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I don't think there's a world where rationally you could stay behind Joel. He just jeopardized the world's salvation for selfish reasons. But we love Joel, and we love Ellie, so we forgive Joel saving Ellie. We forgive him killing dozen of people who were mostly trying to do the right thing, we forgive him chosing one person over the entire world, all this to save someone who would probably disagree with his actions. The spectator forgives, but if I was living as a Firefly, or just a random person in this world, and I knew what happened and the scale of what was lost, Joel would be on trial for crime against humanity. I guess we do defend the ones we love against reason, as do the spectators (me included, I love both thee characters and their relationship, don't get me wrong).
@@ronc5825 "Selfishness", "ideals", and "love". These things are confused, mixed up, and misunderstood when it comes to individual actions like the one Joel had made. We can easily brand what Joel did as "irrational", though that's where love is always strongest. As humans, when we love, we don't do things that are rational, logical, or sensible. To others, these actions can appear insane. Although, to others who understand Joel, from knowing what pain he feels because we have struggled through the same suicidal thoughts or thoughts of grief, we can empathize. Joel made a human choice, because love is anything but black or white.
@@peterwyatt5702 I agree with everything you said. I'm just trying to answer "was it right? Do you agree?", basically I understand, I empathize, I would probably (try to) do the same if I were him, but I cannot in good conscience "agree" with what Joel did when you look at it from a objective standpoint =).
I used to hate the world and I was happy when everyone died, but I was wrong. Because there was one person worth saving. That's what I did: I saved him. And I protected him. That's why men like you and me are here: We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way. -Bill Perfectly describes this episode.
@Debrutsideno - Exactly my sentiment too. I would also side with Joel 100%, as at the end it all is not as simple as it seems to be. But at some level, basic human responses - it is. Unless you are just another person sitting behing your keyboard, and being driven by some "emotions" of civilian life, lack of empathy and so on. Most people would do the same. Some wouldn't because they would think about some "greater" good. But, yeah... as a former military engineer/medic, who also has been working and living in over 20+ countries and seen enough crap (also considering the whole relationship between Ellie and Joel, and their past experiences) = yeah, I would do the same, and I would have no remorse regarding it. I wouldn't like it, but I would stil do it. I would also lie to Ellie at this particular point in the story. Why? Kind of obvious. And I would also known that this was wrong. But still would do it, at this point in her life. Because at this point it was about her, and she wasn't ready to bear that knowledge. Not just yet. And as a older perosn, with more experience, military one too, I would know that. And definitely I would tell her the truth sometimes later (when the moment is right, not that emotional, or when she is older), and then deal with the consequences of my own lie.
_"I don't know how to feel about this."_ That's almost verbatim what I said after finishing the game, and it was just as impactful watching this series. Thanks for your reactions! I'm glad you enjoyed it too 🙂
I'm not someone that gives a 10/10 usually but this series is totally that: a 10/10! The cast was amazing, the soundtrack was amazing, thankfully Gustavo Santaolalla was kept, and this incredible adaptation will, hopefully, make other videogame series/movies the same, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann set up an example on how to adapt videogames moving forward for sure.
People giving this 10/10 are forgetting that there are adaptations like ARCANE already released and loved by fans in all aspects of storyline, art and score!
@@sumairali1688 Arcane is an amazing adaptation of a video game, and I agree all the "this is breaking the video game adaptation curse" comments tend to forget about it... however it's not quire an exact adaptation of an existing story line from a narrative game the same way Last of Us is.
Perhaps part of the reason Marlene underestimated Joel is that she underestimated the bond that he and Ellie had formed. She might have figured that the mercenary, independent Joel was ultimately out for himself and his own interests as he had been for the most of the apocalypse so he would go quietly on his way with the odds stacked against him.
Even if he just saw Ellie as cargo in some alternate universe, Marlene gave him nothing for his "job", while he was promised everything he wanted in the first episode, as payment. So even if he didn't bond with Ellie, he would probably still have gone full terminator mode on the Fire Flies, because they left him empty handed - and without Tess. Nobody is perfect, that's the second theme of this series, after "love". Maybe Marlene could not find the courage to talk to both Ellie & Joel as an adult instead of splitting them up after being capctured and decided to not tell her. Maybe if Joel saw Ellie accepting her sacrifice, he could have made peace with it.
Yeah I mean Marlene already knows joel, she doesn’t know he had a daughter before and sees joel as this person ‘who is capable of bad things’ and is more toughened
@@caleidoo I don't think Joel could have made peace with it if Ellie accepted her sacrifice. But you do make a good point, he wanted to deliver Ellie to get equipment and a vehicle to go find Tommy and... well... that's no longer needed. So he would have basically gotten nothing as payment for it, which is not great
@@VerowakReacts and the reason she didn’t think he would was that she didn’t…. Think about it - your best friend gives you her kid to take care of and she walks away once she’s in the fedra school…. And she made the call to kill elllie. That by defn means she didn’t connect with Ellie… Ended up costing her her life…
The saddest part in the game is when Ellie change her demeanor to a less talkative person. That was the part that stuck with me. So far in the game she was goofy despite all that happened, It breaks your heart that sudden change. Great reaction btw.
@@prasithoudomvilay8454 When they wrote Anna into the script he said they only had ONE person in mind for the role: Ashley Johnson. like others have said, it's very poetic, she is giving birth to the character she created.
IDK now if you noticed but the jacket that Anna is wearing at the beginning of the episode, is the same Jacket Ellie wears in episode 4. BTW: the actress who plays Marlene in the show, played Marlene in the games.
The ordeal with David has affected Ellie in numerous ways. The ordeal itself was obviously very traumatic, but I also think it triggered incredible survivor's guilt. As you see in the final lines of the episode, it's something she's struggled with for a long time. And every time she survives something new and awful, I think it opens that wound back up. I think it's especially difficult for her, because everyone who has died, has died either directly or indirectly as a result of being around Ellie-through no fault of Ellie, but still. Riley died taking Ellie out for a night of fun. Tess died transporting Ellie. Henry and Sam died sneaking out of an occupied area, because they met up with Joel and Ellie. Death seems to follow Ellie, and she keeps surviving. And I think the idea of this cure for the infection potentially not working and her journey possibly being for nothing is weighing on her. I think she views her immunity as the one thing she can do to redeem all the loss that has accompanied her. And then Joel took that choice away from her(as did the Fireflies). There are no winners here. Such is the case in a post apocalyptic world, I guess. And Joel lost one daughter, he wasn’t about to loser another. You can tell how much he loves her in the giraffe scene when he doesn’t even look at the giraffe he just looks at Ellie the entire time. The giraffe symbolizes there still being beauty in a broken world. To Ellie, the beauty is in the giraffe. To Joel, the beauty is in Ellie and her smiling.
There are definitely no winners here, every choice ends in heartbreak. I loved seeing Joel look at Ellie during the giraffe scene, it was a great way of showing how Joel feels. Ellie definitely feels like she's the reason people around her keeps dying, it's so sad to see
In my opinion, I think Ellie suspects Joel's is not telling the truth but she believed him anyway, because the thought of it not being true is too painful for her
@@caleidoo To be clear I wasn't hinting at anything plot-wise, just that the games are out there for anyone who wants to experience the rest of the story right now. A good reason to get into gaming for anyone who hasn't yet
That ending is just perfect. You can see it in her eyes she doesn't believe him, yet loves him too much to make an issue out of it. I think i would've made the same decision as Joel honestly. Anyway, awesome end, cannot wait for S2. Awesome reaction, as always Vero ✌😊
I loved the creator's comments about this in the podcast. When Anna tells Marlene that she cut the cord before she was bitten, it's obvious that Marlene doubts her (which is why Anna repeats it), but she chooses to believe that it's the truth because the alternative would be too horrible. I think the same is true for Ellie in this scene, it's not that she believes Joel because she loves him, it's because she couldn't deal with it being a lie.
@@VerowakReacts Ellie at the dam: "You could've just made something up, I would've believed you." Maria in Jackson: "The only people who can betray you, are the ones you trust." And it already started with a harmless "Everybody loved contractors."
@@isakoqv I think it's both. If she didn't love him, it would be easier to accept that he was lying, but to be betrayed by the person you love and trust the most in all the world is just something she cannot take. So she disassociates and accepts the lie even tho she knows it isn't true.
If I recall correctly, in the HBO podcast they said that everybody who's a parent, said they would have made the choice that Joel made. All others are in doubt, but can related to both options.
What an absolute rollercoaster of a season this has been - so emotional, beautifully shot, haunting music and characters that don't half make you FEEL so much!! I agree that it's heartbreaking to see the flip in their relationship, and I held my breath over that 'swear to me' moment being Joel's final chance to tell Ellie the truth and not have this heavy and devastating lie hanging over their heads - Pedro's and Bella's performances have made me cry so many times, and I'm every bit as attached to them as I was Troy and Ashley in the game! The wait for S2 will be HARD! It's been a pleasure hearing your thoughts and seeing your emotional investment in this show! Fave character/episode for me was Joel and Episode 5, Endure And Survive!
I have not played any of the games yet, and my knowledge of the story was pretty close to 0 before watching the series. I fell deeply in love with these two characters. The final parts of this episode left me quite shook, and something you've said in the end of your video reminded me of why. To me this is an extremely sad ending because what we see is such a pure and strong bond between them being probably permanently harmed. I have no idea yet what happens in Part 2. If anyone responds to this comment, please don't mention of forshadow or hint anything about it. It's a sad story for me, but so beautifully told.
It's such a sad, tragic story and the way they've shown it is amazing. I just want Joel and Ellie to be happy, and I completely get why Joel did what he did. I just really hope it doesn't end horribly for them. Season 2 will be amazing
marlene only knows the episode 1 Joel. he was a cold and broken man. she never excepted him to become so attached that he would burn down that hospital to save ellie.
That was a mistake that would cost them all their lives. Immediately when she said to take him out to the highway and leave him, I thought "sure she knows he'll kill them and come back??" but she hasn't seen him since. That being said, while he didn't want to take on the job of escorting Ellie to begin with, it's still quite a step from being okay with murdering a child.
I’d argue that she’s known Joel even before that & has seen his passion / ruthlessness. Especially for those he loves. And on a short trip from the QZ to the statehouse there wouldn’t be any connection. But on a treacherous trip across the country that even she almost died - that trauma bond was bound to come into play. Plus, Ellie is so charismatic it’s impossible not to get attached. I think she should have had an inkling that might happen.
after 10 years of coming back to this story, the best way to describe the impact of this game (or now, series) is "transformative" It changed me as a person. Part 2 even more so. It was tough, even traumatic at times. But at the end, i like to think that thinking and talking about it with so many others has helped me grow. Thank you for letting us participate in this experience! Hope to see you again when the time comes for more of this world, one way or another.
Transformative is a great word to describe the impact of this game. It helps see the different sides of the story and how everyone is doing what they think is best or what is best for them. All these characters (except for David, he's the one that I can't forgive), could be the protagonist in their own spin-off
Also the idea they had to name the episode where Joel loses his daughter "When You're Lost in the Darkness" and the episode where he saves his new daughter "Look for the Light" was such a low punch in the gut.
Elie definitely didn't believe a word Joel said about what happened at the firefly hospital. She made him swear because she doesn't want to believe that he's lying to her. Him swearing is a way to force herself to believe him because she trusts him. Maria did tell her that the only people who can betray you are the ones you trust.
As someone who’s never played the game, I don’t care-it’s such an incredible show! The scene where Joel admitted to wanting to take his own life broke my heart, and made it even sadder given Pedro lost his mom that way too. Ellie and Joel saying they’re happy he failed with tears in their eyes broke me too…as it is very relatable unfortunately. I think the show has tackled hard topics (SA, mental health/suicide) very tastefully. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey…give those two their golden globes and emmys now! Their chemistry is palpable-perfectly cast!
The immediate "what?!" when the credits start running was relatable haha! I had much the same reaction, like nah no way they're leaving us like this right? Right??! This is hands down one of the best tv-shows, if not the best tv-show, I've ever watched. The casting is perfect, the tempo is perfect, there isn't a single character or action that doesn't seem believable, and all that while staying very true to the game it's based on. Absolutely fantastic, everyone involved deserves every award. I'm conflicted on season 2, on the one hand I want it NOW but on the other hand I'm pretty sure Ellie will find out and she'll be mad that Joel lied to her and I can't bear the idea of Joel losing another child 😢
100% agree with you, hands down one of the best tv shows ever (I'm pretty sure it's my favorite though). It's amazing to see how everyone doing such a great job at everything comes together. The casting was top notch for sure, all the characters were believable. I'm conflicted too... I don't want Joel to lose Ellie because of him lying, but I also want to see what happens
Not only an origin story, but that is Ashley Johnson who played Ellie in the game! Also one of the nurses is Laura Bailey who not only played a nurse in the game also but played one of the main characters in the second game.
I loved this episode and I especially loved Joel in it. He was so open and healed. He was even talking openly about Sara which I'm not sure he's ever done. I also love savage Joel who stopped at nothing to save Ellie. These two deserve ALL the acting awards. The thousand things you could see pass across Ellie's face in those brief seconds before she simply says, "Okay," is a freaking masterclass. I cried through the entire thing with you!
Seeing Joel so open was amazing. He was so comfortable talking about everything and sharing everything with Ellie 😭 The way they showed Joel being savage was really well done. I love the audio and visuals. Your words are exactly how I felt for this episode 😭😍
Favorite character for part 1 is definitely Joel. He's a very complicated, flawed, human character. Tess says he and her are not good people. We see this through short glimpses of him interrogating David's men, murdering everyone in the hospital, lying to Ellie etc. And yet, for someone who has everything absolutely taken from him (Sarah, Tess, Tommy-for a while), we can totally understand why he is the way he is. I don't normally watch TV series- this is an easy 10 for me. Looking forward to your playthrough on the PC!
They did such a great job showing Joel's character and his growth. It was heartbreaking to watch this episode, but the series as a whole was phenomenal!
I just discovered your channel with TLOU, and I've really enjoyed your thoughtful analysis and emotional honesty. I look forward to watching other reactions from you in the future!
This final episode shocking and surprising at the same time, I really enjoyed seeing your reactions and that you liked this story as it happened to me when I played it for the first time in 2014, looking forward to the second season❤️
Man, I love how we didnt get to see this side of Joel fully unleashed until the last episode when he had something to protect, but it was always something that was hinted at.. it all comes together in this moment here.. Bills letter saying "we have a job to do and God help any mother fuckers who stand in our way", everyone besides Tess being afraid of Joel, it was all building up to this very moment where we all came to understand... just why people had very good reason to be scared of crossing this man.
My favorite character is Ellie and episode is episode 8, both Pedro and Bella were terrific. I just wanted to say you were my favorite reactor (?) through this series, it was a pleasure watching it with you! Thank you sharing this with us. Looking forward to watching the channel's backlog!
It'll be really interesting to see someone play TLOU PART 1 for the first time after watching the show. It's usually the other way around, so that's cool.
Great series! This has been my favorite reaction channel to watch for this show. I love how throughout this series whenever Ellie & Joel interact or show any affection Verowak immediately starts crying 😂🤣. I loved that they gave an explanation for Ellie’s immunity because they never did in the game if I recall. Looking forward to your game play through. And then you won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next because you can always play Part II as well. It’s a divisive game but I’m in the camp of those who think Part II is a masterpiece. It’s brilliant.
I just loved seeing their bond so much, Pedro and Bella did phenomenal! When I can get into a series like this, I really get into it 😍😂 I'm not playing Part II until after I watch Season 2, so it'll be a while still and I'm ok with that.
@@VerowakReacts Pedro was fantastic but I absolutely love the Bella casting. That was a grand slam home run in my opinion. I also totally buy that Anna was her mother. Ashley Johnson and Bella Ramsey look so much alike. At least enough to be related. It was so poetic to have game Ellie give birth to show Ellie.
@@Nick-kb2jc I feel like all the characters throughout the series have been perfectly cast. I do love how game Ellie got to give birth to tv show Ellie, that was great :D
Ellie knows Joel well enough that she recognizes he is lying. Your reactions are so endearing. I've enjoyed this journey with covering this series. I look forward to your future content.
This last chapter is very similar to the ending in the game. Very well adapted. And once again, I loved your reaction. Best regards from Argentina.!!!!
I feel like everyone is happy with this adaptation. It sounds like they did a fantastic job bringing this story to life 🤩 I hope the weather is nice in Argentina!!
Episode 1 and its from Marlene. I love how episode 2 and 3 came full circle, Tess telling him "Save the ones you can save" and Bill saying "We are protectors and Damn who ever gets in our way" There is no way Joel was going to let her die over some "Maybe cure.. Cant wait till next season and Thanks for the reactions, you're awesome!
Yes, episode 1 Marlene... the quote that started this all :) 0% chance of Joel letting Ellie die, that's for sure! I'm so excited for season 2, and thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the reactions
As Bill said in the third episode: "This is why we’re here; We are here to protect the person we love, and God help any motherfuckers that get in our way".
This episode f*cked me up and I still haven't come to terms with all the implications, but I just wanted to say your reactions to this episode (and the whole show) have been incredible.
The whole scenario is somewhat analogous to two parents who are getting divorced and bickering about what is best for their child, without actually taking the child's wishes into consideration. In their own ways, Marlene and Joel are both correct - but as you pointed out the final decision should have been Ellie's and hers alone. Considering the world she grew up in, what's she's seen and had to do, at least respect her agency. No matter what way it panned out, there are gonna be consequences. No escaping it.
Ellie doing the right thing would have ended up with Joel not missing this time. Joel is just so afraid of losing Ellie though, so his stance makes sense. And Marlene wanting to find a cure also makes sense. All three decisions have consequences for sure
@@VerowakReacts We definitely saw Joel at his most ruthless - even more than in the previous episode when he was torturing David's men for information on Ellie's whereabouts - in the hospital he was single-minded and almost ice-cold. Did he act selfishly? Absolutely. Was he 'wrong'? Not as clear cut as that, I'm afraid.
My pleasure! The series was just simply amazing, and Joel is such an interesting character (though he's my favourite, I it might be because it's Pedro Pascal)
Another great, empathetic reaction. What a powerful episode and finale. Like some of the best and most memorable fiction for me it was incredibly bittersweet. Joel and Ellie's relationship now, their opening up to each other, their conversation after feeding the giraffe etc.; you can see the love in their eyes, and after how they started out - totally cold, antagonistic, closed off - it's just so beautiful and touching. But that also coexisted with the pain and horror of Joel's actions and most of all his (basically selfish) deceit of Ellie. When he was advancing against the Fireflies to rescue Ellie I obviously felt enormous relief, satisfaction. But also a deep sadness because these people were in many ways heroic, had faced incredible odds to get to the point of possibly finding a cure, were possibly the last great hope of humanity; even though partly justified, it was still in many ways a terrible thing to do. So that sequence for me had a sense of both crushing moral horror and despair, as well as being uplifting, righteous and an archetypal, unstoppable embodiment of the ferocity and strength of love. All of which made it deeply moving. The lie to Ellie was the worst thing. Heartbreaking to see that deep trust betrayed, and it will lie festering between them until it comes out. But of course it just makes me empathise and feel more for Joel (and both of them). My favourite character; man I'm so torn between Joel and Ellie. I don't think I can pick between them, I just love them both, and couldn't agree more; Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey gave wonderful performances - their connection was what made the show special, though I agree Joel's opening up perhaps puts him at the top if I had to pick. Favourite episode; maybe episode 5? Found Pedro Pascal's acting, and the ups and downs of Ellie and Joel's relationship in that episode really touching. Though episodes 8 and 9 were amazing too. And episode 4 I love for their building relationship. Man lol I'm just terrible with picking one.
*Episode 6 at the dam:* Ellie to Joel: _You know, you could've just made something up, I would've believed you._ Well... that's prolly *not* what she meant, Joel!!! ☹
@@VerowakReacts Oh yes, it *does* completely make sense from Joel's point of view - He doesn't want to risk losing another daughter after all. Yet that might backfire in the future since it is quite a breach of trust... It's quite tragic neither Marlene nor Joel gave Ellie a choice in what to do... Marlene acted a bit too fast for the "greater good" and Joel had to react to it.. I have a bad feeling about their relationship in Season 2 now... 😟 P.S. some quote I remembered in that context: _When a person lies, what is important is not the lie itself. No, it is their reason. Their why._ *- Holo The Wise Wolf* I just doubt Ellie will understand & accept Joel's "why" though... 😨
Fave Character: Ellie - Bella Ramsey was perfect, and where her acting choices differed from Game Ellie, i preferred Bella Game Joel is more of a stone-cold ice man - makes sense given he mostly goes around murdering raiders and zombies during gameplay. I see why they had Pedro play him more vulnerable throughout for a TV show, but with Game Joel, when the facade finally cracks, you feel it that much more… Fave Episode: Long, Long Time - I’ve played the game too many times to be swept up in the twists and turns as if I didn’t know they were coming, so naturally my pick is the one episode that was nearly 100% original; beautiful story!
I'm really curious to see how different game Ellie and Joel are to the series! Also a really good sign that you've played the game so much, I love games with replayability and immersive stories. Once I finish playing the game I'll be rewatching the show to see all the little easter eggs or things I missed that are from the game
@@VerowakReacts i hope you bring us along for at least some of that ride! where there are differences in characterization, plotting, and dialogue, i think i prefer the game 60% of the time, and part of me is sad that you won’t get to experience the game as a completely naive audience. but then the main difference really is the medium: with the benefit of a basis for comparison, i’m now surprised at how often gameplay mechanics are integrated as storytelling devices in the game. there’s a lot of heavy lifting being done by immersion in the game world that (from a neuropsych perspective!) you just can’t do as well on a show. adrenaline spikes from particularly fraught or scary zombie encounters really make the cut scenes pop, and even just wandering around the environment for hours casts a certain spell. on the other hand, i also know i’m completely biased, and i’m VERY curious to see how you feel having been exposed to the show first!
@@doctaflo I'll definitely be letting everyone know when I do play/upload videos. I'm super curious to see how different the characters, events and world is in the game!
The idea that so many people think Joel is a monster when it is Marlene who is using the ends to justify the means is almost funny. Who says it would even work? An epidemiologist was interviewed. and said killing Ellie is the last thing you should do. I have three sons and I think Joel was 100% correct. Your reactions are great. Glad I found your channel.
I love this show because every character that is shown as an antagonist could be the protagonist if the story was about them. Marlene and Kathleen are the two that come to mind. They are doing what they think is best/is right, it's really interesting
When it comes to Marlene is her statement, in both the game and the show, that she knew Elie since Ellie was born. No she didn't, she dropped Ellie off a FEDRA school and didn't talk to her until she found out Ellie was immune.
Fun fact: As you already know, Ellie's actress from the game played Anna in this episode But she isn't the only actor from the games to appear in this episode! One of the female doctors in the operating room is played by Laura Bailey, who plays a very important character in the second game! (but I hope this isn't her only cameo since she didn't have any lines or anything compared to Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson)
Perfect Reaction!!! Love binds us together and that same love will doom all humanity. In the heat of it all most humans break all bonds of morality. This is the beginning of Joel's villain arc. This is how all our villain arcs begin. We love something so much we lose site of the higher purpose. Humans are doomed in this world. Even us in the real world live with this struggle. Poor Joel. The bill we make for our love always comes due. Next season is destined to be darker. Verowak scares me, just as much as I scare me. It is human and it is our undoing.
Joel definitely shows up the human reaction in this episode, and not caring about the rest of humanity. It's so interesting to see, I loved it! Next season being darker is what I'm here for, this series is so perfect for me
@@VerowakReacts You want to know what is worse? In zombie narratives humans are the bad guys. All of us. In this narrative both the game and the show Druckmann said they made a point to show how nature has begun to take back over the planet with fewer humans and more infected. The infected are the good guys saving the planet. Ok going back to my dark cave.
Probably been said here already, but this season is a perfect adaptation of the first game - including the ending. The first game when it dropped had no planned sequel - the story was intended to stand on it's own, and I think the ending is one of the greatest endings in any piece of media. Sure, we eventually got a continued story in Part 2, but it's not actually needed for this story to shine. That being said, I think both games are masterpieces, and am so glad people who have never played, or would never play, the games have been able to experience it.
I feel like ever after Season 2, I'll want more story from Ellie and Joel after the end of this episode. I'm so excited for Season 2 though and I'm glad that they created a sequel :D
can't wait to watch you play the game. i feel so lucky to have witnessed the very first Last of us teaser way back in 2011 (feels like yesterday) and have fallen in love with the tv show too. In fact I was there as a very young kid at the beginning playing Crash Bandicoot demo on the playstation.
I find it pretty amazing how the game came out 12 years ago! I'm also so glad they made it into a series. Video games are just so amazing. I never played Playstation, it was more Nintendo/Gamecube for me
I didn’t see anyone comment it, but maybe I missed. Just to clarify to you, in the games it’s more obvious that there was no surviving the surgery, its completely intertwined through the brain. Marlene is the answer btw
i think marlene just didn't think that joel would become so attached to ellie, she didn't know his backstory and in her mind he's just this ruthless man who smuggles things and didn't care about anything and anyone except for survival. anyway i enjoyed your reactions very much throughout the series, it's gonna be really interesting to see how you're gonna react to the game. also movie request: Vivarium (Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg)
He grew attached to her and saved her life to keep her with him, but he lied in the process and she knows it, possibly irreparably damaging his relationship with her forever because of it. It's just sad all around
Laura Baily (critical role) who also voices a character in the second game, was the nurse in the foreground in the surgery ward. Small enough role, and covered face, she could still pop up as someone else. She's too old to play who she voices like Ashley. The HBO Plus channel podcasts for this show are fantastic if you have a chance to listen. Great insight on each episode. Its the director, creator for the game, and the voice actor for joel. Ashley guests in the last one.
The unfortunate thing is if Ellie doesn't know that Joel lied then she's bound to find out sooner or later. Secrets like this in shows/movies usually come back to kick them in the butt. The real question is when and how will it play out. I like your "Who's Line is it anyway" reference at the beginning of the video. I like Collin & Ryan in that show. They're really funny
I feel like she suspects he lied, and I'm super curious to know how that will affect everything. Colin and Ryan are amazing! and I love seeing Wayne Brady do the songs, he's incredibly impressive
@@VerowakReacts yea, I think Ellie suspects too. I'm hoping that they'll be able to talk it out when the time comes. I also hope that Ellie will understand why Joel said and did what he did instead of doing the normal thing that every show does and have the whole thing get blown out of proportion.
I've played the game so I'm aware of the main beats of the story. Seeing a reaction week after week that is based purely on the show has been great! Are you going to upload your play through of the game or is that something you'd prefer to do in your own time? You mentioned motion sickness, so fully understand if the latter.
My goal is to have videos of my playthrough, though it may take a while since I may only be able to play for 30 minutes at a time, depending on motion sickness 😨
The ending was basically the Trolley Problem, if you're familiar with that. If you had a choice between the trolley running over a bunch of people, or just running over one, which would you choose? What if the one person was your child?
Been waiting anxiously to hear from my favorite reactor. This episode was too short, but it did pack an emotional wallop. "It wasn't time that did it." I'm not crying. You are. Ellie is as much Joel's daughter as Sara was. But I am so afraid the lies he told will come back to haunt them both. The music that played while Joel was shooting his way through the hospital to rescue Ellie was so tragic and haunting. As the father of a daughter, I can understand why Joel did what he did, but that does not necessarily make it right. Joel was my favorite character. I can easily identify with him. I loved this series. Realistically, it will probably be a year before we see season two. P.S. You stumped me on the quiz this week.
Episode was too short, but at the same time it was perfect. There was no wasted scenes, everything was shown with a purpose. I'm also so scared that his lies will bite them both in the ass, but it makes sense why he did it. I absolutely loved Joel's scene of shooting his way through the hospital, the audio and visuals were exquisite. I can definitely understand why Joel did what he did, and it just makes it so much more heartbreaking lol Definitely at least a year before Season 2, sadly, but that's ok... we can just rewatch this series and play the game :D The answer to the quiz is: Marlene, episode 1. It's basically the quote that started everything!
@@VerowakReacts My favorite episode was six. Joel confessing his fear yo Tommy, then Joel and Ellie arguing. The scene in the stables where Joel tells Ellie she have a choice is revisited here, although if Ellie had been offered a choice to have the surgery and gone ahead with it, Joel would have been shattered beyond all hope.
@@Ewelllad Joel's confession was heartbreaking and it was great to see how attached to Ellie he's becoming. There are so many great episodes in this series! And I agree, Joel would have been shattered if Ellie would have gone ahead with the surgery, he definitely would not miss this time
@@VerowakReacts First of all, apologies for the typos. I used to write for a living, believe it or not. lol So many great episodes. Episode 8 is a close contender. "It's okay, baby girl." Are you kidding me? Hurry up with season two, already. :)
So i watched the finale today as i had a really busy week :( i am sad it ended but also so glad for the journey. Honestly i still preffer the game as some scenes were more developed but the series did add a lot of amazing plot points plus i am super happy a lot more people got to live the story. The ending even in 2015 lefted me feeling so mixed in my feelings, i just love its one of my favorite endings ever but is one that grows on you over time. The series does a fantastic (as the game did) to really make you understand Joel's perspective even episode like Bill and Frank's play into this in the letter Ellie reads "The reason men like have survived this long is because we live for protecting people we love" and for Joel that was Sarah.. then Tess and last Ellie. Letting ellie die was the salvation for the world... But at that point Ellie was Joel's entire world. Love the ending plus i love your reactions, hope to watch more of your movies and series reactions.
Same, sad it ended but so glad for the journey! I feel they showcased the characters so well and upon rewatch, so many more connections can be made!! The ending is really great, the whole story has been fantastic
Yep, that's Ellie's original actress. You'll recognize her voice when you are going to play it. It's also her knife and her jacket. You also kinda want to watch that flashback again after you've experienced the entirety of Part 2, as they did their thing again with certain parallels there. It seems they are going to split it into multiple seasons though, as Part 2 is a really long game. I would also assume they would restructure it a bit to accommodate it for a TV show format & multiple seasons. Now imagine this ending, but without even knowing if there's a continuation of the story, for many many more years to come. Ellie obviously can tell that Joel is bullshitting, but she does not exactly know the truth. Marlene's and Joel's decisions are both relatable from their perspectives. Marlene did it for the greater good, to save humankind, and Joel did it for selfish reasons, because he did not want to lose another daughter. But ultimately both did the wrong thing, by robbing the only person of the choice that she should have made. In regards to motion sickness, make sure to turn off Motion Blur and optimize the settings so you can at least reach a stable 60 FPS, if not more (though unlikely with the released system specs being quite demanding). There's also film grain & camera shake that you probably want to turn to 0. My favorite character is Ellie, not even just exclusively in regards to this franchise, but I also know and love Part 2, which is absolutely brutal.
A perfect complex ending. Saving The world vs “your world”. I believe the ending would be completely different if marlene would have just let Elli make the decision and let Joel and her say goodbye to eachother but what is coming in the next season will be so good i cant wait.
Alsoo marlene said that in episode 1 during the ellie negotiation with Joel and Tess. That's my final answer (who wants to be a millionaire drama music starts playing)
As a parent, I 100% support Joel’s decision. I don’t agree with him lying to her, but I’d crawl across broken glass covered in salt and lemon juice in a heartbeat if it meant saving my kid.
I am not a gamer, probably never will play the game, but here's a parent's perspective - If anyone is to be blamed now or later in season2 is Marlene & not Joel. If that doesn't happen whatever showrunners present is a simply a stupidity. Here's why - Joel's actions are direct result of Marlene's decision to hurry up things. Firstly did he have that opportunity to give Ellie a choice? They are saying that Joel didn't give her a choice & took away the chance to save humanity. Which is logically & factually wrong. Joel gets to give Ellie a choice only in one scenario - If Marlene told Ellie about the killing surgery, Ellie said yes to die willingly & is allowed to meet Joel. Then & only then he can allow or deny Ellie's wish. So Marlene didn't allow any of that. So as a parent Joel is left with only one thing to do & he did that thing. If Ellie says Yes & even then Joel kills everyone then & only then he is to be blamed.. Would Ellie say Yes to die? Maybe yes. But Marlene doesn't give that chance to Elli, therefore we don't actually know what Ellie might have said 'before' the surgery (Whatever she may say afterwards is her afterthought considering whatever happened). So before the surgery whatever Joel does is a direct consequence of Marlene's actions.. Never in the series Ellie was expecting to 'die'. She was hoping to get it done (maybe blood samples, tests etc.) & then go away to live with Joel happily. Why so much hurry from Marlene's part? They waited for 20 years, what's another couple of months? If someone just tells me that my child is being 'murdered' without their knowledge, I can't even see them & I was supposed to walk away from the premises; then no matter what the greater purpose of that murder is.. I would do the exact thing as Joel did! If HBO ignores this simple fact in next season & decides to blame Joel instead of Marlene then they will have very angry reactions from the parents. Protecting the children from the 'predator' is a primal animal instinct. The only thing I don't like on Joel's part is that he lied to her. IMO he should have been upfront about why he did it. Ellie might have disagreed with his actions but she definitely would have understood his motives (selfless/selfish love for his daughter) better. Was he afraid that killing of these many people will just feed her survivor's guilt? Or he is afraid that he will have to justify his actions? Or under her current PTSD influence will she see Joel as a bad person & end the relationship, or even worse take her own life?
When I heard Craig Mazin played the OG game in 2013 I was so glad that finally, finally someone who loves the video game medium and who loves the source game got to do the adaptation. Video game adaptations have been too dominated by key creative people having no respect for video games as story-telling art and no knowledge or love for the source game. But we can see that people with a passion for the source material and the medium can make great adaptations.
One’s obsessed with their need to save the world and make all the pain and loss they endured mean something, one is obsessed with their need to finally save a daughter after feeling like he spent twenty years failing to do so. Neither bothered with what Ellie wanted. It really does feel in that final scene like Joel and Ellie’s relationship has now been tainted. After what shes been through, the dishonesty was probably the worst betrayal she could have had.
The choice to kill Ellie without giving her the full information or letting her say anything to Joel about it was Marleen, She's the one at fault for everything going down this way.
First time I beat the game and it cut to credits after Ellie's "Okay", I just had to put the controller down. I was happy for Joel but so sad for her. And with how many people are having mixed emotions over the finale, it's safe to say the series stuck the landing. Myself and everyone else who played in 2013 have had to reconcile Joel's decision for 10 years now. Hope you like the game! Just be ready for way more infected. I really enjoyed your reaction to the series too, thanks for this
I don't think there was a way for both Joel and Ellie to be happy :( It really shows just how well the story is made when we're left with conflicting emotions at the end! I'm glad you enjoyed my reactions, I super pumped for the game!
The story is basically a tragedy, in the classic Greek sense. With Joel's character and how he lost Sarah, specifically to humans not to infected, the only way they could survive the Journey was them bonding. And after they did after she became "family" there was just no way he was going to let her die, there never was a choice to him he had to try to save her. From the first episode they build towards the inevitable conclusion. I think this fits also with the story of the second game.
Long comment, start reading at your own risk, haha. I knew a few tidbits from the first game, such as Sarah's death occurring on the night of the outbreak and that the story centred around Joel guiding Ellie across country and forming a father-daughter type bond along the way, I haven't actually played the games, however, so this series has been quite the journey. Ellie's birth scene was amazing... and tragic... and scary... and beautiful... and really interesting as the likely source of her immunity. What a devastating thing for Marlene though. They certainly were very different people, but like Joel, Marlene was someone hardened by this world. They also both made the same mistake at the end, taking the decision away from Ellie. I love that following the flashback they then opened up with Ellie's trauma and the change in her personality, hard as it was to see. It is realistic, though, as the experiences she has had over the previous months would undoubtedly damage a person. Especially a teenager, their hormone riddled bodies and brains being generally ill equipped to deal with their emotions as it is, haha..... we've all been there. Some of the conversations in this episode were so well crafted. The one where Joel tells Ellie they can still turn around, go live a quiet life back at Tommy's, and she responds that they have to go all the way with their mission perfectly foreshadows Joel's conflict later in the episode. He knows Ellie would probably choose to die for a shot at saving humanity, but he just can't stand to lose her. I also loved the conversation where Joel discusses trying to kill himself. It was the most honest and vulnerable Joel has been with her throughout. I think he realised she was needing that from him, but it was also something he simply wanted to give to her to show just how much she had come to mean to him. He was expressing to her that as dark and painful as it may get at times, you will find the light and the beauty again. You will find yourself again. That of course culminated in the moment where he indicates to Ellie that it was she that had healed him from the wound that was the loss of Sarah, she who had led him back to the light, the beauty, and to himself again - such a touching moment. Seeing Joel come from being this person who was extremely closed-off and bitter for 20yrs to this moment of open vulnerability and hope was such a great representation of that healing and how far their relationship had come. The sound design on the hospital rescue scene (where Joel rescues Ellie from the surgeon's knife) was amazing. The music was dominant, with the sounds of gunshots, spent shells pinging on the floor, and the occasional agonised scream heard underneath it. That, and the music itself, created a great deal of tension and left a sombre sense in the air. This was no moment of triumph or joy and I think we got that same sombre sense from Joel in the car afterwards. Sure he saved Ellie, but he again had to kill to do it and he also understands that he may have just resigned humanity to eventual extinction. You can see in that moment that he's hugely conflicted and he knows that he acted somewhat selfishly, but he so desperately wanted Ellie to have the chance at a full and decent life that Sarah never got. He also knows that Marlene was probably right when she said that Ellie would give her life for a cure. Afterall, that's why he lies to her, right? Because she would have chosen to sacrifice herself and would be pissed that he did what he did. Despite this, despite knowing that Ellie would probably choose the surgery, he still couldn't bring himself to let her go. Whilst we can all make the argument for why Joel should have acted for the greater good, I think we can all understand why he didn't also, so it's super hard to be highly critical of him or claim that we wouldn't do the same. I think it's this juxtaposition that makes this ending such a compelling one. Ultimately, however, as I said above this should have been Ellie's decision to make and both Joel and Marlene took it from her. They should have fully informed her and then supported/helped her in making her decision in her own time and free from pressure or coercion. Joel and Ellie's final conversation was again brilliantly crafted. In opening up about Riley I think Ellie was essentially saying to Joel, "Hey, this is my deepest, most painful secret and I'm about to be totally honest with you about it, so I expect you to be the same when I ask you about what happened back at the hospital." She obviously has her doubts about Joel's story, but I think she so desperately wants it to be true, so desperately wants to have not been betrayed by the one person she trusts and loves in this world, that she's willing herself to accept it. Deep down, however, I think there's a part of her that knows he's lying. Please, no spoilers, but I can't help thinking that Joel's lie is going to come back to bite him in the second game/season. Through all this trauma and adversity they've slowly built a loving relationship on a foundation of openness and trust. This fact was really highlighted by the conversations they shared throughout this episode, so I suspect that trust will be broken when Ellie learns the truth about what happened at the hospital and that she still might hold the potential for a cure. Though it pains me to say, I think this will likely be a major source of conflict between the two next season. Anyway, this first season has been great. The writing, the music, the casting, the directing, the cinematography, the acting, etc, etc, etc has all been top notch. Special mention of course for Bella and Pedro, they've carried this story brilliantly. Thanks for your reactions, let's do it all again come season two.
"I don't know how to feel about this." After I finished the game I turned off the TV and went up to my bed and kind of stared at the ceiling for about 30 minutes. You have to understand, that in the game most of the time you're playing Joel. The only time you're really playing Ellie is during the whole David/cult act. They're just video game characters, but the game is so good, Ellie felt like MY daughter by the end. And I did it. I walked through that hospital and pulled the trigger to kill every last person that was trying to save the world. The game ends exactly like the show, down to the "okay" from Ellie and a cut to black. I felt so much love and so much pain at the end of this game. This is truly one of the greatest pieces of art I've ever experienced.
When you look to start the game - check the accessibility options - they may help reduce the motion sickness - Naughty Dog are very good at providing accessibility options
Thanks for doing this react. I'm glad we have one more fan 😁 Did you already played the game? If yes, isn't it phenomenal how close the storie is been told? How would you discribe the difference between the game and the series?
I haven't played the game yet! I tend to not be able to play games like that due to motion sickness. But I should really try to see if I can play it somehow
@@VerowakReacts i never played it through on my own as well haha maybe it's an option for you too, when you just watch an let's play or "video game movie".
Quote trivia: Marlene, Episode 1! What Joel did was pretty bad but I don't judge him at all for it. The way I see it is, yea sure we get a cure but it's already been 20 years. I genuinely feel like that won't make a difference and people will still be terrible but just with immunity now. Not too mention making a cure isn't gonna bring everyone back and there's no actual certainty that it would work. So I'm with Joel on this one BUT I'm also aware that making a cure is what Ellie would have wanted. The only reason why I fully sided with Joel is because Marlene didn't tell Ellie that it would kill her. That's what really made me mad. Ellie deserved to make her own decision and that was taken away from her :/ so I absolutely don't blame Joel. Anyways this episode was so awesome and I'm kinda excited for season 2 but also kinda not for obvious reasons 🥹🥹. Also yes that was Ashley Johnson, the game Ellie!!! 😁
This had to be happening at least 2 months after the end of the last episode. Walking from Colorado to Utah, plus there isn't the slightest sign of any snow anymore. It appears to be springtime. There was no guarantee that what the doctors thought would be accurate and actually work. Marlene and Joel were both wrong. Ellie should have been given all the information and been able to make her own decision. But no matter what she decided, I don't think either Marlene or Joel would have let it happen. Although, the look on Marlene's face as the two men and Joel pass by her, makes me wonder if she secretly hoped he would do exactly what he did and take the guilt away from her. I mean, as she said in the first episode,, she knew what Joel was capable of and that there was a better than even chance he would kill them and come back. On a positive note, never underestimate the healing power of giraffes. So jealous ecause that was an actual giraffe, not cgi.
So apparently that was a real life giraffe, but the whole scene was still heavily CGI'd as they filmed the eating of leaves at a zoo for obvious reasons, so they had to cut and paste everything into the collapsed building. Explains why it kind of looks CGI-y (which I assumed it was 100% CGI.)
Trivia: Episode 1: Marleen to Joel and Tess.. to deliver Ellie to the Fireflies. In the Capitol building. Your right. The actress who had the baby Ellie. Is the actress who voiced Ellie in the game indeed. Such a pitty S1 is over now☹. ❤❤❤ Ray.
It is Marlene in episode 1 !! I absolutely love that they have the actors who played the characters in the games be characters in the show!! S2 is too far away 😭
@@VerowakReacts ill got 2 short shows to bridge the gap between a bit. Yes. It was Marleen.. who said that, to Joel after The other girls ear got shot off😉.. "You have to fucking ear on your head"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Here are 2 shows. °The Haunting of Hill House (10 Eps) °Squid Game (9 Eps) ❤❤❤ Ray.
HBO is pretty good at that kind of thing. There were some episodes in Game of Thrones that were crazy (though The Last of Us has been way more heartbreaking overall)
For me, The Last of Us was in its time definitive proof that videogames can be art, made in a format standard enough for any kind of skeptic (i mean there were many earlier masterpiece videogames, but usually the format of the medium was distinct enough for some people to still dismiss the true artistic side of them). I just love how this story explores the nature and the contradictions and messyness of humand kind and morality; how good and bad, fear and bravery, or competence and disability are never just a binary but coexist inside of us. This is a story about the characters but also an exploration about humanity and reality itself, therefore, art. In particular, for this last episode, utilitarian morality would tell you that what Joel does is objectively bad, but considering his life, considering that was humanity, not the cordicepts but a person, who took away his daugther; being in his shoes, it just wasnt fair, he was just not gonna allow humanity to take away his now new daugther, the one that mended his life after living so much time in pain and numbness. I love how human every chacrater is in this show (and the games); and I loved also how the part II game (no spoilers) was brave enough to take huge risks, even tho there were mistakes in the execution imo. Im very excited about season 2 of the series, however; since a video essay I saw recently commented on how the creators have a new chance, a different medium and more experience for turning what was a sequel with a lot of potential into a second masterpiece.
The Last of Us really is a great exploration of humanity. I especially love how it shows all the different sides and how everyone is doing what they think is best, which ends up in many different conflicts. It's a great story of growth and heartbreak shows how decisions made can affect others. I'm really looking forward to Season 2 to see how this continues
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
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Do you agree with what Joel did?
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100% behind joel
I don't think there's a world where rationally you could stay behind Joel. He just jeopardized the world's salvation for selfish reasons. But we love Joel, and we love Ellie, so we forgive Joel saving Ellie. We forgive him killing dozen of people who were mostly trying to do the right thing, we forgive him chosing one person over the entire world, all this to save someone who would probably disagree with his actions.
The spectator forgives, but if I was living as a Firefly, or just a random person in this world, and I knew what happened and the scale of what was lost, Joel would be on trial for crime against humanity. I guess we do defend the ones we love against reason, as do the spectators (me included, I love both thee characters and their relationship, don't get me wrong).
Objectively: No.
Subjectively: Yes.
@@ronc5825 "Selfishness", "ideals", and "love". These things are confused, mixed up, and misunderstood when it comes to individual actions like the one Joel had made. We can easily brand what Joel did as "irrational", though that's where love is always strongest. As humans, when we love, we don't do things that are rational, logical, or sensible. To others, these actions can appear insane. Although, to others who understand Joel, from knowing what pain he feels because we have struggled through the same suicidal thoughts or thoughts of grief, we can empathize.
Joel made a human choice, because love is anything but black or white.
@@peterwyatt5702 I agree with everything you said. I'm just trying to answer "was it right? Do you agree?", basically I understand, I empathize, I would probably (try to) do the same if I were him, but I cannot in good conscience "agree" with what Joel did when you look at it from a objective standpoint =).
I used to hate the world and I was happy when everyone died, but I was wrong. Because there was one person worth saving. That's what I did: I saved him. And I protected him. That's why men like you and me are here: We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way. -Bill
Perfectly describes this episode.
100% yes! I loved how episode 3 hinted that Ellie would be the person worth saving for Joel.
@Debrutsideno - Exactly my sentiment too.
I would also side with Joel 100%, as at the end it all is not as simple as it seems to be. But at some level, basic human responses - it is. Unless you are just another person sitting behing your keyboard, and being driven by some "emotions" of civilian life, lack of empathy and so on. Most people would do the same. Some wouldn't because they would think about some "greater" good.
But, yeah... as a former military engineer/medic, who also has been working and living in over 20+ countries and seen enough crap (also considering the whole relationship between Ellie and Joel, and their past experiences) = yeah, I would do the same, and I would have no remorse regarding it. I wouldn't like it, but I would stil do it.
I would also lie to Ellie at this particular point in the story. Why? Kind of obvious. And I would also known that this was wrong. But still would do it, at this point in her life. Because at this point it was about her, and she wasn't ready to bear that knowledge. Not just yet. And as a older perosn, with more experience, military one too, I would know that. And definitely I would tell her the truth sometimes later (when the moment is right, not that emotional, or when she is older), and then deal with the consequences of my own lie.
_"I don't know how to feel about this."_
That's almost verbatim what I said after finishing the game, and it was just as impactful watching this series.
Thanks for your reactions! I'm glad you enjoyed it too 🙂
I'm just so conflicted and want to know more!! 😊 I can't wait to play Part 1, and eventually get to see Season 2!
@@VerowakReacts They gona be put up on here per chance? I'd watch them.
@@VerowakReacts Yes, would love to watch your playthrough!
@@VerowakReacts just let it sink in, its been 10 years and i still flip flop sometimes
@@Herocoldfinger I get both sides but I've pretty much landed on all sides being wrong for taking Ellies agency from her.
"It wasn't time that did it" and "I'm glad that didn't work out" is as close as they're going to get to say "I love you." 😭
The scene was heartbreaking :( I loved that Joel shared that with her
I'm not someone that gives a 10/10 usually but this series is totally that: a 10/10! The cast was amazing, the soundtrack was amazing, thankfully Gustavo Santaolalla was kept, and this incredible adaptation will, hopefully, make other videogame series/movies the same, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann set up an example on how to adapt videogames moving forward for sure.
I could not agree more. Definitely a 10/10 if not more :D Every aspect of this series was fantastic, everyone did a phenomenal job!!
People giving this 10/10 are forgetting that there are adaptations like ARCANE already released and loved by fans in all aspects of storyline, art and score!
@@sumairali1688 Both can be 10/10!
@@sumairali1688 Arcane is an amazing adaptation of a video game, and I agree all the "this is breaking the video game adaptation curse" comments tend to forget about it... however it's not quire an exact adaptation of an existing story line from a narrative game the same way Last of Us is.
U no Neil druckmann is the creator of the video game, it makes sense that he direct and write it. It's his baby
Perhaps part of the reason Marlene underestimated Joel is that she underestimated the bond that he and Ellie had formed. She might have figured that the mercenary, independent Joel was ultimately out for himself and his own interests as he had been for the most of the apocalypse so he would go quietly on his way with the odds stacked against him.
That's very true, she probably didn't think he could form that bond with Ellie. Turns out no one really knows Joel
Even if he just saw Ellie as cargo in some alternate universe, Marlene gave him nothing for his "job", while he was promised everything he wanted in the first episode, as payment. So even if he didn't bond with Ellie, he would probably still have gone full terminator mode on the Fire Flies, because they left him empty handed - and without Tess.
Nobody is perfect, that's the second theme of this series, after "love". Maybe Marlene could not find the courage to talk to both Ellie & Joel as an adult instead of splitting them up after being capctured and decided to not tell her. Maybe if Joel saw Ellie accepting her sacrifice, he could have made peace with it.
Yeah I mean Marlene already knows joel, she doesn’t know he had a daughter before and sees joel as this person ‘who is capable of bad things’ and is more toughened
@@caleidoo I don't think Joel could have made peace with it if Ellie accepted her sacrifice. But you do make a good point, he wanted to deliver Ellie to get equipment and a vehicle to go find Tommy and... well... that's no longer needed. So he would have basically gotten nothing as payment for it, which is not great
@@VerowakReacts and the reason she didn’t think he would was that she didn’t…. Think about it - your best friend gives you her kid to take care of and she walks away once she’s in the fedra school…. And she made the call to kill elllie. That by defn means she didn’t connect with Ellie…
Ended up costing her her life…
The saddest part in the game is when Ellie change her demeanor to a less talkative person. That was the part that stuck with me. So far in the game she was goofy despite all that happened, It breaks your heart that sudden change.
Great reaction btw.
My heart broke so much seeing her be so quiet. The amount of trauma she had to go through last episode was too much 😭
She was suffering from so much PTSD and constantly dissociating. Poor little bun.
Fun fact: Ellie's mom, Anna, is played by Ashley Johnson who is also the original Ellie from The Last of Us games.
That's pretty awesome!
Pretty poetic that they had Ashley give birth to Ellie...
@@toukie I love that!
I bet non gamer did not know that and that's why Neil casted her because she is the original ellie
@@prasithoudomvilay8454 When they wrote Anna into the script he said they only had ONE person in mind for the role: Ashley Johnson. like others have said, it's very poetic, she is giving birth to the character she created.
IDK now if you noticed but the jacket that Anna is wearing at the beginning of the episode, is the same Jacket Ellie wears in episode 4. BTW: the actress who plays Marlene in the show, played Marlene in the games.
The ordeal with David has affected Ellie in numerous ways. The ordeal itself was obviously very traumatic, but I also think it triggered incredible survivor's guilt. As you see in the final lines of the episode, it's something she's struggled with for a long time. And every time she survives something new and awful, I think it opens that wound back up. I think it's especially difficult for her, because everyone who has died, has died either directly or indirectly as a result of being around Ellie-through no fault of Ellie, but still. Riley died taking Ellie out for a night of fun. Tess died transporting Ellie. Henry and Sam died sneaking out of an occupied area, because they met up with Joel and Ellie. Death seems to follow Ellie, and she keeps surviving. And I think the idea of this cure for the infection potentially not working and her journey possibly being for nothing is weighing on her. I think she views her immunity as the one thing she can do to redeem all the loss that has accompanied her. And then Joel took that choice away from her(as did the Fireflies). There are no winners here. Such is the case in a post apocalyptic world, I guess. And Joel lost one daughter, he wasn’t about to loser another. You can tell how much he loves her in the giraffe scene when he doesn’t even look at the giraffe he just looks at Ellie the entire time. The giraffe symbolizes there still being beauty in a broken world. To Ellie, the beauty is in the giraffe. To Joel, the beauty is in Ellie and her smiling.
There are definitely no winners here, every choice ends in heartbreak. I loved seeing Joel look at Ellie during the giraffe scene, it was a great way of showing how Joel feels. Ellie definitely feels like she's the reason people around her keeps dying, it's so sad to see
In my opinion, I think Ellie suspects Joel's is not telling the truth but she believed him anyway, because the thought of it not being true is too painful for her
She definitely suspects he's not telling the truth. I'm so curious to know what she thinks of him now though
that's bella ramsey's opinion too
Play the games and you can find out right now :)
@@magnusalexander2965 It's hard to dodge spoilers :(
@@caleidoo To be clear I wasn't hinting at anything plot-wise, just that the games are out there for anyone who wants to experience the rest of the story right now. A good reason to get into gaming for anyone who hasn't yet
That ending is just perfect. You can see it in her eyes she doesn't believe him, yet loves him too much to make an issue out of it. I think i would've made the same decision as Joel honestly. Anyway, awesome end, cannot wait for S2. Awesome reaction, as always Vero ✌😊
I just want to know what happens with Joel and Ellie. Ending like that was cruel yet just perfect, I do think she knows he's lying :(
I loved the creator's comments about this in the podcast. When Anna tells Marlene that she cut the cord before she was bitten, it's obvious that Marlene doubts her (which is why Anna repeats it), but she chooses to believe that it's the truth because the alternative would be too horrible. I think the same is true for Ellie in this scene, it's not that she believes Joel because she loves him, it's because she couldn't deal with it being a lie.
@@VerowakReacts
Ellie at the dam: "You could've just made something up, I would've believed you."
Maria in Jackson: "The only people who can betray you, are the ones you trust."
And it already started with a harmless "Everybody loved contractors."
@@isakoqv I think it's both. If she didn't love him, it would be easier to accept that he was lying, but to be betrayed by the person you love and trust the most in all the world is just something she cannot take. So she disassociates and accepts the lie even tho she knows it isn't true.
If I recall correctly, in the HBO podcast they said that everybody who's a parent, said they would have made the choice that Joel made. All others are in doubt, but can related to both options.
What an absolute rollercoaster of a season this has been - so emotional, beautifully shot, haunting music and characters that don't half make you FEEL so much!! I agree that it's heartbreaking to see the flip in their relationship, and I held my breath over that 'swear to me' moment being Joel's final chance to tell Ellie the truth and not have this heavy and devastating lie hanging over their heads - Pedro's and Bella's performances have made me cry so many times, and I'm every bit as attached to them as I was Troy and Ashley in the game! The wait for S2 will be HARD! It's been a pleasure hearing your thoughts and seeing your emotional investment in this show! Fave character/episode for me was Joel and Episode 5, Endure And Survive!
I have not played any of the games yet, and my knowledge of the story was pretty close to 0 before watching the series. I fell deeply in love with these two characters. The final parts of this episode left me quite shook, and something you've said in the end of your video reminded me of why.
To me this is an extremely sad ending because what we see is such a pure and strong bond between them being probably permanently harmed.
I have no idea yet what happens in Part 2. If anyone responds to this comment, please don't mention of forshadow or hint anything about it.
It's a sad story for me, but so beautifully told.
It's such a sad, tragic story and the way they've shown it is amazing. I just want Joel and Ellie to be happy, and I completely get why Joel did what he did. I just really hope it doesn't end horribly for them. Season 2 will be amazing
marlene only knows the episode 1 Joel. he was a cold and broken man. she never excepted him to become so attached that he would burn down that hospital to save ellie.
That's true, there's no reason she should have expected Joel to care for Ellie that much!
That was a mistake that would cost them all their lives. Immediately when she said to take him out to the highway and leave him, I thought "sure she knows he'll kill them and come back??" but she hasn't seen him since. That being said, while he didn't want to take on the job of escorting Ellie to begin with, it's still quite a step from being okay with murdering a child.
I’d argue that she’s known Joel even before that & has seen his passion / ruthlessness. Especially for those he loves.
And on a short trip from the QZ to the statehouse there wouldn’t be any connection. But on a treacherous trip across the country that even she almost died - that trauma bond was bound to come into play. Plus, Ellie is so charismatic it’s impossible not to get attached. I think she should have had an inkling that might happen.
after 10 years of coming back to this story, the best way to describe the impact of this game (or now, series) is "transformative"
It changed me as a person.
Part 2 even more so. It was tough, even traumatic at times. But at the end, i like to think that thinking and talking about it with so many others has helped me grow.
Thank you for letting us participate in this experience!
Hope to see you again when the time comes for more of this world, one way or another.
Transformative is a great word to describe the impact of this game. It helps see the different sides of the story and how everyone is doing what they think is best or what is best for them. All these characters (except for David, he's the one that I can't forgive), could be the protagonist in their own spin-off
Also the idea they had to name the episode where Joel loses his daughter "When You're Lost in the Darkness" and the episode where he saves his new daughter "Look for the Light" was such a low punch in the gut.
Oh that is a really good catch! Thank you, I would not have noticed at all!
Elie definitely didn't believe a word Joel said about what happened at the firefly hospital. She made him swear because she doesn't want to believe that he's lying to her. Him swearing is a way to force herself to believe him because she trusts him. Maria did tell her that the only people who can betray you are the ones you trust.
Everything was so great until he lied to Ellie 😭
I agree...that stare at the end looked more like a "yea right" look....she knows he's lying.
As someone who’s never played the game, I don’t care-it’s such an incredible show! The scene where Joel admitted to wanting to take his own life broke my heart, and made it even sadder given Pedro lost his mom that way too. Ellie and Joel saying they’re happy he failed with tears in their eyes broke me too…as it is very relatable unfortunately. I think the show has tackled hard topics (SA, mental health/suicide) very tastefully.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey…give those two their golden globes and emmys now! Their chemistry is palpable-perfectly cast!
The shows has really tackled so many hard topics and have done remarkable with each one. Pedro and Bella were absolutely perfect for these roles
The immediate "what?!" when the credits start running was relatable haha! I had much the same reaction, like nah no way they're leaving us like this right? Right??!
This is hands down one of the best tv-shows, if not the best tv-show, I've ever watched. The casting is perfect, the tempo is perfect, there isn't a single character or action that doesn't seem believable, and all that while staying very true to the game it's based on. Absolutely fantastic, everyone involved deserves every award.
I'm conflicted on season 2, on the one hand I want it NOW but on the other hand I'm pretty sure Ellie will find out and she'll be mad that Joel lied to her and I can't bear the idea of Joel losing another child 😢
100% agree with you, hands down one of the best tv shows ever (I'm pretty sure it's my favorite though). It's amazing to see how everyone doing such a great job at everything comes together. The casting was top notch for sure, all the characters were believable.
I'm conflicted too... I don't want Joel to lose Ellie because of him lying, but I also want to see what happens
Not only an origin story, but that is Ashley Johnson who played Ellie in the game! Also one of the nurses is Laura Bailey who not only played a nurse in the game also but played one of the main characters in the second game.
I loved this episode and I especially loved Joel in it. He was so open and healed. He was even talking openly about Sara which I'm not sure he's ever done. I also love savage Joel who stopped at nothing to save Ellie. These two deserve ALL the acting awards. The thousand things you could see pass across Ellie's face in those brief seconds before she simply says, "Okay," is a freaking masterclass. I cried through the entire thing with you!
Seeing Joel so open was amazing. He was so comfortable talking about everything and sharing everything with Ellie 😭 The way they showed Joel being savage was really well done. I love the audio and visuals. Your words are exactly how I felt for this episode 😭😍
Favorite character for part 1 is definitely Joel. He's a very complicated, flawed, human character. Tess says he and her are not good people. We see this through short glimpses of him interrogating David's men, murdering everyone in the hospital, lying to Ellie etc. And yet, for someone who has everything absolutely taken from him (Sarah, Tess, Tommy-for a while), we can totally understand why he is the way he is. I don't normally watch TV series- this is an easy 10 for me.
Looking forward to your playthrough on the PC!
They did such a great job showing Joel's character and his growth. It was heartbreaking to watch this episode, but the series as a whole was phenomenal!
I just discovered your channel with TLOU, and I've really enjoyed your thoughtful analysis and emotional honesty. I look forward to watching other reactions from you in the future!
Welcome!! I'm glad you enjoy what I do and how I react :D This show got me in the feels pretty damn good
This final episode shocking and surprising at the same time, I really enjoyed seeing your reactions and that you liked this story as it happened to me when I played it for the first time in 2014, looking forward to the second season❤️
This episode was a great way to end the season!! I feel like it would be amazing seeing a game be made into a great tv series
Man, I love how we didnt get to see this side of Joel fully unleashed until the last episode when he had something to protect, but it was always something that was hinted at.. it all comes together in this moment here.. Bills letter saying "we have a job to do and God help any mother fuckers who stand in our way", everyone besides Tess being afraid of Joel, it was all building up to this very moment where we all came to understand... just why people had very good reason to be scared of crossing this man.
Yes!! I love how we get to learn more about Joel throughout the season like that
My favorite character is Ellie and episode is episode 8, both Pedro and Bella were terrific. I just wanted to say you were my favorite reactor (?) through this series, it was a pleasure watching it with you! Thank you sharing this with us. Looking forward to watching the channel's backlog!
They really both were amazing this whole series through! Thank you so much it means a lot that I was your favorite reactor for this series 😍😭
"Ok." The meaning is so deep behind such a small word. What an ending.
It'll be really interesting to see someone play TLOU PART 1 for the first time after watching the show. It's usually the other way around, so that's cool.
I'm really curious to see the differences between the two. THis way I can see if the video game adaptation is accurate to the TV series 😂
Great series! This has been my favorite reaction channel to watch for this show.
I love how throughout this series whenever Ellie & Joel interact or show any affection Verowak immediately starts crying 😂🤣.
I loved that they gave an explanation for Ellie’s immunity because they never did in the game if I recall.
Looking forward to your game play through. And then you won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next because you can always play Part II as well. It’s a divisive game but I’m in the camp of those who think Part II is a masterpiece. It’s brilliant.
I just loved seeing their bond so much, Pedro and Bella did phenomenal! When I can get into a series like this, I really get into it 😍😂
I'm not playing Part II until after I watch Season 2, so it'll be a while still and I'm ok with that.
@@VerowakReacts Pedro was fantastic but I absolutely love the Bella casting. That was a grand slam home run in my opinion. I also totally buy that Anna was her mother. Ashley Johnson and Bella Ramsey look so much alike. At least enough to be related. It was so poetic to have game Ellie give birth to show Ellie.
@@Nick-kb2jc I feel like all the characters throughout the series have been perfectly cast. I do love how game Ellie got to give birth to tv show Ellie, that was great :D
Your reaction was one of the few I was especially stoked to see.
That means so much !!! I'm really glad to hear that 😊
Episode 1
Marlene : And now I think… you’re gonna do it
You know what grinds my gears this episode? The fact that guy didn’t cover baby ellie’s ears
Grats on the quote! And yes, the guy had one damn job to cover the ears and he didn't even TRY to do it
Ellie knows Joel well enough that she recognizes he is lying.
Your reactions are so endearing. I've enjoyed this journey with covering this series. I look forward to your future content.
This last chapter is very similar to the ending in the game. Very well adapted. And once again, I loved your reaction. Best regards from Argentina.!!!!
I feel like everyone is happy with this adaptation. It sounds like they did a fantastic job bringing this story to life 🤩 I hope the weather is nice in Argentina!!
Episode 1 and its from Marlene. I love how episode 2 and 3 came full circle, Tess telling him "Save the ones you can save" and Bill saying "We are protectors and Damn who ever gets in our way"
There is no way Joel was going to let her die over some "Maybe cure.. Cant wait till next season and Thanks for the reactions, you're awesome!
Yes, episode 1 Marlene... the quote that started this all :) 0% chance of Joel letting Ellie die, that's for sure! I'm so excited for season 2, and thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the reactions
You’re definitely gonna love the game! Can’t wait to see you play it
I'm so damn excited for the game, though it'll be weird not having Pedro and Bella for the characters
As Bill said in the third episode: "This is why we’re here; We are here to protect the person we love, and God help any motherfuckers that get in our way".
Joel found the one person to protect!
*Joel kills some dude with a knife*
Verowak: “Yay new gun!”
The perks of looting the bodies... refill ammo or get a new gun 😂
Btw Ellie's mom is Ashley Johnson, Ellie's voice actor from the game
I love that the actors for the game are in this series!
This episode f*cked me up and I still haven't come to terms with all the implications, but I just wanted to say your reactions to this episode (and the whole show) have been incredible.
"Quiet, quiet!" Bwahahaha! That killed me! "Limping to the cottage! (Quiet, quiet!) Running for your life!"
I was hoping someone would know the reference!!! Running for your life from Shia LaBeouf 🤣
@@VerowakReacts Actual infected Shia LaBeouf!
Ashley Johnson and Laura Bailey (really brief cameo) are my two most favorite actors/VAs!
The whole scenario is somewhat analogous to two parents who are getting divorced and bickering about what is best for their child, without actually taking the child's wishes into consideration. In their own ways, Marlene and Joel are both correct - but as you pointed out the final decision should have been Ellie's and hers alone. Considering the world she grew up in, what's she's seen and had to do, at least respect her agency.
No matter what way it panned out, there are gonna be consequences. No escaping it.
Ellie doing the right thing would have ended up with Joel not missing this time. Joel is just so afraid of losing Ellie though, so his stance makes sense. And Marlene wanting to find a cure also makes sense. All three decisions have consequences for sure
@@VerowakReacts We definitely saw Joel at his most ruthless - even more than in the previous episode when he was torturing David's men for information on Ellie's whereabouts - in the hospital he was single-minded and almost ice-cold. Did he act selfishly? Absolutely. Was he 'wrong'? Not as clear cut as that, I'm afraid.
Love this take.
Thank you for your reaction. My favorite character is Joel and my favorite episode was #8.
My pleasure! The series was just simply amazing, and Joel is such an interesting character (though he's my favourite, I it might be because it's Pedro Pascal)
The eradication of the fireflies is on Marlene, tho. Joels "i do (have a choice)" is a clear challenge, and she knows what he is capable of.
Joel had the parental instict to protect Ellie at all costs that Marlene apparently didn't.
Marlene was trying to do what is best for humanity while Joel did what is best for Joel 😊
Another great, empathetic reaction. What a powerful episode and finale. Like some of the best and most memorable fiction for me it was incredibly bittersweet. Joel and Ellie's relationship now, their opening up to each other, their conversation after feeding the giraffe etc.; you can see the love in their eyes, and after how they started out - totally cold, antagonistic, closed off - it's just so beautiful and touching. But that also coexisted with the pain and horror of Joel's actions and most of all his (basically selfish) deceit of Ellie.
When he was advancing against the Fireflies to rescue Ellie I obviously felt enormous relief, satisfaction. But also a deep sadness because these people were in many ways heroic, had faced incredible odds to get to the point of possibly finding a cure, were possibly the last great hope of humanity; even though partly justified, it was still in many ways a terrible thing to do. So that sequence for me had a sense of both crushing moral horror and despair, as well as being uplifting, righteous and an archetypal, unstoppable embodiment of the ferocity and strength of love. All of which made it deeply moving. The lie to Ellie was the worst thing. Heartbreaking to see that deep trust betrayed, and it will lie festering between them until it comes out. But of course it just makes me empathise and feel more for Joel (and both of them).
My favourite character; man I'm so torn between Joel and Ellie. I don't think I can pick between them, I just love them both, and couldn't agree more; Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey gave wonderful performances - their connection was what made the show special, though I agree Joel's opening up perhaps puts him at the top if I had to pick. Favourite episode; maybe episode 5? Found Pedro Pascal's acting, and the ups and downs of Ellie and Joel's relationship in that episode really touching. Though episodes 8 and 9 were amazing too. And episode 4 I love for their building relationship. Man lol I'm just terrible with picking one.
*Episode 6 at the dam:*
Ellie to Joel: _You know, you could've just made something up, I would've believed you._
Well... that's prolly *not* what she meant, Joel!!! ☹
It makes sense he did what he did though :(
@@VerowakReacts Oh yes, it *does* completely make sense from Joel's point of view - He doesn't want to risk losing another daughter after all. Yet that might backfire in the future since it is quite a breach of trust... It's quite tragic neither Marlene nor Joel gave Ellie a choice in what to do... Marlene acted a bit too fast for the "greater good" and Joel had to react to it.. I have a bad feeling about their relationship in Season 2 now... 😟
P.S. some quote I remembered in that context:
_When a person lies, what is important is not the lie itself. No, it is their reason. Their why._
*- Holo The Wise Wolf*
I just doubt Ellie will understand & accept Joel's "why" though... 😨
@@wolfwynterson7183 I'm hoping they can talk it out eventually and that she'll understand. I really hope so :(
Fave Character: Ellie - Bella Ramsey was perfect, and where her acting choices differed from Game Ellie, i preferred Bella
Game Joel is more of a stone-cold ice man - makes sense given he mostly goes around murdering raiders and zombies during gameplay. I see why they had Pedro play him more vulnerable throughout for a TV show, but with Game Joel, when the facade finally cracks, you feel it that much more…
Fave Episode: Long, Long Time - I’ve played the game too many times to be swept up in the twists and turns as if I didn’t know they were coming, so naturally my pick is the one episode that was nearly 100% original; beautiful story!
I'm really curious to see how different game Ellie and Joel are to the series! Also a really good sign that you've played the game so much, I love games with replayability and immersive stories. Once I finish playing the game I'll be rewatching the show to see all the little easter eggs or things I missed that are from the game
@@VerowakReacts i hope you bring us along for at least some of that ride!
where there are differences in characterization, plotting, and dialogue, i think i prefer the game 60% of the time, and part of me is sad that you won’t get to experience the game as a completely naive audience.
but then the main difference really is the medium: with the benefit of a basis for comparison, i’m now surprised at how often gameplay mechanics are integrated as storytelling devices in the game. there’s a lot of heavy lifting being done by immersion in the game world that (from a neuropsych perspective!) you just can’t do as well on a show. adrenaline spikes from particularly fraught or scary zombie encounters really make the cut scenes pop, and even just wandering around the environment for hours casts a certain spell.
on the other hand, i also know i’m completely biased, and i’m VERY curious to see how you feel having been exposed to the show first!
@@doctaflo I'll definitely be letting everyone know when I do play/upload videos. I'm super curious to see how different the characters, events and world is in the game!
Joels hospital scene imo is a masterpiece.. it was hauntingly beautiful..
That scene made me feel like I was in a video game. The way it was made really showed us just how great Joel is at what he does
The idea that so many people think Joel is a monster when it is Marlene who is using the ends to justify the means is almost funny. Who says it would even work? An epidemiologist was interviewed. and said killing Ellie is the last thing you should do. I have three sons and I think Joel was 100% correct. Your reactions are great. Glad I found your channel.
I love this show because every character that is shown as an antagonist could be the protagonist if the story was about them. Marlene and Kathleen are the two that come to mind. They are doing what they think is best/is right, it's really interesting
When it comes to Marlene is her statement, in both the game and the show, that she knew Elie since Ellie was born. No she didn't, she dropped Ellie off a FEDRA school and didn't talk to her until she found out Ellie was immune.
Fun fact: As you already know, Ellie's actress from the game played Anna in this episode
But she isn't the only actor from the games to appear in this episode! One of the female doctors in the operating room is played by Laura Bailey, who plays a very important character in the second game! (but I hope this isn't her only cameo since she didn't have any lines or anything compared to Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson)
Yeah I saw on social media that Laura Bailey had a small cameo, which is neat!! I'm assuming she'll have another role in Season 2
She'll probably play the same nurse, considering Joel let her live.
Perfect Reaction!!! Love binds us together and that same love will doom all humanity. In the heat of it all most humans break all bonds of morality. This is the beginning of Joel's villain arc. This is how all our villain arcs begin. We love something so much we lose site of the higher purpose. Humans are doomed in this world. Even us in the real world live with this struggle. Poor Joel. The bill we make for our love always comes due. Next season is destined to be darker. Verowak scares me, just as much as I scare me. It is human and it is our undoing.
Joel definitely shows up the human reaction in this episode, and not caring about the rest of humanity. It's so interesting to see, I loved it! Next season being darker is what I'm here for, this series is so perfect for me
@@VerowakReacts You want to know what is worse? In zombie narratives humans are the bad guys. All of us. In this narrative both the game and the show Druckmann said they made a point to show how nature has begun to take back over the planet with fewer humans and more infected. The infected are the good guys saving the planet. Ok going back to my dark cave.
@@rnkelly36 Humans are definitely the bad guys, and we can see that pretty clearly in real life.
Thx ❤️❤️
Next season 2 is pro golf time 🏌️⛳
0:45. So, now, I’m thinking you’re gunna do it! Episode one. Marlene said that to Joel when he and Tess picked up Ellie as cargo! 😆
Yes, exactly! It's the interaction that started the whole journey of Joel and Ellie 😍
Loved following your commentary to this series especially🤍
That makes me so happy to hear 😍
Probably been said here already, but this season is a perfect adaptation of the first game - including the ending. The first game when it dropped had no planned sequel - the story was intended to stand on it's own, and I think the ending is one of the greatest endings in any piece of media. Sure, we eventually got a continued story in Part 2, but it's not actually needed for this story to shine. That being said, I think both games are masterpieces, and am so glad people who have never played, or would never play, the games have been able to experience it.
I feel like ever after Season 2, I'll want more story from Ellie and Joel after the end of this episode. I'm so excited for Season 2 though and I'm glad that they created a sequel :D
Your reaction to this was incredible! I really want to watch it more times! 🌸🌺🌿☘️🌻🌼
Thank you!!!! 😊I felt so destroyed so often during this series
can't wait to watch you play the game. i feel so lucky to have witnessed the very first Last of us teaser way back in 2011 (feels like yesterday) and have fallen in love with the tv show too. In fact I was there as a very young kid at the beginning playing Crash Bandicoot demo on the playstation.
I find it pretty amazing how the game came out 12 years ago! I'm also so glad they made it into a series. Video games are just so amazing. I never played Playstation, it was more Nintendo/Gamecube for me
@@VerowakReacts When I think of Gamecube I think of RES 4, which has just been remade!
I didn’t see anyone comment it, but maybe I missed. Just to clarify to you, in the games it’s more obvious that there was no surviving the surgery, its completely intertwined through the brain.
Marlene is the answer btw
I assumed it would be something that isn't survivable, I was being blindly optimistic lol It is Marlene yes!!
i think marlene just didn't think that joel would become so attached to ellie, she didn't know his backstory and in her mind he's just this ruthless man who smuggles things and didn't care about anything and anyone except for survival. anyway i enjoyed your reactions very much throughout the series, it's gonna be really interesting to see how you're gonna react to the game.
also movie request: Vivarium (Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg)
He grew attached to her and saved her life to keep her with him, but he lied in the process and she knows it, possibly irreparably damaging his relationship with her forever because of it. It's just sad all around
Very, VERY sad all around. So much heartbreak in this series
The quote was from Marlene in episode 1
Yes! The quote that started it all
Laura Baily (critical role) who also voices a character in the second game, was the nurse in the foreground in the surgery ward. Small enough role, and covered face, she could still pop up as someone else. She's too old to play who she voices like Ashley.
The HBO Plus channel podcasts for this show are fantastic if you have a chance to listen. Great insight on each episode. Its the director, creator for the game, and the voice actor for joel. Ashley guests in the last one.
The unfortunate thing is if Ellie doesn't know that Joel lied then she's bound to find out sooner or later. Secrets like this in shows/movies usually come back to kick them in the butt. The real question is when and how will it play out. I like your "Who's Line is it anyway" reference at the beginning of the video. I like Collin & Ryan in that show. They're really funny
I feel like she suspects he lied, and I'm super curious to know how that will affect everything. Colin and Ryan are amazing! and I love seeing Wayne Brady do the songs, he's incredibly impressive
@@VerowakReacts yea, I think Ellie suspects too. I'm hoping that they'll be able to talk it out when the time comes. I also hope that Ellie will understand why Joel said and did what he did instead of doing the normal thing that every show does and have the whole thing get blown out of proportion.
@@jamesdee759 That's what I'm hoping for... but I guess we'll have to wait and see lol
I've played the game so I'm aware of the main beats of the story. Seeing a reaction week after week that is based purely on the show has been great! Are you going to upload your play through of the game or is that something you'd prefer to do in your own time? You mentioned motion sickness, so fully understand if the latter.
My goal is to have videos of my playthrough, though it may take a while since I may only be able to play for 30 minutes at a time, depending on motion sickness 😨
The ending was basically the Trolley Problem, if you're familiar with that. If you had a choice between the trolley running over a bunch of people, or just running over one, which would you choose? What if the one person was your child?
Not an easy decision at all
Been waiting anxiously to hear from my favorite reactor. This episode was too short, but it did pack an emotional wallop. "It wasn't time that did it." I'm not crying. You are. Ellie is as much Joel's daughter as Sara was. But I am so afraid the lies he told will come back to haunt them both. The music that played while Joel was shooting his way through the hospital to rescue Ellie was so tragic and haunting. As the father of a daughter, I can understand why Joel did what he did, but that does not necessarily make it right. Joel was my favorite character. I can easily identify with him. I loved this series. Realistically, it will probably be a year before we see season two. P.S. You stumped me on the quiz this week.
Episode was too short, but at the same time it was perfect. There was no wasted scenes, everything was shown with a purpose. I'm also so scared that his lies will bite them both in the ass, but it makes sense why he did it.
I absolutely loved Joel's scene of shooting his way through the hospital, the audio and visuals were exquisite.
I can definitely understand why Joel did what he did, and it just makes it so much more heartbreaking lol
Definitely at least a year before Season 2, sadly, but that's ok... we can just rewatch this series and play the game :D
The answer to the quiz is: Marlene, episode 1. It's basically the quote that started everything!
@@VerowakReacts My favorite episode was six. Joel confessing his fear yo Tommy, then Joel and Ellie arguing. The scene in the stables where Joel tells Ellie she have a choice is revisited here, although if Ellie had been offered a choice to have the surgery and gone ahead with it, Joel would have been shattered beyond all hope.
@@Ewelllad Joel's confession was heartbreaking and it was great to see how attached to Ellie he's becoming. There are so many great episodes in this series! And I agree, Joel would have been shattered if Ellie would have gone ahead with the surgery, he definitely would not miss this time
@@VerowakReacts First of all, apologies for the typos. I used to write for a living, believe it or not. lol So many great episodes. Episode 8 is a close contender. "It's okay, baby girl." Are you kidding me? Hurry up with season two, already. :)
@@Ewelllad Just need to fill the void for a year or two until Season 2 is released ... that should be easy, right?
So i watched the finale today as i had a really busy week :( i am sad it ended but also so glad for the journey. Honestly i still preffer the game as some scenes were more developed but the series did add a lot of amazing plot points plus i am super happy a lot more people got to live the story. The ending even in 2015 lefted me feeling so mixed in my feelings, i just love its one of my favorite endings ever but is one that grows on you over time. The series does a fantastic (as the game did) to really make you understand Joel's perspective even episode like Bill and Frank's play into this in the letter Ellie reads "The reason men like have survived this long is because we live for protecting people we love" and for Joel that was Sarah.. then Tess and last Ellie. Letting ellie die was the salvation for the world... But at that point Ellie was Joel's entire world. Love the ending plus i love your reactions, hope to watch more of your movies and series reactions.
Same, sad it ended but so glad for the journey! I feel they showcased the characters so well and upon rewatch, so many more connections can be made!! The ending is really great, the whole story has been fantastic
Woaaaahhh the giraffe scene looks exactly like the game.
I love that! I can't wait to see the scene in game now
Great Casting for the Giraffe, just like the Giraffe in the game. Honesty nailed the performance.
Give that giraffe an emmy!
@@VerowakReacts Some Giraffes can grow up to 18 feet, but the majority of them only have 4.
@@aTofuJunkie giraff-ipede!
Episode 1, Marlene. Ironic that you picked that quote for this episode 😂😂
I know, right? I actually chose the quote before watching this episode, so it's really neat how it ended up!
@@VerowakReacts I bet she’s wishing she hadn’t had him do it now.
@@squidhimself9371 The last thing she realized before she died was that she made a mistake asking Joel to do this, yeah!
11:55 there's a lot less fireflies now 😬
Marlene "I made a promise to her mother that I would protect her child"
Verowak "Yeah, and you're breaking your promise"
Yes, to save humanity.
Yep, that's Ellie's original actress. You'll recognize her voice when you are going to play it. It's also her knife and her jacket. You also kinda want to watch that flashback again after you've experienced the entirety of Part 2, as they did their thing again with certain parallels there. It seems they are going to split it into multiple seasons though, as Part 2 is a really long game. I would also assume they would restructure it a bit to accommodate it for a TV show format & multiple seasons.
Now imagine this ending, but without even knowing if there's a continuation of the story, for many many more years to come. Ellie obviously can tell that Joel is bullshitting, but she does not exactly know the truth. Marlene's and Joel's decisions are both relatable from their perspectives. Marlene did it for the greater good, to save humankind, and Joel did it for selfish reasons, because he did not want to lose another daughter. But ultimately both did the wrong thing, by robbing the only person of the choice that she should have made.
In regards to motion sickness, make sure to turn off Motion Blur and optimize the settings so you can at least reach a stable 60 FPS, if not more (though unlikely with the released system specs being quite demanding). There's also film grain & camera shake that you probably want to turn to 0.
My favorite character is Ellie, not even just exclusively in regards to this franchise, but I also know and love Part 2, which is absolutely brutal.
"Joel is such a flawed character" is such an accurate statement about that character.
I love flawed characters like that. The ones that have good and bad in them
A perfect complex ending. Saving The world vs “your world”. I believe the ending would be completely different if marlene would have just let Elli make the decision and let Joel and her say goodbye to eachother but what is coming in the next season will be so good i cant wait.
Alsoo marlene said that in episode 1 during the ellie negotiation with Joel and Tess. That's my final answer (who wants to be a millionaire drama music starts playing)
Haha I haven't thought of that Who Wants to be a Millionaire music is forever! You're 100% correct on the quote!!
As a parent, I 100% support Joel’s decision. I don’t agree with him lying to her, but I’d crawl across broken glass covered in salt and lemon juice in a heartbeat if it meant saving my kid.
Him lying is not great, but I do understand why he did it. He's so afraid of losing her
@@VerowakReacts brings back the line from Episode 3, “I was never afraid before you showed up.” It’s really the throughline of the show.
@@joe_dns4625 It really is, and I loved that line in that episode. It explains so much with just one sentence
Very cool to see your reactions to this series. Hopefully you were able to play the full game by this point and maybe finished the sequel?
I am not a gamer, probably never will play the game, but here's a parent's perspective - If anyone is to be blamed now or later in season2 is Marlene & not Joel. If that doesn't happen whatever showrunners present is a simply a stupidity. Here's why - Joel's actions are direct result of Marlene's decision to hurry up things. Firstly did he have that opportunity to give Ellie a choice? They are saying that Joel didn't give her a choice & took away the chance to save humanity. Which is logically & factually wrong. Joel gets to give Ellie a choice only in one scenario - If Marlene told Ellie about the killing surgery, Ellie said yes to die willingly & is allowed to meet Joel. Then & only then he can allow or deny Ellie's wish. So Marlene didn't allow any of that. So as a parent Joel is left with only one thing to do & he did that thing.
If Ellie says Yes & even then Joel kills everyone then & only then he is to be blamed.. Would Ellie say Yes to die? Maybe yes. But Marlene doesn't give that chance to Elli, therefore we don't actually know what Ellie might have said 'before' the surgery (Whatever she may say afterwards is her afterthought considering whatever happened). So before the surgery whatever Joel does is a direct consequence of Marlene's actions.. Never in the series Ellie was expecting to 'die'. She was hoping to get it done (maybe blood samples, tests etc.) & then go away to live with Joel happily. Why so much hurry from Marlene's part? They waited for 20 years, what's another couple of months?
If someone just tells me that my child is being 'murdered' without their knowledge, I can't even see them & I was supposed to walk away from the premises; then no matter what the greater purpose of that murder is.. I would do the exact thing as Joel did! If HBO ignores this simple fact in next season & decides to blame Joel instead of Marlene then they will have very angry reactions from the parents. Protecting the children from the 'predator' is a primal animal instinct.
The only thing I don't like on Joel's part is that he lied to her. IMO he should have been upfront about why he did it. Ellie might have disagreed with his actions but she definitely would have understood his motives (selfless/selfish love for his daughter) better. Was he afraid that killing of these many people will just feed her survivor's guilt? Or he is afraid that he will have to justify his actions? Or under her current PTSD influence will she see Joel as a bad person & end the relationship, or even worse take her own life?
When I heard Craig Mazin played the OG game in 2013 I was so glad that finally, finally someone who loves the video game medium and who loves the source game got to do the adaptation. Video game adaptations have been too dominated by key creative people having no respect for video games as story-telling art and no knowledge or love for the source game. But we can see that people with a passion for the source material and the medium can make great adaptations.
One’s obsessed with their need to save the world and make all the pain and loss they endured mean something, one is obsessed with their need to finally save a daughter after feeling like he spent twenty years failing to do so. Neither bothered with what Ellie wanted.
It really does feel in that final scene like Joel and Ellie’s relationship has now been tainted. After what shes been through, the dishonesty was probably the worst betrayal she could have had.
Their relationship really has been strained, though I would love to know how! But I guess I'll have to wait until Season 2 for that 😭
The choice to kill Ellie without giving her the full information or letting her say anything to Joel about it was Marleen, She's the one at fault for everything going down this way.
First time I beat the game and it cut to credits after Ellie's "Okay", I just had to put the controller down. I was happy for Joel but so sad for her. And with how many people are having mixed emotions over the finale, it's safe to say the series stuck the landing. Myself and everyone else who played in 2013 have had to reconcile Joel's decision for 10 years now. Hope you like the game! Just be ready for way more infected. I really enjoyed your reaction to the series too, thanks for this
I don't think there was a way for both Joel and Ellie to be happy :( It really shows just how well the story is made when we're left with conflicting emotions at the end!
I'm glad you enjoyed my reactions, I super pumped for the game!
Thank you for your wonderful reactions to this tremendous series.
You're welcome! The series was just so amazing to watch, it was 100% my kind of show
The story is basically a tragedy, in the classic Greek sense. With Joel's character and how he lost Sarah, specifically to humans not to infected, the only way they could survive the Journey was them bonding. And after they did after she became "family" there was just no way he was going to let her die, there never was a choice to him he had to try to save her. From the first episode they build towards the inevitable conclusion. I think this fits also with the story of the second game.
Long comment, start reading at your own risk, haha.
I knew a few tidbits from the first game, such as Sarah's death occurring on the night of the outbreak and that the story centred around Joel guiding Ellie across country and forming a father-daughter type bond along the way, I haven't actually played the games, however, so this series has been quite the journey.
Ellie's birth scene was amazing... and tragic... and scary... and beautiful... and really interesting as the likely source of her immunity. What a devastating thing for Marlene though. They certainly were very different people, but like Joel, Marlene was someone hardened by this world. They also both made the same mistake at the end, taking the decision away from Ellie.
I love that following the flashback they then opened up with Ellie's trauma and the change in her personality, hard as it was to see. It is realistic, though, as the experiences she has had over the previous months would undoubtedly damage a person. Especially a teenager, their hormone riddled bodies and brains being generally ill equipped to deal with their emotions as it is, haha..... we've all been there.
Some of the conversations in this episode were so well crafted. The one where Joel tells Ellie they can still turn around, go live a quiet life back at Tommy's, and she responds that they have to go all the way with their mission perfectly foreshadows Joel's conflict later in the episode. He knows Ellie would probably choose to die for a shot at saving humanity, but he just can't stand to lose her.
I also loved the conversation where Joel discusses trying to kill himself. It was the most honest and vulnerable Joel has been with her throughout. I think he realised she was needing that from him, but it was also something he simply wanted to give to her to show just how much she had come to mean to him. He was expressing to her that as dark and painful as it may get at times, you will find the light and the beauty again. You will find yourself again. That of course culminated in the moment where he indicates to Ellie that it was she that had healed him from the wound that was the loss of Sarah, she who had led him back to the light, the beauty, and to himself again - such a touching moment. Seeing Joel come from being this person who was extremely closed-off and bitter for 20yrs to this moment of open vulnerability and hope was such a great representation of that healing and how far their relationship had come.
The sound design on the hospital rescue scene (where Joel rescues Ellie from the surgeon's knife) was amazing. The music was dominant, with the sounds of gunshots, spent shells pinging on the floor, and the occasional agonised scream heard underneath it. That, and the music itself, created a great deal of tension and left a sombre sense in the air. This was no moment of triumph or joy and I think we got that same sombre sense from Joel in the car afterwards. Sure he saved Ellie, but he again had to kill to do it and he also understands that he may have just resigned humanity to eventual extinction. You can see in that moment that he's hugely conflicted and he knows that he acted somewhat selfishly, but he so desperately wanted Ellie to have the chance at a full and decent life that Sarah never got. He also knows that Marlene was probably right when she said that Ellie would give her life for a cure. Afterall, that's why he lies to her, right? Because she would have chosen to sacrifice herself and would be pissed that he did what he did. Despite this, despite knowing that Ellie would probably choose the surgery, he still couldn't bring himself to let her go. Whilst we can all make the argument for why Joel should have acted for the greater good, I think we can all understand why he didn't also, so it's super hard to be highly critical of him or claim that we wouldn't do the same. I think it's this juxtaposition that makes this ending such a compelling one. Ultimately, however, as I said above this should have been Ellie's decision to make and both Joel and Marlene took it from her. They should have fully informed her and then supported/helped her in making her decision in her own time and free from pressure or coercion.
Joel and Ellie's final conversation was again brilliantly crafted. In opening up about Riley I think Ellie was essentially saying to Joel, "Hey, this is my deepest, most painful secret and I'm about to be totally honest with you about it, so I expect you to be the same when I ask you about what happened back at the hospital." She obviously has her doubts about Joel's story, but I think she so desperately wants it to be true, so desperately wants to have not been betrayed by the one person she trusts and loves in this world, that she's willing herself to accept it. Deep down, however, I think there's a part of her that knows he's lying. Please, no spoilers, but I can't help thinking that Joel's lie is going to come back to bite him in the second game/season. Through all this trauma and adversity they've slowly built a loving relationship on a foundation of openness and trust. This fact was really highlighted by the conversations they shared throughout this episode, so I suspect that trust will be broken when Ellie learns the truth about what happened at the hospital and that she still might hold the potential for a cure. Though it pains me to say, I think this will likely be a major source of conflict between the two next season.
Anyway, this first season has been great. The writing, the music, the casting, the directing, the cinematography, the acting, etc, etc, etc has all been top notch. Special mention of course for Bella and Pedro, they've carried this story brilliantly.
Thanks for your reactions, let's do it all again come season two.
"I don't know how to feel about this."
After I finished the game I turned off the TV and went up to my bed and kind of stared at the ceiling for about 30 minutes. You have to understand, that in the game most of the time you're playing Joel. The only time you're really playing Ellie is during the whole David/cult act. They're just video game characters, but the game is so good, Ellie felt like MY daughter by the end. And I did it. I walked through that hospital and pulled the trigger to kill every last person that was trying to save the world.
The game ends exactly like the show, down to the "okay" from Ellie and a cut to black. I felt so much love and so much pain at the end of this game. This is truly one of the greatest pieces of art I've ever experienced.
When you look to start the game - check the accessibility options - they may help reduce the motion sickness - Naughty Dog are very good at providing accessibility options
Definitely what I'll be doing, but I'm assuming the combat scenes will be the worst lol
Just play on the easiest mode.
a beautiful heart... a beautiful intellect... for an ideal react.... to the most powerful episode of all.
Fun Fact: They used a real giraffe for that episode! (I totally thought it was CGI though)
I definitely thought it was CGI! That's so awesome though
Thanks for doing this react. I'm glad we have one more fan 😁
Did you already played the game? If yes, isn't it phenomenal how close the storie is been told? How would you discribe the difference between the game and the series?
I haven't played the game yet! I tend to not be able to play games like that due to motion sickness. But I should really try to see if I can play it somehow
@@VerowakReacts i never played it through on my own as well haha
maybe it's an option for you too, when you just watch an let's play or "video game movie".
Quote trivia: Marlene, Episode 1!
What Joel did was pretty bad but I don't judge him at all for it. The way I see it is, yea sure we get a cure but it's already been 20 years. I genuinely feel like that won't make a difference and people will still be terrible but just with immunity now. Not too mention making a cure isn't gonna bring everyone back and there's no actual certainty that it would work. So I'm with Joel on this one BUT I'm also aware that making a cure is what Ellie would have wanted. The only reason why I fully sided with Joel is because Marlene didn't tell Ellie that it would kill her. That's what really made me mad. Ellie deserved to make her own decision and that was taken away from her :/ so I absolutely don't blame Joel. Anyways this episode was so awesome and I'm kinda excited for season 2 but also kinda not for obvious reasons 🥹🥹.
Also yes that was Ashley Johnson, the game Ellie!!! 😁
This had to be happening at least 2 months after the end of the last episode. Walking from Colorado to Utah, plus there isn't the slightest sign of any snow anymore. It appears to be springtime. There was no guarantee that what the doctors thought would be accurate and actually work. Marlene and Joel were both wrong. Ellie should have been given all the information and been able to make her own decision. But no matter what she decided, I don't think either Marlene or Joel would have let it happen. Although, the look on Marlene's face as the two men and Joel pass by her, makes me wonder if she secretly hoped he would do exactly what he did and take the guilt away from her. I mean, as she said in the first episode,, she knew what Joel was capable of and that there was a better than even chance he would kill them and come back. On a positive note, never underestimate the healing power of giraffes. So jealous ecause that was an actual giraffe, not cgi.
So apparently that was a real life giraffe, but the whole scene was still heavily CGI'd as they filmed the eating of leaves at a zoo for obvious reasons, so they had to cut and paste everything into the collapsed building. Explains why it kind of looks CGI-y (which I assumed it was 100% CGI.)
Wait, that was a real giraffe? I thought it was CGId 😂
Trivia:
Episode 1: Marleen to Joel and Tess.. to deliver Ellie to the Fireflies. In the Capitol building.
Your right.
The actress who had the baby Ellie.
Is the actress who voiced Ellie in the game indeed.
Such a pitty S1 is over now☹.
❤❤❤
Ray.
It is Marlene in episode 1 !! I absolutely love that they have the actors who played the characters in the games be characters in the show!! S2 is too far away 😭
@@VerowakReacts ill got 2 short shows to bridge the gap between a bit.
Yes. It was Marleen.. who said that, to Joel after The other girls ear got shot off😉.. "You have to fucking ear on your head"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Here are 2 shows.
°The Haunting of Hill House (10 Eps)
°Squid Game (9 Eps)
❤❤❤
Ray.
@@23Raymond22 oh I've been meaning to watch Squid Game!
@@VerowakReacts nice..
The emotional whiplash of this episode followed by the abrupt ending.... I hope HBO is ready to foot the therapy bill for millions of people.
HBO is pretty good at that kind of thing. There were some episodes in Game of Thrones that were crazy (though The Last of Us has been way more heartbreaking overall)
Hope they film season 2 again in my home province of Alberta! 🙂🇨🇦
Yay go Canada!!
7:18 you win quote trivia!
I love how I got to participate in a quote trivia!!
For me, The Last of Us was in its time definitive proof that videogames can be art, made in a format standard enough for any kind of skeptic (i mean there were many earlier masterpiece videogames, but usually the format of the medium was distinct enough for some people to still dismiss the true artistic side of them). I just love how this story explores the nature and the contradictions and messyness of humand kind and morality; how good and bad, fear and bravery, or competence and disability are never just a binary but coexist inside of us. This is a story about the characters but also an exploration about humanity and reality itself, therefore, art. In particular, for this last episode, utilitarian morality would tell you that what Joel does is objectively bad, but considering his life, considering that was humanity, not the cordicepts but a person, who took away his daugther; being in his shoes, it just wasnt fair, he was just not gonna allow humanity to take away his now new daugther, the one that mended his life after living so much time in pain and numbness. I love how human every chacrater is in this show (and the games); and I loved also how the part II game (no spoilers) was brave enough to take huge risks, even tho there were mistakes in the execution imo. Im very excited about season 2 of the series, however; since a video essay I saw recently commented on how the creators have a new chance, a different medium and more experience for turning what was a sequel with a lot of potential into a second masterpiece.
The Last of Us really is a great exploration of humanity. I especially love how it shows all the different sides and how everyone is doing what they think is best, which ends up in many different conflicts. It's a great story of growth and heartbreak shows how decisions made can affect others. I'm really looking forward to Season 2 to see how this continues