Absolutely loved the couple in the beginning. They were so sweet. I can see why the brother didn't go. He trusts his brother and feels a responsibility to be a father. Didn't want to abandon his wife who would probably be really mad if he left. Also, horses are really valuable... possible they didn't have another to spare.
As a father, it's exactly the reason why i WOULD'VE gone. Because of my responsibility to make the world the best i can for my kid. "Wife going to be mad" be dammed. He should've gone because Ellie is the key to fixing the world. To making it safer for his future kid, instead of worrying about one little bite killing him. If he was really wanting to be a good dad, he wouldn't have just pawned that responsibility off completely.
@@HSPaisley they address it in the game a little bit. When Tommy says no, Joel suggests he gets some of his "new friends" to do it. Tommy replies "They got families too."
Hey Hannah, I've been watching your Last of Us vods on twitch & wanted add to the conversation a little regarding your PoV on the flashback episodes especially (sorry if this isn't an appropriate place to put this comment). I've loved the games since they came out & am a big fan of the show because I think it has captured something vital: For me, The Last of Us is not about a journey across zombie-infested US to bring the macguffin to Mordor. The Last of Us is about exploring humanity & our relationships in adversity. I don't see episodes which interrupt Joel & Ellie's Odyssey as an intermission, but rather as core to the thesis of the story... Also, in fairness I played the game so I'm not worrying about 'wasting time' in wrapping up Joel & Ellie's arc -- I see what they're doing.
I think I have the opposite response the writers intended for episode 7. I didn't like Ellie in the beginning of the show, and in this episode where I learn about her, I just want to know about Joel. If it was before I had really formed an opinion about Ellie, it would have changed my view of the character. Episode 7 has not changed my view of the character at all.
@@HSPaisley Oh man, that's too bad, I think Ellie's a great character. But anyway, that focus on Joel is kind of what I'm getting at, you know? The game uses Joel & Ellie's relationship almost exclusively to explore the human condition, whereas in the show it's a different medium so they can more easily use different characters as well (like Bill & Frank). Regarding the Ellie flashback episode, that was actually DLC in the game (not part of the main story) which came out between The Last of Us & The Last of Us Part II, so I can see how it might feel a little out of place, but I'm not personally worried about them being able to finish the game's story in the last episode.
A big part of this episode was the development of the Joel/Ellie relationship as well as giving us a better understanding of what makes Joel tick. I thought it was excellently done, particularly because Joel is so closed off so the writers took the long path to revealing him. You said at the beginning that you wanted to see more progression in their relationship and they dedicated a good part of the episode to that, including giving them a climactic falling out and resolution.
The thing you have to remember is that the community in Jackson is essentially family based. Tommy himself said he was an expectant father. Joel asking him to travel cross-country with "an army", could put the entire community at risk. First off, if they were ever attacked by outsiders, a good portion of the commune who would normally defend Jackson wouldn't be there to ward off raiders. Secondly, the logistics of traveling with that many people would be a problem. Since there are barely any working vehicles anymore, the next best option would be horses, which would be extremely valuable in an end of the world scenario. I doubt the town would risk parting with that many. Thirdly, outside of Tommy, the towns people don't know who Joel and Ellie are. Asking them to risk their lives on a hunch that there might be a cure, probably wouldn't go over very well with people who's families are their main concern.
Tommy is happy in his community and is gonna be a father soon. It would be so selfish to ask him go with them and he didn't want it in a first place. And plus one person wouldn't really help much in this journey but telling whole community means putting Ellie at risk. Also, they established that this way isn't really that dangerous or long they just couldn't know that fireflies moved from there.
I assume Tommy didn't go because his priorities are 1. His new family, 2. Brother, 3. Everyone else. He helped murder innocents to help him and his brother survive so his morals are pretty clear. He puts family first. Cure or no cure his kid will have a dad. Lots of flaws with that value system but people are flawed.
The couple at the begining and the humor there reminds me a lot of the series "Reservation Dogs" executive produced by Taika Waititi. Most of the cast, writers, and crew are Indigenous Americans.
You talked a bit the second game... we'll see what happens but my prediction is a major reworking of it for TV adaption. That doesn't mean I think they will change major plot points (although I think it's at least worth considering), but the execution of the story will be vastly different, imo. People buy a game... they generally keep it even if they aren't happy with it, and I bet that happened with about half people who bought TLOU2. If half the people watching the show flip their TV's off after episode 2 or 3, then you have an entirely different kind of problem to deal with.
@@HSPaisley wouldn't put money on either of those assumptions. The majority of the hate for the second game was triggered by the huge amount of sexism that's a part of the gaming community, specifically. That and they're used to a media that panders heavily to them. Game of thrones got away with most of the things people have a problem with in the second game. They didn't tune out. The amount of people that thought this first season would be a failure was surprisingly large as well. I never had a doubt
When I first played this a decade ago, I took a break from the game after Sam and Henry died. When I picked it back up, I ended up playing it to completion in one sitting. I didn't mean to. I meant to just play a couple of hours, but the game just kept getting better and better, and I had to keep going. So I have high hopes for the rest of the season.
Story of second game is amazing but not for so wide audience as first game. I even would say it's even closer to arthouse films. Beginning of The Last of Us Part 2 is the most audasious thing they could do in so big and expensice AAA game and it's make a lot of sense for the idea they wanted to achive. I actually love second game because it's so distinctive even if it has some lows.
Watching this episode, I wonder if the writers were being serious when Ellie said "It doesn't aim right!" Usually rifles are sighted (i.e. your eyes should line up with the barrel when the rifle's butt is pressed against your cheek) for the user, even with a scope. Since Ellie and Joel obviously don't have the same face and arms, it makes sense the gun isn't sighted for her. It's a throw-away line I'm wondering will come up later. IIRC the rifle is the one they picked up off the old guy in the house last episode, who was a similar height and build to Joel, so it's probably something Joel didn't think about when he was teaching Ellie how to shoot. I haven't played the game, but I know Ellie uses a bow? I'm wondering if this is what they're setting up. Since she's immune, she has an advantage of being able to pull arrows out of infected no problem (something other people can't do). It's been 20 years and I doubt there's an AK factory pumping out guns and ammo. Surprised we haven't seen more bows.
Yeah, the pacing is super weird. They have 9 episodes to complete the story of a game that took me like 25 hours to play through. That's quite the trick to pull off, especially when 2 of the episodes aren't chronological so far, and are flashbacks. That said, though, the acting performances were superb in this episode.
There's gonna be another season, so I guess they're trying to stretch it out as much as possible. Though, personal opinion, I wouldn't mind a few more action scenes here and there.
Tommy has a child on the way. Joel is taking ellie so he can stay and be a father. You're not wrong, joel and Tommy would be a heck of a duo. Too big a risk for Tommy and Joel knows it.
Gotta remember its a game and they are going from plot point to plot point. if you add too much you piss of the gamers when u aren't cannon if u add too little there's pacing issues. tommy didn't go because tommy didnt go in the game. There was an easy 5 day journey to the university because in the game u just get to the university. in the game no one there because they moved on. The only criticism i have with this episode is they did not spend enough time at the university. they definitely rushed the episode to its conclusion. not sure why they didn't just opt for an hr and 10 min episode.
Remember it's an adaptation of a game that is structured like a road trip (I mean you know you're playing it now), so the traveling aspect makes sense in that regard. The pacing is the way it is because they are speedrunning the entire game while hitting every part important to the themes of the game's story along the way, but with most of the game part cut out. Sometimes that results in uneven episodes in the TV version. Hope you make it to the second game by the way before the show does. The themes are a lot more complicated and the game was controversial because of what it asked the player to accept. It didn't work for everyone, but it did for me, and I think it's probably the best-written mainstream game for that. The reason I hope you play the game before the show, though, is that I think its story will be even more difficult to pull off in a TV show format.
The show definitely has some pacing problems, but having played both games and loving them dearly, I understand that they heavily rely on emotions and relationships. It's undeniable that most players will fall in love with Joel and Ellie and be emotionally traumatized by the games. Despite the pacing issues, I still adore the show. I guess part of it is because I have played the game and already love these characters, there is an emotional bond there. There is not much happening, and that's nice, because this game has tendency of wrecking you when something happens. At this point, I would be perfectly fine if this show went into some alternate dimension where Joel and Ellie ended up in a sheep ranch, living a normal life, and growing old together. Maybe boring, but safe, the things we want for people we love. Ellie can continue to be a space nerd, reading comic books and playing guitar, while Joel raises sheep, away from the horrors that await them. However, it's true that pacing can be an issue, and this may also be true for the games to some extent. When emotions are so central to a game, players may not even notice slight pacing flaws. If you're looking for something as emotional as these games but with almost flawless storytelling in terms of pacing, characters, dialogue, and scope, I highly recommend checking out Red Dead Redemption 2.
the show has pacing problems because without overloading on fighting content. Like every walking dead episode ever created. there really isn't enough content to create much else. I mean they spent a whole episode in a town that u never even saw until the second game. so they have to tow a line between over creating content and maybe losing what the game was, or under doing it and making it feel a little bit rushed. In the end the only thing i found wrong with this episode was the ending was way rushed.
I agree with the pacing critique. I played the 2nd game completely, never played the first, but I know where the story is going. I think this first season should have been more than 9 episodes. The 3rd episode with Frank and Bill added to the story, but shouldn't had been a whole episode with only 9. And tonight's episode looks to be somewhat similar where the backstory might be a whole episode, but hopefully it will all pay off by episode 9.
Every story has plot holes and you definitely hit on one of my biggest ones in this episode. Considering Ellie's importance, not only should Tommy go along but literally anyone they can spare from the town should be coming too. These people seem fairly reasonable; the idea that they would shoot Ellie on sight for a bite from months ago seems like a pretty weak explanation of why only Joel and Tommy can know the truth.
Peoplez forgetting that the town is not a dictatorship. They have a council. Even if they started voting on believing the immunity story, word would've gotten out and somebody would've wanted to take Ellie out due to human nature, and how slow councils are in real life... at the very minimum they would've needed to imprison Ellie for weeks (AGAIN) and see for themselves, and still it would all hinge on random other people to believe the brother of a random dude who just arrived after being trained for 20 years to not trust anyone outside... hello?!
They were given a budget for 9 episodes, so sadly they're kinda rushing through everything. If it were up to me, I'd definitely like to see more episodes like episode 3 where each area they come in contact with had a big more thorough development in characters they interacted with so we can feel more when things happen.
If we end up at the end of the first game by the end of the season, and I was given nine episodes, I might have tried to stretch that and only go halfway through. Or something, I don't know. Add more story, I guess you can't please everybody but still.
It looks like season two will be game two, and I’m not so sure it will be as successful as this one, mainly because of the slower pace, so I wonder what they will change or how they will portray events and people. Of course, I already know I’m going to hate the first part of season 2, and I doubt they’ll change it from the game too much. But I did like most of game two, so we will see.
Not spoiling the game but the episode meant to be highlight of Joel and Ellie relationship from just two people stuck together to genuine bonds. The game did this better than the show.
![*The Last of Us* Is Getting INTENSE... [Episode 6] Reaction](/img/n.gif)
Absolutely loved the couple in the beginning. They were so sweet. I can see why the brother didn't go. He trusts his brother and feels a responsibility to be a father. Didn't want to abandon his wife who would probably be really mad if he left. Also, horses are really valuable... possible they didn't have another to spare.
As a father, it's exactly the reason why i WOULD'VE gone. Because of my responsibility to make the world the best i can for my kid. "Wife going to be mad" be dammed. He should've gone because Ellie is the key to fixing the world. To making it safer for his future kid, instead of worrying about one little bite killing him. If he was really wanting to be a good dad, he wouldn't have just pawned that responsibility off completely.
@@zimvader25 that is if you believe she is the answer. It is a bit of a stretch... I guess it depends on what you believe and trust.
I mean, if not Tommy, someone else should have gone with them. It should have been more than just joel.
@@HSPaisley they address it in the game a little bit. When Tommy says no, Joel suggests he gets some of his "new friends" to do it. Tommy replies "They got families too."
Tommy's confusion at the realization that he's a communist was so damn funny.
LOL YES! I loved that
Hey Hannah, I've been watching your Last of Us vods on twitch & wanted add to the conversation a little regarding your PoV on the flashback episodes especially (sorry if this isn't an appropriate place to put this comment).
I've loved the games since they came out & am a big fan of the show because I think it has captured something vital: For me, The Last of Us is not about a journey across zombie-infested US to bring the macguffin to Mordor. The Last of Us is about exploring humanity & our relationships in adversity.
I don't see episodes which interrupt Joel & Ellie's Odyssey as an intermission, but rather as core to the thesis of the story... Also, in fairness I played the game so I'm not worrying about 'wasting time' in wrapping up Joel & Ellie's arc -- I see what they're doing.
I think I have the opposite response the writers intended for episode 7. I didn't like Ellie in the beginning of the show, and in this episode where I learn about her, I just want to know about Joel. If it was before I had really formed an opinion about Ellie, it would have changed my view of the character. Episode 7 has not changed my view of the character at all.
@@HSPaisley Oh man, that's too bad, I think Ellie's a great character. But anyway, that focus on Joel is kind of what I'm getting at, you know?
The game uses Joel & Ellie's relationship almost exclusively to explore the human condition, whereas in the show it's a different medium so they can more easily use different characters as well (like Bill & Frank).
Regarding the Ellie flashback episode, that was actually DLC in the game (not part of the main story) which came out between The Last of Us & The Last of Us Part II, so I can see how it might feel a little out of place, but I'm not personally worried about them being able to finish the game's story in the last episode.
A big part of this episode was the development of the Joel/Ellie relationship as well as giving us a better understanding of what makes Joel tick. I thought it was excellently done, particularly because Joel is so closed off so the writers took the long path to revealing him. You said at the beginning that you wanted to see more progression in their relationship and they dedicated a good part of the episode to that, including giving them a climactic falling out and resolution.
The thing you have to remember is that the community in Jackson is essentially family based. Tommy himself said he was an expectant father. Joel asking him to travel cross-country with "an army", could put the entire community at risk. First off, if they were ever attacked by outsiders, a good portion of the commune who would normally defend Jackson wouldn't be there to ward off raiders. Secondly, the logistics of traveling with that many people would be a problem. Since there are barely any working vehicles anymore, the next best option would be horses, which would be extremely valuable in an end of the world scenario. I doubt the town would risk parting with that many. Thirdly, outside of Tommy, the towns people don't know who Joel and Ellie are. Asking them to risk their lives on a hunch that there might be a cure, probably wouldn't go over very well with people who's families are their main concern.
Tommy is happy in his community and is gonna be a father soon. It would be so selfish to ask him go with them and he didn't want it in a first place. And plus one person wouldn't really help much in this journey but telling whole community means putting Ellie at risk. Also, they established that this way isn't really that dangerous or long they just couldn't know that fireflies moved from there.
I assume Tommy didn't go because his priorities are 1. His new family, 2. Brother, 3. Everyone else. He helped murder innocents to help him and his brother survive so his morals are pretty clear. He puts family first. Cure or no cure his kid will have a dad. Lots of flaws with that value system but people are flawed.
The couple at the begining and the humor there reminds me a lot of the series "Reservation Dogs" executive produced by Taika Waititi. Most of the cast, writers, and crew are Indigenous Americans.
You talked a bit the second game... we'll see what happens but my prediction is a major reworking of it for TV adaption. That doesn't mean I think they will change major plot points (although I think it's at least worth considering), but the execution of the story will be vastly different, imo.
People buy a game... they generally keep it even if they aren't happy with it, and I bet that happened with about half people who bought TLOU2. If half the people watching the show flip their TV's off after episode 2 or 3, then you have an entirely different kind of problem to deal with.
agreed
@@HSPaisley wouldn't put money on either of those assumptions. The majority of the hate for the second game was triggered by the huge amount of sexism that's a part of the gaming community, specifically. That and they're used to a media that panders heavily to them. Game of thrones got away with most of the things people have a problem with in the second game. They didn't tune out. The amount of people that thought this first season would be a failure was surprisingly large as well. I never had a doubt
*I* wouldn't put money...
When I first played this a decade ago, I took a break from the game after Sam and Henry died. When I picked it back up, I ended up playing it to completion in one sitting. I didn't mean to. I meant to just play a couple of hours, but the game just kept getting better and better, and I had to keep going. So I have high hopes for the rest of the season.
ANOTHER ONE 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳,
Let's Gooooo.
Story of second game is amazing but not for so wide audience as first game. I even would say it's even closer to arthouse films. Beginning of The Last of Us Part 2 is the most audasious thing they could do in so big and expensice AAA game and it's make a lot of sense for the idea they wanted to achive. I actually love second game because it's so distinctive even if it has some lows.
100% agree :)
Watching this episode, I wonder if the writers were being serious when Ellie said "It doesn't aim right!" Usually rifles are sighted (i.e. your eyes should line up with the barrel when the rifle's butt is pressed against your cheek) for the user, even with a scope. Since Ellie and Joel obviously don't have the same face and arms, it makes sense the gun isn't sighted for her.
It's a throw-away line I'm wondering will come up later. IIRC the rifle is the one they picked up off the old guy in the house last episode, who was a similar height and build to Joel, so it's probably something Joel didn't think about when he was teaching Ellie how to shoot.
I haven't played the game, but I know Ellie uses a bow? I'm wondering if this is what they're setting up. Since she's immune, she has an advantage of being able to pull arrows out of infected no problem (something other people can't do). It's been 20 years and I doubt there's an AK factory pumping out guns and ammo. Surprised we haven't seen more bows.
Tommy was gonna be a dad is why he stayed
I just like that reasoning
I see 3 of your books on Kindle. (all 3 are 4 to 5 stars out of 5 rated) So, buying Magic Required. Well, after I watch this.
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy them.
Yeah, the pacing is super weird. They have 9 episodes to complete the story of a game that took me like 25 hours to play through. That's quite the trick to pull off, especially when 2 of the episodes aren't chronological so far, and are flashbacks. That said, though, the acting performances were superb in this episode.
There's gonna be another season, so I guess they're trying to stretch it out as much as possible. Though, personal opinion, I wouldn't mind a few more action scenes here and there.
We’re definitely going to get threw the entire first game by the end of the show
Tommy has a child on the way. Joel is taking ellie so he can stay and be a father.
You're not wrong, joel and Tommy would be a heck of a duo. Too big a risk for Tommy and Joel knows it.
jelly and oil XD
Lol
since it's an HBO show I think the motivations for adapting the second season will be fine
Like you think they'll stay the same as the game?
Gotta remember its a game and they are going from plot point to plot point. if you add too much you piss of the gamers when u aren't cannon if u add too little there's pacing issues. tommy didn't go because tommy didnt go in the game. There was an easy 5 day journey to the university because in the game u just get to the university. in the game no one there because they moved on. The only criticism i have with this episode is they did not spend enough time at the university. they definitely rushed the episode to its conclusion. not sure why they didn't just opt for an hr and 10 min episode.
Seriously, they have had some very long episodes so I'm not sure why there's such a discrepancy between the length of them
@@HSPaisley agreed
Remember it's an adaptation of a game that is structured like a road trip (I mean you know you're playing it now), so the traveling aspect makes sense in that regard. The pacing is the way it is because they are speedrunning the entire game while hitting every part important to the themes of the game's story along the way, but with most of the game part cut out. Sometimes that results in uneven episodes in the TV version.
Hope you make it to the second game by the way before the show does. The themes are a lot more complicated and the game was controversial because of what it asked the player to accept. It didn't work for everyone, but it did for me, and I think it's probably the best-written mainstream game for that. The reason I hope you play the game before the show, though, is that I think its story will be even more difficult to pull off in a TV show format.
The show definitely has some pacing problems, but having played both games and loving them dearly, I understand that they heavily rely on emotions and relationships. It's undeniable that most players will fall in love with Joel and Ellie and be emotionally traumatized by the games.
Despite the pacing issues, I still adore the show. I guess part of it is because I have played the game and already love these characters, there is an emotional bond there.
There is not much happening, and that's nice, because this game has tendency of wrecking you when something happens. At this point, I would be perfectly fine if this show went into some alternate dimension where Joel and Ellie ended up in a sheep ranch, living a normal life, and growing old together. Maybe boring, but safe, the things we want for people we love. Ellie can continue to be a space nerd, reading comic books and playing guitar, while Joel raises sheep, away from the horrors that await them.
However, it's true that pacing can be an issue, and this may also be true for the games to some extent. When emotions are so central to a game, players may not even notice slight pacing flaws.
If you're looking for something as emotional as these games but with almost flawless storytelling in terms of pacing, characters, dialogue, and scope, I highly recommend checking out Red Dead Redemption 2.
the show has pacing problems because without overloading on fighting content. Like every walking dead episode ever created. there really isn't enough content to create much else. I mean they spent a whole episode in a town that u never even saw until the second game. so they have to tow a line between over creating content and maybe losing what the game was, or under doing it and making it feel a little bit rushed. In the end the only thing i found wrong with this episode was the ending was way rushed.
@@mjeid4835 True. Ending was very rushed. In the game that scene when Ellie takes charge is phenomenal.
I agree with the pacing critique. I played the 2nd game completely, never played the first, but I know where the story is going. I think this first season should have been more than 9 episodes. The 3rd episode with Frank and Bill added to the story, but shouldn't had been a whole episode with only 9. And tonight's episode looks to be somewhat similar where the backstory might be a whole episode, but hopefully it will all pay off by episode 9.
I'm watching tonight's episode tomorrow, I hope you're writing it all pays off in the end.
07:14 it is... Isn't it?
Yes.
Every story has plot holes and you definitely hit on one of my biggest ones in this episode. Considering Ellie's importance, not only should Tommy go along but literally anyone they can spare from the town should be coming too. These people seem fairly reasonable; the idea that they would shoot Ellie on sight for a bite from months ago seems like a pretty weak explanation of why only Joel and Tommy can know the truth.
To me that seems like a perfectly reasonable explanation...
Peoplez forgetting that the town is not a dictatorship. They have a council. Even if they started voting on believing the immunity story, word would've gotten out and somebody would've wanted to take Ellie out due to human nature, and how slow councils are in real life... at the very minimum they would've needed to imprison Ellie for weeks (AGAIN) and see for themselves, and still it would all hinge on random other people to believe the brother of a random dude who just arrived after being trained for 20 years to not trust anyone outside... hello?!
I mean, Ellie staying there for a year, and leaving with enough people to actually protect her would be better than what has happened to thus far.
@@HSPaisley I'll respectfully agree to disagree 🤣
They were given a budget for 9 episodes, so sadly they're kinda rushing through everything. If it were up to me, I'd definitely like to see more episodes like episode 3 where each area they come in contact with had a big more thorough development in characters they interacted with so we can feel more when things happen.
If we end up at the end of the first game by the end of the season, and I was given nine episodes, I might have tried to stretch that and only go halfway through. Or something, I don't know. Add more story, I guess you can't please everybody but still.
It's all done better in the game
9 minutes edit, that has to be the most low effort reaction I've seen so far.
And yet you still commented to help the algorithm promote my low effort video. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Not all heroes were capes.
@@HSPaisley I will not fall for your jedi tricks!
It looks like season two will be game two, and I’m not so sure it will be as successful as this one, mainly because of the slower pace, so I wonder what they will change or how they will portray events and people. Of course, I already know I’m going to hate the first part of season 2, and I doubt they’ll change it from the game too much. But I did like most of game two, so we will see.
Not spoiling the game but the episode meant to be highlight of Joel and Ellie relationship from just two people stuck together to genuine bonds.
The game did this better than the show.
*opinion* not fact
@@mjeid4835 ok????????