[TV] The Last of Us

[Easy 10]

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

 

[Machiavelli]

Yes, I'm interested in that, although will add that Pedro Pascal is also particularly impressive in Narcos. While we're on recommendations on the telly box, we're currently loving The Bear, although you'll need Disney to get that I think.

 

[Hamilton]

Is it a musical?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I thought it was excellent. Never played the games. Don't know anything about mushroom zombies. I'm guessing cast member mortality might be very high.

 

[Gabbafella]

Watched it last night. Like you, I'm a fan of the games and was fearing the worst (game adaptations tend to be pretty flimsy) but it was awesome.
My Mrs has never heard of the games so I gave her a brief rundown without any spoilers, she was surprised with what happens in the first half hour and said she's hooked already.
Annoying when you can't binge watch something you're enjoying.

 

[Smirko]

Does she get down on one knee and proclaim - "The king in the North!, The king in the North!"?

Does he say " You raped her, killed her and murdered her children"?

No? I'm out

 

[Mr deez]

The games are that good, I would argue you shouldn't spoil them by watching this first!. I think it remains the only game which I would say has an excellent story. The rest are qualified by being a good story by video game standards.

But yeah the show is great too.

 

[Mr deez]

.. but Now TV are taking the piss putting ad breaks in when we've already paid...

 

[BBassic]

Watched the first half hour this morning. Was not disappointed. LIke others I love the games so was hoping they do it justice and they definitely have.

I'm going to defend the Walking Dead though as I'm seeing a lot of, I think, unfair comparisons. The only real similarity between the two is the setting - an apocalypse. They're telling different stories.

It's no secret TWD fell off in terms of quality sharply around Season 6 but the seasons before that were talked about as glowingly as The Last of Us is being spoken about now.

 

[Falmer Flutter ©]

Sensational games (just started yet another replay of TLOU 1 in preparation for this) and this was a great watch last night. Like how they've fleshed out just enough of the story yet kept the spirit and look of the games.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

I think I’ve played through various iterations of the first game around 10 times, and certain scenes are burnt into my memory - the bit where Joel, Sarah and Tommy are driving out of town was a 1:1 reshoot.

Very promising start - difficult to know if it’s worth recommending this to people who haven’t played the games as it feels like it could potentially ruin the experience of playing through the game.

Ps - huge Nick Offerman fan, feel like he is going to smash the Bill part out of the park

 

[Easy 10]

Watched the first half hour this morning. Was not disappointed. LIke others I love the games so was hoping they do it justice and they definitely have.

I'm going to defend the Walking Dead though as I'm seeing a lot of, I think, unfair comparisons. The only real similarity between the two is the setting - an apocalypse. They're telling different stories.

It's no secret TWD fell off in terms of quality sharply around Season 6 but the seasons before that were talked about as glowingly as The Last of Us is being spoken about now.

Its a fair point re TWD. I was fully on board with it for the first few series, but it really did get very "samey" and it ended up feeling like a bit of a chore to watch it. I was on the brink of giving up on it until Negan turned up - he had my missus dripping like a busted fridge, so we ended up watching a couple more series just for him while he was in it, but eventually we both grew bored of it again, and bailed.

TLOU is a far more self-contained story, so I don't think this will drag on endlessly in the same way as TWD with seemingly no end in sight.

 

[BBassic]

Its a fair point re TWD. I was fully on board with it for the first few series, but it really did get very "samey" and it ended up feeling like a bit of a chore to watch it. I was on the brink of giving up on it until Negan turned up - he had my missus dripping like a busted fridge, so we ended up watching a couple more series just for him while he was in it, but eventually we both grew bored of it again, and bailed.

TLOU is a far more self-contained story, so I don't think this will drag on endlessly in the same way as TWD with seemingly no end in sight.

Oh yeah TWD got so hard to watch.

I almost ditched TWD at S9 but by then I'd been watching for the best part of a decade and I figured "f*** it, let's see it through". It was not good.

I think I read an interview with Neil Druckman who said they're planning three seasons. This one for TLOU-1 and then two seasons for TLOU-2. Which sounds the perfect amount to tell the story.

 

[jimhigham]

I'd probably have been all over this a decade ago but I'm all zombied out now.

 

[Easy 10]

I'd probably have been all over this a decade ago but I'm all zombied out now.

I do get where you're coming from, but this is different enough to be worthwhile IMO.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Too poor/cheap to pay another subscription fee, will wait until they are all out and see if I can get a free trial.

 

[Mr deez]

Oh yeah TWD got so hard to watch.

I almost ditched TWD at S9 but by then I'd been watching for the best part of a decade and I figured "f*** it, let's see it through". It was not good.

I think I read an interview with Neil Druckman who said they're planning three seasons. This one for TLOU-1 and then two seasons for TLOU-2. Which sounds the perfect amount to tell the story.

But there will be a third game... Right?

 

[JJ McClure]

We got about half an hour in when the Mrs paused it a said 'nope this isn't for me' so I'll guess I'll be watching the rest without her.

 

[BBassic]

But there will be a third game... Right?

Yeah maybe but all that would mean is maybe two more seasons with source material to recreate.

That was part of the problem with TWD actually - they diverged so far from the comics source material that it ended up being it's own thing written by writers who soon ran out of ideas.

Ditto Game of Thrones when they overtook the released books and had to figure things out on their own.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Is that Leonard and Marilyn from Northern Exposure in the trailer?