I will say this, as someone who loves and absolutely adores the original game, six episodes in, this series has more than justified its existence. This isn’t just a one to one, from game to screen, beat for beat photocopy. While it does honor the source, it does make smart changes where it makes sense in regards to the new medium that it’s occupying and this version of the narrative being told. When it does bring in some familiar moments from the game, the new material is written in such a way that allows those moments to feel organically woven in. Even then, all of the emotional moments, when they do come, still hit. Maybe a bit differently, but still very effectively. Even the actors themselves bring something familiar, while also bringing some of their own touches.
That, however, doesn’t completely negate the original game, and this isn’t meant to be a substitute or replacement. This series is a companion to the original. People who love this series can go and play the game and love that, and vice versa. I have even seen and heard people online say as much that the series is turning them on to the game and getting them to check it out. That doesn’t sound like a dismissal to me. If anything, it’s more of a ringing endorsement.
Craig Mazin’s pixels quote from two months ago aside, in all of the stuff I heard him speak, from his own personal podcast and the companion podcast for the show, he clearly loves the original game. I never get any hint he has any contempt for the original source or feels like he is above it. I mean, he himself has worked on some pretty awful projects and has admitted as such. He has more than enough experience failing in the film industry to know not to talk down on someone else’s work.
I get your issues, though, and understand where you’re coming from.
