Topic: The TV Show Thread

@Th3solution I hope you're right about the flashback stuff; feels like a good way for the show to proceed.
Here's another spoiler-wall for The Last of Us S2 (and game) from me:

It made me smile, too. I love it when entertainment media unapologetically treats LGBTQ+ as the perfectly normal thing it is, and that line almost felt like it was trolling the people who go into conniptions when confronted with anything gay or non-binary (and I wholeheartedly condone such trolling). As you said, the internet is gonna internet, and that will never change. Hopefully, most people will have had more muted reactions, if any at all. I do think we, as a society, are continually moving forward, even though it is slow and still a long way to go (and while some countries are desperately fighting to move backwards, I think they will ultimately fail).
I had completely forgotten about Mel! Yeah, that will be interesting to see. It doesn't strike me as a show that would shy away from that kind of controversy and it is a hard-hitting sequence. Would maybe require a deft hand to be done properly, though.
I was half expecting Jesse to show up at the end of the previous episode; didn't he show up at that point in the game? Just in time for Ellie to have someone to ride out with after side-lining Dina with her pregnancy? Memory may very well be wrong; I had also forgotten that they were trailing Tommy in the game.

@FuriousMachine @Th3solution

Damn, I'm only caught up to Ep3 and really want to click those giant blocks of spoiler 😂

Probably watch Ep4 tonight if I get round to it. I'm in a weird position where I knew the story of game 1 going in to s1. Knew certain events from game 2, because the Internet threw its collective toys out of the pram about leaked scripts and the like, but I've never watched or played game 2, so from now onward everything is new to me, so I look forward to seeing how our opinions vary, or match up, once I can go back and read your thoughts without spoiling it for myself 😅

@Ravix It's a good episode, but even after you've seen it, you may want to hold off on our spoiler walls, as we also discuss events in the game that have yet to appear in the show and speculate on how (or if) they will come to pass. So that would also constitute potential spoilers for the TV show.
Sorry 'bout that.😅

@Ravix Oh, yeah, like Furious says, we’ve been going into some theories about plot in the game that isn’t yet in the show, so… sorry about that. So since you’ve not played the game, avoid clicking the spoilers. I have edited my posts to be more clear.

I’ll try to be clearer going forward since I forgot there’s a few here who are watching the show but never played the game. 😬

@FuriousMachine @Th3solution no problem. I just won't click yet. My perspective will be a weird one as with the first season there was expectations from the game story, but for the second, not so much. But also, I'm not one of those that refused to play the second game because of whatever reasons people gave for not at least, you know, forming their own opinions based on trying it, rather than just having a tantrum about certain aspects. Which is now all the more common and happens to every new game, it seems. More that I hadn't fully played the first game, even though I'd watched it on YT/Twitch, so thought I'd rather play it once before trying the second, if I ever get round to trying the second at all (I doubt i ever will, but now there's a show so I don't have to 😅)

@Ravix The tricky part is that I was also referencing storyline elements that will mostly likely be saved for season 3. In my future impressions posts maybe I’ll separate into a separate spoiler tagged paragraph for my thoughts about the series going forward, so as not to inadvertently spoil season 3.
There’s still plenty for me to react to from just what has been already shown on the TV show. When episode 5 drops tomorrow I’m sure to have ideas and opinions.

@Th3solution @Ravix Yeah, I'll attempt to take a similar approach, trying to separate thoughts of the show and speculation on what's to come. Will hopefully help foster a more inclusive discussion of the show

just started on watching Season 8 of Naruto on Netflix. the chubby princess episode was funny and wacky

@Th3solution @FuriousMachine very gracious and considerate. I no longer have FOMO from the spoiler blocks anyway, so it's all good. And I'm still yet to watch last weeks episode either way 🤦‍♂️

Some thoughts on episode 5 of The Last of Us season 2 —
Overall, certainly enjoyable and the last half of the episode really picked up after a slow start. The set quality continues to impress, and most of the performances are solid.

Spoilers just for episode 5 of the show:

I really liked how they set up the hospital basement scene with the spores. I don’t remember the game being quite like that but it made the confrontation with Nora really great and made Ellie feel satisfyingly powerful. There is a tonal shift in her behavior though, which is hard to justify, but after watching the promo for the next episode, I think we’ll finally get the context we’re looking for.

And regarding my predictions going forward, based on the game’s storyline (ie, this is spoilers from the game and theories of what appears to come next —

There’s still a lot of content, and it does make sense that apparently season 3 is longer, I think it was 9 or 10 episodes as opposed to just the 7 of season 2.

The breakneck speed at which the storyline is unfolding is one of the costs of adaptation, I suppose. The game has so much more time to let the narrative elements simmer.

@Ravix If it helps, I've played the games, am up to date with the TV show and still avoiding all the spolier tags on this thread about the series.

Started to watch Masters of Horror on Prime/freevee. Only watched one episode so far but it seems pretty good, in a more violent tales of the unexpected sort of way.

that show is also on Tubi. been on Tubi since 2021 last time i checked but its a shame that the show doesnt have subtitles for it while on Tubi

@seinfeldfanatic
I do like tubi but yes the lack of subtitles can be very annoying and worst if they are essential for the viewer.
As for Masters of horror, unfortunately Prime only has season two so I shall lookout for it on tubi at some point (it isn’t available at the moment on Tubi UK). Speaking of region differences there was a strange error on tubi uk a few weeks back and quite a superior selection of films appeared (I assumed it defaulted to US), I managed to watch one of the films before it went back to our crappy selection.

@Th3solution I've been a bit behind, but finally got to see the latest episode today.
Thoughts on episode 5 follows:

I loved this episode and I think this season is stronger than I worried it would be. As I mentioned last week, I think that is much due to Merced's portrayal of Dina. I may be misremembering, but I feel she is a bit different from the game; stronger, tougher and more determined, maybe? Also, funnier? Again, not sure if I remember correctly. And Jesse finally showed up and Tommy, too (or so they said)

The following spoilerwall covers speculations of future events in the series, based on events from the game:

I think you are right about next episode and the museum flashback; I didn't see the "next episode" preview (I never watch those), but it makes sense from the way this one ended.
Again, my memory of the game is hazy, but was Tommy and/or Jesse on hand for the aquarium attack? I expect the museum flashback to take up most of the next episode so then it makes sense for Jesse and Tommy to play a role in the finale (otherwise, why bother bringing them in for this episode?)

I agree that it feels like it rushes a bit from story beat to story beat, but so far I don't feel like we've missed anything of consequence. Like last season, though, I would maybe preferred an episode or two extra to let the story breathe a bit more.
Stoked for next week!

@FuriousMachine Regarding The Last of Us part 2 video game spoilers and how they will integrate into future TV episodes:

My memory is vague on the details from the game also, but I believe yes, Jesse is at the aquarium with them and I think present when Ellie kills Mel and Owen, then we have Mel’s pregnancy reveal. Then Abby discovers them and Jesse is abruptly killed by Abby. Come to think of it, Tommy is there too, because Abby takes him hostage. I don’t remember how Tommy escapes. I might be mixing up the events because the games is told with so much swapping back and forth of timelines and the two protagonists. But then after Abby gets the upper hand and kills Jesse and takes Tommy, Abby spares Ellie yet again and lets her and Dina live. Which all that leads to the Farm House set piece.
So I don’t think we can get that far into the story in just two more episodes. I think we’ll maybe see Mel killed and have Ellie’s shock and horror at killing a pregnant woman and it ends there or with Abby coming in and discovering Mel’s body, but I doubt we get all the way through the fight and Jesse’s death and all. I could be wrong though.
I can’t imagine they will change those major plot points of the killing of Mel and Owen, and the reciprocal killing of Jesse and nearly Tommy (he’s severed injured and disabled, as you recall) because those event lead to Ellie’s second hunt of Abby in Santa Barbara.
Regarding Dina, I agree that Merced has brought a great interpretation to the role. My only gripe is that she looks so good all the time, hair and make-up perfect, cute jeans and belt, pearly whites, looking like she’s ready to go clubbing in the middle of the apocalypse. It pulls me out of the immersion somewhat. These people haven’t bathed in days and are rummaging through the dirt and grime of the unbridled wilderness and she looks better than 90% of people I saw at Wal-Mart last week! 😂

I’m with you though. I’m really excited for next week, if you can’t tell! I totally want to play the game again too.

Also, as an aside, I didn’t know that the story is a metaphorical representation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its associated endless cycle of violence and revenge. Apparently Druckmann has all but confirmed that. Both the Abby-Ellie conflict and the WLF-Scars conflict have these “we lost track of who started this and does it even matter at this point; will one side just stop it already because nobody wins in this scenario!” type of messaging.

@Th3solution Aha! I think you're spot on. Everything you say regarding plot developments sparks recognition, so it's either that or we're now both misremembering the same thing together. Does that count as the Mandela effect?😉

And, LOL, the fact that they are so clean all the time hadn't registered with me, but you are of course 100% correct there, and it's not just Dina, I'd say it pretty much applies to all the characters (just maybe more noticeable on Merced). To be fair, though, that seems to be a common issue with many movies and tv series, when I think about it. I'll allow it 😉

The following spoiler block concerns the aside mentioned in the former post and applies to the game and most likely future episodes.
I hadn't considered the Israel/Palestine connection directly, but the cycle of violence is of course prominent in the game and applies to too much in our society. The folly of the "Eye for an Eye" philosophy is of course that it never stops there. And, ironically, many of us humans are too weak for the "turn the other cheek" philosophy, so we sort of default to the other. Especially if either a functioning justice system or our faith in it is missing. In a similar situation I fully expect I would do the same as Ellie and Dina. Don't think I'll get there, though, as I have no interest in trying to eke out a post-apocalyptic existence and will try to locate the quickest exit possible should the nukes fall or something like it 😉

@FuriousMachine Regarding the ‘cleanness’ of characters in movies and TV when they realistically should be grungy, you’re right, it’s actually a common issue. It’s become more noticeable though with UHD 4K resolutions. In the past the haze and blurriness of the actors and actresses on screen covered up for the fact they had on make-up and had hair products holding their ‘do in perfect place, defying gravity and all the elements. But now we can see every little wrinkle on their face and also every part of their skin including make-up, every little imperfect globule of mascara, or slightly crooked eyeliner or eyebrow pencil work. Make-up artists certainly have their work cut out for them nowadays.

Similar to what I was mentioning on the other thread about people who work in certain professions have TV and movies about that profession ruined for them because of too much knowledge of the subject matter and the unrealistic portrayals on screen, I have some shows or moments in shows tainted for me because I tend to be too analytical or too evaluative when I’m watching something. Most people don’t notice these things I guess.

That said, your analysis of the blocked spoiler above is absolutely right on! 😅

@Th3solution Very true, 4K has introduced some new quirks in cinema. Still, it's hard going back to the pre-HD days, some older movies feel like a poorly bloom-lit dream sequence from a daytime soap 😄

I have to apply myself in order to be analytical, so my mind can easily ignore inconsistencies, weird details or connections in movies and shows unless they are really obvious. Not sure if that is a net good thing or not, but feels like it 😉

Would you say it's your work that makes you subconsciously scrutinize these things or is it just the way things are? If work, may I ask what you do?

@FuriousMachine Yeah, my main work is in sales and management and it does have some data analytics involved. I think I’m just wired to be more systematic or analytical than the average person — I do make lists and spreadsheets for my gaming too 😂. Even as a kid I remember making lists when I was playing an RPG, even before the games starting keeping those checklists for you. I like to break things down into steps, measure things, and explore cause and effect.

But I also have been known to throw logic out the window and enjoy media and entertainment whilst suspending all disbelief. I am a fan of Star Wars and Marvel after all. In fact one of the users on here (who has since left the site) gave a very compelling breakdown of some serious logistical issues with the writing in TLoU2 that he just couldn’t get past, and therefore really hated the game. But even though he was right about a few of the plot points being irrational or inconsistent, it didn’t bother me. I guess for me, emotion trumps logic, most of the time. And sometimes a thing just hits you and even if it doesn’t make sense, it resonates with you, so it’s easy to look past.

In the example of me thinking “how in the world can this person look this well-groomed while camping in the middle of the apocalypse” I have to just say to myself, “there are fungus creatures running around using sonar… I think there’s more implausible things going on here.” 😂