Watched the first episode of this last night, and suffice to say it did NOT disappoint. I'm a huge fan of TLOU 1 and 2 on the PS4, both were utterly captivating and set such a high water mark in video gaming, so I wondered whether this series could do it justice. Going by E1, this nine-parter is going to be absolutely sensational. Zombie apocalypse films are ten a penny so its not a particularly original genre, but this story is just so well crafted, with real heart as well as gore.
Those who have played the game will recognise many of the scenes, particularly during the harrowing opening half-hour or so. But even if you've never played the game, this stands up on its own terms as a bloody great piece of television. They've got the two main characters spot on. Pedro Pascal (The Mandelorian, Game of Thrones) is terrific as Joel, and the young girl who plays Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is excellent.
Looks like this is going to knock the (patchy / tedious) The Walking Dead into a tin hat. Do yourself a favour and check it out
This is the same information the game gives you, some of your questions will be answered in due course but you have to use your imagination for what happened during the intervening twenty years between 2003 and 2023 for the most part.
Quarantine/safe zone. People are getting executed. There seems to be no food, work or anything. They have ration books (?) I guessed it was a safe zone but why overnight curfues and all that? And where did it come from? One minute he's driving down the road the next he's in this compound.
Basically society collapses, martial law kicks in and eventually a makeshift military dictatorship takes over. The executions etc are to keep people in line and maintain a semblance of control.
Yes, I forgot about the battery. I'm guessing the CB radio thing (he jumped the queue) was about talking with other settlements, again not explained.Basically society collapses, martial law kicks in and eventually a makeshift military dictatorship takes over. The executions etc are to keep people in line and maintain a semblance of control.
There’s no modern commodities (thus a car battery is something worth risking your life for) and very little communication among surviving settlements. You earn your keep by fulfilling dogsbody work in exchange for shelter and protection.
Yes it looks bleak, but wait until the next episode when they’re outside
I will add that in the games there’s little scraps of newspaper articles and diary entries which help to fill in the blanks and help join some of the dots, but yes, do stick with it!
The first half an hour is in 2003 at the point when the virus first breaks out - effectively "ground zero", the very first day/night it all kicks off. Then following that traumatic event it leaps forwards 20 years to 2023 where we pick up with Joel in the long-term aftermath of the pandemic. It's basically the same in the game, you're not missing anything.
There's so many games that have excellent stories by any standards.
It's an adaptation of a part of the game in which it's heavily implied these two men are lovers. The TV show just went and made it undeniable.
