I can't help the feeling that I'm watching a lesser version of something incredible, with several changes made to make the story more "accessible".
I know what you mean. It's not a complete reinvention, like the various
Dune adaptations are, it's more like a translation, and in a lot of ways it's a very self-conscious recreation of the game. There's a lot in common with the live action version of
The Lion King. The show might change a few minor details (like swapping out Tommy for Dina as Joel's companion), or embellish elements that are only hinted at in the game, but the important moments are essentially the exact same, including matching it shot-for-shot. It sets itself up for close scrutiny for anyone that played the game first, and ultimately does the narrative and the cast no favors. It's not like most adaptions, where you're moving the story to a different medium, the game is essentially a TV show with playable elements.
I sensed this during season one, as well, but it had been nearly a decade since my single playthrough, so there was enough distance for me to have forgotten many of the details, so it still felt relatively fresh.
Part 2, on the other hand, I only got around to playing in the fall of 2023, and then I watched someone play the second half of the game not long after that, so I still remember it pretty vividly.
I can appreciate what the show does right, but it's almost like I'm watching it as an outsider. I'm not finding myself emotionally investing in anything that happens because I know the story beats so well. And because the show is so faithful, it does at times feel like I'm watching alternate, less satisfying outtakes from the game than a unique and standalone piece of fiction.
Specifically, the performances of Pascal, Dever and Ramsey during Joel's final moments felt less raw and intense than in the game, but perhaps that's due to the ability of animators to really amp up facial expressions in digital models. Joel's death certainly felt less brutal and shocking, which might be because his death was so strongly foregrounded in the show, and the violence was less graphic.
I'm jealous of people that can rewatch stuff and still get something out of it. A big part of consuming narrative for me is novelty, so once I've experienced a particular story it takes a long time (at least five years, if not longer), for me to get something out of returning to it.
variety.com
