Horror 'The Last of Us' HBO Series

[Drizzle]

I'd be fine with 2 seasons to adapt Part II but I suppose an argument could be made for 3. After all the game takes about 24 hours to complete but you can factor in substituting large portions of gameplay that doesn't need to be adapted for more character backstory, just like season 1 did.

 

[Kane52630]

I would love it if we got a whole episode about Adam and Sidney.

 

[Drizzle]

I would love it if we got a whole episode about Adam and Sidney.

I'm sure there's some throwaway character that they'll give the Bill and Frank treatment to.

Spoiler

My money's on the Miss Trunchbull Seraphite that Abby fights.

 

[Iceman]

Don't know if anyone's suggested it
But for Abby, they should really look at Katy O'brien from this week's Mandalorian

She's built, looks like Abby facially, and is just ethnically ambiguous enough to really rile up the incels

Now whether she's a better actress than the girl from the Wilds is debatable, but she def looks the part a bit more

Spoiler

She really is built! Face could also resemble Abby. Not sure how well she can act but she made it through an episode of a Mandalorian. They need someone who can go blow for blow with Ellie/Joel and the rest of the cast. If that’s her then great.

 

[Iceman]

Only problem with that is Katy O'Brian is much older than Ellie.

Yeah well Abby [looked like] an adult in the flashback in TLOU2, so she would be a good bit older

Only thing is would it ever be believable Bella Ramsey could beat her up? lol

Yeah, whatever the real age of character and actor, Abby looked much older to me in the game. But yeah fair point. Might have to blindfold her or tie one arm behind her back to make it believable.

 

[Still Wynning]

I think 3 seasons is excessive especially considerign how this first one was paced. It cut out alot of fat and barely had any filler; it just told the story. I thnk Part 2 can be told in one season and want it to. They can up the episode count to 13. Alot of thst game was a retread, just told from a different perspective. I dont think it would work to translate to a tv show bc it will feel like too much of a rehash without the gaming/interactive moments to make the experience different. They can een do what Stranger Things did last season by breaking it up. Season 2A be 7 episodes and then come back for 2B's 6 episodes. I really dont think 18 or up to 27 episodes is needed to tell that story

At that point it doesnt need to be 2 seasons but rather an extended 1 season as I proposed

As someone currently watching someone do a playthrough of TLOU Part II, and seeing how much ground it covers, the changing perspectives and various different locations, I can tell you right now, just one season or 13 episodes to adapt that entire game plus expanding on material and doing it justice, that ain’t happening.

 

[Havok83]

As someone currently watching someone do a playthrough of TLOU Part II, and seeing how much ground it covers, the changing perspectives and various different locations, I can tell you right now, just one season or 13 episodes to adapt that entire game plus expanding on material and doing it justice, that ain’t happening.

Oh based on little tidbits ive heard, I dont think it will just be one, but I definitely cant see it being 3. At that point its really dragging things out

 

[Kane52630]

Of all the reactions I've been watching of the last episode, TBR Schmitt got what the show (and game) was going for.

 

[Still Wynning]

Of all the reactions I've been watching of the last episode, TBR Schmitt got what the show (and game) was going for.

Need to check this out in the near future. I have a couple other YouTube channels reactions I need to check out as well, but I’ve moved on to catching up on other things. Maybe eventually.

The Blind Wave reaction was also really good, especially Eric’s. He really seemed to catch on to the fact that the moral quandary surrounding Joel’s decision is kind of irrelevant. It’s more that you understand why he did it.

Eric in general has a lot of really great insights and observations into things, even on subjects I normally disagree with him on. Sometimes, he’s even made me rethink and reconsider my stances/opinions on various topics. For example, I used to hate midichlorians and thought their introduction into the Star Wars universe removed a lot of the mystique and magic from the Force. Now, I just see them as an extension/conduit of the Force is, not as a replacement, and they don’t really bother me anymore.

 

[The Joker]

Of all the reactions I've been watching of the last episode, TBR Schmitt got what the show (and game) was going for.

I just watched that today. The wife hated it. She was so conflicted by Joel's choice.

 

[DCDAVE]

Owen and Mel could be Bill and Frank for season 2. Season 2 will have two love triangles.

 

[BoredGuy]

I just watched that today. The wife hated it. She was so conflicted by Joel's choice.

IGN had a good video about "why Joel was (mostly) right"
They made some good points, eg:
-You don't sign her up for fatal surgery without asking
-You perform a multitude of tests and years of study before jumping to deadly brain surgery
-Cordyceps doesn't even live in the brain

He prob shouldn't have killed the surgeon, necessarily, but he wasn't really wrong
on the flip side, if you are gonna kill the surgeon, kill the nurses too so no one can ID you lol

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Just finished a very well edited playthrough of The Last of Us 2 (not a Playstation owner or much of a gamer) and it was better than almost any movie I've watched in a long time. Cannot wait to see it adapted, especially because I can very easily see it being considerably better as adapted by Mazin.

 

[Still Wynning]

You know, a couple of things just occurred to me that I hadn’t really considered before that definitely seem to be prepping us for future seasons.

Spoiler

Firstly, as we kind of got hints of in earlier episodes, but get very explicitly said in the season finale, Joel mentions at one point nearly committing suicide after losing his daughter Sarah, but deciding not to at the last second. From very early on, they’re already setting up the idea of Joel, in some interesting way, being prepared to die. So, when Abby finally comes around to getting her revenge and beating him to death, it won’t be something that just seems to come out of nowhere. It plants the seed of death following him and being at his heels, ready to take him at any second. Instead of his death being karmic, it almost becomes something inevitable, like anything or anyone could cause it at any time. It also goes back to the broken watch he wears around his wrist and what that symbolizes. From the beginning of the story, time is not on his side, and death is always waiting. Not in a gracious or malicious way, but something that just is.

The other thing has to do with the story structure of the show itself. In the official podcast, Craig Mazin mentions that one of the benefits of television is that you can explore various different perspectives, not be tied to just a single one like in a video game. This season, we got various examples of that. Firstly, the talk show at the beginning of episode one. The beginning of episode two with the mycologist in Indonesia. The Bill and Frank episode, which hardly features Joel and Eli. Episode four, which introduces us to the character of Kathleen. Episode five, which starts off with Henry and Sam. Episode
six, which starts off with an elderly Native American couple. Episode seven, which is an entire flashback episode revolving around Ellie and Riley. Episode eight begins with David and his “community”. Finally, the season finale shows us what happened to Ellie and her mom.

A couple of things that all of these different story branches have in common. One, like I already mentioned, is that we get to see different points of view outside of the main cast’s lens. Two, the story plays around with time and chronology. And what is another story in this franchise that plays around with these two concepts? The Last of Us, Part II.

I am convinced that this particular structure wasn’t just chosen for the benefit maximizing story potential of this season, but also to prime us for the kind of story structure we will be most likely experiencing in the next two or three seasons as a result of adapting the second game, which jumps back and forth in perspective and in time.

Sorry for the long wall of text.

Owen and Mel could be Bill and Frank for season 2. Season 2 will have two love triangles.

Spoiler

Technically, Ellie and Dina are the Bill and Frank of the second game. Though, it ends in kind of a rough place, relationship wise.

I think it’s cool that, if we’re talking about the TV show, we have three great, different examples of gay relationships. Bill and Frank, who have a full life to old age and die on their own terms. Ellie and Riley, whose romance is tragically cut short.

Spoiler

and Ellie and Dina, who have a falling out due to Ellie not being able to give up on her quest for revenge.

 

[DCDAVE]

You know, a couple of things just occurred to me that I hadn’t really considered before that definitely seem to be prepping us for future seasons.

Spoiler

Firstly, as we kind of got hints of in earlier episodes, but get very explicitly said in the season finale, Joel mentions at one point nearly committing suicide after losing his daughter Sarah, but deciding not to at the last second. From very early on, they’re already setting up the idea of Joel, in some interesting way, being prepared to die. So, when Abby finally comes around to getting her revenge and beating him to death, it won’t be something that just seems to come out of nowhere. It plants the seed of death following him and being at his heels, ready to take him at any second. Instead of his death being karmic, it almost becomes something inevitable, like anything or anyone could cause it at any time. It also goes back to the broken watch he wears around his wrist and what that symbolizes. From the beginning of the story, time is not on his side, and death is always waiting. Not in a gracious or malicious way, but something that just is.

The other thing has to do with the story structure of the show itself. In the official podcast, Craig Mazin mentions that one of the benefits of television is that you can explore various different perspectives, not be tied to just a single one like in a video game. This season, we got various examples of that. Firstly, the talk show at the beginning of episode one. The beginning of episode two with the mycologist in Indonesia. The Bill and Frank episode, which hardly features Joel and Eli. Episode seven, which introduces us to the character of Kathleen. Episode five, which starts off with Henry and Sam. Episode
six, which starts off with an elderly Native American couple. Episode seven, which is an entire flashback episode revolving around Ellie and Riley. Episode eight begins with David and his “community”. Finally, the season finale shows us what happened to Ellie and her mom.

A couple of things that all of these different story branches have in common. One, like I already mentioned, is that we get to see different points of view outside of the main cast’s lens. Two, the story plays around with time and chronology. And what is another story in this franchise that plays around with these two concepts? The Last of Us, Part II.

I am convinced that this particular structure wasn’t just chosen for the benefit maximizing story potential of this season, but also to prime us for the kind of story structure we will be most likely experiencing in the next two or three seasons as a result of adapting the second game, which jumps back and forth in perspective and in time.

Sorry for the long wall of text.

Spoiler

Technically, Ellie and Dina are the Bill and Frank of the second game. Though, it ends in kind of a rough place, relationship wise.

I think it’s cool that, if we’re talking about the TV show, we have three great, different examples of gay relationships. Bill and Frank, who have a full life to old age and die on their own terms. Ellie and Riley, whose romance is tragically cut short.

Spoiler

and Ellie and Dina, who have a falling out due to Ellie not being able to give up on her quest for revenge.

Great post. I want season 2 to be a drama. So many characters that have great back stories that lead to the climatic scene. It is truly the Last of Us.

Does anyone have an issue with the lack of gore from the show? I am playing the remastered first game. It is really gory. You kill so many people and infected. The game is so different from the show. They both work though. Unbelievable………

 

[Iceman]

Great post. I want season 2 to be a drama. So many characters that have great back stories that lead to the climatic scene. It is truly the Last of Us.

Does anyone have an issue with the lack of gore from the show? I am playing the remastered first game. It is really gory. You kill so many people and infected. The game is so different from the show. They both work though. Unbelievable………

I’m not a huge fan of gore so the show is working very well for me. I mind it less in games where I can actively run from it rather than in live action where I’m a captive viewer for as long as they want me.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

You know, a couple of things just occurred to me that I hadn’t really considered before that definitely seem to be prepping us for future seasons.

Spoiler

Firstly, as we kind of got hints of in earlier episodes, but get very explicitly said in the season finale, Joel mentions at one point nearly committing suicide after losing his daughter Sarah, but deciding not to at the last second. From very early on, they’re already setting up the idea of Joel, in some interesting way, being prepared to die. So, when Abby finally comes around to getting her revenge and beating him to death, it won’t be something that just seems to come out of nowhere. It plants the seed of death following him and being at his heels, ready to take him at any second. Instead of his death being karmic, it almost becomes something inevitable, like anything or anyone could cause it at any time. It also goes back to the broken watch he wears around his wrist and what that symbolizes. From the beginning of the story, time is not on his side, and death is always waiting. Not in a gracious or malicious way, but something that just is.

The other thing has to do with the story structure of the show itself. In the official podcast, Craig Mazin mentions that one of the benefits of television is that you can explore various different perspectives, not be tied to just a single one like in a video game. This season, we got various examples of that. Firstly, the talk show at the beginning of episode one. The beginning of episode two with the mycologist in Indonesia. The Bill and Frank episode, which hardly features Joel and Eli. Episode seven, which introduces us to the character of Kathleen. Episode five, which starts off with Henry and Sam. Episode
six, which starts off with an elderly Native American couple. Episode seven, which is an entire flashback episode revolving around Ellie and Riley. Episode eight begins with David and his “community”. Finally, the season finale shows us what happened to Ellie and her mom.

A couple of things that all of these different story branches have in common. One, like I already mentioned, is that we get to see different points of view outside of the main cast’s lens. Two, the story plays around with time and chronology. And what is another story in this franchise that plays around with these two concepts? The Last of Us, Part II.

I am convinced that this particular structure wasn’t just chosen for the benefit maximizing story potential of this season, but also to prime us for the kind of story structure we will be most likely experiencing in the next two or three seasons as a result of adapting the second game, which jumps back and forth in perspective and in time.

Sorry for the long wall of text.

Spoiler

Technically, Ellie and Dina are the Bill and Frank of the second game. Though, it ends in kind of a rough place, relationship wise.

I think it’s cool that, if we’re talking about the TV show, we have three great, different examples of gay relationships. Bill and Frank, who have a full life to old age and die on their own terms. Ellie and Riley, whose romance is tragically cut short.

Spoiler

and Ellie and Dina, who have a falling out due to Ellie not being able to give up on her quest for revenge.

On your first point about the show seeding the structure of TLOU2 I think you are absolutely correct. I found TLOU2 felt a lot like the show in general, even moreso than the first game did.

 

[DCDAVE]

I’m not a huge fan of gore so the show is working very well for me. I mind it less in games where I can actively run from it rather than in live action where I’m a captive viewer for as long as they want me.

The one thing I really love about the game is you go into peoples place of living and read letters or diaries from people. What happened to Ish……. That guy seemed great.

 

[Kane52630]

 

[henzINNIT]

The show was good. Wasn't likely to top the game for me, and it didn't, but a well done adaptation all round. The cast were great. Special credit to Bella Ramsey, who absolutely crushed it as Ellie I thought.

As a game fan, the most interesting stuff for me were the deviations. I liked all the little bits and pieces added, the extra context into the various locations and communities. Episode 3 was really good of course.

The weakest thing was probably the finale. The pace felt off. I see this is a fairly common complaint. I think it could have done with being split in two. There are a lot of character turns in there that could have been given more time to breathe.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

As someone currently watching someone do a playthrough of TLOU Part II, and seeing how much ground it covers, the changing perspectives and various different locations, I can tell you right now, just one season or 13 episodes to adapt that entire game plus expanding on material and doing it justice, that ain’t happening.

This. And that’s just if they don’t even expand on anything, which they quite clearly will.

 

[henzINNIT]

Unpopular opinion perhaps but I reckon you could do Pt. 2 in a single season. It's a longer game, sure, but an awful lot of that is gameplay. A huge chunk of the game takes place over just 3 days. Do those over 6 episodes (to account for different perspectives) and you have a couple each side for an opening and the final act. Pretty do-able. A moot point of course as it seems like it will be more than one.

If Pt. 2 is done in two seasons, I wonder where it will be split. I don't see an obvious cut-off point.

 

[DCDAVE]

Unpopular opinion perhaps but I reckon you could do Pt. 2 in a single season. It's a longer game, sure, but an awful lot of that is gameplay. A huge chunk of the game takes place over just 3 days. Do those over 6 episodes (to account for different perspectives) and you have a couple each side for an opening and the final act. Pretty do-able. A moot point of course as it seems like it will be more than one.

If Pt. 2 is done in two seasons, I wonder where it will be split. I don't see an obvious cut-off point.

You think they can do Wyoming, Seattle, and Santa Barbara in 6 episodes with all those characters and backstories? I guess if you want to turn the last of us into Residential Evil it could work.
Season two ends with the controversy that made the game divisive. Every character’s life changed because of that moment.

 

[Kane52630]

If Pt. 2 is done in two seasons, I wonder where it will be split. I don't see an obvious cut-off point.

Easy and obvious.

Spoiler: Part II Game spoilers

 

[henzINNIT]

You think they can do Wyoming, Seattle, and Santa Barbara in 6 episodes with all those characters and backstories? I guess if you want to turn the last of us into Residential Evil it could work.
Season two ends with the controversy that made the game divisive. Every character’s life changed because of that moment.

Looking at the edited 'movie versions' of TLOU2 on yt, yes, you could easily fit the entire story into >10 hours. For a 10 episode season you could do Wyoming in 2 episodes, Seattle in 6, and Santa Barbara in 2. It's not that crazy really.

Ending season 2 with that moment would require massive changes to the structure, as it's right near the start and the inciting incident of the story.

Easy and obvious.

Spoiler: Part II Game spoilers

That could work...

Spoiler

But it might be a risk to make Season 3 almost entirely an Abby season.