speedboatchase wrote:The more standalone episodes (ep3, ep8) were incredible but came largely at the expense of the overall story.
I agree they came at the expense of the show only because there wasn't enough time left for everything else, if the run had been longer by just a few episodes they would have had the breathing space for them.
deathofcows wrote:Joel's killing spree felt very different to the game, I thought. More uncomfortable, more of a massacre? May be his impassive expression and the music tone. Almost felt like I was watching a psychopath school-shooter spree or something. Was effective! Felt like whatever the Old Joel was capable of (the Bad Things Tommy previously referred to) had come back. I'd have to compare to the gameplay but of the game to work out why it was less sympathetic? (likely intentionally so)
Barnsy! wrote:Joels actionsat the end of the game were entirely in keeping with the way he was portrayed throughout the game, but up until this point I couldn't see TV Joel (who has done some shitty things) killing a hospital full of people
deathofcows wrote:Show as a whole felt a bit small, and less of A Journey than the game. Partly because of literal time-spent-with-characters but also I think just in pacing.
Definitely. I almost felt they were trying too hard to oversell the progression in Joel/Ellie's relationship in the episodes where it step-changed because they didn't have the time for it to develop naturally. My favourite episode remains episode 6 and I think that's because it was the one that most captured the pair on a journey aspect.
jiggles wrote:The ending of the game sort of pivots on Ellie choosing to believe Joel, but given how unbelievable Joel’s story now is, the ending of the show now to leans more towards her knowing he is lying and simply accepting it.
deathofcows wrote:(Unsure why The Lie is more interesting and important to people than The Choice though! Both are Significant)
deathofcows wrote:Anyway I liked it, didn't love it, but got a lot out of watching it and thinking about it (and the differences).
That sums it up nicely for me too! I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much as a standalone show, but as a game fan it was fun making comparisons and seeing how it all got translated. The shot-for-shot line-for-line parts were good and proof of the game's filmic qualities, but for the most part I thought the game did them better (not necessarily in isolation or direct comparison, but in pacing and build-up and getting the player invested). The divergence of the adapation was more interesting and sometimes succeeded (ep3 and the jakarta world building (I wish we'd seen more)) but more often came off worse to me (like
Kansas city and
the pregnancy). What I think is neat is how they have obviously benefited from knowing where things are going from the second game so there is more continuity set up with that. I'll definitely be watching the next season!