HBO’s The Last of Us is back and so begins the adaptation of Sony’s most divisive exclusive. While the first season had its deviations here or there, for the most part it was a fairly straight to the point adaptation. For us, this resulted in it feeling a bit like a highlight reel of our favourite game. This story is a different kettle of fish, however, and the latest season's first episode is mixing things up already.
Naughty Dog’s controversial sequel is a far more expansive and complicated tale, and its structure wouldn’t quite work for television. It’s one of the first things HBO addresses though, introducing a ragtag crew of Firefly survivors, with one woman in particular hellbent on hunting down Joel and getting revenge for his season capping massacre.
We spend most of the first episode establishing life within the seemingly idyllic Jackson. Jumping five years on from the events of the first season, Ellie is hunting down infected with reckless abandon on patrols, whereas Joel is going to therapy as he struggles with Ellie not talking to him for reasons yet unknown.
For fans of the game, there are plenty of characters and moments that you’ll recognise, some of which are ripped straight from the game — line for line, shot for shot. However, showrunner Craig Mazin is once again tweaking things, with late-game moments showing up very early on, and character relationships changing — like Dina seemingly being close enough with Joel to watch movies with him.
It’s like the old Morcombe and Wise joke: he’s playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order. At this point, colour us intrigued. From our perspective, as massive fans of the games, the show is at its least interesting when it sticks to the script. These are stories etched into our brains forevermore, so seeing HBO move things around, change up the structure, and mess around with character dynamics is what we’re looking for in an adaptation.
Will it manage to capture the mastery of the PS4 original? Likely not, but that’s not to say we didn’t like what the show was doing differently. For one, Ellie and Dina’s relationship, while foundationally the same, the HBO version is much more playful, with Alien Romulus’ Isabela Merced being our favourite of the new additions to the cast.
We’re very keen to see just how much HBO will want to get out of Pedro Pascal this season, with his infamous golfing trip noticeably absent from this episode. This is a much more emotionally attuned take on the character, but we love that his terrible act from season one is laying heavy on him. And while we still have some reservations as to whether Bella Ramsey has the acting chops that will be demanded of them this season, Ramsey’s mischievous charm actually feels more natural with the aged-up Ellie.
Ultimately, this is a far tamer start compared to season one’s opener, but its careful remixing of elements from the game has us eager to see how it all pans out. Ultimately, we know where it's going, but we don’t quite know where we’ll stop along the way, and that’s really all you can ask for as fans of the game.
What did you think of season two's debut episode? Are you excited to see how things differ in this adaptation? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 37
Been watching the last few episodes of Severance S2, but I will see this after.
Pretty good episode, makes wonder if the thing will happen midpoint of the season or the last episode. No spoilers of course.
It was an okay start and I didnt mind that they moved some scenes around from the game, but I didn’t really like how Ellie was this episode without spoiling anything. Also I wish they held off a little on showing the firefly survivors mainly because I liked how they were introduced in the game, but I did still enjoy it enough and feel like next episode is shaping up to be a good one.
@Americansamurai1 I'm guessing the scene you are thinking about will happen in episode 2 or 3, at the latest. Specially with the way episode 1 ends.
I actually did not like that they moved things around. The structure of Part II is brilliant and well thought-out. The story is shown in the order it has for a reason, so changing this kind of diminishes its impact. Plus, making it more linear also takes away some of the aspects that made the game so unique, since its premise is common.
I suppose it was a good idea not to hit you with that scene in the very first episode. Won't be as jarring as it was for players who experienced it the first time with the game. That already is a change for the better.
It’s definitely hard to predict how this will pan out in relation to the game’s narrative, but that’s also a huge part of the intrigue for me as someone well-entrenched in both games. I truly don’t get all the comments I’ve seen about things from the show not being completely, entirely, identically accurate to the game. Why would you want such a lazy copy-paste? I got reeled right back in with this first episode and am very optimistic that the creators can adapt the source material just as effectively as they did with season one.
@AlexPorto I think it's just that the narrative structure of the game is very alien to a normal TV flow. i.e. massive focus change on character and tone half way through? Tricky for TV peeps to stick with that. In the game it's way easier to switch because you are playing those characters.
We shall see I guess, but I'm looking forward to it
I don't think "the scene" will happen until the last episode if it happens at all. We'll see. TV shows rarely survive for long after it loses its biggest star and they'll know that if they are worth their salt.
And yes, like it or not, Pascal is the name draw of this show.
I just can't get past how distracting the casting choice for ellie is. It just so far off that it actually hurts the show for anyone watching who's played the game. Even setting aside the gamers, I too just don't see how they are going to make sense of the lack of age and maturity Bella is capable of portraying in a chapter where it needs it. You are never going to get Ramsey to accurately portray part 2s evolution of ellie.
Her casting alone significantly diminishes the series and I fear, unless they chop it all up with exposition, flashbacks, time wasting expansions using multiple guest directors without cohesive vision and overhaul milking it/dragging it out like season 1. As this is supposed to be primarily a revenge story fully following ellie and Abby. However I suspect if last season is anything to go on, the former will likely be how they've put together this current season.
@LifeGirl What if they decided to change everything, and make the character in question not expiring but just being really hurt ? As in a wheelchair or something ?
I wonder what the reaction to this season will be like considering what it’s adapting. Livorno it or hate it Part 2 had some major structural issues and thematic or that aren’t easy to fix.
I'm not really sure why they moved stuff around. There's a reason why you find things out in the order that you find them out in the game. It's still good though.
I can see why the certain thing didn't happen yet in the show. You start with that like in the game and you kinda sour people's taste for the rest of it. Surely it'll happen eventually though unless they wussed out for fear of pissing off a whole new group of people who never played the game. Guess we can assume there won't be another season after this. The games are done so after season 2 the show might as well be too.
Removed - unconstructive
I don'y know what but there's sth off with the show. The first season didnt click with me and neither did this episode. Goes on to show what a great job Naughty Dog has done that cant be easily replicated by a tv adaptation. Come to think of it, I believe the issue goes beyond this series as I can't remember any movie adaptaion of games in the past that actually worked.
@Puketapu I thought that they would do these tonal changes and shifts between seasons, so season 2 would be Ellie, season 3 would be Abby. I would have found this to be much more interesting than the common structure, it feels less unique.
@LifeGirl needs to happen, no if, buts or maybes it has too, it's literally essential to the entire story, they can't change it,
They couldn't help themselves with the cringe messaging which ruins immersion, the humour felt forced at times, and the episode meandered at times, but Dina was a standout. Ultimately, it is faithful to the game for better or worse albeit using wiser structure changes, and I'm interested to see how they deal with Joel. After that, just not sure...
@Gr8VngnzN4esAngr
What do you mean by "cringe messaging"
Thought it was a bit too dull tbh. I just feel like I'm watching an inferior version to the story, acting and direction that was already available in the game
I think next week is the big episode by the looks of it...
I didn’t reckon much to it. Ellie seemed more of a brat than the somewhat moody and ‘difficult’ game character and Dina is suddenly the hottest girl in Jackson - their relationship seemed a bit implausible. Abby and her friends look like they should start a band and save civilisation through the power of music. Oh, and the ‘therapy’ part.
On the plus side, there were a few good bits and there is clearly room for improvement.
@LifeGirl it won’t be the last episode. We know certain scenes that are coming and they needs minimum three eps to set up. Next two eps. Him being killed off won’t affect it at all. Plenty of scenes with him to come even after the event.
I actually liked the pacing. It's better this way for a TV show.
@KundaliniRising333 I really liked her in the first season.
The issue is that Ellie the character is pretty unlikeable in TloU2. In game I mean
Thought the first episode could have covered a bit more. If pacing continues at this rate we'll barely be a third of the way through the plot by the end of the second season. Having said that, I did actually really enjoy the deviations from the game's script. The extra attention to Dina's character was really well done as was her casting. She is definitely set up to be a fan favourite and is already more interesting than her video game counter part. The therapy scene was also very well done and added some great depth. You can also see that Tommy is going to play a much more involved role than he did in the game.
So, so far so good, if a bit on the slow side.
@PegasusActual93 Ellie besting the huge guy in 1v1 combat, the out-of-touch commentary on 'refugees', the not-at-all subtle 'women resisting the patriarchy', which is ironic given they gave the role of Ellie's ex-girlfriend to a man, and of course the bigot white guy scene from the game which was always cringe (and you know that character will always be portrayed by a white guy). All of this is anti-escapism, anti-storytelling, and the reason why Western entertainment is in the doldrums.
The therapist scene from ~19min to the 26min-mark was excellent. First hearing that Ellie is cold shouldering Joel, and then seeing it is stomach churning. I thoroughly enjoyed episode one of season two!
@Gr8VngnzN4esAngr
Way to make mountains out of things that are not even molehills.
1. My wife does judo and has knocked over guys 3 times her size, technique trumps all brute strength. Also they even make the comment he was holding back and could have easily knocked her out.
2. What "resist patriarchy" crap are you even talking about? They live in a post apocalyptic commune where everyone has to pitch in just to get by, there is no patriarchy anymore.
3. All that refugee scene was, was two people having a debate about whether they can continue to bring in more survivors in the camp with both sides debating opposite viewpoints. That's called a conversation genius.
4. The homophobe guys race is
completely irrelevant only you are
making it a race thing.
5. "This is why western media is in doldrums" is the type of stupid twitterbrained crap I can never take seriously with you types. Media is not struggling because views expressed in a show or movie offends your personal widdle feelings. Grow up. Eastern media has always expressed morals/politics since the beginning of time too. Ever played a Final Fantasy or Metal Gear game? Super political. Anyway I guarantee if the show was spouting political views you agreed with you wouldn't be moaning hypocrite. Every piece of media since the beginning of time has expressed ideas both moral and political, just because you were either too young or too naive to have understood them is on you alone.
@PegasusActual93
1. As some one that has done Judo for over 20 years. Those guys 3 times her size let your wife knock them over. If they want to stop her from throwing/tripping them they 100% would. Bad argument considering even in the scene the guy & Jessie stated he was obviously holding back. Common sense...
@NintenGuy
I've watched security footage of a woman in an elevator (I believe it was in Turkey if I remember correctly) take out 3 guys at the same time who were at least twice her size not because of strength but because she knew where to grab and or hit them, technique trumps brute strength everytime, thats fighting 101. Again making a mountain out of what isn't even a molehill. If you were playing a video game I bet you wouldn't even be moaning about a woman beating up guys or a woman in a video game shooting hundreds of people and surviving that ala Tomb Raider or Perfect Dark or countless other games and if you are then jesus christ talk about needing to get a life.
@PegasusActual93 So first it was your wife & now you think you saw a video from turkey? You're obviously lying. I understand what that guy said triggered you & you wanted to say something to get back at him, but number 1 on your list of retorts was just off. I can show you multiple videos of untrained men over powering women in Karate, Judo, BJJ & Muay Thai. I don't agree with what @Gr8VngnzN4esAngr said, but I'm also not going to ignore reality, virtue signal, make up stories & try to stand on a moral high horse like you. Real life isn't a video game. Us normal people know the difference.
@roe @johncalmc Agreed. Something just seemed off. I had a few gripes, but the biggest was this. I remember the surprise of getting control of this new girl Abby in game and thinking What the heck? Who is this & why am I playing as her? They should have kept that surprise. Opening up with Abby & gang saying they are going after Joel was a mistake. The pacing of the game was better IMO. I cant fault them for wanting to try something new though. I will be watching every Sunday. No way they finish the story in 7 episodes though without a lot of compromises.
@NintenGuy Yeah expect that was just one of those fake Tik Tok type videos that are setup. Can't believe people fall for them.
My take on this series is that any deviation in structure and timelines is a recognition from TV people that the writing in TLoU 2 wasn't particularly good and the TV audience wouldn't be happy.
Yes, yes, there have been a lot of stinkers with awful writing coming from big TV studios in recent years, but TV people are generally better at telling stories than video game developers.
Game developers have a lot more things to be concerned with, where as story telling is the big focus on TV shows and movies.*
It's my view, and vindication for those who criticised the writing in TLoU 2, that the people who know what they are talking in the TV industry took a look at how the game presented the story, and were like "nah, that ain't gonna fly".
*In ND's defence, I seem to recall an interview with Rhianna Pratchett about Tomb Raider (I think with the late Total Biscuit) where she explained the challenges of video game writing and just how little time she had in which to present the narrative.
Still, even with that excuse, I think TLoU 2 did a bad job of presenting what was a very challenging story to sell to the audience in the first place.
@NintenGuy
I was using the elevator video as another example; way to be incredibly dishonest bro. Also I'm not triggered by the other guy just debunking stupid claims because someone lacks any and all media literacy. Also what about what i said ignored reality or was "virtue signaling" whatever that even means. Thats the same as "woke" it has no meaning anymore and is now just "thing I don't like".
@Cornpop76 Exactly. Some people are easily fooled. Lol! That why I let it go & put him on ignore. He was just resorting to insults, goal post moving & mental gymnastics after getting called out. No time for that.
I agree that TLoU 2 pales in comparison to the original story. I thought the prologue of TLoU 2 (which we're seeing now) was engaging. I also though the last chapter riveting. The middle section of the game is what had the problems to me. I am curious to see how they change or flesh out the TV adaptation from the source material. Do you think they can fix the issues of the games story/presentation over the next one or two seasons? The therapy session was a nice addition for instance.
Since they announced season 2, I knew they would chicken out on “that” part… It should have been the first episode, that’s part of the shock. Very very disappointing. If you haven’t played the game and get it spoiled by this much poorer TV series I genuinely feel bad
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