What are you watching in 2022?

[Its DJOver]

Won't spoil anything, but season two will not just be "and they lived happily ever after".  Based on some interviews I read they want to continue to be extremely faithful to the game as much as they can.  If that is the case, season two will be even darker.

[StillAWarrior]

Of the 9 episodes, I'd call at least a half-dozen "great."

Interesting point, and I'm not sure I'd disagree. It kind of highlights the question for me...why am I reluctant to give it "great" overall. I don't have an answer.

[StillAWarrior]

Won't spoil anything, but season two will not just be "and they lived happily ever after".  Based on some interviews I read they want to continue to be extremely faithful to the game as much as they can.  If that is the case, season two will be even darker.

As someone who knows nothing of the game, I think it's technically impossible for me to say any spoilers for S2. I feel confident saying that there will have to be some sort of reckoning for what was done and said at the end of the finale. I'm reminded of Maria's words to Ellie.

[wadesworld]

Couldn't they have waited to release Ted Lasso for 3 more weeks?

[MU82]

Interesting point, and I'm not sure I'd disagree. It kind of highlights the question for me...why am I reluctant to give it "great" overall. I don't have an answer.

Yeah, given that you and I are often quite aligned on our TV-related opinions, I was surprised you didn't!

Hey, even you are allowed to be wrong occasionally. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TLOU finale did a a great job with Ellie and the impact recent events have taken on her. I also like how the handled the tension between her and Joel. They also handled Joel's decision very well. It's easy not feel the weight of that decision in the game but I think they made you feel it in the show.

I do think the finale was rushed. I don't like that they only gave it 42 minutes which included the bonus scene at the beginning. I think the main part of the finale needed 10 more minutes to establish itself before the decision. In general I think the show could have done a better job explaining the Fireflies and spent more time on them.

Unsolicited advice for those who are planning to watch season 2 but haven't played the game. Avoid spoilers to the best of your ability (unless you are going to spoil it by playing the game). You may or may not have heard that the second game is controversial or divisive. My personal opinion is that it is neither but the reason that people think that is because there were some leaks before the game premiered and people reacted to the leaks without knowing the proper context. I purposefully avoided the leaks and experiencing the story in the game without advanced knowledge is what made me love it. If I had known the leaks, I don't know if the experience would have been the same.

The second game is probably my favorite game of all time. Fantastic emotional storytelling with powerful messages wrapped in a beautifully crafted world. As good as the first game was, the second game is that much better IMHO.

[StillAWarrior]

Yeah, given that you and I are often quite aligned on our TV-related opinions, I was surprised you didn't!

Hey, even you are allowed to be wrong occasionally. 

I think my issue is that it felt more like a series of thematically-linked vignettes than a series. That made for some really memorable — and great episodes — but maybe not a great series. I think maybe it’s a result of converting a video game into a series. But, as I said, I thought it was very good. I’m excited for the next season.

[MUBurrow]

I think my issue is that it felt more like a series of thematically-linked vignettes than a series. That made for some really memorable — and great episodes — but maybe not a great series. I think maybe it’s a result of converting a video game into a series. But, as I said, I thought it was very good. I’m excited for the next season.

That's a great synopsis.  I'm personally comfortable calling this show great, but if you give a structural demerit for the vignette layout vs pure chronological plot development, that's valid.  For me, the vignettes are sufficiently tied together (and the quality is objectively there).  This is quickly rising on the list of my favorite shows. Episode 3 reminded me a lot of San Junipero from Black Mirror, which is about as high praise as I can give.

This is just such a smart show.  I'm not familiar with the game, but taking on the selfishness-wrapped-in-unselfishness of having children and making them your raison d'etre is approaching a societal/artistic third rail, and the way its been done so far and is being foreshadowed is ::chef's kiss::

[StillAWarrior]

That's a great synopsis.  I'm personally comfortable calling this show great, but if you give a structural demerit for the vignette layout vs pure chronological plot development, that's valid.  For me, the vignettes are sufficiently tied together (and the quality is objectively there).  This is quickly rising on the list of my favorite shows. Episode 3 reminded me a lot of San Junipero from Black Mirror, which is about as high praise as I can give.

This is just such a smart show.  I'm not familiar with the game, but taking on the selfishness-wrapped-in-unselfishness of having children and making them your raison d'etre is approaching a societal/artistic third rail, and the way its been done so far and is being foreshadowed is ::chef's kiss::

I want to be clear -- in case I haven't been -- those episodes that were out of chronological order were outstanding. Both the Bill/Frank episode and the Ellie/Riley episodes were two of the best episodes of TV I've seen in a long while. Honestly, I think what I would have liked in this series that would have put it over the top for me was about another two episodes. I would have liked to see more of Joel and Ellie's journey -- both literally and figuratively. How did they get from Bill's house (wherever the hell that was) to KC? How did they get from KC to WY to CO to SLC? And more relationship development along the way. But you're absolutely right -- "the quality is objectively there."

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Thought The Last of Us was outstanding. Part of me wished I hadn’t played the game because I think some of the episodes would have absolutely hit harder than they did if I didn’t know what was coming.

Pascal and Ramsey were obviously great as were most of the supporting characters.

Very minor criticism in that I think it could have been a couple of episodes longer and I wouldn’t have minded another big set piece or two that involved the infected.

The 2nd game will be split into at least two more seasons. Having played the 2nd game as well I’ll be very interested in hoe they adapt that narrative for television as it’s much more complex than the first game.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Some serious run time of the interlocking MU logo on Oak Island last night.

[tower912]

Enjoyed the Letterman/U2 discussion on Disney+.   Felt like it could have been more, but still an enjoyable hour and a half.