Television

tvham said:
I have a friend who hates zombie / apocalypse type shows and she absolutely loves TLOU.
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Yeah, my wife hates them too. She hasn't watched The Last of Us but I told her I'm pretty sure she would enjoy it. I went in knowing absolutely nothing about the game. The first couple episodes kind of feel like a typical zombie show but as the episodes go on it starts to feel very very different.
 
dbarila said:
Yeah, my wife hates them too. She hasn't watched The Last of Us but I told her I'm pretty sure she would enjoy it. I went in knowing absolutely nothing about the game. The first couple episodes kind of feel like a typical zombie show but as the episodes go on it starts to feel very very different.
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My gf won’t watch it. I’ve told her about it and she says it sounds depressing. And I said - yeah, but in a good way!
 
dbarila said:
To me, The Last of Us is more about the characters and relationships. The zombies and the fungus are all just kind of in the background.
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Sure. I felt that way about The Walking Dead. I figured this was another case where the zombies are just another character just as NYC is a character in Rom Coms. I don’t dislike the characters I just am not fully connecting.

I am happy for you if it’s your thing- just might not be mine.
 
Delta Don said:
Sure. I felt that way about The Walking Dead. I figured this was another case where the zombies are just another character just as NYC is a character in Rom Coms. I don’t dislike the characters I just am not fully connecting.

I am happy for you if it’s your thing- just might not be mine.
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I've already voiced my love for the games many, many times. But...

I think we would need to know what tv dramas are close to your heart to answer that question.

What makes the games special is
A) The relationship between Joel and Ellie and it's arch. Which is developed through both gameplay moments, their constant conversations and cutscenes.
B) Ellie the character and her arch over the two games. She's one of my three favorite characters across any medium.
C) The ways in which the games toy with the relationship between the characters and the player.

In short the games are exceptional character studies in an artform not known for that. And also pushed video games forward by subverting the expectations and language of games. The zombie stuff is all secondary.

The TV elevates the source material in some ways by filling out the secondary characters and laying the groundwork for Part II. But in order to do so, it sacrifices the time that is spent with Joel and Ellie (which was already somewhat hurt by the shuft in medium and low episode count). It also heavily ramps down the zombie encounters-- which mostly works but does dampen some of the character beats imo.

Luckily, Pescal and Ramsey are incredible actors and the craftsmanship involved is top tier.

I'd be curious how many people here are emotionally attached to Ellie and Joel by now. Cause I know the hit rate on that question is like 95% with gamers after they had finished Part 1.
 
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Delta Don said:
Last of us question
Not to be a contrarian, but I’m 3 episodes in and the story / characters are ok. It’s zombies but fungi. I know these are beloved games but it’s not hooking me. Of course not everything is for everyone, but if it’s not clicking for me is there something along the way that could make it land better ?
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As things go along, the story advances and the characters and relationships get deeper. It might click into place for you by virtue of you getting more acquainted as things get more settled in. But what you’ve described, plot/genre wise, is the basic premise of the show. The only quasi-spoilery thing that can be added to it, which others have stated, is
more than any other show, even ones that have been described like this before, it’s not about the zombies and the action is largely emotional action as the characters deal with each other. IMO, the Walking Dead sucked at being “more about the people” and still leaned into having random zombie attacks to advance the plot. The Last of Us is sticking with characters over zombies to the point that there is a small vocal minority of fans who post “WHERE ARE THE ZOMBIES/JOEL IS SOFT IN THE TV SHOW” every Sunday after 10pm.
 
DownIsTheNewUp said:
I've already voiced my love for the games many, many times. But...

I think we would need to know what tv dramas are close to your heart to answer that question.

What makes the games special is
A) The relationship between Joel and Ellie and it's arch. Which is developed through both gameplay moments, their constant conversations and cutscenes.
B) Ellie the character and her arch over the two games. She's one of my three favorite characters across any medium.
C) The ways in which the games toy with the relationship between the characters and the player.

In short the games are exceptional character studies in an artform not known for that. And also pushed video games forward by subverting the expectations and language of games. The zombie stuff is all secondary.

The TV elevates the source material in some ways by filling out the secondary characters and laying the groundwork for Part II. But in order to do so, it sacrifices the time that is spent with Joel and Ellie (which was already somewhat hurt by the shuft in medium and low episode count). It also heavily ramps down the zombie encounters-- which mostly works but does dampen some of the character beats imo.

Luckily, Pescal and Ramsey are incredible actors and the craftsmanship involved is top tier.

I'd be curious how many people here are emotionally attached to Ellie and Joel by now. Cause I know the hit rate on that question is like 95% with gamers after they had finished Part 1.
Click to expand...
Let me just say that I've never played the games and am usually not crazy about apocalypse shows. I love The Last Of Us!
 
swamp jazz box set said:
As things go along, the story advances and the characters and relationships get deeper. It might click into place for you by virtue of you getting more acquainted as things get more settled in. But what you’ve described, plot/genre wise, is the basic premise of the show. The only quasi-spoilery thing that can be added to it, which others have stated, is
more than any other show, even ones that have been described like this before, it’s not about the zombies and the action is largely emotional action as the characters deal with each other. IMO, the Walking Dead sucked at being “more about the people” and still leaned into having random zombie attacks to advance the plot. The Last of Us is sticking with characters over zombies to the point that there is a small vocal minority of fans who post “WHERE ARE THE ZOMBIES/JOEL IS SOFT IN THE TV SHOW” every Sunday after 10pm.
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Yeah, it reminds me a bit of The Leftovers in that regard. The premise grabs you but it’s all kinda of a macguffin that give Joel and Ellie, two damaged people; the opportunity to reluctantly embrace the human condition in ways that they haven’t since the cordyceps took over.
 
DownIsTheNewUp said:
I've already voiced my love for the games many, many times. But...

I think we would need to know what tv dramas are close to your heart to answer that question.

What makes the games special is
A) The relationship between Joel and Ellie and it's arch. Which is developed through both gameplay moments, their constant conversations and cutscenes.
B) Ellie the character and her arch over the two games. She's one of my three favorite characters across any medium.
C) The ways in which the games toy with the relationship between the characters and the player.

In short the games are exceptional character studies in an artform not known for that. And also pushed video games forward by subverting the expectations and language of games. The zombie stuff is all secondary.

The TV elevates the source material in some ways by filling out the secondary characters and laying the groundwork for Part II. But in order to do so, it sacrifices the time that is spent with Joel and Ellie (which was already somewhat hurt by the shuft in medium and low episode count). It also heavily ramps down the zombie encounters-- which mostly works but does dampen some of the character beats imo.

Luckily, Pescal and Ramsey are incredible actors and the craftsmanship involved is top tier.

I'd be curious how many people here are emotionally attached to Ellie and Joel by now. Cause I know the hit rate on that question is like 95% with gamers after they had finished Part 1.
Click to expand...
I'm very much invested in this show and I have grown very foundly of Ellie and Joel especially as a unit. I love how their relationship has progressed with each and every episodes. I've never played the games, although I would like to at some point, but can't help but feel that it's almost better having not played them so not to compare the show to the source material and have more of an objective view about it. Not to mention, being unfamiliar with the games and not knowing what's going to happen next, adds to the element of surprise 🫢🤷
 
Delta Don said:
Sure. I felt that way about The Walking Dead. I figured this was another case where the zombies are just another character just as NYC is a character in Rom Coms. I don’t dislike the characters I just am not fully connecting.

I am happy for you if it’s your thing- just might not be mine.
Click to expand...
Ok I really like the Henry and Sam characters. Maybe I’ll keep seeing if it keeps up for me.
 
Just started The Last of Us yesterday and we are bingeing. Up to episode 6, about to start that shortly. I want to be caught up in time for tomorrow's finale. Not sure if we will watch it tomorrow, but I've successfully avoided spoilers up til this point (had no idea what the show was about!) and will definitely watch Monday at the latest.
Probably going to watch the Oscars tomorrow; I'm pulling for Colin Farrell and the rest of the cast / crew of The Banshees of Inisheerin.
 
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