💯 agree with you. I too felt like some episodes were rushed especially the finale was only 41 minutes. Should have had more of the clickers in maybe in another episode instead of just the one. But as a parent the game really struck a chord with me. I still really liked the TV series and the fact they use quite a few of the voice actors out the game in the actual TV series.
My favorite addition was when Ellie said “I guess time heals all” and Joel looks at her and said “it wasn’t time”. Such a powerful moment that brought the two that much closer before Joel makes his decision.
The actor for Marlene in the show, Merle Dandridge, was the same as the voice actor from the game. So it certainly makes sense why she fit that role so well!
Ashley Johnson literally giving birth to Ellie in the series, while also giving life to her character in the game is the best kind of writing/casting/directing out there 👌.
Yeah, it felt too fast. Felt a little tame violence wise. And they cut one of my favorite scenes of Ellie jumping off the bridge knowing Joel will save her. Also they introduce a cool hive mind for the infected and never bring it up again!
I’m the demographic you wanted this show to reach; never played a video game in my life. Never heard of TLOU. My son (a gamer) said ‘ you might like this’. I was sceptical but sat down & watched….. OMG!!! I LOVED it SO much! Was so impressed by EVERY aspect; the storytelling, the depth to the characters (not to mention falling in love with Pedro & Joel!!! All so, so amazing. I’m now having to (a) watch it through all over again (b) click on every UA-cam video/podcastin order to gain more knowledge/detail etc Not sure I’ll play games now. I’m 61 years old & TBH feel like I’m way too ‘dyspraxic’ to learn. But I’ve certainly learned about the magic of games & the brilliant storytelling within…❤
You should try playing The Last of Us Part I (the remake of the original). There's TONS of accessibility options to make it easy for anyone to pick up and just enjoy the story. I think you'll love it way more than the show.
I think a big issue with the season is the second half of it felt like a speed run through the story. I think even just another episode of them traveling and having to deal with more infected to just better sell the desolation/loneliness you get during the actual gameplay.
yer I get that, it must have been tough to balance everything in it. I guess they didnt want to include infected as much, to the point where it may become boring? - and focus on characters instead. Regarding the pacing of it - For gamers we don't mind exploring and looting etc but for general audience they might find that stuff less interesting?. just my opinion Also like Jake said, if the general thought this series went too fast and was not enough they could perhaps buy the game and try it out.
It may seem that way, but if you look at the Spring, Winter and Fall parts of the game they really aren't that long, only about an hour or so each. There isn't much more than an episode each really. They could have added a few minutes more per episode sure, but you actually get through those parts pretty quickly in the game, or there's stuff like the University part which is longer but very boring and uneventful.
@@williamchisholm2032 I found it a little too on the nose, myself. But, that might of had to do with the pacing Jake was talking about. The emotion they exude towards each other feels a little forced because it doesn't feel like they've really earned their relationship to the fullest yet. But anyway, glad you liked it though!
I haven't played the game, but I glad they didn't. All of these kind of shows are drawn out. And that's why this was a success. People are tired of that watered out stuff. It probably works in a video game, I don't think it does on screen. Unless it is some Soviet Sci Fi.
I personally loved the season. Preferred some things in the game, but I actually thought the finale was done just as well as the game and some parts better. That hospital massacre was absolutely phenomenally done. The music, the way it was shot, everything. I think Part 2 is going to be way more difficult to translate to TV. But they have a very talented team, so if anyone can find a way to do it, it's them.
With the creator of the franchise having an active hand in creating the show, I have a feeling they'll get it right. But I do reserve the right to be proven wrong. Here's hoping 🤞
What I enjoyed the most about this show was how much gamers and non gamers enjoyed show. It’s cool to talk to someone who’s never played the games and see their perspectives
i love how they handled the last episode: no tension or threat to joel, no heroism, just the quiet, maniacal certitude of a mass shooter, a deep sense of wrong, and one's own ambivalence in wanting him to succeed
Yeah I love the fact they didn’t try and make him look like a baddass he looked very deranged and spaced out during the whole shooting scene it’s very disturbing …good stuff
@@bigbachi6789 "Spaced out" is a good description, like he just stopped being a person. The direction also emphasized shots of his feet, as if he were a predator stalking the halls and not a protagonist having his hero moment. Fills me with equal measures of excitement and dread to think of the ruthlessness to come in season 2.
Thinking of how the finale ended, too, on Ellie's skeptical "okay"... no catharsis for anyone, no victory. No one feels good. Goddammit it gets bleaker the more I think about it.
Didn’t like the finale at all; it was such a short, rushed episode, & utterly flat emotionally. It didn’t come close to making me feel the fear, tension & emotions I felt actually playing the game. That’s probably why, though. I did find it ridiculous that Joel was this one man army; given how grounded they made the rest of the show, that just didn’t land for me.
I did love watching it with my Girlfriend and having her ask “what happens next?” every 15 mins. Fun adaptation and the beats you mentioned was spot on with what I would have loved more if implemented into the show.
@@joshdeveaux6936 yeah lol. She mostly was just anticipating/ curious. She barely played the game when it first came out so 90% of the show was a new retelling of what she remembered
Phenomenal show. So well written and well acted. So emotional. Only complaint would be it could’ve used a bit more clickers and bloaters and such but not a huge deal
It was well written because the game was well written, and all the important plot points were copy-pasted. Lol. Don't get me wrong, I think the show is great, but the source material they borrowed from is also some of the best writing I've ever seen in the video game universe. There is one bit of writing they added that I don't like because it seems like they just abandoned it all together, and that was whatever was up with Joel's panic attacks starting in episode 6.
Question for you: in this finale, does Ellie being awake when she’s brought to the hospital introduce new questions like “why DIDNT Marlene tell her?” And change the meaning of Marlene saying “she would’ve wanted this.”? Because in the game, she was knocked out so she really has no say or idea what happened at the hospital.
This was my big question as well. She knew they found the fireflies and that Marlene was there, so she likely talked to her. Why would Marlene then not have that discussion with Joel and Ellie together? Made more sense for both Joel and Ellie to be knocked out right away
One of the hardest parts of adapting games to other mediums, is that games can spend up to 60 hours or more exploring characters, worlds and stories. It goes without saying they would have had to adjust quite a bit regardless, but they cut out A LOT. I feel like they could have stretched the first game out over 2 or 3 seasons and not only did more from the game, but continued expanding on it like they did with ep. 3.
Also believe we’re going to get the gruel and grind in the next seasons. I think they did an excellent job building the lore and getting non players attached in contrast to not just overwhelming with kills.
I loved the show and the game but it definitely could’ve been like 3 more episodes to expand more on everything. Definitely didn’t get enough infected in the series either. This last episode went so fast. Was just whoa we’re already doing this. Definitely still nailed the ending though. Can’t wait for more
@@angba6817 not sure how you don’t see it, but drawing attention to the fact that there are two gay relationships in the show, for one, is indicative that that bothers them. As well as boiling, arguably, a couple of the best episodes of the show down to just “gay sex” is pretty telling.
I agreed with the pacing issues. I felt like they could’ve added more story bits for certain characters instead of having one episode per location, which it felt like. I think this could have easily been a 12 episode season and I would have still loved it.
Agree. I wonder whether they were only given 9 episodes by HBO, rather than the script being purposefully condensed into 9 episodes? Video game adaptations still deemed very risky, so HBO probably didn't want to increase the budget further?
Best part for me was family members wanting to see or play the game and being amazed at how far games have come. Also, I'm just happy so many got to experience this story for the first time and at this quality. I'm incredibly happy with it. Spoliers, just in case. To me Sam and Henry's story like Riley, Bill and Frank, Sarah, Tess and basically everyone we lose, is there for the purpose of exploring what people do for love and spending as much time with each other as they can, wether it's right or wrong, while reminding Joel what he's getting into with Ellie and reinforcing Ellie's purpose. And I have to say that I liked that there was a lot less killing. Almost every death had meaning or consequences. The ambush led to them being hunted, the guy form the university led to David's group, David's death comes with trauma for Ellie, and the hospital, well, we'll get there in time.
I would suggest listening to the podcast with Troy, Neil and Craig Mazin if you didn't weekly! It's a great listen to hear about why they changed some things and how adapting a video game to a show has its challenges. I appreciated how they changed it because I got more of the reasoning. Love hearing your perspective my guy, stoked/nervous for seasons 2 and 3 (they recently confirmed multi-season Part 2) but maybe they'll have a chance to make it something more people agree on. 🤘
Good chat, bud.👍 As a married gamer, I can relate. My wife hasn't played it. But I appreciate having a good show to watch together, that we both enjoy and even more so, being able to have a conversation about it and tie in video games. I can't tell if it's a shimmer in her eye however, or her eyes glossing over when I get to the video game elements, but she doesn't stop me, so I'll take the win. 👍 For the love of games! 💪😊✌️
I really wish there was more action. I'm upset we never saw Ellie throw a brick at someone or the sequence when Joel is upside down shooting clickers in bills town. Lots of missed opportunities
I couldn’t agree more! My brother in law who’s never played the game and knows I’ve beaten it over 8 times called me to talk about how amazing the show was and the next day I saw him online playing the remaster! I’m hoping more people jump into the game and see what they changed or even better what they did exactly right! So they have that “oh shit” moment! Great video as always jake!
I love the first game and I have nothing to bitch about except the length of the season, I want more! Not because I feel they left anything specific out of their story I just love it!
I have to agree, Jake. The show overall was good, but I didn’t feel like I was enjoying it as much as everyone else seemed to. It’s like any opportunity they had to use an exciting part of the game, they avoided it. Like Joel being hung upside down while infected stormed towards him, or pushing a car down a hill to get it to start while being chased by infected, or when Joel and Ellie get separated in the elevator shaft. I’m really pleased people are enjoying it, but every time I was excited to see a moment come up, it never happened.
The show really peaks for me in the third episode. A lot of people have had gripes with it, since they haven’t played the game. I was always okay with Bill’s Town, but it was always the part I got through to get to Pittsburgh, so when it was changed, I was like “okay, let’s see where this goes.” In that episode, we get this beautiful hour long story about how in this world, love can exist as a good thing. This story is all about love and the way it can destroy people. Frank dies and leaves Bill with no one, Henry kills himself because he doesn’t want to be without his brother, Joel guns down a hospital because he doesn’t want to lose his daughter. Joel feels obligated to drag a stranger across the country because of someone he love’s dying wish Everything that happens because of love in the game is bad and it’s nice that Craig Mazin recognized that and went up to Neil and told him they could change it. We got one example in this world where people were able to be happy and live a normal life before going out on their own terms. I think it’s sweet in a way that I think Ellie and Joel going to the museum is sweet, or Abby walking across the steel beam with Lev is sweet. The second game knew we needed those moments of triumph and I’m glad we were able to get one in the retelling of this story.
I finally found a review that explains exactly what i felt about the show. My biggest thing was not getting enough of Joel & Ellie. This caused me not to fully buy their relationship like the game did, but it’s one of those things you can only experience by playing the game. It seems like they explored other relationships more than Joel and Ellie and it left me wanting more
I think you'll disagree with your own view if you actually watch the show in one sitting. The reason it feels so empty is because there's a week between each episode. People forget 80% of the stuff they saw on average by the next day. Let alone the next week. Could it have been more? Sure. But their relationship was fully buyable by the end. Actual therapists are reacting to this show and commenting on how well it displays the growth in their relationship.
I would have to respectfully disagree. While I think the show definitely could have used more of them together, I still thought the show nailed their relationship. Every person I've talked to who hasn't played the game and only watched the show has said that the Joel and Ellie relationship was really well done. Obviously the game has way more time spent with the two, so it feels more fleshed out, but I think the show does a great job with it regardless.
@@rePAULsion And the episode with Ellie and Riley and the stupid side plot with the lady wanted to kill Henry. In fact all of the side plots or stuff they changed didn't add anything to the story.
One thing I didn't love about the last episode was that although it was cool for them to show how ruthless Joel could be by shooting that doctor point blank, that doctor is supposed to be pretty important for S2 and now if they make that connection it'll feel just as "shoehorned" as it did playing TLOU on PS3 or even the remake and then playing part 2. I know they corrected it for the remake and I was hoping they would even do the same here and even include that one scene in Part 2 where you see a flashback of Marlene having a conversation with Abby's dad just so that it felt more cohesive and made sense once Abby shows up.
I totally agree with the action/tension or lack of. What highlighted it for me was the University escape/injury section. In the game Joel has to battle his way out, falls off a mezzanine and then slowly & with high tension...stagger out. All while Ellie steps up and saves them by killing raiders. So tense, action packed and thought provoking. The show had a scuffle, kill one guy & get stabbed by a stick.
Things game did better: -Cinematography -Character development -Cohesivness of the narrative and it's flow -Raw emotion portrayal The show is still good for people who can't play the game, but it's superior in almost every way. The only things I really enjoyed were small additions to the story like flashbacks to the start of the pandemic, Sara walking around town to buy a watch, things that expand the story and don't change it.
I've been playing games my entire life and I never thought I would feel fortunate for not having playing such a beloved masterpiece. Always heard how good it was, but never had a chance to play it. Well.. I did have an opportunity. I once had a ps3 but I wasn't into single-player games at the time. For then on, I mostly played on the Xbox ecosystem and there I started playing old and new single-player games (which now I definitely gravitate towards). But still, managed to dodge TLOU even when I had a PS4 for 2 years. As a gamer who has (almost) blindly watched this show (I knew only a few story bits), all I can say is it hit hard. It was one of the most powerful stories I ever seen on TV. I have watched tons of TV shows, but none of them have been even close to the level of goosebumps I have experienced as the episodes where airing. Perfectly paced in my opinion, it did not felt rushed at all. Nor did I wanted more action. The cast was astonishing, I was dazzled by their performances. I understand the bias towards the original source material, and I'm not the one to judge any of that. I've heard about most of the changes form the game and the deviations, and from the outside looking I think they made great choices. Either way, the game deserves the credit for the existance of the show, and this is the way you get people like me to buying the remake on PC. To sum-up, all I have to say is: it was a wild ride, and worth every moment.
To make the action more gritty and like the game I think they needed to include one shot of Joel counting his bullets before a fight and realizing he has 2 bullets for 3 people or something. Resource scarcity is such a huge part of the game and having that in the show would be huge.
You make totally fair points! I also thought about the pacing throughout and wondered how it would have been different if it had been drawn out. But then I thought of how slow paced a lot of The Walking Dead episodes are and appreciated how concise The Last of Us' episodes are.
It’s been great discussing the show with people that haven’t played the game and seeing them invested in the characters and the story. As a fan of the game, as much as I loved the show it left with me wanting more, which is a good thing as I’m stoked it’s got a season 2/season 3 green lit.
Awesome video, man. Absolutely love the games - my wife is a gamer here and there didn't have any interest in playing them but after the season finale she was like "you know I think I want to play the games" which I was like YESSSSSS. Like you said, I definitely agree it's going to get more people in SP story games.
I loved the Bill and Frank episode. It was a nice exercise on what 'the world' would be and for me as important as the beginning of the show or the flashbacks, the world is one of the main characters in that story. It's interesting to watch how faith plays out for different people while also puts every other storyline into a broaden perspective.
I also agree that my fav thing about this show is being able to have something GOOD to show non-gamers and talk about it with them. My parents who know I have been obsessed with this game series for a decade now and having THEM talk about Joel and Ellie and how they feel about plot points... man it's a trip and it's awesome.
I totally agree with you. The game was way better of an experience for me. The show felt shorter, the action was way less frequent and less intense, and Joel seemed softer/more emotional vs tough and brutal.
Episode 6 was my favorite of the whole season. Joel's self-doubt and fear peeking through and Pedro's excellent execution of it was a welcome addition; I actually think the Joel and Tommy sequences in the show were the one area where the show exceeded the game.
Excellent analysis. Agree with you 100% about the pace and about the “extra” side story episodes that went nowhere. They didn’t develop J and E’s relationship that much.
Joels attempt at being buddies with Ellie was certainly the most jarring part. It unfortunately felt extremely rushed/forced. This story happened over an entire year, the game makes you feel it but this show does not. It was good overall, but the pacing left much to be desired.
I have a feeling Season 2 will follow Part 2 less than Season 1 followed Part 1 (in regards to order). Also it's been said that Part 2 will be split between a Season 2 and 3 which will allow the story to be fleshed out much better and given space to breathe. Spoiler below: Pedro is a great actor as Joel, this won't be his first time dying lol
I'm sure everyone will have it spoiled for them just like the game. Looks like you are getting a head start. I'm sure a bunch of puns like this will totally not ruin it for people after hearing it several times...
Nice video, great summary. I really liked this season too but agree in regards to the lack of action - if every episode was an hour or more, then we would’ve had time for more infected/enemies. Everything they did right (which was most things) was amazing, though.
also thanks for properly wording my issues with the sam and henry episode. I really loved how they did sam and henry and changed them a bit, but there was zero reason to spend really any time on that faction and Rose from 2 and a half men's background if they were just gonna all be dead by the end of the episode. i would have much rather had that time spent on sam and henry, and/or joel and ellie developing their relationship. As much as people around me really love the show, I have heard some of them (who havent played the game) talk about being surprised at how close Joel and Ellie really are by the end. And it's a valid point. You nailed it in that they didn't spend time watching Joel and Ellie navigate through scenes dropping ladders and climbing through small spaces together the way we did in the game. If the show was another episode or so longer, or they spent less time on certain things like Rose from 2 and a half men, then they could have done a better job accomplishing joel and ellie's relationship
I’m just happy they finally made a video game adaptation that’s actually amazing to watch, whether you’re a gamer or not. The environmental storytelling throughout really showcased their vision of TLoU & staying faithful to the source material (although not perfect due to the pacing you mentioned) brung home the emotions and themes of loss, desperation and the idea of perseverance through survival.
I was so excited to watch this and my little sister started watching it with me and she liked it so much she ended up watching scenes from the game on UA-cam
great take on this! I'm a huge fan of the games but I also work in the film industry so I totally get the challenges of adapting any source material. I'm hoping season 2 gives them the room they need to breathe and flesh out relationships more. still overall loved it and really loved how they highlighted Joel's moral ambiguity moreso than the game did
Since you work in this industry I wanted to hear your opinion on how you think they can approach adapting Part 2 (that is, if you know the story). I have so many questions...
@@julian5742 *spoilers* honestly it's not difficult to adapt the story. again, part 2 is still influenced a lot by modern cinema. the hard part will be having the big twist with Abbey be as impactful as it was in the game. the problem with this is agency. the medium of video games literally makes you play as a character so you're attached in a different way to the story than just viewing it like a TV show. the plot device of showing an episode of tv through another characters perspective has been a trope for a long time. the only way I can see them doing this as shockingly and impactful as possible is to split part 2 into two seasons. 1 season is from Ellie's POV and the next season is the same events but through Abbey's perspective. the dangerous part about this is viewership. people have stopped watching a show for something way less controversial than this. it's gonna be difficult because if the general audience goes from loving bell and Pedro and then you throw in a whole season almost completely devoid of them, who says that audience will stick around? I'm talking people who haven't played the games. this is going to be the biggest challenge for them moving forward with season 2. they most certainly will have a bigger budget which always helps. meaning they will be able to have more infected scenes if they want. specifically that whole scene in the basement will be absolutely incredible to see if they do it right. but yeah, the difficulties that lie ahead are really just adapting a story that was tailor made for a specific medium, video games, and translating that with all the punch and impact to a tv audience. I'm very hopeful!
My favorite part of the show is probably the intro in Episode 2 when the Indonesian Dr says to "Start Bombing", I just had to sit back and take a deep breath.
It was a great adaption. My fiancé watched it with me since she watched me play the games years ago. She's now playing part 1 and it's the first time I've really seen her enjoy playing a video game which is really cool to see. I pretty much agree with what you had to say aside from the Joel suicide attempt. I would say as far as the game goes the vibe I got was he'd only considered it. In the latest podcast with Neil and Craig they talk about how Joels purpose is to serve/protect those he cares about. Yea Sarah died and was everything to him but we all know how much he cares about Tommy and he put aside any emotion to protect his brother. Idk, it's a small gripe I had but I'm so glad this show exists. Thanks for doing what you do Jake!
I agree the first 2 episodes intro additions were truly scary and great additions, I agree I think they should have continued with the pre apocalypse stuff it really made it feel real. I also agree in the later episodes they should have had more clicker/ zombie moments in the later episodes, because it kind of made it feel like it wasn't that big of a threat. So it took away from the Joel saving Elle , because it felt like the apocalypse had kinda been solved. Just stay out of the cities, stay in the colder areas.. And you can survive and rebuild. They needed more clickers to show the gravitas of the world was still ending, w/o Elle's sacrifice.
I think the show is amazing, but the one thing that I think it truly lacked when comparing it to the game was a sense of dread and isolation. I think it’s partially what you said (lack of clickers and/or more Joel murdering people/things) and also the amount of time we spend with the characters in their surroundings. I don’t think we needed some extended LOTR’s walking for two hours addition to the game, but some more world building where it encapsulated the world itself and our main characters within it would have been nice. I also like the game better, but I highly like the show as well and I’m glad that this is a forerunner to hopefully more great game adaptations.
Hey Jake, fellow gamer here. I never played the last of us, I grew up with an xbox and never really had access to playstation, I'm now waiting on the Last of Us part 1 for PC to play for the first time. I did watch the show though and even without playing the game the pacing was definitely an issue. The final few episodes it almost felt like there was a switch that flicked in Joel's mind and he just suddenly cared for Ellie. I would've liked more build up because Joel seems like a guy that's going to take an extra long time to open up like that. Great video.
I think 9 episodes was a long enough season. But each episode needed to be AT LEAST an hour long. Episode 1 and 3 were 81 and 75 minutes, respectively, but the rest were less than an hour. There should've been an infected encounter during David's episode and a some kind of homage to the hotel basement encounter.
As someone who played the game it didn’t blow me away. I did like the changes and additions and it was acted excellently but it didn’t hit the same as the game. Seeing Eric on the PMI tracks fall in love with Sam and Henry and knowing what would happen made me so excited for his reaction…and it was glorious😂
My philosophy is that every moment in the show felt purposeful and thought out. None of it really felt like "oh, they just got lazy there". I'm much more willing to get on board with something when I see that they put thought and effort into it.
I might be wrong, but I also feel like in the final episode where they had a close up on the doctor that would've performed the surgery (AKA Abby's dad) after Joel shot him on the ground, was kind of a cameo to Joel's death in the second game. Idk, it looks like the same shot, and that might be a easter egg to the second season, if there's gonna be one, and obviously anyone that's played the games, know how that goes.
The thing with Joel's doubt is more implied in the game. Plus since it's a game and he's our avatar, his motivations shouldn't be hammered too hard into the player.
Yeah Jake I pretty much agree with everything you said even your minor gripes about it..but ultimately it definitely succeeded in what it needed to do and that was tell an awesome story us gamers truly love and appreciate...also hopefully everybody plays the game because that’s something I was looking forward to the most..I love the idea of casual viewers being enamored by something all of us knew was special since 2013 and finally experiencing it for themselves👍🏼
I adore the show, I don't think it really measures up to the game, but it's great in it's own right. I enjoyed the companion podcast with Troy Baker, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. It was cool to see the rationalizations behind the changes. I think I land in the same place you do on pretty much all the points you made here. All in all, I'm happy with it, but I feel there are alot of places it could have been better.
I feel totally the same way about Joel and Ellies relationship. In the game it impacted me a lot more, while I wasn't feeling that as much in the show. However, my wife who never played the game really enjoyed it and felt their relationship was strong. As you said, we spent so much more time with them in the game that the relationship has a lot more time to develop.
1000% i agree with you with the pacing. I didn't want them to cut anything from Bill or Sam and Henry, I just wanted them to expand David and the finale way more. I wanted to see David and Ellie fight inflected together to survive and maybe in that way David sees the violent heart in Ellie instead of what felt like projection bc they didn't fight. And with more time in the end to sort of sink in the bond they had, the moment talking about sarah, maybe another clicker fight and we see how well they've gelled as a duo, almost drowning on the bus bc she can't swim. Idk, lot of meat left on the bone.
I agree 100% about wanting to see Joel and Ellie’s relationship grow more on screen. I love the show, but every time they did a shot for shot I always thought the game did it better. Also, I can’t help it but Troy and Ashley will always be my Joel and Ellie. But it was cool to see a huge, expensive HBO production of one of my favorite games. I’m still very worried about the God of War show in particular. This was a pretty grounded story, but adapting the GoW 2018 game is a tall order.
There are also some things that are almost always ignored or overlooked by the mainstream audience. Like cinematography, like production, like set design. I mean how incredible was the set design in this show? How about the directing? I mean the directing in that mall episode was just fantastic. It's nice to see that the show runners actually know what they're doing and to see them pay a lot of attention to these things and put a lot of time and effort into them rather than just creating ANOTHER full-on zombie action show just to satisfy the mainstream audience
Cannot disagree with you more. I really think the quality of the interaction between Joel and Ellie made up for the obvious lesser screentime. I also liked the more realistic tone, rather than Joel being basically a superhero. I think this is not just a "success", because most of the things were done better than the videogame, just at a faster pace because infected main purpose was a gameplay one.
I’m always confused when I see game Joel called a “superhero” or “super-human” - I think that perception will vary significantly based on the difficulty level the game is played on. IMO the game is best played at a difficulty level the player isn’t comfortable with. When I play I usually have to rely heavily on stealth or running away to survive, and it always feels like I barely made it through an encounter alive - Joel definitely doesn’t feel super-human to me when I play that way. I also kinda disagree with the idea that the infected’s purpose was just for gameplay - the entire point of Joel and Ellie’s journey is to get Ellie to the doctor who can make a cure to the infection. I’m glad they didn’t turn the show into just another zombie show, but I do think that they went a little too far in avoiding that - so many newcomers to the series I’ve talked to were confused about why they were so desperate for a cure when Joel and Ellie were able to walk all the way from Kansas City to Jackson to Salt Lake City without encountering a single infected. If humans are the real threat and the clickers will still rip you to shreds even if they can’t infect you, it kinda calls into question how much of a difference a vaccine is really going to make (not necessarily what I think personally, just what I’ve heard from a lot of new fans who didn’t play the game). All that said, the show really was a fantastic adaptation of one of my all time favorite stories.
Thanks, Jake. Took me a week to build up my courage to watch the finale. I thought they brought it home. I agree, I'd have liked to see a few more clickers, but I absolutely love the creatures I have experienced so far. I agree with your thoughts on the pacing. I appreciated the Ellie backstory in the mall and in the last episode. I also think it's an overall success and am glad it's introducing more to gaming through story telling.
As someone that LOVES the game, I can look past the lack of character development between Joel and Ellie cause that relationship was established when I played the game. Playing the game first helped fill in the areas the show lacked
You are not in the minority Jake, I definitely wanted the show to be longer, 10 or even 12 episodes would have been better, just to give us more time with the characters (and a little bit more action with the infected). Overall I really enjoyed the show, I still think the game is better in all aspects. Still hyped for what's to come. I personally really LOVED Part 2 so I'm excited to see how they change and adapt the story, maybe fix the pacing of Part 2 and rearrange the events a bit. If the game is a 10/10 the show is a 9/10.
As a solely PC gamer, I am so looking forward to the game FINALLY releasing on PC in two weeks. I'll be playing the heck out of it and hope Part 2 comes soon after (although it will probably be years again).
The one part of the game that wasn't included in the show, that I feel it was a big mistake, was the school with Bill. That was such a tense part of the game that I feel could have been done really well on the show.
I Agree 100%. I thought the show was good, but the game just had so much more depth and feeling. The show missed clickers and also had so much more time building the Joel and Ellie relationship. Maybe it's the best they could have done, i do wish the show was longer and encompassed more of that. I'll take it as a positive overall but the game was way better IMO.
I think it was great. One think I thought of with the last episode I'd that when Ellie's mom is running into the farm house. I got SERIOUS vibes of it being Ellie's Farm House in part 2
I have a friend who I’d been hounding for years to play TLOU, trying to explain how powerful and beautiful and terrifying it is, and he always rolled his eyes because it is a video game. Well, he watched the show and loved it, and one night said, “I gotta ask-is the game REALLY like that? I mean, with all the drama and tearjerky moments? I know you’ve said stuff like that, but come on-it’s a video game.” I had to grab a couch cushion and scream into it
I agree with you about the pace. The first moment I didn’t like was the fungi kiss. I hated the 3rd episode. Loved how they put the left behind dlc in but they needed to make better use of time around it. Like no Kathleen
one thing I forgot to mention in my long incoherent ramblings: this show has a lot of good jackets. Everybody has a cool jacket and I appreciate it.
Love you Jake ❤
Succession and The Last of Us - bringing damn good outerwear to television.
Movies and tv in general have kick ass jackets, and then you go buy one and they never live up to your expectations.
💯 agree with you. I too felt like some episodes were rushed especially the finale was only 41 minutes. Should have had more of the clickers in maybe in another episode instead of just the one. But as a parent the game really struck a chord with me. I still really liked the TV series and the fact they use quite a few of the voice actors out the game in the actual TV series.
Love From Massachusetts we appreciate the content!
My favorite addition was when Ellie said “I guess time heals all” and Joel looks at her and said “it wasn’t time”. Such a powerful moment that brought the two that much closer before Joel makes his decision.
"The last of us brings out the worst of us" is my new favorite Jake quote lol
The actor for Marlene in the show, Merle Dandridge, was the same as the voice actor from the game. So it certainly makes sense why she fit that role so well!
Really? I did not know that thank you
The only actor that did
Well damn! Thanks for that 👍🏾
Perhaps my favourite moment from the show is the moment after Joel said- " It wasn't time that did it." I really loved that
My personal favorite moment was when Joel said “it’s joeling time!” And Joeled all over the fireflies
Yeah that was actually my least favourite line of the entire show! Each to their own
Lot of waterworks moments in this show and of course the game. This was a big one.
Ashley Johnson literally giving birth to Ellie in the series, while also giving life to her character in the game is the best kind of writing/casting/directing out there 👌.
It was cool, if you watched what Craig Mazin says about it. 'The birth was her passing on her legacy to the show.'
I find it a little odd that of all the VAs brought into the show, Abby's VA was the only one to survive.
How about this one Ashely Johnson looks like she can be Bella Ramseys mother the look related. Crazy
Yeah, it felt too fast.
Felt a little tame violence wise.
And they cut one of my favorite scenes of Ellie jumping off the bridge knowing Joel will save her.
Also they introduce a cool hive mind for the infected and never bring it up again!
The hive mind stuff is coming back for season two. They’ve said they feel they’ve hit on how they wanna handle it now
I’m the demographic you wanted this show to reach; never played a video game in my life. Never heard of TLOU. My son (a gamer) said ‘ you might like this’. I was sceptical but sat down & watched…..
OMG!!! I LOVED it SO much! Was so impressed by EVERY aspect; the storytelling, the depth to the characters (not to mention falling in love with Pedro & Joel!!!
All so, so amazing. I’m now having to (a) watch it through all over again (b) click on every UA-cam video/podcastin order to gain more knowledge/detail etc
Not sure I’ll play games now. I’m 61 years old & TBH feel like I’m way too ‘dyspraxic’ to learn. But I’ve certainly learned about the magic of games & the brilliant storytelling within…❤
You should try playing The Last of Us Part I (the remake of the original). There's TONS of accessibility options to make it easy for anyone to pick up and just enjoy the story. I think you'll love it way more than the show.
I think a big issue with the season is the second half of it felt like a speed run through the story. I think even just another episode of them traveling and having to deal with more infected to just better sell the desolation/loneliness you get during the actual gameplay.
I think they should've made two seasons out of it honestly or at least 15 episodes
yer I get that, it must have been tough to balance everything in it.
I guess they didnt want to include infected as much, to the point where it may become boring? - and focus on characters instead.
Regarding the pacing of it - For gamers we don't mind exploring and looting etc but for general audience they might find that stuff less interesting?. just my opinion
Also like Jake said, if the general thought this series went too fast and was not enough they could perhaps buy the game and try it out.
It may seem that way, but if you look at the Spring, Winter and Fall parts of the game they really aren't that long, only about an hour or so each. There isn't much more than an episode each really. They could have added a few minutes more per episode sure, but you actually get through those parts pretty quickly in the game, or there's stuff like the University part which is longer but very boring and uneventful.
@@williamchisholm2032 I found it a little too on the nose, myself. But, that might of had to do with the pacing Jake was talking about. The emotion they exude towards each other feels a little forced because it doesn't feel like they've really earned their relationship to the fullest yet. But anyway, glad you liked it though!
I haven't played the game, but I glad they didn't. All of these kind of shows are drawn out. And that's why this was a success. People are tired of that watered out stuff. It probably works in a video game, I don't think it does on screen. Unless it is some Soviet Sci Fi.
Love the small moment where he was gonna give her a boost. Just worked.
I personally loved the season. Preferred some things in the game, but I actually thought the finale was done just as well as the game and some parts better. That hospital massacre was absolutely phenomenally done. The music, the way it was shot, everything. I think Part 2 is going to be way more difficult to translate to TV. But they have a very talented team, so if anyone can find a way to do it, it's them.
With the creator of the franchise having an active hand in creating the show, I have a feeling they'll get it right. But I do reserve the right to be proven wrong.
Here's hoping 🤞
What I enjoyed the most about this show was how much gamers and non gamers enjoyed show. It’s cool to talk to someone who’s never played the games and see their perspectives
Nah frfr that has been fun as fuck
i love how they handled the last episode: no tension or threat to joel, no heroism, just the quiet, maniacal certitude of a mass shooter, a deep sense of wrong, and one's own ambivalence in wanting him to succeed
Yeah I love the fact they didn’t try and make him look like a baddass he looked very deranged and spaced out during the whole shooting scene it’s very disturbing …good stuff
@@bigbachi6789 The sound design also helped, dialing down the ambient noise kind of sold Joel's tunnel vision.
@@bigbachi6789 "Spaced out" is a good description, like he just stopped being a person. The direction also emphasized shots of his feet, as if he were a predator stalking the halls and not a protagonist having his hero moment.
Fills me with equal measures of excitement and dread to think of the ruthlessness to come in season 2.
Thinking of how the finale ended, too, on Ellie's skeptical "okay"... no catharsis for anyone, no victory. No one feels good. Goddammit it gets bleaker the more I think about it.
Didn’t like the finale at all; it was such a short, rushed episode, & utterly flat emotionally. It didn’t come close to making me feel the fear, tension & emotions I felt actually playing the game. That’s probably why, though. I did find it ridiculous that Joel was this one man army; given how grounded they made the rest of the show, that just didn’t land for me.
I did love watching it with my Girlfriend and having her ask “what happens next?” every 15 mins. Fun adaptation and the beats you mentioned was spot on with what I would have loved more if implemented into the show.
Your girlfriend wanted you to spoil every 15 minutes of the show?
@@joshdeveaux6936 yeah lol. She mostly was just anticipating/ curious. She barely played the game when it first came out so 90% of the show was a new retelling of what she remembered
Phenomenal show. So well written and well acted. So emotional. Only complaint would be it could’ve used a bit more clickers and bloaters and such but not a huge deal
Yea 2 clickers wasn't enough
I agree, and the bloaters were weak sauce IMO. But I think they are saving a bunch for season 2.
It was well written because the game was well written, and all the important plot points were copy-pasted. Lol. Don't get me wrong, I think the show is great, but the source material they borrowed from is also some of the best writing I've ever seen in the video game universe. There is one bit of writing they added that I don't like because it seems like they just abandoned it all together, and that was whatever was up with Joel's panic attacks starting in episode 6.
Not a huge deal?!? Not a huge deal?!? Imma bout to slap a bitx
They did mention they will focus on them more next season. I think this season was more so about character development.
Question for you: in this finale, does Ellie being awake when she’s brought to the hospital introduce new questions like “why DIDNT Marlene tell her?” And change the meaning of Marlene saying “she would’ve wanted this.”? Because in the game, she was knocked out so she really has no say or idea what happened at the hospital.
They never showed her awake...
@@kiwisoup when they take her away from Joel after the bomb, she’s awake
@Emmanuel Molina She wasn't even aware they had put her under with drugs. Once that was made clear I just assumed she got knocked out off screen.
Maybe we'll find out in season two she had more reasons to suspect
This was my big question as well. She knew they found the fireflies and that Marlene was there, so she likely talked to her. Why would Marlene then not have that discussion with Joel and Ellie together? Made more sense for both Joel and Ellie to be knocked out right away
One of the hardest parts of adapting games to other mediums, is that games can spend up to 60 hours or more exploring characters, worlds and stories. It goes without saying they would have had to adjust quite a bit regardless, but they cut out A LOT. I feel like they could have stretched the first game out over 2 or 3 seasons and not only did more from the game, but continued expanding on it like they did with ep. 3.
Also believe we’re going to get the gruel and grind in the next seasons. I think they did an excellent job building the lore and getting non players attached in contrast to not just overwhelming with kills.
I loved the show and the game but it definitely could’ve been like 3 more episodes to expand more on everything. Definitely didn’t get enough infected in the series either. This last episode went so fast. Was just whoa we’re already doing this. Definitely still nailed the ending though. Can’t wait for more
nah fam we needed those two long ass episodes about gay sex. that was more important
@@JoJoZaka Jesus tone the homophobia down please
@@TheSubconscious022 tf where was the homophobia chill
@@JoJoZaka I mean it was one episode and also not about that.
@@angba6817 not sure how you don’t see it, but drawing attention to the fact that there are two gay relationships in the show, for one, is indicative that that bothers them. As well as boiling, arguably, a couple of the best episodes of the show down to just “gay sex” is pretty telling.
I agreed with the pacing issues. I felt like they could’ve added more story bits for certain characters instead of having one episode per location, which it felt like. I think this could have easily been a 12 episode season and I would have still loved it.
Agree. I wonder whether they were only given 9 episodes by HBO, rather than the script being purposefully condensed into 9 episodes? Video game adaptations still deemed very risky, so HBO probably didn't want to increase the budget further?
Best part for me was family members wanting to see or play the game and being amazed at how far games have come. Also, I'm just happy so many got to experience this story for the first time and at this quality. I'm incredibly happy with it.
Spoliers, just in case.
To me Sam and Henry's story like Riley, Bill and Frank, Sarah, Tess and basically everyone we lose, is there for the purpose of exploring what people do for love and spending as much time with each other as they can, wether it's right or wrong, while reminding Joel what he's getting into with Ellie and reinforcing Ellie's purpose.
And I have to say that I liked that there was a lot less killing. Almost every death had meaning or consequences. The ambush led to them being hunted, the guy form the university led to David's group, David's death comes with trauma for Ellie, and the hospital, well, we'll get there in time.
I love the passion in this video, you didn’t say one thing I disagree with that’s amazing. Uncle Jake killing it again
I would suggest listening to the podcast with Troy, Neil and Craig Mazin if you didn't weekly! It's a great listen to hear about why they changed some things and how adapting a video game to a show has its challenges. I appreciated how they changed it because I got more of the reasoning. Love hearing your perspective my guy, stoked/nervous for seasons 2 and 3 (they recently confirmed multi-season Part 2) but maybe they'll have a chance to make it something more people agree on. 🤘
thanks for the recommendation. I gotta jump on it!
Good chat, bud.👍 As a married gamer, I can relate. My wife hasn't played it. But I appreciate having a good show to watch together, that we both enjoy and even more so, being able to have a conversation about it and tie in video games. I can't tell if it's a shimmer in her eye however, or her eyes glossing over when I get to the video game elements, but she doesn't stop me, so I'll take the win. 👍 For the love of games! 💪😊✌️
I really wish there was more action. I'm upset we never saw Ellie throw a brick at someone or the sequence when Joel is upside down shooting clickers in bills town. Lots of missed opportunities
I couldn’t agree more! My brother in law who’s never played the game and knows I’ve beaten it over 8 times called me to talk about how amazing the show was and the next day I saw him online playing the remaster! I’m hoping more people jump into the game and see what they changed or even better what they did exactly right! So they have that “oh shit” moment! Great video as always jake!
I love the first game and I have nothing to bitch about except the length of the season, I want more! Not because I feel they left anything specific out of their story I just love it!
I have to agree, Jake. The show overall was good, but I didn’t feel like I was enjoying it as much as everyone else seemed to. It’s like any opportunity they had to use an exciting part of the game, they avoided it. Like Joel being hung upside down while infected stormed towards him, or pushing a car down a hill to get it to start while being chased by infected, or when Joel and Ellie get separated in the elevator shaft. I’m really pleased people are enjoying it, but every time I was excited to see a moment come up, it never happened.
The show really peaks for me in the third episode. A lot of people have had gripes with it, since they haven’t played the game. I was always okay with Bill’s Town, but it was always the part I got through to get to Pittsburgh, so when it was changed, I was like “okay, let’s see where this goes.” In that episode, we get this beautiful hour long story about how in this world, love can exist as a good thing. This story is all about love and the way it can destroy people. Frank dies and leaves Bill with no one, Henry kills himself because he doesn’t want to be without his brother, Joel guns down a hospital because he doesn’t want to lose his daughter. Joel feels obligated to drag a stranger across the country because of someone he love’s dying wish
Everything that happens because of love in the game is bad and it’s nice that Craig Mazin recognized that and went up to Neil and told him they could change it. We got one example in this world where people were able to be happy and live a normal life before going out on their own terms.
I think it’s sweet in a way that I think Ellie and Joel going to the museum is sweet, or Abby walking across the steel beam with Lev is sweet. The second game knew we needed those moments of triumph and I’m glad we were able to get one in the retelling of this story.
I finally found a review that explains exactly what i felt about the show.
My biggest thing was not getting enough of Joel & Ellie.
This caused me not to fully buy their relationship like the game did, but it’s one of those things you can only experience by playing the game.
It seems like they explored other relationships more than Joel and Ellie and it left me wanting more
I think you'll disagree with your own view if you actually watch the show in one sitting. The reason it feels so empty is because there's a week between each episode. People forget 80% of the stuff they saw on average by the next day. Let alone the next week.
Could it have been more? Sure. But their relationship was fully buyable by the end. Actual therapists are reacting to this show and commenting on how well it displays the growth in their relationship.
I would have to respectfully disagree. While I think the show definitely could have used more of them together, I still thought the show nailed their relationship. Every person I've talked to who hasn't played the game and only watched the show has said that the Joel and Ellie relationship was really well done. Obviously the game has way more time spent with the two, so it feels more fleshed out, but I think the show does a great job with it regardless.
Definitely could have cut the whole episode that focused on Bill and Frank
The show didn’t give us hours of just walking around heard their quips and banter
@@rePAULsion And the episode with Ellie and Riley and the stupid side plot with the lady wanted to kill Henry. In fact all of the side plots or stuff they changed didn't add anything to the story.
I loved the fact that they cast the original voice actors of Joel (Troy Baker as James) and Tommy (Jeffrey Pierce as Perry)
One thing I didn't love about the last episode was that although it was cool for them to show how ruthless Joel could be by shooting that doctor point blank, that doctor is supposed to be pretty important for S2 and now if they make that connection it'll feel just as "shoehorned" as it did playing TLOU on PS3 or even the remake and then playing part 2. I know they corrected it for the remake and I was hoping they would even do the same here and even include that one scene in Part 2 where you see a flashback of Marlene having a conversation with Abby's dad just so that it felt more cohesive and made sense once Abby shows up.
I totally agree with the action/tension or lack of. What highlighted it for me was the University escape/injury section. In the game Joel has to battle his way out, falls off a mezzanine and then slowly & with high tension...stagger out. All while Ellie steps up and saves them by killing raiders. So tense, action packed and thought provoking. The show had a scuffle, kill one guy & get stabbed by a stick.
Things game did better:
-Cinematography
-Character development
-Cohesivness of the narrative and it's flow
-Raw emotion portrayal
The show is still good for people who can't play the game, but it's superior in almost every way.
The only things I really enjoyed were small additions to the story like flashbacks to the start of the pandemic, Sara walking around town to buy a watch, things that expand the story and don't change it.
I've been playing games my entire life and I never thought I would feel fortunate for not having playing such a beloved masterpiece. Always heard how good it was, but never had a chance to play it. Well.. I did have an opportunity.
I once had a ps3 but I wasn't into single-player games at the time. For then on, I mostly played on the Xbox ecosystem and there I started playing old and new single-player games (which now I definitely gravitate towards). But still, managed to dodge TLOU even when I had a PS4 for 2 years.
As a gamer who has (almost) blindly watched this show (I knew only a few story bits), all I can say is it hit hard. It was one of the most powerful stories I ever seen on TV. I have watched tons of TV shows, but none of them have been even close to the level of goosebumps I have experienced as the episodes where airing. Perfectly paced in my opinion, it did not felt rushed at all. Nor did I wanted more action.
The cast was astonishing, I was dazzled by their performances.
I understand the bias towards the original source material, and I'm not the one to judge any of that. I've heard about most of the changes form the game and the deviations, and from the outside looking I think they made great choices. Either way, the game deserves the credit for the existance of the show, and this is the way you get people like me to buying the remake on PC.
To sum-up, all I have to say is: it was a wild ride, and worth every moment.
To make the action more gritty and like the game I think they needed to include one shot of Joel counting his bullets before a fight and realizing he has 2 bullets for 3 people or something. Resource scarcity is such a huge part of the game and having that in the show would be huge.
Since they did a flashback episodes with Bill and Frank and Ellie and Riley, I think it would have been cool to do one with Ish and his settlement.
You make totally fair points! I also thought about the pacing throughout and wondered how it would have been different if it had been drawn out.
But then I thought of how slow paced a lot of The Walking Dead episodes are and appreciated how concise The Last of Us' episodes are.
It’s been great discussing the show with people that haven’t played the game and seeing them invested in the characters and the story. As a fan of the game, as much as I loved the show it left with me wanting more, which is a good thing as I’m stoked it’s got a season 2/season 3 green lit.
Awesome video, man. Absolutely love the games - my wife is a gamer here and there didn't have any interest in playing them but after the season finale she was like "you know I think I want to play the games" which I was like YESSSSSS. Like you said, I definitely agree it's going to get more people in SP story games.
I loved the Bill and Frank episode. It was a nice exercise on what 'the world' would be and for me as important as the beginning of the show or the flashbacks, the world is one of the main characters in that story. It's interesting to watch how faith plays out for different people while also puts every other storyline into a broaden perspective.
I also agree that my fav thing about this show is being able to have something GOOD to show non-gamers and talk about it with them. My parents who know I have been obsessed with this game series for a decade now and having THEM talk about Joel and Ellie and how they feel about plot points... man it's a trip and it's awesome.
I totally agree with you. The game was way better of an experience for me. The show felt shorter, the action was way less frequent and less intense, and Joel seemed softer/more emotional vs tough and brutal.
out of every video game to film/tv etc adaption, this was the best ive ever seen.
Some few moments but almost no infected.
Episode 6 was my favorite of the whole season. Joel's self-doubt and fear peeking through and Pedro's excellent execution of it was a welcome addition; I actually think the Joel and Tommy sequences in the show were the one area where the show exceeded the game.
They absolutely nailed this show and I'm excited for season 2
Lmao
I agree with everything you said I also felt the joel ellie relationship felt rushed
Excellent analysis. Agree with you 100% about the pace and about the “extra” side story episodes that went nowhere. They didn’t develop J and E’s relationship that much.
Joels attempt at being buddies with Ellie was certainly the most jarring part. It unfortunately felt extremely rushed/forced. This story happened over an entire year, the game makes you feel it but this show does not. It was good overall, but the pacing left much to be desired.
Season 2 will be a blast for all of those Joel lovers out there
lmao
I have a feeling Season 2 will follow Part 2 less than Season 1 followed Part 1 (in regards to order). Also it's been said that Part 2 will be split between a Season 2 and 3 which will allow the story to be fleshed out much better and given space to breathe.
Spoiler below:
Pedro is a great actor as Joel, this won't be his first time dying lol
A *smash* hit
Anyone want to play golf?
I'm sure everyone will have it spoiled for them just like the game. Looks like you are getting a head start. I'm sure a bunch of puns like this will totally not ruin it for people after hearing it several times...
Nice video, great summary. I really liked this season too but agree in regards to the lack of action - if every episode was an hour or more, then we would’ve had time for more infected/enemies. Everything they did right (which was most things) was amazing, though.
also thanks for properly wording my issues with the sam and henry episode. I really loved how they did sam and henry and changed them a bit, but there was zero reason to spend really any time on that faction and Rose from 2 and a half men's background if they were just gonna all be dead by the end of the episode. i would have much rather had that time spent on sam and henry, and/or joel and ellie developing their relationship. As much as people around me really love the show, I have heard some of them (who havent played the game) talk about being surprised at how close Joel and Ellie really are by the end. And it's a valid point. You nailed it in that they didn't spend time watching Joel and Ellie navigate through scenes dropping ladders and climbing through small spaces together the way we did in the game. If the show was another episode or so longer, or they spent less time on certain things like Rose from 2 and a half men, then they could have done a better job accomplishing joel and ellie's relationship
You cant go wrong remaking cutscenes frame by frame
I’m just happy they finally made a video game adaptation that’s actually amazing to watch, whether you’re a gamer or not.
The environmental storytelling throughout really showcased their vision of TLoU & staying faithful to the source material (although not perfect due to the pacing you mentioned) brung home the emotions and themes of loss, desperation and the idea of perseverance through survival.
I was so excited to watch this and my little sister started watching it with me and she liked it so much she ended up watching scenes from the game on UA-cam
That’s awesome
Yeah I got my little sister to play it too and she's not a gamer
great take on this! I'm a huge fan of the games but I also work in the film industry so I totally get the challenges of adapting any source material. I'm hoping season 2 gives them the room they need to breathe and flesh out relationships more. still overall loved it and really loved how they highlighted Joel's moral ambiguity moreso than the game did
Since you work in this industry I wanted to hear your opinion on how you think they can approach adapting Part 2 (that is, if you know the story). I have so many questions...
@@julian5742 *spoilers* honestly it's not difficult to adapt the story. again, part 2 is still influenced a lot by modern cinema. the hard part will be having the big twist with Abbey be as impactful as it was in the game. the problem with this is agency. the medium of video games literally makes you play as a character so you're attached in a different way to the story than just viewing it like a TV show. the plot device of showing an episode of tv through another characters perspective has been a trope for a long time. the only way I can see them doing this as shockingly and impactful as possible is to split part 2 into two seasons. 1 season is from Ellie's POV and the next season is the same events but through Abbey's perspective. the dangerous part about this is viewership. people have stopped watching a show for something way less controversial than this. it's gonna be difficult because if the general audience goes from loving bell and Pedro and then you throw in a whole season almost completely devoid of them, who says that audience will stick around? I'm talking people who haven't played the games. this is going to be the biggest challenge for them moving forward with season 2. they most certainly will have a bigger budget which always helps. meaning they will be able to have more infected scenes if they want. specifically that whole scene in the basement will be absolutely incredible to see if they do it right. but yeah, the difficulties that lie ahead are really just adapting a story that was tailor made for a specific medium, video games, and translating that with all the punch and impact to a tv audience. I'm very hopeful!
My favorite part of the show is probably the intro in Episode 2 when the Indonesian Dr says to "Start Bombing", I just had to sit back and take a deep breath.
It was a great adaption. My fiancé watched it with me since she watched me play the games years ago. She's now playing part 1 and it's the first time I've really seen her enjoy playing a video game which is really cool to see. I pretty much agree with what you had to say aside from the Joel suicide attempt. I would say as far as the game goes the vibe I got was he'd only considered it. In the latest podcast with Neil and Craig they talk about how Joels purpose is to serve/protect those he cares about. Yea Sarah died and was everything to him but we all know how much he cares about Tommy and he put aside any emotion to protect his brother. Idk, it's a small gripe I had but I'm so glad this show exists. Thanks for doing what you do Jake!
I agree the first 2 episodes intro additions were truly scary and great additions, I agree I think they should have continued with the pre apocalypse stuff it really made it feel real. I also agree in the later episodes they should have had more clicker/ zombie moments in the later episodes, because it kind of made it feel like it wasn't that big of a threat. So it took away from the Joel saving Elle , because it felt like the apocalypse had kinda been solved. Just stay out of the cities, stay in the colder areas.. And you can survive and rebuild. They needed more clickers to show the gravitas of the world was still ending, w/o Elle's sacrifice.
I think the show is amazing, but the one thing that I think it truly lacked when comparing it to the game was a sense of dread and isolation. I think it’s partially what you said (lack of clickers and/or more Joel murdering people/things) and also the amount of time we spend with the characters in their surroundings. I don’t think we needed some extended LOTR’s walking for two hours addition to the game, but some more world building where it encapsulated the world itself and our main characters within it would have been nice.
I also like the game better, but I highly like the show as well and I’m glad that this is a forerunner to hopefully more great game adaptations.
I wish there were more scenes, but it was already so long that I couldn't imagine what else they could have done.
You are a wise beautiful internet wizard Jake. Not many like you left. Keep up the amazing content
Hey Jake, fellow gamer here. I never played the last of us, I grew up with an xbox and never really had access to playstation, I'm now waiting on the Last of Us part 1 for PC to play for the first time. I did watch the show though and even without playing the game the pacing was definitely an issue. The final few episodes it almost felt like there was a switch that flicked in Joel's mind and he just suddenly cared for Ellie. I would've liked more build up because Joel seems like a guy that's going to take an extra long time to open up like that. Great video.
wish they had more infected fights that was more intense like the museum scene. maybe the generator scene with the elevator wouldve been amazing
I think 9 episodes was a long enough season. But each episode needed to be AT LEAST an hour long. Episode 1 and 3 were 81 and 75 minutes, respectively, but the rest were less than an hour.
There should've been an infected encounter during David's episode and a some kind of homage to the hotel basement encounter.
As someone who played the game it didn’t blow me away. I did like the changes and additions and it was acted excellently but it didn’t hit the same as the game. Seeing Eric on the PMI tracks fall in love with Sam and Henry and knowing what would happen made me so excited for his reaction…and it was glorious😂
100% agree with everything you said! Everyone gets mad at me saying “stop comparing it to the game!”, but I can’t! The game was too good!
Played the game three times and I agree with you a 100%. Pretty coherent ramble hahah 👌🏼
I loved it I just wish I could edit out half of episode 3...
My philosophy is that every moment in the show felt purposeful and thought out. None of it really felt like "oh, they just got lazy there". I'm much more willing to get on board with something when I see that they put thought and effort into it.
I might be wrong, but I also feel like in the final episode where they had a close up on the doctor that would've performed the surgery (AKA Abby's dad) after Joel shot him on the ground, was kind of a cameo to Joel's death in the second game. Idk, it looks like the same shot, and that might be a easter egg to the second season, if there's gonna be one, and obviously anyone that's played the games, know how that goes.
Listening while I was cooking making dinner on this taco Tuesday...great work as always bro!
The thing with Joel's doubt is more implied in the game. Plus since it's a game and he's our avatar, his motivations shouldn't be hammered too hard into the player.
Great video! I really hope to hear you guys talk about it a little on the FPS podcast
Great vid! While I agree Joel / Ellie was more truncated, they also expand Sarah, Tess, Marlene, Bill, Frank, Tommy, David. TV lets you do that! ⭐️
Agree on the pacing. The show is like the cliffs notes of the game with some expansion and additions
Yeah Jake I pretty much agree with everything you said even your minor gripes about it..but ultimately it definitely succeeded in what it needed to do and that was tell an awesome story us gamers truly love and appreciate...also hopefully everybody plays the game because that’s something I was looking forward to the most..I love the idea of casual viewers being enamored by something all of us knew was special since 2013 and finally experiencing it for themselves👍🏼
I’m listening while driving
Thanks Jake
I adore the show, I don't think it really measures up to the game, but it's great in it's own right. I enjoyed the companion podcast with Troy Baker, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. It was cool to see the rationalizations behind the changes.
I think I land in the same place you do on pretty much all the points you made here.
All in all, I'm happy with it, but I feel there are alot of places it could have been better.
I feel totally the same way about Joel and Ellies relationship. In the game it impacted me a lot more, while I wasn't feeling that as much in the show. However, my wife who never played the game really enjoyed it and felt their relationship was strong. As you said, we spent so much more time with them in the game that the relationship has a lot more time to develop.
1000% i agree with you with the pacing. I didn't want them to cut anything from Bill or Sam and Henry, I just wanted them to expand David and the finale way more. I wanted to see David and Ellie fight inflected together to survive and maybe in that way David sees the violent heart in Ellie instead of what felt like projection bc they didn't fight. And with more time in the end to sort of sink in the bond they had, the moment talking about sarah, maybe another clicker fight and we see how well they've gelled as a duo, almost drowning on the bus bc she can't swim. Idk, lot of meat left on the bone.
I agree 100% about wanting to see Joel and Ellie’s relationship grow more on screen. I love the show, but every time they did a shot for shot I always thought the game did it better. Also, I can’t help it but Troy and Ashley will always be my Joel and Ellie. But it was cool to see a huge, expensive HBO production of one of my favorite games. I’m still very worried about the God of War show in particular. This was a pretty grounded story, but adapting the GoW 2018 game is a tall order.
The ending feels way more powerful when they haven't already killed hundreds of people.
My fave type of video, i completely agree with your take on the show.
What do you mean you don't make things?
You make things, Jake:
you make our day XD
There are also some things that are almost always ignored or overlooked by the mainstream audience. Like cinematography, like production, like set design. I mean how incredible was the set design in this show? How about the directing? I mean the directing in that mall episode was just fantastic. It's nice to see that the show runners actually know what they're doing and to see them pay a lot of attention to these things and put a lot of time and effort into them rather than just creating ANOTHER full-on zombie action show just to satisfy the mainstream audience
Cannot disagree with you more. I really think the quality of the interaction between Joel and Ellie made up for the obvious lesser screentime. I also liked the more realistic tone, rather than Joel being basically a superhero. I think this is not just a "success", because most of the things were done better than the videogame, just at a faster pace because infected main purpose was a gameplay one.
I’m always confused when I see game Joel called a “superhero” or “super-human” - I think that perception will vary significantly based on the difficulty level the game is played on. IMO the game is best played at a difficulty level the player isn’t comfortable with. When I play I usually have to rely heavily on stealth or running away to survive, and it always feels like I barely made it through an encounter alive - Joel definitely doesn’t feel super-human to me when I play that way.
I also kinda disagree with the idea that the infected’s purpose was just for gameplay - the entire point of Joel and Ellie’s journey is to get Ellie to the doctor who can make a cure to the infection. I’m glad they didn’t turn the show into just another zombie show, but I do think that they went a little too far in avoiding that - so many newcomers to the series I’ve talked to were confused about why they were so desperate for a cure when Joel and Ellie were able to walk all the way from Kansas City to Jackson to Salt Lake City without encountering a single infected. If humans are the real threat and the clickers will still rip you to shreds even if they can’t infect you, it kinda calls into question how much of a difference a vaccine is really going to make (not necessarily what I think personally, just what I’ve heard from a lot of new fans who didn’t play the game).
All that said, the show really was a fantastic adaptation of one of my all time favorite stories.
Thanks, Jake.
Took me a week to build up my courage to watch the finale.
I thought they brought it home. I agree, I'd have liked to see a few more clickers, but I absolutely love the creatures I have experienced so far.
I agree with your thoughts on the pacing. I appreciated the Ellie backstory in the mall and in the last episode.
I also think it's an overall success and am glad it's introducing more to gaming through story telling.
I think there is a good opportunity to add an all new story for the time between the 2 games. This would also allow Bella to age into the role more.
Absolutely Worked 💯
As someone that LOVES the game, I can look past the lack of character development between Joel and Ellie cause that relationship was established when I played the game. Playing the game first helped fill in the areas the show lacked
You are not in the minority Jake, I definitely wanted the show to be longer, 10 or even 12 episodes would have been better, just to give us more time with the characters (and a little bit more action with the infected). Overall I really enjoyed the show, I still think the game is better in all aspects. Still hyped for what's to come. I personally really LOVED Part 2 so I'm excited to see how they change and adapt the story, maybe fix the pacing of Part 2 and rearrange the events a bit. If the game is a 10/10 the show is a 9/10.
Besides the roasted corn, everything you said is exactly what I felt about the show.
As a solely PC gamer, I am so looking forward to the game FINALLY releasing on PC in two weeks. I'll be playing the heck out of it and hope Part 2 comes soon after (although it will probably be years again).
The one part of the game that wasn't included in the show, that I feel it was a big mistake, was the school with Bill. That was such a tense part of the game that I feel could have been done really well on the show.
I Agree 100%. I thought the show was good, but the game just had so much more depth and feeling. The show missed clickers and also had so much more time building the Joel and Ellie relationship. Maybe it's the best they could have done, i do wish the show was longer and encompassed more of that. I'll take it as a positive overall but the game was way better IMO.
Definitely made my drive easier during rush hour haha. Thanks! I loved the show and the game; I hope season 2 will be better and a bit longer.
I think it was great. One think I thought of with the last episode I'd that when Ellie's mom is running into the farm house. I got SERIOUS vibes of it being Ellie's Farm House in part 2
I have a friend who I’d been hounding for years to play TLOU, trying to explain how powerful and beautiful and terrifying it is, and he always rolled his eyes because it is a video game. Well, he watched the show and loved it, and one night said, “I gotta ask-is the game REALLY like that? I mean, with all the drama and tearjerky moments? I know you’ve said stuff like that, but come on-it’s a video game.” I had to grab a couch cushion and scream into it
I agree with you about the pace. The first moment I didn’t like was the fungi kiss. I hated the 3rd episode. Loved how they put the left behind dlc in but they needed to make better use of time around it. Like no Kathleen