The Last of Us - HBO *Spoilers* See warning in post #1

Sirsok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120216910#Comment_120216910

No not really, I would enjoy something more visceral in line with what was experienced within the game version and feel somewhat cheated that the adaption has chosen to forgo that side of the world.

FrostyJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217059#Comment_120217059

The game would be awful boring if you just walked around talking, that is why the game has all that action. It is totally unrealistic that they would survive even a third of the encounters in the game. You can watch a walk throughs on youtube if you want to see the game re-enacted on the screen.

Sirsok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217118#Comment_120217118

Well first off, the whole thing in general is quite unrealistic to be fair.

Mainly though, the grit in this television version is not there, it does the world a disservice in my opinion. No real sense of urgency or massive threat.

I'm not a big gamer, I have never seen an episode of The Walking Dead. However the original narrative and story between Joel and Ellie and their trials and tribulations was outstanding. It has not be successfully recreated here unfortunately. While the show itself may be enjoyable for people, it's pales significantly to the story told withing the game, so far.

Fairly weak argument to say people can watch walk throughs on YouTube. There is a right to be disappointed by what has been presented thus far and engage in conversation with others about it.

Penn

The actress, Melanie Lynskey, has just posted a thread on Twitter about what she and others wanted the character to be. Can't argue with anything she says tbh. I still don't like the unnecessary detail of the doctor having delivered her as I think it just really threw that scene off especially as it was the introduction of her character, but it's a minor thing.

https://twitter.com/melanielynskey/status/1623410648536461314?t=-LVgZPNEOKTeeJ85Wq3AiA&s=19

FrostyJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217237#Comment_120217237

What specifically do you find unrealistic in the show?

The world hasn't changed from the game, minus the spores it is the exact same. They showed how bad people are and how bad the clickers are, what more of a threat do you need? Some things don't translate from the game like Joel walking around with 50 guns on his body and bombs and Molotov cocktails. We have seen enough trials and tribulations so far, if they made it a 20 hour show we could have that but unfortunately that was never going to happen on HBO, if it was on FX they could but it would be watered down tripe. Of course you can give your opinion, I suggested Youtube as it is what you want to see, why worry about the show not giving you something it was never going to.

Sirsok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217410#Comment_120217410

The premise in itself, is unrealistic. But suspense of disbelief and all that.

The spore change is a pretty significant change in itself. Now the infected seem to operate with a hive mentality and underground, so the infected are hidden away.

I have previously alluded to this need for others heroism in this adaption, weather it is Tess or Franks death,however their original deaths were grim, and the changes in my opinion has removed the original bleakness, which changes the way we see the world.

The added stories also take away from the isolated nature of Joel and Ellies journey. I just do not think we have experienced those two as of yet properly weeks into their journey. One of the big themes in the game was how horrid Joel actually is, a genuine struggle with justifying Joel's violence. Now there is implied violence with some references to checkered past, but I think it would be better to just straight up witness that first hand.

It's not a worry, it's just a sharing disappointment, if it wasn't named The Last of Us I wouldn't be watching.

Zero-Cool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217335#Comment_120217335

That's an amazing thread post. I was a fan of hers from Yellowjackets but even more so now.

Evade

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217711#Comment_120217711

Unless they spend a good chunk of time on a Bill and Frankesque diversion with her raiders I don't see any of that coming across on screen.

FrostyJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217533#Comment_120217533

That a fungal infection could affect humans or spread around and mutate over time? That is happening now, why is it a massive leap that the premise of this strain could happen at some stage. They don't mention fungicide in the show, that is one weapon we have but if the mutation countered this some how we could be screwed. It is a game/tv show so there is obviously some artistic license on reality. I wouldn't argue a DC/Marvel movie is unrealistic because people are flying and shooting lazers from their eyes, that is the premise of the show, so what is unrealistic?

The spores wouldn't work in the tv show as said 100 times already in the thread. They would be walking around in respirators half the time and if it was airbourne pretty much everyone would be infected with just Ellie walking around on her own.

You don't think the series is bleak enough? We got that Joel has killed and robbed innocent people, he beat a Fedra officer to death with his fists and stabbed an injured guy to death, I don't think we need to see much more of this struggle. The game was never just Ellie and Joel as well, they encountered people every step of the journey, they may have been spaced out a bit more because you were climbing stuff and jumping on rafts and probably dying every 5 minutes. The much maligned episode 3 that had none of them in it, actually had 30 minutes of just them in it, same with the last episode, Kathleen and the crew were probably in it 5 minutes tops, so that was 40 minutes on Joel and Ellie bonding etc. If that is not enough for you, fair enough but that is just basically nitpicking because all the base stuff, if not somewhat rushed, is there.

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120216166#Comment_120216166

I made a post about it but it got deleted for some reason , Its just not believe that she would be in charge

Why?

The world may be in **** but it's only 20 years. It's not Mad Max.

We know nothing about her abilities. All I can see if people wailing that she's a woman.

Zero-Cool

I see she replied to a woman who commented on her fuller figure that she seems like a woman of luxury and not a leader of a group trying to survive. Jesus, social media just sucks sometimes.

breezy1985

Seeing as there are no black elves or non binary Starfleet ensigns I'm glad to see this show has found its pointless bullsht reason to drag the whole thread into CA/IMHO

Super.

If black elves or Adira were the only "issues" in their respective shows, I'd be fecking delighted

yourdeadwright

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120218864#Comment_120218864

I just doesn't fit , she just doesn't fit the part , she doesn't have the look or the presence to believe she would be in charge in that type of lawless world ,

Some of it is yes because she is a women but for me its more how she speaks & carries herself just doesn't fit ,

There is also are many Male actor's that wouldn't be believable in the roll like Zach Galifianakis or Daniel Radclifeeor or Seth Rogan & many many more

Sometimes people don't fit the roll

Just because she is a women doesn't mean she can't be called out on being a bad fit for it ,

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120218919#Comment_120218919

Rings of Power, Blood Origin and Star Trek Discovery were so badly received by both critics and audience not because of that, but because the writers and showrunners had no love and respect for the original material, canon and legacy. The Last of Us is the exact opposite of that, and that's why it's so good.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219122#Comment_120219122

The woman straight up shot a doctor.

Seems completely unhinged to me.

I'm sure more will be revealed on Saturday.

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120218890#Comment_120218890

It's actually interesting you mention that...

There was a study done on women with malnourished children in some developing country, all these women were obese but their children were malnourished, so they thought the women were keeping the food for themselves, but they were, actually chronically ill with different types of metabolic issues...see if I can dig it out

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219140#Comment_120219140

I agree. They were crap shows with loads of crap plots and acting to talk about.

But for some reason rather than give a critical response to those failings the RoP thread was wall to wall "anti woke shte"

I remember a joke going around about how Picard was unrealistic because 7 sticks a USB into the slot right way up first time round and no one ever does that. I feel like TLoU has the attention to detail to do it correctly incorrect.

Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219277#Comment_120219277

I wonder do FEDRA have a base camp somewhere else . . full of women and children?

I can't imagine Kathleen is the only woman survivor amongst that amount of blokes.

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219322#Comment_120219322

Yes, but you see the "anti woke brigade" had this point, maybe unknown even to them: in their effort to appeal to the "woke" mob the show producers went and hired writers, actors and showrunners not based on merit and not having a prerequisite condition to be fans or at least knowledgeable of the source material. They hired persons who were proud to be the first black elf (he wasn't) or the first female hobbit (she wasn't) rather than actors being proud of portraying characters created or inspired by Tolkien. Or they hired writers who didn't realize, or didn't care, that their story doesn't fit the Star Trek vision. This is why these shows failed and this is why this particular one didn't: love and respect for source material from everyone involved.

It was the idea that "fandom is toxic" and we shouldn't appeal primarily to them. Well, it didn't work out, and when Star Trek returned to the idea that fandom is what makes it great to begin with they did really well with both fans and critics. And that's also true with The Last of Us

But we digress :)

Sirsok

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120218030#Comment_120218030

You had previously suggested that it is unrealistic to have Joel involved in these action sequences like the game, as its unrealistic, I would suggest the whole premise is unrealistic and suspension of disbelief is required.

The violence as you stated is generally happening off screen and being implied , which is precisely why I am saying it lacks the visceral grit of the game.

The game focused just on Joel and Ellies journey, yes they met people along the way but we get everything from Joel and Ellies perspective. Which I really enjoyed and found an interesting dynamic. There was no need to see others story's,and I found that more interesting.

As you said the base stuff is certainly there, but rushed, trying to fit in more narrative around other characters. Which is at the expense of what I consider the most interesting aspects of the story. Joel and Ellies dynamic and the violence of the world

lertsnim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120216681#Comment_120216681

God yeah, that's where I saw her before. It was wrecking my head.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219206#Comment_120219206

He had sold out people to FEDRA no?

So she couldn't trust him, plus it sends out a clear message to anyone who else is considering doing similar I would think.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120220062#Comment_120220062

Yeah; she was questioning him, was going to kill him, he pleads reminding her that he is a doctor, they have an injured person, can't be saved with said doctor, so she kills him

Sudden Valley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217058#Comment_120217058

Ah that is probably why I find her so unbelievable as a leader, because i associate her with her character in yellowjackets. Even much better actors have been the victim of typecasting or just associated with one character. I do respect she spent that time on twitter explaing her thinking on the character, she still hasnt had a good first impression for alot of people.

kerplun k

i can’t recall if Melanie Lynskeys character is in the game. I’m also kinda thinking did they swap a farmyard for the ruined city conflict with the same group of humans?

Ive no idea what that moving crater is. Hoping it’s a new thing for the TV show that’s not in the game.

Finding it very hard to enjoy this, my brain keeps going back to the game, parts of which I remember. I vaguely remember the 2 lads at the end.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221343#Comment_120221343

I don't get the reaction, tbh. She made a fine first impression. Her Twitter thread made perfect sense. People moaning about it just have very trope-driven expectations of what a "leader" character looks or sounds like imo. She was plenty decisive in her short time on screen.

FrostyJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219809#Comment_120219809

I think the your definition of unrealistic is different to mine, as I stated already in a superhero movie if Superman is flying around I don't storm out of the cinema saying this is unrealistic, if Batman unaided, walked up and broke Supermans jaw with a punch and killed him with a headbutt, I would be outraged. TLOU is set in a dystopian time, which could be next week for all we know, you have yet to point out one thing that is unrealistic about the premise. Go talk to people who were regularly in gunfights in Iraq and Afghanistan, they had massive support behind them with air support, artillery, medivacs etc, they will all tell you that there were several times they were seconds from dying every tour. To think a relatively untrained 56 year old and a 14 year old could be running and gunning like a Call of Duty pro is in the land of fairy tales. They just about survived in every encounter so far but you want them to do that more and turn them in Jason Bourne. If he was doing headshot after headshot like in the game it would be ridiculous. I would consider myself an above average gamer and I died plenty of times in both games, so going by your logic the show should end after the first few chapters when the clickers kill them, so it matches the game's 'grittiness'.

As for the off screen killing, take the stabbing for an example, why the hell would you want to see that? When you read a book does someone have to animate the scene for you so it is gritty for you, or do you just use your imagination like most people? The focus hasn't come off their journey 95% of the show time has had one or both of them in it. What more could we know about them to this point? Especially as someone who says they played the game, you should know there is more character development to come, thus far we have seen everything we need to. The Left behind stuff has been included in this so we are actually further along that we were in the game, relationship and character development-wise. You couldn't go off in the game and show stuff like Frank and Bill's story or Kathleen's. As it would be a long cut scene, unless they flipped it like in TLOU 2 and change who you control. In the tv show they can do that and build the world around them, and see why they are motivated. If they spend too long trying to humanise everyone they meet, I will be along side you giving out but so far, outside the Bill and Frank story, it has been short and sharp.

And as for the off screen killing. You're intentionally put in Ellie's POV.

Joel is trying to protect a young girl from a horrific reality while he can.

People are truly looking for reasons to be outraged, IMO

Cartman78

**Disclaimer: I've never played the game and knew next to nothing about TLOU before watching Episode 1.

Big fan of zombie movies/shows in general so this is potentially right in my wheelhouse**

Really enjoyed the first couple of episodes - nice background, world-building, nice subtle mix of gore/horror.

Listened to a couple of deep dive podcasts to get a bit of context and it appears that the show has hit the happy medium of servicing fans of the game and actually being a proper standalone TV show for non-gamers.

Episode 3 was an unexpected joy...Offerman and Bartlett were fantastic.

And so to Episode 4 which for me was a bit of a damp squib considering what went before it.

Fairly standard apocalyptic/zombie stuff which was fine but my heart sank at the reveal of the colony/group being led by a violent psychopath.

Fair enough if that's exactly what's in the game but this trope has literally been done to death by TWD already....so I'm really hoping that this does something fresh and different rather than go down the Governor/Negan etc route.

CastorTroy

Reminder that the new episode airs in the States tonight.

So I would suggest maybe using spoiler tags for a day or 2 as some may not realise it aired early and wander in here to talk about previous episodes. Or some who watch on Sky Atlantic since seems they're sticking with their usual airing time.

nomoedoe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120225866#Comment_120225866

I was just going to ask are Sky not showing it early?

Nope

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120226020#Comment_120226020

Apparently not which once again shows how behind the times many film/tv people are in the US.

CastorTroy

They're keeping with the usual HBO schedule it seems since it doesn't air until Sunday on HBO. It's on HBO Max tonight, which I guess is their way to try and lure more subscribers.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120226250#Comment_120226250

Superbowl is on this Sunday night. Viewing figures will take a huge hit on Sunday, so they're releasing it on Friday on HBO and HBO Max. It'll be back to normal the week after.

F1ngers

E5 is on NOW, now.

Am assuming it's on proper sky too.

Slydice

5: OH! THAT! Now That was a good episode!

Real computer game set scenes and atmospheric sounds feeling.

Backstory. Learning more about the world. Big Action, Big WTF! 😲 and Bonding!

Spoiler Warning

fuuuuuuuuuccccckkk!!!!!! after all that! ****!

I was like.. is .. is the blood gonna work?!!

but no

The big WTF... WTF was that big creature thing? Like super Mushroom man something?!?!

Slydice

Ellie

Spoiler Warning

stone cold at the end there with big FUCKed Off energy was the proper vibe for the end of the episode.

Evade

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120227775#Comment_120227775

Re spoilered question

Spoiler Warning

It's a Bloater the fourth type of infected, heavily armoured and very strong. The wat the bearded rebel died was a very common game occurance

Evade

Spoiler Warning

The episode was fine but ultimately the scenes with the rebels won't go anywhere else because all of them that spoke are dead. The series seems to try not be as dark as the game a lot of the time. What's the policy on comparing to game events that have passed already?

Like the sewer safe area. The game had a murder suicide involving adults children who were completely trapped by infected but it was almost pristine in the series. Also Ish spinoff when?

I think skipping the hotel section was a mistake too. That's where Joel started to trust Ellie more as a partner because she saved him but they've kinda just jumped to that in the series without setting it up.

Edit: Spoilered the whole thing just in case. Contrasts game events that have already happened in the series.

fitz

As someone who hasn't played the games, that was terrific. It's pretty remarkable how well they're introducing and developing characters that you get wholely invested in over the course of a single episode, and how those characters stories tie back to developing Joel/Ellie's story and relationship.

Those who've played the game may not be getting it from the show, given they know what's coming, but storytelling this tight is a really refreshing break from shows that try to drag stories out.

FrostyJack

It seems they are giving the episodes 50% for the gamers and 50% for people who are coming in fresh of the source materials. I think gamers have come off worse on this episode, though I still enjoyed it a lot. There were probably more nitpicks in this one than the others but the next one should be a better story.

Dohnjoe

Big fan of zombie/apocalypse stuff, but have never seen anything that really hit the mark for me. There was always something lacking that I couldn't put my finger on. The Last of Us has hit that mark for me, everything is great, but it's the attention to detail which is the part that really does it for me. The tiny details, the dirty fingernails, the thinning fuel for the cars, the worn weapons, every actor looking like they've just slept on a floor for a month, the self-aware dialogue. Yes, it does have it's "action" moments and unrealistic scenarios - but can see so much thought, real thought, has been put into every step of this. Can't believe this was a game (never played it), really blown away so far.

Homelander

If you like that vibe, Station Eleven is fairly good - completely different show to The Last of Us obviously, but it captures the grimness of the post-event world quite well. Was also on HBO Max.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120230523#Comment_120230523

I enjoyed station eleven overall but much preferred the stuff before the time jump...and boy does it take it's sweet time plot wise..

Zero-Cool

That was so **** good!

Spoiler Warning

The blood offer wasn't in the game but it was such a great addition as it made you think is... Is this gonna work? Is this the cure we're working towards? And then bam!

EltonJohn69

Pedro/Joel pre outbreak

Flaneur OBrien

Just finished episode 5.

That was really good telly.

I hope people stop saying Bella Ramsey isn't a good actor now. She was superb in that