The Last of Us on HBO/Max

[d.anders]

I'm surprised there is no thread on this show. I often feel these days like I'm living in a zombie apocalypse.

I hear the internet went bonkers on Sunday night, after Episode 2 of Season 2 aired. I managed to steer clear of any spoilers, so I got walloped last night as I finally watched the episode.

Given the amount of money at sake, I'm always shocked when a successful production makes such a dramatic decision. It is so risky. Even more fascinating is the "making of" spot that HBO offered immediately after the episode aired.

They pulled the rug out from every single viewer, and shocked most of us who had no clue this story is based on a video game.

Am I the only one watching this show?

[Becket]

Yea, my son who plays video games, and played this game before told me, "Dad, season two is gonna wreck you." Well, he was right. I couldn't believe it. I don't know if I wanna watch any more.

[+ EVdude]

Gobsmacked!!!  Was brought back to the season 7 premier of The Walking Dead when Negan bludgeoned Glenn Rhee (played by my heart throb Steven Yeun) to death.

[MikeThomas]

I respect their decision to stick with the video game, but I won't be watching anymore.

[d.anders]

On 4/26/2025 at 3:22 PM, MikeThomas said:

I respect their decision to stick with the video game, but I won't be watching anymore.

I may not be far behind. The 3rd episode had the girls camping out in the woods on their way to Seattle by horseback. Are there no infected in the woods? It seemed like a jump-the-shark moment for me, considering what their town had recently gone through.

[+ Just Chuck]

I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt.  I'm willing to invest a few more episodes worth of time before I walk away from it.  I really think Bella Ramsey is a very talented actor and Craig Mazin's story telling has taken twists and turns that broke my heart but paid off enough that I'm going to stick with it for a while.

[MikeBiDude]

I staying with it, I certainly don’t agree they’ve “jumped the shark”. The end of Sunday night’s episode has me looking forward to next week.

[Manhattan]

Ugh. Isabella Ramsey. They are non-binary so we all have to pretend that they are great on the show. 
Truth is - she's neither non-binary (that's not a real thing) nor is she an actress. 
The universe created a woman with no talent for acting. Science fiction created a non-binary hero. Ugh. 

[+ EVdude]

18 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Truth is - she's neither non-binary (that's not a real thing) nor is she an actress. 

Don’t see the need to throw stones at someone’s chosen identity but I get what you’re saying with her now trying to carry the lead in TLOU. Playing a kid and with some chemistry between her and Joel in season 1 worked for me. But it’s like she’s still a kid with no Joel and major anger issues in season 2. It’s not working so far. And the directors, writers and costume/makeup artists haven’t done her any favors. The flashback episode with Joel last Sunday was quite a relief. I’m still invested. 

[Gilfson]

18 minutes ago, EVdude said:

Don’t see the need to throw stones at someone’s chosen identity but I get what you’re saying with her now trying to carry the lead in TLOU. Playing a kid and with some chemistry between her and Joel in season 1 worked for me. But it’s like she’s still a kid with no Joel and major anger issues in season 2. It’s not working so far. And the directors, writers and costume/makeup artists haven’t done her any favors. The flashback episode with Joel last Sunday was quite a relief. I’m still invested. 

I mean that's the whole story though.  they have made minor changes from the game but the second game is Ellie/Abby's story. Joels story was the first game. the tv only watches that stop watching due to Joel's death don't really care about they story and just watched for Pedro. Season 3 is going to be following abby's storyline.  The second game is all about rage from both sides Abby and Ellie.  The real issue is Bella Ramsey just isn't right for the role. I don't think she has the chops for it.

[Gilfson]

19 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Ugh. Isabella Ramsey. They are non-binary so we all have to pretend that they are great on the show. 
Truth is - she's neither non-binary (that's not a real thing) nor is she an actress. 
The universe created a woman with no talent for acting. Science fiction created a non-binary hero. Ugh. 

Her Gender Identity has literally nothing to do with it. If you want to critique her acting do that. But coming after someone's identity especially as a gay man (I presume) Speaks volumes about your character. 

[+ EVdude]

54 minutes ago, Gilfson said:

Season 3 is going to be following abby's storyline.  The second game is all about rage from both sides Abby and Ellie.

Spoiler! I didn’t and don’t know anything about the game. 

[Gilfson]

9 minutes ago, EVdude said:

Spoiler! I didn’t and don’t know anything about the game. 

I mean I didn’t go into specifics and they already announced that season 3 will be Abby’s pov

[Manhattan]

1 hour ago, Gilfson said:

Her Gender Identity has literally nothing to do with it. If you want to critique her acting do that. But coming after someone's identity especially as a gay man (I presume) Speaks volumes about your character. 

If you use your notoriety as a performer to promote your views on gender, neurodivergence, vegetarianism, Palestine, and Christianity to the public, then I think it's reasonable for a member of the public to include all of that in their critique of you as a performer. 

[Gilfson]

14 minutes ago, Manhattan said:

If you use your notoriety as a performer to promote your views on gender, neurodivergence, vegetarianism, Palestine, and Christianity to the public, then I think it's reasonable for a member of the public to include all of that in their critique of you as a performer. 

Her existing as non binary is “promoting her views on gender”? 
 

She is a member of the public. Do you think actors and actresses are contracted by the military?

 

And someone’s views don’t matter when it comes to performance. Separate the art from the artist or you are judging based on bias and not based on performance. And you come across as a bigot. Imagine if I said I can’t stand anything Neil Patrick Harris because he’s a queer and being gay is sinful and that means he’s a terrible performer because of what he does in the bedroom? See how stupid that sounds

[+ ApexNomad]

21 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Ugh. Isabella Ramsey. They are non-binary so we all have to pretend that they are great on the show. 
Truth is - she's neither non-binary (that's not a real thing) nor is she an actress. 
The universe created a woman with no talent for acting. Science fiction created a non-binary hero. Ugh. 

What a disturbing post. I’s not just ugly, it’s overtly transphobic, misgendering, and cruelly dismissive. A blatant form of erasure. Non-binary people exist and deserve the same respect and recognition as anyone else.

This statement contributes to the toxic culture that fuels discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals, and to read shit like this from my own community is a travesty.

[mike carey]

Folks, I think we have addressed the non-binary issue enough. This discussion of their gender identity risks crossing into the fraught political debate over gender politics, or to be abuse of a public figure, and you all know the rules on those matters.

[SirBillybob]

13 hours ago, mike carey said:

Folks, I think we have addressed the non-binary issue enough. This discussion of their gender identity risks crossing into the fraught political debate over gender politics, or to be abuse of a public figure, and you all know the rules on those matters.

As Offred/June, played and directed by Moss in next to last Ep passionately put minutes before a viewer “WTF did that just happen!?” response, “Love Serena Joy; choose love.” Handmaid’s Tale.

Edited May 22 by SirBillybob

[Wings246]

On 5/21/2025 at 5:10 PM, EVdude said:

Playing a kid and with some chemistry between her and Joel in season 1 worked for me. But it’s like she’s still a kid with no Joel and major anger issues in season 2. It’s not working so far. And the directors, writers and costume/makeup artists haven’t done her any favors.

I cannot agree more.  In addition to the heartwarming father-daughter relationship and the ethical dilemma, there were cheeky fun times and terrifying, anxiety inducing moments in S1.  It was a good mix/balance.  In S2, she simply transforms into an annoying, bitter, high-school looking bitch even though she should be depicted as a young adult by now (with all the life-changing challenges in a post apocalyptic world, the aging process should be sped up???).  She still looks like a prepubescent child to me.  They should have aged her more.

On 5/21/2025 at 5:34 PM, Gilfson said:

The real issue is Bella Ramsey just isn't right for the role. I don't think she has the chops for it.

I want to like her and her performance.  I try sooooooo hard to keep an open mind to accept her as Ellie.  However, her on-screen emotional expressions swing from extreme rage to pathetic teary eyes.  Don't get me wrong, she can deliver the tears and the berserk look, but it seems like there is no subtlety in between.  There are countless YouTube videos of the major scenes showing side-by-side comparison between the video game and the TV show.  I'm sorry to say that the CGI Ellie actually moves & impresses me more.  There is a progression of her psychology, not just a stubborn, unidimensional display of wrath.  The video game storyline gives you a deeper understanding of why & how she spirals down to mindless killings (in the name of vengeance) and eventually loses herself to a place of no return.  I am not sure if it is the script that fails BR or BR that fails to deliver the script.  It just doesn't work.  It lacks the depth and sophistication that are evident in the game.  Overall, S2 is a disappointment.  I bet I'll watch S3 when it is released, but the level of expectations will be much, much, much lower.

Edited June 1 by Wings246

[+ poolboy48220]

Found some interesting trivia - the voice actor behind Ellie in the video game is the waitress that Captain America saves, and has a scene thanking him in an interview, in "The Avengers".

[SirBillybob]

Emmy immunity for Ellie it is, then. 

[Wings246]

5 hours ago, poolboy48220 said:

the voice actor behind Ellie in the video game

Ashley Johnson.  She actually played Ellie's mother in the S1 finale.  For the video game, on top of voicing the characters, the actors/actresses actually acted out the scenes for motion capture production and then everything is transformed into the video game with CGI.  That's why S2 is hit by a barrage of criticisms.  Most die-hard fans of the game agree that the CGI + voice + green screen suit acting in the game is way better than the real-life, on-screen performance in the TV show.  What a disaster.  The saddest part is that these video game voice actors/actresses probably get paid 100 times less than the TV "stars."  How depressing is reality?

Edited June 2 by Wings246

[+ purplekow]

While Perdro was a major draw for me in Season 1 and the beginning of Season 2 and especially in the retrospective episode recently, it was the story that was captivating.  Now it is all about violence and revenge without the real sense of purpose that was in Season 1.  I cannot imagine Season 3 will add that dimension back as Abbie is Ellie in terms of lack of purpose and violence for the sake fo vengence.  If Ellie's dad is hot maybe he will draw me in but I am not hopeful that the story will, knowing what Abbie becomes.   Ellie. Abbie who is next. Effie or Addie or perhaps Iggie.  

[Nightowl]

9 hours ago, purplekow said:

While Perdro was a major draw for me in Season 1 and the beginning of Season 2 and especially in the retrospective episode recently, it was the story that was captivating.  Now it is all about violence and revenge without the real sense of purpose that was in Season 1.  I cannot imagine Season 3 will add that dimension back as Abbie is Ellie in terms of lack of purpose and violence for the sake fo vengence.  If Ellie's dad is hot maybe he will draw me in but I am not hopeful that the story will, knowing what Abbie becomes.   Ellie. Abbie who is next. Effie or Addie or perhaps Iggie.  

I agree.  The relationships between characters is what drew me in during season 1.  Now it’s just The Walking Dead redux.  

[d.anders]

I'm surprised by the harsh and negative critiques of Bella Ramsey. While, initially, her unique look struck me by surprise, her quirkiness grew on me. It made her growing love between Joel and Ellie more compelling. They could have cast just another Hollywood pretty, young girl, and how new or interesting would that have been?

I never questioned Bella Ramsey's talent. From day one of watching, I thought she was doing a super job, especially for a young actor.

I was disappointed to learn the show is based on a popular video game. The future plots are preordained. I know nothing about video games, and losing Joel struck me as a wrong move for the production. But it is what it is.

Season 1 was so incredibly creative and engaging. At every turn you found suspense, mystery, and complex characters. I had no idea where the story was going, but I didn't want to stop watching.

I did not like Season 2's opening, with the angry rift between Ellie and Joel. I understand that many children rebel against their parent figures, but I've grown tired of watching that truth in stories. So many popular drama series have used that device.

Season 2's characters are leaving me limp. I'm not enjoying Jesse. I don't like the character of Abby. And I'm not yet enjoying Jeffrey Wright's contribution. I'm still watching, but not hopeful about that lasting. If they shift focus to Abby, I may be out for good. I agree, this feels like another zombie series headed in The Walking Dead direction. Where else is there to go with zombies?