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

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I don't have any horse in this race with the show, but have always considered Druckmann a moron based on past behavior, I specifically remember him blaming "gamers" for thinking TLOU 2 sucked (it does), and now HBO viewers are roasting him over the same exact issues with the story, so he jumps ship back to his safe space catering to gamers again. "It's like poetry it rhymes."

I don't remember him saying anything negative about people who hate the game. He said he knew when making it that there were obviously going to be people who don't like this story direction, but that loving or hating something shows that you care, that both reactions are valid and show passion for the characters and world.

He hasn't jumped ship. He's incredibly busy being the boss of a major game studio, and specifically directing a game that's probably in its final year of development, as in, the time when people tend to work overtime like crazy just to get the game done, while also overseeing the other games the studio is making. His leaving has nothing to do with the reception (the majority of which is positive) but because of the duties he has at his main job. He worked on Season 2 less than season 1 for the same reason, and now it's getting to that crunch time where there's no chance he'd have time to work on the show.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

I don't remember him saying anything negative about people who hate the game. He said he knew when making it that there were obviously going to be people who don't like this story direction, but that loving or hating something shows that you care, that both reactions are valid and show passion for the characters and world.

He hasn't jumped ship. He's incredibly busy being the boss of a major game studio, and specifically directing a game that's probably in its final year of development, as in, the time when people tend to work overtime like crazy just to get the game done, while also overseeing the other games the studio is making. His leaving has nothing to do with the reception (the majority of which is positive) but because of the duties he has at his main job. He worked on Season 2 less than season 1 for the same reason, and now it's getting to that crunch time where there's no chance he'd have time to work on the show.

Neil's not going to hire you. You don't have to defend him at every turn.

He most certainly did insult people who disliked Last of Us Part II.

I understand he probably had to contend with loads of people being vile and offensive and sending him threats. But there was legitimate criticism towards the game that's justified.

At the end of the day, game 1 is better than 2, and that's the same case with the show.

[Mierzwiak]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

I don't remember him saying anything negative about people who hate the game.

Then take a little break from working as his publicist and do a little research about his twitterx activity.

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

At the end of the day, game 1 is better than 2, and that's the same case with the show.

A lot of people would disagree with both of these. I personally think that while game 1 has a more "satisfying" story in that it follows a more traditional structure, I think game 2 is a much better written story overall. There's more depth to it, and I think it has more interesting things to say about humanity. I think the story is doing some pretty cool things with the way it plays with the emotions of the audience, with the structure of the story being critical to pulling that off. I think characters have layers to them that make them more interesting. And beyond all that, it just has better gameplay overall. Of course the story's structure and conclusion are complex, and people who are only okay with simpler stories or more stereotypical conclusions are going to find that less satisfying, and that's completely fine, but that doesn't mean the story is inherently bad either. It's just not for them.

Also, I wish people would stop having the idiotic response that anybody who "defends" something you don't personally like is a "shill" or "simp". I don't give a crap about Neil Druckmann. I don't care if he sees my posts or not. Nor is that true for just about everybody who repeatedly defends things you don't personally like. I think "defending" is even a silly word for simply arguing against things that you think simply aren't true.

If you think Neil Druckmann really insulted people who didn't like the game, what did he say and where? It doesn't click with the other responses I've seen him say, where he seems to be completely understanding of people who don't like the game. I don't doubt some of the people from that cesspool /r/LastOfUs2 or rage bait youtuber made such claims, but I've never seen anything in his social media posts or interviews that would support that. Googling doesn't show anything either. But I'm open to be proven wrong.

[emailking]

Nobody here is working for ND (either of them). Morph has a rosier take on the show than I do, but his opinion that S2 is really good and matches the game well is a valid opinion. It's just as valid as the opinion that S2 was really bad and is a bad adaptation!

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I don't have any horse in this race with the show, but have always considered Druckmann a moron based on past behavior, I specifically remember him blaming "gamers" for thinking TLOU 2 sucked (it does), and now HBO viewers are roasting him over the same exact issues with the story, so he jumps ship back to his safe space catering to gamers again. "It's like poetry it rhymes."

Sounds like you do, in fact, have a horse in it, lol.

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Neil's not going to hire you.

You don't know that for sure.

[drb999]

Bella Ramsey nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress (Emmys)

https://deadline.com/2025/07/bella-r...us-1236457670/

[drb999]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...ns-1236315315/

16 nominations in total, Pedro Pascal for lead actor and the show for best drama

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by drb999

Bella Ramsey nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress (Emmys)

https://deadline.com/2025/07/bella-r...us-1236457670/

Yikes 😱

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by drb999

Bella Ramsey nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress (Emmys)

https://deadline.com/2025/07/bella-r...us-1236457670/

Haters blood is boiling right now

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by drb999

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...ns-1236315315/

16 nominations in total, Pedro Pascal for lead actor and the show for best drama

Well deserved.

[jvonl]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Yikes 😱

Really? She was excellent!

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by jvonl

Really? She was excellent!

She has great, great moments. I just didn't think she sold an older, rougher Ellie compared to what she did in S1.

But man, she owned the flashback episode, mourning Joel's death at the end of E2 and start of E3... there were certain highs that probably earned the nomination. I just thought there was a "whole" that was missing for her to carry the weight of the season on her back.

I hope they feel the same way next season with Kaitlyn Dever taking on a similar challenge, if not more daunting. She's shown a lot more that she can do what is asked of Abby than what Bella did this season for Ellie. Time will tell how that is responded to over the course of a season.

[morphinapg]

There was news that Craig is deciding whether to make a longer season 3 or finish the story in season 4.

I really really really hope he goes with the longer season 3. Story wise, the epilogue doesn't have enough to make a full season. It's like 3-4 episodes max. So unless Neil plans to come back for season 4 to write an exclusive extension of the ending, I really don't think it's a good idea to stretch it out like that. Alternatively they could make the epilogue a movie, but I don't really think it would feel satisfying on its own. It really needs to be connected to the theater conclusion I think.

[Mierzwiak]

“The series is definitely planned for 2027,” Bloys confirmed. “Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn’t been decided yet, and I’m following Craig’s lead on that.”

https://gizmodo.com/youre-gonna-be-w...uin-2000629695

[HipsterTrash]

Reminder: whether you dislike them or adore them, Bella goes by they/them. Be respectful.

Originally Posted by Mierzwiak

https://gizmodo.com/youre-gonna-be-w...uin-2000629695

Yeah, this has one more season left. I can see them trying to milk it after push-pull of this recent season. But after Neil left, I think the show is in some hot water and Craig will want to jump out sooner.

[Mierzwiak]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Reminder: whether you dislike them or adore them, Bella goes by they/them. Be respectful.

She said she don't mind it so be respectful.

[El Rey]

as stated earlier in the thread, I just played TLOU2 earlier this year and was one of those weirdos that loved it. I figured adapting the game to the screen would be tough with the jumps between characters and timelines and it turned out it was. I didn't hate season two or think it was awful but it certainly didn't live up to the game or season one of the show. hopefully they can course correct, I just read in terms season three we probably won't get it until 2027 now.

as far as the Emmy noms, this has HBO prestige network favoritism written all over it. there were moments, scenes between Pedro and Bella that felt just as good as season one, the game but on the whole I don't think anyone was Emmy worth. I like Kaitlyn too but she was not Emmy worthy either.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Reminder: whether you dislike them or adore them, Bella goes by they/them. Be respectful.

Meanwhile is playing a female character and is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress. Pardon my ignorance for attempting to get an acting point across before applying a pronoun that nobody else has yet to use in this thread since that declaration.

This wasn't a matter of disrespect.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

Reminder: whether you dislike them or adore them, Bella goes by they/them. Be respectful.



Yeah, this has one more season left. I can see them trying to milk it after push-pull of this recent season. But after Neil left, I think the show is in some hot water and Craig will want to jump out sooner.

She literally said you can call her “they/them” or “she/her”.