Horror 'The Last of Us' HBO Series

[Filmfan93]

So happy I stopped watching this after Episode 2. They removed the best thing about the show.

Looks like the ratings plummeted as well. Won't even bother with finishing it, let alone getting on board with S3.

It's a shame, because we could've really had a great videogame adaptation, had better casting choices been made.

 

[DCDAVE]

Isabella Merced as Dina is a star making performance as an actress. Love her scenes with Jesse and Elle at the beginning of the finale. The Jesse actor is tremendous as well. In the game I assumed Jesse was ok with Dina choosing Elle over him but after watching this finale, I am not sure. I am glad we got to see a deeper look into the Elle/Jesse relationship. Jesse is a young Joel. I thought the same in the game but the show fleshed it out more.

I would love to know how someone that has not played the game will feel about season 2 but as I guy who played the game they short changed Elle’s Seattle story. The Owen/Mel seen was supposed to show Elle turn into monster. This fell flat. They needed the dog. Probably like the game Abby’s story in season 3 will probably be much better. Since season 3 will probably be all about Seatttle thr budget won’t be compromised.

Like how season 2 ended. Straight up just like the video game. You guys who have not played the games will probably learn to love Abby. Her story in the game is much better than Elle’s journey. Hopefully they can get season 3 in by late 2026.

 

[Elayis]

Coming from someone that didn't entirely love the second game (though I deeply respect its ambition), I'd been waiting for the show to improve on what I thought felt like a first draft. Surely, five more years to fine tune the narrative and be free from the constraints of an interactive medium could only result in a superior story. Unfortunately, it seems like this season died a death of a thousand cuts. All of the incremental changes had a cumulatively negative effect on Ellie's motivations and moral compass, and all I can see are the patchwork seams. It's hilarious to me that so many little details were altered or added to try to make Ellie feel like less of a psycho, but because of all of the other changes and the reduced runtime she actually comes off even worse.

The story also feels both rushed and drawn out, and I really question the showrunners thought process over what to embellish and what to truncate. It's kind of wild that this season only devoted three episodes to Ellie's time in Seattle, but will use the entirety of session three on Abby.

The most egregious part, though, was Ellie's little detour to Seraphite Island. I think I can understand its intended function, to let TV only viewers know what the whole Scar versus Wolf thing has been building towards, and that **** will be hitting the fan in season three. But, it was a huge waste of time in the context of this episode. All it did was delay Ellie's arrival at the aquarium, it had seemingly no bearing on her state of mind.

With this type of cliffhanger ending, the show needs to come out by next December at the latest to keep its momentum, but I don't see that happening with the scope of what's to come. Are show only viewers going to still be interested after what was probably due them a very frustrating season of TV?

 

[Primal Slayer]

Im tired of these short seasons. 7 episodes is ridiculous. It messes with the pace, the storytelling, everything. Esp with waiting 365+ days for a new season. Hollywood needs to get it together

 

[Stringer]

I'm not even sure how they're going to approach season 3 since Abby's sections are the most action heavy and they've already been cutting those considerably in Ellie's story.

 

[Drizzle]

I'm not even sure how they're going to approach season 3 since Abby's sections are the most action heavy and they've already been cutting those considerably in Ellie's story.

Spoiler: Game Spoilers

They should be able to do it if the focus is only on Abby's Seattle POV and they save everything beyond that for Season 4. The major action setpieces in Abby's storyline have been hinted at already this season. The Rat King in the hospital was teased in episode 5, there was a lingering shot of the crane in the finale:



And we also saw the massive explosion on Seraphite Island when Ellie was heading to the aquarium. It's safe to say we're getting all of those and without having to go to Jackson and not needing to bring back any of the characters from Ellie's POV until the finale (besides Tommy), they'll probably be able to cover all of that with the budget they're given.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Yeah, I actually enjoyed this finale this felt one of the episodes closest to the game all season.

As a season though, it's disappointing. We knew they were going to add stuff but the problem was not all of it worked. And then that also took away from important moments in the game like The Hospital and The Aquarium.

It felt like we barely got to know Jesse and on top of that some of Abby's friends were cut which just took away from the story for me.

If budget was a concern this season, why add the horde attack on Jackson? That was a good scene but it can't have been cheap and they could have replaced that with an encounter with Shamblers in Seattle instead.

The creative choices were 50/50 at best this season, and they took away from some incredibly important moments in the story, which just felt rushed in the end.

I am still looking forward to Season 3 as that was my favourite part of the game. But I hope they stick closer to the games events than this season did.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Spoiler: Game Spoilers

They should be able to do it if the focus is only on Abby's Seattle POV and they save everything beyond that for Season 4. The major action setpieces in Abby's storyline have been hinted at already this season. The Rat King in the hospital was teased in episode 5, there was a lingering shot of the crane in the finale:

View attachment 134749

And we also saw the massive explosion on Seraphite Island when Ellie was heading to the aquarium. It's safe to say we're getting all of those and without having to go to Jackson and not needing to bring back any of the characters from Ellie's POV until the finale (besides Tommy), they'll probably be able to cover all of that with the budget they're given.

I noticed the crane straight away. Some good foreshadowing there.

 

[Isub_Zero]

I never played the games. Finished watching the season... Season 1 was much better. This Season didn't come any closer to the quality of season 1. I feel like this season focused too much on the Action, but not enough on the human aspects and the relationship between the characters. The season was also way to WOKE for me. I didn't have a problem with Dina and Ellie relationship, but it didn't feel earned. It felt rushed and unconvincing.
You know what it reminds me off? Showtime's "Yellowjacket". First season was great. The second one wasn't as good, and the third one...even worst. I quitted around episode 6 of the 3rd season. I hope that not what gonna happend with TLOU.

 

[Lily Adler]

 

[Drizzle]

 

[Lily Adler]

View attachment 134798

 

[Pennywise]

‘The Last of Us’ Finale Reaches 3.7 Million Viewers, Down 30% From Premiere, Though Season 2 Is Averaging Above Season 1

'The Last of Us' Season 2 came to a close Sunday night, pulling in 3.7 million viewers across all platforms.

t.co

 

[psylockolussus]

Spoiler

I loved seeing the stadium in the game so seeing it in the tv series didn't disappoint.

A long wait for the next season to adapt the remaining of the game - 2027, is just so unnecessary. The last episode didn't even feel like a season finale.

 

[BeserkerHilf]

Spoiler

I loved seeing the stadium in the game so seeing it in the tv series didn't disappoint.

A long wait for the next season to adapt the remaining of the game - 2027, is just so unnecessary. The last episode didn't even feel like a season finale.

It’s so frustrating. They reportedly got the go-ahead back in December before officially announcing last month. They don’t need Ramsey, Mercad, or Pascal in the same capacities they did S03. The Aquarium was apparently a reshoot that happened after press screeners went out, presumably after securing an actual aquarium location to shoot at for Season 3. Get the ball rolling!

 

[psylockolussus]

Also whatever happened to

Spoiler

Danny Ramirez. I am pretty sure his character was killed by either Ellie or Dina in the game, which happened before those 3 Firefly deaths we get adapted in the series.

 

[Snow Queen]

Also whatever happened to

Spoiler

Danny Ramirez. I am pretty sure his character was killed by either Ellie or Dina in the game, which happened before those 3 Firefly deaths we get adapted in the series.

Spoiler: Game spoiler

He's killed by Tommy on Day 3.

 

[BeserkerHilf]

I never played the games. Finished watching the season... Season 1 was much better. This Season didn't come any closer to the quality of season 1. I feel like this season focused too much on the Action, but not enough on the human aspects and the relationship between the characters. The season was also way to WOKE for me. I didn't have a problem with Dina and Ellie relationship, but it didn't feel earned. It felt rushed and unconvincing.
You know what it reminds me off? Showtime's "Yellowjacket". First season was great. The second one wasn't as good, and the third one...even worst. I quitted around episode 6 of the 3rd season. I hope that not what gonna happend with TLOU.

The most insufferable kind of media consumer. As incorrect a use of WOKE as your use of “quitted”.

 

[Art Vandelay]

That abrupt ending was super bizarre.

 

[Lily Adler]

That abrupt ending was super bizarre.

 

[Zantera]

I thought the episode overall was decent. It played out pretty much like I expected it to, ending where myself (and probably most gamers) assumed the season would end. Overall positive on the episode but I have 2 gripes with it:

1. I think they make it way too obvious what's going to happen to Jesse. Sure as a gamer I know what will happen but when they make the show it should do its own thing and at least try to not tip their hand in such an obvious way. Sure it's hard to avoid the classic Walking Dead problem when a previously minor side character suddenly gets a lot of screen time in an episode, you know something is up. But he had like 3 or 4 lines/scenes in the spirit of "I can't die, I'm gonna be a dad!". All that was missing was him in a cop uniform saying he had 2 days until retirement. Not a massive problem for me specifically since I knew of his fate, but I think they missed a chance to make it feel more impactful.

2. I think the pacing was super rushed and it felt like they turned on the 4x speed option to get through all the scenes needed to get to the end. Despite this we got a pointless scene of Ellie on Seraphite Island which didn't serve any purpose and those minutes could have been spent elsewhere. But it felt a bit to me like the traveling in the later seasons of GoT when they almost start teleporting around because there's no more time to show them on the road between locations. It was extra jarring having played the game because at many points you get to a lookout spot and see the place you're going to and it looks close, yet it's another 2 hours of gameplay away because obstacles, enemies and what not.

I'm hyped for Season 3 because for me, the Abby section of TLOU2 is where I changed my tune from "this is probably on par with the first game" (during the Ellie section) to "this surpasses the original". Most of the best parts are in the Abby act and it will be cool to see how they adapt those. This episode did a nice job of teasing some of those things like the wolves attacking Seraphite Island or a certain lingering crane shot for example.

 

[psylockolussus]

Spoiler

The scene in Seraphite Island could have been cut. I was confused why it was there. I was sure that was supposed to be Abby's scene and I was wondering who would save Ellie for being hanged. Then they just let her out because they were suddenly in a hurry...

There was also an Isaac scene talking about Abby, that felt out of place since the Abby story section, is still more than a year away from being aired.

i think the long wait/gap for the next season just ruins the anticipation/flow. Cutting them in half with a big gap doesn't lead to an exciting experience. Ideally, this should have been a 10 to 13 episode season covering the entire 2nd game. I think with the 3rd season, they could probably "stretch" or expand things more to develop the main Fireflies characters + the two from the cult. But waiting for 2027 for those and there's not even anything that we know story wise, for a potential 3rd game would just make the third season anticlimatic, so they should have ended adapting the 2nd game this year rather than waiting til 2027.

 

[DCDAVE]

Not gonna lie, I thought season two was rushed. I believe it was because they wanted to show more infected. They blew the budget on episode 2. The best parts of the season were the tender moments between Elle and Dina. Would have loved to see more of Tommy, Joel, and Maria. Jesse and Dina together. I believe that would have hit better for us who played the game. I can’t believe they left out Hillside.

Season 3 should be much better. I expect them to flush out Abby’s crew to get the audience to know them. So many hints and Easter eggs in the finale concerning Abby’s story. All I ask for from the show creators is that they save the infected money for a bloater and the King. The video game scene will the King rivals the scariest video game moments I have ever seen. Make it terrifying!!!!!

 

[Zantera]

Spoiler

The scene in Seraphite Island could have been cut. I was confused why it was there. I was sure that was supposed to be Abby's scene and I was wondering who would save Ellie for being hanged. Then they just let her out because they were suddenly in a hurry...

There was also an Isaac scene talking about Abby, that felt out of place since the Abby story section, is still more than a year away from being aired.

i think the long wait/gap for the next season just ruins the anticipation/flow. Cutting them in half with a big gap doesn't lead to an exciting experience. Ideally, this should have been a 10 to 13 episode season covering the entire 2nd game. I think with the 3rd season, they could probably "stretch" or expand things more to develop the main Fireflies characters + the two from the cult. But waiting for 2027 for those and there's not even anything that we know story wise, for a potential 3rd game would just make the third season anticlimatic, so they should have ended adapting the 2nd game this year rather than waiting til 2027.

You know that scene stood out to me too and the only thing I can think of..

Spoiler

That's obviously gonna be Abby and Yara's boat that Ellie takes to get back to the aquarium and so the only purpose that scene served is so in S3 we can have a nod to it, maybe Abby tries to return but the boat is gone so her and Lev have to trek through Seraphite village to get to another boat.

But it did feel like 3-4 minutes we did not need to spend in an episode that was already rushing through other parts.

 

[Erik20]

It's going to be interesting to see how people (who haven't played the games) will react to season 3. If entire episodes are from Abby's perspective, it will probably feel like a new spin-off. I wonder if they'll lose viewers who were mostly watching for Joel and Ellie, I can imagine it might turn some people off.

I was also surprised with the "2 more seasons" comment. I don't think there's that much story left. (Unless they're doing 2 short seasons...)