HBO's "The Last Of Us" (Season 2)

[emailking1]

I still think episode 6 is the best of the series, but I'm to come around on episode 4, which I didn't really like, possibly mainly because of the serenade which is my favorite scene from the game. I'm been watching it every day to try and like this version of it.

[King O.A.]

Originally Posted by Mierzwiak

Anyone else thinks the cliffhanger is awful? It worked in the game, but here you can't play as Abby right after it and it comes as tacky and dated, similar to far too many cliffhangers from other TV shows.

Personally I would end it with a scene from the later section of the game: with

[Show spoiler]Abby finding bodies of Owen and Mel.

The rage on her face could have been a nice final shot of the season.

The theater was always the right place to end the show.

But when you see Ellie saying "no, no no!" I HATED that. Just end with the gunshot.

[Bishop_99]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

No, I think the writing got even better. I think it's kind of crazy you gave up after episode 4, which was at the time my favorite episode of the entire series, and may still hold that title, although some of the later episodes would compete pretty closely with that so it's hard to say.

Interesting, thank you for your feedback on that. I can't agree, but I respect your opinion.

Yes, I didn't like episode 1 or 2. I saw episode 3 and it was becoming a chore to get through. Episode 4 was the most I could handle, I just couldn't sit through another episode. I know the season has more action set pieces and the locations are very close to the game, but I need more than that to keep me engaged with the story.

Which is why I hope they get a fresh start in season 3 and I hope it doesn't become an Abby love story. I can't sit through another love story by these writers.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by King O.A.

The theater was always the right place to end the show.

But when you see Ellie saying "no, no no!" I HATED that. Just end with the gunshot.

I had.a Mandela effect different version in my head, where Ellie was cowering against the reception desk area by the door, and Abby came up to her and laid the barrel right on Ellie's head. Ellie pleas, then cut to black (no gunshot). Not sure why I had that thought.

Anyway, this is exactly where I envisioned it would end, but it does not bode well for two audiences:

1) The non-gamers who need to wait two years to find out what happens.

2) Viewers who didn't know this was the season finale.

I imagine there are people out there who watched the episode, thought what they thought, and are just gearing up for next Sunday's episode. Then they go "Huh?" when they don't see it available, search it up and find out they had watched a finale that in no way seems one.

[punisher]

okay I have two years to be wrong..lol
so here's my guess

Abbey does kill Ellie and let's Tommy live. Why? because Dina who contacted Abbey to let her know their location asks her to spare him. Dina and Tommy go back to Jackson Hole while Abbey moves on knowing now she is the only living person who is immune. Turns out her dad couldn't kill his own daughter that's why they wanted Ellie. Joel couldn't let Ellie be killed either. So there ya go...Abbey is now the Last Of Us.

Tim Allen is so proud....she really was his favorite

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

I've been finding the show lacking in...psychological nuance. The motivations, conflicts and emotions are feeling basic, and while everyone's swinging for the fences with earnest stabs at the material with copious tears and commitment, it seems forced and simplistic. Production values are aces, the visual world building is awesome and the more visceral moments deliver...but most of the drama smacks of posturing; a bid for prestige by way of gravitas and poignancy that forgets to bring anything organic or complex.

_

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by Bishop_99

Interesting, thank you for your feedback on that. I can't agree, but I respect your opinion.

Yes, I didn't like episode 1 or 2. I saw episode 3 and it was becoming a chore to get through. Episode 4 was the most I could handle, I just couldn't sit through another episode. I know the season has more action set pieces and the locations are very close to the game, but I need more than that to keep me engaged with the story.

Which is why I hope they get a fresh start in season 3 and I hope it doesn't become an Abby love story. I can't sit through another love story by these writers.

While love is a through line for the series, Abby's is not about romantic love. There is a complex history between her and Owen, but that's not the main focus of her story. Abby's story is closer to Joel's than Ellie's, although they do share some similarities in terms of their trauma.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by punisher

so we have to wait two years to see Dina shoot Abbey and save Bella's life???

oh well....there were filming a murder/strangulation scene for Dexter where I was hiking last week..guess I will look for that. I volunteered to be the corpse but hey already had some"body"..lol

Thats not what happens in the game so you'll be waiting a lot longer to ever see that happening... Unless they curveball the entire part 2 which so far season 2 is pretty much on par with the first half of season2 with a few things changed.

Originally Posted by morphinapg

While love is a through line for the series, Abby's is not about romantic love. There is a complex history between her and Owen, but that's not the main focus of her story. Abby's story is closer to Joel's than Ellie's, although they do share some similarities in terms of their trauma.

This is what comes through in the second act of the game where it shifts focus from Ellie to Abby where you get to see her sides of things and develop a care for her.

I would assume that'll be what happens in season 3 and given the abby actress does laps around Bella I wouldn't be shocked if season 3 was all abby and season4 was tine finale the audience as a whole is on Abbys side

[King O.A.]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

While love is a through line for the series, Abby's is not about romantic love. There is a complex history between her and Owen, but that's not the main focus of her story. Abby's story is closer to Joel's than Ellie's, although they do share some similarities in terms of their trauma.

Abby is pretty much Joel.

[eiknarf]

So was bashing Nora over the head multiple times an accident, too!?!

[Havok83]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

So was bashing Nora over the head multiple times an accident, too!?!

you really judging her for this? Abby has a gun pointed at her, she just killed Jessie, about to kill Tommy and there's still a pregnant Dina nearby. She's trying to diffuse the situation, not tell the truth and further agitate Abby. Most smart people would act like Ellie in that moment

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

So was bashing Nora over the head multiple times an accident, too!?!

1) Echo everything Havok83 said.

2) I'm sure that didn't also mean Mel's unborn child.

3) Not a valid moment to use in the above shot. I'm not going to hold it against you when you were a kid and you once said you wished someone was dead, or something like that.

[Bishop_99]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

While love is a through line for the series, Abby's is not about romantic love. There is a complex history between her and Owen, but that's not the main focus of her story. Abby's story is closer to Joel's than Ellie's, although they do share some similarities in terms of their trauma.

I hope it plays out that way. They can relay the history of Abby's relationship, without really having to tell us about it. This might be where I never cared for Abby's story in the game, it felt like a long DLC that stopped the main plot. However, I may end up completely disliking Ellie's "days" in the show, but I may really like Abby's story. I hope Isaac's character has a greater presence in season 3, I liked his character in episode 4.

[punisher]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Thats not what happens in the game so you'll be waiting a lot longer to ever see that happening... Unless they curveball the entire part 2 which so far season 2 is pretty much on par with the first half of season2 with a few things changed.

I don't have nor play the game so I am just guessing. In my later post I updated my guess with Ellie getting shot.

see # 2345

[eiknarf]

They took the rifle away on the Bluray

[MuffinMcFluffin]

I'm curious what they'll do for the first billing of cast in Season 3's opening credits.

In this past season, Kaitlyn Dever was a guest role, appearing in scattered parts of episodes 1, 2, and 7. If Ellie really is only going to show up in the latter half of the season (and based on how they shoot things, for all we know she may only be in one or two episodes), she may be relegated to a guest star herself!

So the beginning might only have KAITLYN DEVER on it, which would be ballsy and a radical shift for audiences wondering what the hell happened to our two leading actors.

Other considerations include Bella Ramsey and Jeffrey Wright for star power purposes. There are other characters more heavily featured than expected for non-gamers upcoming as well.

You also wonder about who will grow from the cordyceps at the end as well. It was always Joel and Ellie till he died, then it has been just Ellie until the flashback episode. Will it just be one again but a different model? Will the Seattle skyline grow from it? Some version of Abby and Ellie?

Interesting all around, and curious to hear your thoughts.

[joshsquash729]

Originally Posted by King O.A.

The theater was always the right place to end the show.

But when you see Ellie saying "no, no no!" I HATED that. Just end with the gunshot.

I don't think they needed the gunshot at all. The game cuts to black before any gunshot- just the rising music. That, to me, is more of a tense cliffhanger. We don't know if anyone is getting shot or if the situation defuses itself somehow. Now the discussion is less on "what happens" but moreso "who it happens to". I've even seen some people say they think that it's gonna be revealed that Abby was the one shot and killed and they're not worried at all about the tension.

I saw someone online mention that it plays out like you failed a Quick Time Event in the game, and now that's all I can think of.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by joshsquash729

I don't think they needed the gunshot at all. The game cuts to black before any gunshot- just the rising music. That, to me, is more of a tense cliffhanger. We don't know if anyone is getting shot or if the situation defuses itself somehow. Now the discussion is less on "what happens" but moreso "who it happens to". I've even seen some people say they think that it's gonna be revealed that Abby was the one shot and killed and they're not worried at all about the tension.

I saw someone online mention that it plays out like you failed a Quick Time Event in the game, and now that's all I can think of.

Instead of a gunshot, it should've ended with the game's death music as it cut to black.

I'm not even joking. I think that would've sounded good.

[Show spoiler]Appropriate since nobody dies, though?

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by MuffinMcFluffin

….this is exactly where I envisioned it would end, but it does not bode well for two audiences:

1) The non-gamers who need to wait two years to find out what happens.

2) Viewers who didn't know this was the season finale.

I imagine there are people out there who watched the episode, thought what they thought, and are just gearing up for next Sunday's episode. Then they go "Huh?" when they don't see it available, search it up and find out they had watched a finale that in no way seems one.

I fit both 1 and 2. I had no idea that it was the season finale, until I read it here. A quick online search caused me to give the episode another viewing immediately. As a season finale, I was much more underwhelmed than the first viewing.

[Mierzwiak]

So that's why BluBonnet loves it so much

I couldn't agree more, it's an awful, shallow, dumbed-down adaptation.

The Last of Us HBO is a Disney Remake - YouTube