second episode, ”Infected.” While I think this might not *hit* the same way that the first episode did, this is a pretty great follow-up regardless. More about prolonged suspense and atmosphere than anything, and a fine showcase of its core cast. Thoughts on the spoilers below. I will say, I am warming up to the pre-outbreak flashbacks in the cold open. Gives us a great idea of the state of the world before the infection, and the horror of the militaristic response to quell the outbreak, as well as the widespread personal cost of the spread (you were right about the flour contamination, Stephen).
But then comes the real meat of the episode. The travelogue with Joel, Ellie, and Tess. These three are terrific opposite each other, complementing each other’s unique quirks and personalities effortlessly, and perfect foils to each other.
I’m warming up even more to Bella Ramsay, for how perfectly she channels Ellie’s temperamental impatience and intentional button pushing, as well as her exuberant childlike spirit. The hotel bit lifted straight from the game was the most charming fucking thing. And I’ll be honest, a lot for me was riding on the “You can’t deny that view” scene. Perfect.
Also, I didn’t highlight her last week, but Anna Torv as Tess is also perfect casting. Even in her short screen time, Tess has a rocky, delicate progression from a brutal and unforgiving loan shark, to where the full weight of her dark deeds have finally hit her, seeing Ellie’s safe transport and a possible cure as her last chance of atonement. Torv hits all those beats splendidly, and her final scene is a gut punch as well.
Most of the episode is less about *plot,* and more about mood. This isn’t a criticism though. There is more than enough time dedicated to character in this episode. I especially love Joel and Ellie’s awkward hallway conversation, that gives us the first real glimpse of the inseparable bond between the two. The humor is also spot on, with Ellie’s snippy childlike responses being among the best.
It’s also not a surprise, given this is Neil’s episode, that there would be some funny references to those in the know. There if you know, but subtle enough that they don’t detract. Yes, there is boosting. That was hilarious. I also love the allusion to Ellie’s sexuality when Tess asks if she has a boyfriend, and her response is to go “nooooo.” (I will say, I half-expected to see an Uncharted reference in the museum. I’m not sure if there was.)
Clickers… GAH! If anything, I think the show made the infection *more* horrifying. The imagery is grisly and gnarly, and a stalker frenching Tess was not what I needed to see before bed. While I do think the prior week’s episode was stronger, this still packs a hell of a punch, and makes clear that The Last of Us is not only here to stay, but in capable hands. It helps to have the creators actively involved, so that while they have the freedom to make deviations and small changes, they still remain faithful to the spirit of what made them great. Next week…. “BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL NYE THE ZOMBIE GUY!”
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dazed
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Post by dazed on Jan 23, 2023 15:19:46 GMT
apparently episode 3 is the best of the season
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Post by DeepArcher on Jan 23, 2023 19:42:14 GMT
THEY DID A BOOST.
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VERITAS
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Post by VERITAS on Jan 23, 2023 22:38:41 GMT
Not the writers having Tess go out the same way I would; "Sup. I'm infected. Let's fuck." Thought they'd stretch her arc out further than two episodes but Torv delivered like the rent was due two months ago. My Fringe lord has done her Aussie brethren proud. Next national treasure to the stage, Bartlett! Shout out to the actress that portrayed the mycologist in the beginning as well; great performance. Wondering if every episode will open with these pre-outbreak backstory nuggets. Also, took a second but I'm officially buying what Ramsey's selling. Won me over once I realised/accepted that this is her spin on Ellie and not something beat for beat. She's organically her own. Loved how our introduction to the clickers was set to full intense action mode as opposed to the game where we just stumble upon a dead one and have Tess provide a mini bio lesson before we throw hands... As for next week...hey, fa-...I mean... queen. And it better be no holds barred. None of this suggestive coding fuckery...
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jan 25, 2023 22:18:12 GMT
Also, for those of us who’ve played the game… It’s been a non-issue for me, and I’m fine with its omission, but how do we feel about their decision to exclude spores so far? Or do we think they’re saving that for the Bloaters?
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Post by DeepArcher on Jan 25, 2023 22:26:12 GMT
Also, for those of us who’ve played the game… It’s been a non-issue for me, and I’m fine with its omission, but how do we feel about their decision to exclude spores so far? Or do we think they’re saving that for the Bloaters? They're not, it was confirmed a few weeks ago that spores were left out of the show entirely. I don't really care tbh.
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Post by stephen on Jan 25, 2023 22:31:22 GMT
Also, for those of us who’ve played the game… It’s been a non-issue for me, and I’m fine with its omission, but how do we feel about their decision to exclude spores so far? Or do we think they’re saving that for the Bloaters? I'm fine with it. Realistically, if spores were transmissible for infection, it's game over.
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jan 25, 2023 22:53:15 GMT
Also, for those of us who’ve played the game… It’s been a non-issue for me, and I’m fine with its omission, but how do we feel about their decision to exclude spores so far? Or do we think they’re saving that for the Bloaters? They're not, it was confirmed a few weeks ago that spores were left out of the show entirely. I don't really care tbh. Yeah. They’ve always been one of the more game-y bits to me (god forbid the pathogens cake onto your clothes, and you’re unlucky enough to breathe them in after your mask is off). I assume that’s why they wrote in that bit of Ellie being nicked by a Clicker. You have to have an example of Joel witnessing Ellie’s resilience to the infection.
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VERITAS
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Post by VERITAS on Jan 26, 2023 1:07:27 GMT
Also, for those of us who’ve played the game… It’s been a non-issue for me, and I’m fine with its omission, but how do we feel about their decision to exclude spores so far? Or do we think they’re saving that for the Bloaters? Just immediately presumed the showrunners chopped the spore element completely when they had Joel and Tess reach that corpse sprouting cordyceps without masks on. It was almost a gripe but I rolled with it. The network concept (forget if that was referenced in the game?) is more disturbing anyway. TV bloaters should spray fucking acid as a consolation...
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Post by theycallmemrfish on Jan 27, 2023 0:22:43 GMT
Gaaaaaa there are so many spoiler tags, I don't know which are show and which are game spoilers.
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jan 30, 2023 3:54:01 GMT
I cried. Three episodes in, this show got me to cry. “ Long Long Time” is the kind of television you only DREAM of seeing, and at least so far, is irrefutably the best episode. Full thoughts below in spoilers. This was a stealth Bill-centric episode!
Having Joel and Ellie bookend the episode, having it act as a soft epilogue to number 2, was a pretty bold decision, but FUCK does it pay off. It’s not like they’re short changed either, because you get some great depth and bonding time through their scenes, and more and more, they are just embodying the spirit of their characters, while making them their own. I have no notes about them. They are just perfect together. And… yeah, I squeed when I saw their in-game outfits.
But again, BILL-CENTRIC FLASHBACK EPISODE! I honestly hope this format comes back in some way. If not this season, then in the next season (though I imagine anything with Riley will follow a similar outline). These bottle episodes offering glimpses of the world beyond Joel and Ellie, and how these people have managed to cope and adapt in their own ways.
Anybody who had to fill Bill’s shoes had one hell of a task in front of them, but few are as tailor fit for it as Ron Swanson himself. Nick Offerman is nothing short of phenomenal in the role, bringing genuine soul and heartbreaking layers to the bitter, deeply anti-social shut in of his namesake, and the stubborn facade he puts up out of fear of anyone hurting him.
But Bill has scenes stolen from even HIM, with the show’s biggest divergence so far: We actually see Frank alive, and Murray Bartlett is a revelation here. I love his sensitivity, his unapologetically goofy humor, his charm, his rationality in the face of panic, and his heartbreaking, but soothing acceptance of things to come.
But really, it’s more about the two of them paired together, and their chemistry is on point. I love how their romance plays out, that even with an hour of runtime, you feel like you’ve gotten to know these two, and love them as unconditionally as they’ve learned to love each other. Their opposing attitudes (I love how at the brunch, Joel and Bill are both just there to amuse their partners), the natural budding of their love, and the way they both complement the other’s weaknesses, and amplify their strength. They never hit a false beat.
And… yeah. I was crying. I pretty much lost it after Max Richter started playing. After getting to know these two, and have formed such an intimate connection with them, seeing it come to such a bittersweet end was devastating. Not without humor - Frank finding the joint death romantic was both hilarious and heartbreaking, and ending on the open window (recalling the first game’s menu screen) was just the Cherry on top.
And Linda Ronstadt. Made a hilarious visual gag at the start of the episode, absolutely ripped my heart out by the end of it. I have no notes about this episode. I have no criticisms with it. While handily the loosest episode in following the original game, that proves to be its greatest asset, in allowing the show to live on as its own beast, while still retaining the backbone of the game’s spirit. If THIS is the kind of quality we can expect from this show, I’m looking forward to many more seasons.
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Post by mhynson27 on Jan 30, 2023 12:10:55 GMT
On the Nature of Daylight is a cheat code, and I wholeheartedly welcome it.
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Post by Pavan on Jan 30, 2023 16:38:36 GMT
Is it worth watching for someone who never played the game or don't have a clue at all?
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jan 30, 2023 16:56:40 GMT
Is it worth watching for someone who never played the game or don't have a clue at all? Yes. Prior knowledge not required.
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dazed
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Post by dazed on Jan 30, 2023 17:32:36 GMT
i haven’t played the game and i’ve been loving this so far. episode 3 was fucking heartbreaking (and from what i’ve heard, is the biggest difference from the game and show).
like mhynson said, when on the nature of daylight song kicked in, damn. on the cusp of some tears
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Post by DeepArcher on Jan 30, 2023 18:46:51 GMT
Hate to say it, but ep. 3 did nothing for me. I'm gonna sound like bitter and cynical single guy here, but their post-apocalyptic meetcute just struck me as too implausible. The construct of the episode was too obvious and by the time it reaches the On the Nature of Daylight needledrop it's kind of unbearably corny. Sorry...
Am I crazy, or is the Bill/Frank stuff way more moving as it's presented in the game? I just think it does a whole lot more with less. (Also, W. Earl Brown > Nick Offerman)
As strong as this show has been thus far at directly adapting the game (Pascal and Ramsey continue to be great), it really feels like all the new stuff they've added has just been bloat.
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dazed
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Post by dazed on Jan 30, 2023 20:39:17 GMT
also did anyone get huge ‘the leftovers’ vibes from this episode?
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VERITAS
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Post by VERITAS on Jan 30, 2023 22:21:06 GMT
And it better be no holds barred. None of this suggestive coding fuckery... The underestimation was strong. Challenge was offered, accepted, and completed in spades. Goddamn. "...from an objective point of view...it's incredibly romantic..." And from another objective point of view, this was the strongest episode of the season thus far. This was the Bill expansion (improvement) DLC pack I craved from the source material; a full monty/in-depth (though deviated) exploration of my favourite character in the game sauteed with Richter's brutal final notes. Arschloch! I'm broken. As Academy Award nominee for Freaky Friday Jamie Lee Curtis would say, "TRAUMA!" Place Emmy nominations in Offerman's and Bartlett's hands immediately. AND the makeup team's. If the showrunners are able to level up a side character's backstory to this degree I'm eager as fuck to see what they do in future episodes/seasons. Essentially what Ryan stated above; can you imagine this team adapting part deaux and beyond? I'm seated... And RIP to our original Tess, Annie Wersching...
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Post by mhynson27 on Jan 30, 2023 22:29:47 GMT
Hate to say it, but ep. 3 did nothing for me. I'm gonna sound like bitter and cynical single guy here, but their post-apocalyptic meetcute just struck me as too implausible. The construct of the episode was too obvious and by the time it reaches the On the Nature of Daylight needledrop it's kind of unbearably corny. Sorry... Am I crazy, or is the Bill/Frank stuff way more moving as it's presented in the game? I just think it does a whole lot more with less. (Also, W. Earl Brown > Nick Offerman) As strong as this show has been thus far at directly adapting the game (Pascal and Ramsey continue to great), it really feels like all the new stuff they've added has just been bloat. Care to elaborate?
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Post by DeepArcher on Jan 30, 2023 23:53:53 GMT
That Frank just happens to fall into Bill's trap and they instantly fall for each other; I understand it's basic romantic set-up stuff but given the context I for whatever reason found it difficult to suspend my disbelief and it really took me out of it. Again, I'm acknowledging that this is incredibly cynical lol, but it was an obstacle for me. I think it speaks to a larger issue that I just find Mazin's writing really inorganic, just always hitting the easiest and most obvious beats in a way that never feels natural.
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Post by mhynson27 on Jan 31, 2023 0:03:53 GMT
That Frank just happens to fall into Bill's trap and they instantly fall for each other; I understand it's basic romantic set-up stuff but given the context I for whatever reason found it difficult to suspend my disbelief and it really took me out of it. Again, I'm acknowledging that this is incredibly cynical lol, but it was an obstacle for me. I think it speaks to a larger issue that I just find Mazin's writing really inorganic, just always hitting the easiest and most obvious beats in a way that never feels natural. I was just hoping it wasn't some "a good looking guy would never fall for someone like THAT" bullshit that my mate likes to pedal.
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Post by DeepArcher on Jan 31, 2023 0:14:02 GMT
I was just hoping it wasn't some "a good looking guy would never fall for someone like THAT" bullshit that my mate likes to pedal. Oh lol no. I do think there's something interesting in the fact that Bill and Frank would almost certainly have never been together in a pre-apocalyptic world (not for "looks" reasons so much as personality and ideological differences), but then they don't really go anywhere with that idea. I think it's why I find the knotty, troubled version of their relationship in the video game a lot more compelling, even more so because it's largely implied and off-screen but still poignant.
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