I hope you come back and talk about the show more! Just discovered your videos today and really loved what I’ve seen! My feelings about the show were a bit of a mixed bag (though I generally loved it) and I’m curious to hear what you thought, as such a big fan of the games.
I might make another video before season 2!! I honestly don’t have a ton to say about the first season - by and large it was a direct adaptation of the game with mostly minor changes. The only “interesting” (not really) thought I have is that the story was clearly made for a specific medium (video games) and I think Joel’s decision at the end lands harder when you are the one controlling him through the hospital, whereas film/TV is a passive experience so your relationship with the characters is just going to be different. Not even a criticism of the show just something I noticed. I thought the cast was phenomenal and Ashley Johnson’s scene made me cry lmao
@@nickcurl that’s one aspect I’m very interested in seeing how they handle in S2. The friction between what the characters want and what the player wants is such a huge part of what made The Last of Us 2 such an emotionally agonizing experience for me and I wonder how new audiences will feel about Ellie and some of the things she does without that special connection players have to her. Also a little concerned about structure, because the way the sequel is structured (both the perspective shift halfway through and the way the flashbacks were situated in the story) is one of my favourite things about it, and I really don’t know how well that would translate, especially with them breaking it up into multiple seasons. I imagine they’re gonna have to overhaul it quite a bit. I trust that we will both be crying when the time comes though!
@@stevenmillett (spoilers for part 2 if anyone’s reading this lol) yes this is what I’ve been wondering too! Part 2 works (and works perfectly) because of the structure. Forcing the player to be Abby is such an insanely bold choice and I hope that same effect is achieved when the POV shifts in the show (whenever that happens). The fusion of character, structure, and theme is what makes Part 2 genuinely like the best story I’ve ever experienced
Regardless of how quickly they move through / or even away from the story - I hope that audiences get what I got from that game. It played out like a blockbuster movie - that I was a part of. The quiet times - in the show series - could end up being just as dramatic as fighting clickers in a spore filled room. Can’t wait.
Great video essay! Great writing, engaging, funny and thoughtful. I agree with pretty much every point you brought up! Except maybe the lady behind dlc being included lol but really, great video, I can’t wait for this series, I love the last of us and I can’t wait to see more of your videos!
Do you think the 10 episodes of season 1 is enough to cover the first game and make the viewer care for Joel/Ellie, that final decision and the story in general? Especially as certain characters (Tess,Sam and Henry) will likely only be in 1 or 2 episodes, which isn't much time to get attached.
Yes, I do. Most play-throughs of the game on RUclips clock in at around 10 hours, and many miniseries are eight episodes or less (True Detective, Sharp Objects, Big Little Lies, Chernobyl, etc). In Chernobyl, Barry Keoghan's character doesn't appear until episode 4 and his entire subplot has a huge emotional impact. With talented filmmakers, a short film with under a fifteen minute runtime can stick with you for days after
I honestly think we end season 1 in Winter. We get some variation of the college Joel and the rebar. I would not be surprised if this is also just primed for a season 2. I don’t see anyway in which they potentially adapt both games where Part 1 finishes in a season. Unless they really go with a season 1 cliffhanger where Ellie is on the operating table, but I really think if they move this fast they need to likely ensure this is a 2-3 season at most series. I’m interested in seeing how far back they go, I do think they can touch in the 20 year gap. But I also think they can very much adapt pt1 in 2 seasons, fill in some gaps of the time jump for a season and integrate pt2 after. I imagine they are going to deviate at some point from the games, maybe even right away.
this was the first AAA story based single player game that i played. I had been watching a lot of youtubers play games but this one i went in myself. One of the best games ive ever played, terrifying and so emotionally invested. And the intro into the game you play. Yooooooooo i wasnt ready for that, that section alone shows the utter brilliance of the screen writer for the game. I still get teary just thinking about it. I wasnt ready and tbh it really brings home why Joel is the way that he is.
Great video! Subscribed! I am kind of the unusual case when it comes to my opinion of part 1 and 2. I prefer the 2nd game because it was more layered for me thus more interesting to unpack. I would like them to complicate part 1's story a bit more for the HBO series adaption. Like, I hope they play around with the narrative structure by making it nonlinear like part 2. They could explore Joel's hunter past along with the impact of Ellie's relationship with Riley, reveal Sarah's death until later in the show, etc. through flashbacks that are placed appropriately in the series to enhance and compliment what is happening during the present timeline. I also hope they flesh out the secondary characters from the first game like Tess, Bill, and Marlene a bit more. I feel like their roles in the game were more functional for the primary characters' arc rather than having their own character arc. However, I trust the people behind this show and want them to do whatever they think is best.
Im so glad to see your back! Your videos are always so well put together! Ive never actually played, but youve gotten me interested in trying to see how the two adaptions differ/match up!
I don't usually check this kind of Chanel but love TLOU and you did a great job especially for an up and Comer. Like and subscribed. Keep up the good work.
@@nickcurl I made a LOU2 video essay if you want to watch on my channel. Absolutely no pressure just would love to talk more about the game/continue the conversation ND started with their games :)
I’m all down for change when translating a story into a different medium, but out of everything, I really hope they don’t change the soundtrack. To me, it’s far too iconic, and I don’t know if they can capture the same response from me with an original soundtrack.
cant wait to see pascal southern accent joel voice...i heard his southern accent in Kingsman and he sounds like joel sometimes if he add a serious tone to it..it'll be perfect...and i saw a clip of him in low budget movie he does sound like him...
great video! amazing editing and script ... everything is very professionally done , the view count was criminal tbh , but i checked the channel and you only have 3 videos so maybe it's that , anyway just wanted to say great content (watched the sharp objects video , fucking loved it) so good luck , in no time you'll gain much more views ✌
What it has going for it is that Naughty Dog is involved at a high level. What fans of the game are going to have trouble with, including myself,, are accepting unfamiliar faces playing Joel and Ellie... Thats a really huge deal, and will not be surprised if I find the show unwatchable because of it.
The only thing I need is Pedro with a thick beard and a southern accent and I’ll be good Edit: You need to do a video on Part 2. I adored it and I really want to see what someone else thinks about it!
@Isaac Pritchard unfortunately it doesn’t look like it from the set photos. Unless he has a full gray beard and the way the photo was taken it doesn’t show up.
Touching on Ellies Left Behind DLC they pretty much already have it laid out for them. If you really think about it, Left Behind already played just like a one hour episode of a television show. We literally helped Ellie survive while learning her backstory at the same time. I’m 100% alright with adaptations veering off from the main narrative, but if they just completely lifted the Left Behind DLC word for word and beat for beat I wouldn’t be disappointed or surprised.
Just came across your channel, awesome analysis videos! Can't wait to see more content from you. Any hints on what the next video is going to be about?
I'm personally very optimistic about the show, especially seeing some of the footage people managed to post from behind the production. Pascal looks great as does Bella Ramsey, I can only hope that I'm not wrong to be so excited about the show. I loved the game so I'll be going into the show with knowledge of the story and characters, still I'm hoping that we get at least 10% of some more original content that perhaps didn't make it into the game. Thank you for making this video and I'm waiting for more coverage of the show from you ;)
I would love for them to make Tlou2 TV Show and make some changes. But I would also love if they just didn't change the story that much and just put Joel's death farther and later in the story, at the part where we fully understood Abby's motivations and Joel is not taken from us too early.
The second game has great gameplay, but story wise it's Game of Thrones Season 8 or The Last Jedi. The second games story unfortunately shits all of the first game. So glad they're not adapting the second game, praise the lord!
As a true fan of both last of us games, @mertkaykay made a video analysis of the game that gave me some seriously uncomfortable reflection of the series, and I would genuinely love your perspective on it. She comments on the forced emotions given to the player in order for the story to work, as well as draws very disconcerting parrallels between the last of us part 2 and the war between Israel/Palestine and Neil Druckmans personal biases and how that was reflected in game. I would just overall love for you to touch on this topic more, as the last of us is something I hold so closely to my heart, but unfortunately now have a somewhat tarnished view of.
Hello! You sent me down a rabbit hole so I watched her TLOU2 analysis from 2022 and parts of the "The Last of Us Manipulated You" video that you referenced. I took a ton of notes lol, and if I ever decide to return to The Last of Us on my channel it's definitely given me a lot to think about. I don't wanna go through point-by-point of MertKayKay's video (which was overall well-thought out and argued) with everything I disagreed with, and also have like no interest in inter-RUclipsr disagreements lol. I guess if I had to summarize my thoughts on her critique, it seems like the theme of revenge and cyclical violence wasn't emotionally resonant for her, and therefore the story of Part 2 fell flat for her in most ways. Which makes sense! I think I have a fundamental disagreement with the idea that the game points a finger at the player to make us feel guilty for Ellie's actions. By about day 2 of Ellie's part I was like... ok girl you have lost the plot lmao. The tension between me as the player, Ellie as the character I'm "controlling", and the linear narrative/decisions she makes was fascinating to me and I haven't experienced anything quite like it. Maybe I need to play more games, but I don't think I've played a game where what I wanted the character to do and what the character was doing were so opposed (I also play a lot of RPGs and less linear-narratives). On the Israel/Palestine comparison with the WLF/Seraphites, it certainly warrants a serious analysis and discussion, and I fully agree with everything she said regarding the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. That being said, I think a 1:1 comparison between the two falls apart fairly quickly, and (this was just my experience by the end of the game) I saw the WLF as entirely in the wrong, and think the writing intentionally painted them that way. Ultimately, I think it speaks to the power of narrative and story that a game released nearly 5 years ago can still generate this level of discussion, analysis, debate, and emotions. Our relationships with stories are not static, they can evolve and change and we can fluctuate between adoration and intense critique. If anything, I hope her video encouraged you to replay the games with a new lens and make up your own decision on what works, what doesn't work, what's resonant, and what makes you uncomfortable. Thank you for the recommendation!
@nickcurl thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I didn't expect such a thorough response! I completely agree with you regarding her review of the last of us part 2, I actually just watched that after I wrote my initial comment. I was initially referring to her "The Last of Us Manipulated You" video, which I found more powerful and found myself more struck by what she had to say. No hate towards her, but I agree that a lot Part 2 didn't resonate for her in the same ways it did for me, and she kind of dog piled on the game in ways I didn't agree with. Before watching her videos I had just watched all of yours, which actually led me to her video on the last of us, and I figured you would find some of the comparisons interesting. I definitely see some similarities being drawn between WLF/Seraphites and Israel/Palestine. The WLF living in a sort of kibbutz like society in the stadium, with shared farming and resources, with children going to school despite the war torn/post apocalyptic environment, it seems like an interesting comparison. Especially with Isaac being a warmongering merciless character, he could be analogous to Netanyahu. Which many Zionists are still critical of, and Neil could fall into that category. The discovery of Neil's zionist beliefs honest hurt my love for the the game quite a bit. I went on his Instagram to see if that Israel flag post was still up after everything that has happened, and sure enough it was. I have a hard time separating the art from the artist, and the morals around that whole concept in general. Another thing that stood out to me is where she points out how the game forces you align with Joel morally through the lack of empathy, forceful emasculation and lack of logic employed by Marlene and the fireflies, paired with Ellies lack of consent, that makes the narrative a lot less of an interesting grey area that I initially found it to be. I've played the first game at least 5 times, but the second game only once. The overall darkness and emotional weight has sort of prevented me from revisiting it, but I think you're right. It would benefit me to play again with a renewed perspective and see how much I feel the comparisons she made hold up with a fresher perspective. Thank you for giving me more to think about, and I can't wait to see the other content you produce in the future, I value your insight!
Take Joel and Ellie's relationship completely out of the original game and it immediately loses its status as one of the great video games of this generation. Well... Neil Druckmann absolutely succeeded in destroying that relationship in TLOU 2 along with brutally killing Joel and turning the girl everyone loved into a emotional, psychological, and physical (two missing fingers?!) wreck... completely destroying both characters forever. Anyone who now thinks that Neil Druckmann, the same WOKE, brain damaged village idiot who wrecked the characters...is going to magically create a great series that starts off by selecting actors that look absolutely nothing like Joel and Ellie. LOL... good luck with that garbage. Calling it now, the show will absolutely bomb and there won't be a season 2.
See, many times a similar algorithm has been utilized in this kind of movies: A few good fellows on purpose ( to save the humanity, no less) traveling across post- something landscapes , battle hordes of infected ( zombies) , thugs, savages, another good fellows, each other etc. Moved from location to location on same pattern. Why you sure another good attempt with another twist will make them HBO money? A mediocre movie made in attempt to repeat success of a great game rather common rule than exception.
Yeah I don't feel like they got the casting on point. Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson must be frustrated. They both earned the right to play them onscreen & are central to the sensibilities of the characters. Please sort it out Naughty Dog!
the game was shit but any zombie show can succeed even if the game its based off of was a terrible joke and isnt really gaming just sneaking same button mashing
Neil Schuckmann doesn't care what the fans or audience would like to see in a game or movie. If Neil does what he did in TLOU2 with the HBO TLOU, he will ruin the series. I'm 100% confident that Neil will find a million ways to ruin the TLOU on HBO, but if he takes his head out of his butt, and finds the talent he pooped out after TLOU, than maybe this series might succeed. Only time will tell, if Neil will take all the negative reviews and criticism he received from TLOU2 and correct his wrongs and ego.
NEW VIDEO: CLASS AND PRIVILEGE IN THE WHITE LOTUS ruclips.net/video/5Pgn6ugqVHE/видео.html
How does this not already have millions of views!? This is Damn near one of the best videos I've seen on The Last of Us
thank you! one day lol
Killer work. Pascal absolutely does have reluctant paternal figure transporting a child vibes! What a good pick
I hope you come back and talk about the show more! Just discovered your videos today and really loved what I’ve seen!
My feelings about the show were a bit of a mixed bag (though I generally loved it) and I’m curious to hear what you thought, as such a big fan of the games.
I might make another video before season 2!! I honestly don’t have a ton to say about the first season - by and large it was a direct adaptation of the game with mostly minor changes. The only “interesting” (not really) thought I have is that the story was clearly made for a specific medium (video games) and I think Joel’s decision at the end lands harder when you are the one controlling him through the hospital, whereas film/TV is a passive experience so your relationship with the characters is just going to be different. Not even a criticism of the show just something I noticed. I thought the cast was phenomenal and Ashley Johnson’s scene made me cry lmao
@@nickcurl that’s one aspect I’m very interested in seeing how they handle in S2. The friction between what the characters want and what the player wants is such a huge part of what made The Last of Us 2 such an emotionally agonizing experience for me and I wonder how new audiences will feel about Ellie and some of the things she does without that special connection players have to her.
Also a little concerned about structure, because the way the sequel is structured (both the perspective shift halfway through and the way the flashbacks were situated in the story) is one of my favourite things about it, and I really don’t know how well that would translate, especially with them breaking it up into multiple seasons. I imagine they’re gonna have to overhaul it quite a bit.
I trust that we will both be crying when the time comes though!
@@stevenmillett (spoilers for part 2 if anyone’s reading this lol) yes this is what I’ve been wondering too! Part 2 works (and works perfectly) because of the structure. Forcing the player to be Abby is such an insanely bold choice and I hope that same effect is achieved when the POV shifts in the show (whenever that happens). The fusion of character, structure, and theme is what makes Part 2 genuinely like the best story I’ve ever experienced
Regardless of how quickly they move through / or even away from the story - I hope that audiences get what I got from that game. It played out like a blockbuster movie - that I was a part of.
The quiet times - in the show series - could end up being just as dramatic as fighting clickers in a spore filled room.
Can’t wait.
just checked ur channel and i’m hardbroken you only have 4 videos lol, was excited to spend the next few weeks binging ur content
Check my community tab! I'm knee-deep in the longest video yet :) I also have a Patreon that has extra content
Need you now, yo!
Great video essay! Great writing, engaging, funny and thoughtful. I agree with pretty much every point you brought up! Except maybe the lady behind dlc being included lol but really, great video, I can’t wait for this series, I love the last of us and I can’t wait to see more of your videos!
Do you think the 10 episodes of season 1 is enough to cover the first game and make the viewer care for Joel/Ellie, that final decision and the story in general? Especially as certain characters (Tess,Sam and Henry) will likely only be in 1 or 2 episodes, which isn't much time to get attached.
Yes, I do. Most play-throughs of the game on RUclips clock in at around 10 hours, and many miniseries are eight episodes or less (True Detective, Sharp Objects, Big Little Lies, Chernobyl, etc). In Chernobyl, Barry Keoghan's character doesn't appear until episode 4 and his entire subplot has a huge emotional impact. With talented filmmakers, a short film with under a fifteen minute runtime can stick with you for days after
I honestly think we end season 1 in Winter. We get some variation of the college Joel and the rebar. I would not be surprised if this is also just primed for a season 2. I don’t see anyway in which they potentially adapt both games where Part 1 finishes in a season. Unless they really go with a season 1 cliffhanger where Ellie is on the operating table, but I really think if they move this fast they need to likely ensure this is a 2-3 season at most series. I’m interested in seeing how far back they go, I do think they can touch in the 20 year gap. But I also think they can very much adapt pt1 in 2 seasons, fill in some gaps of the time jump for a season and integrate pt2 after. I imagine they are going to deviate at some point from the games, maybe even right away.
@@theogofguitar S1 is covering part 1& dlc.
There’s lots of unexplored lore in the last of us they could show Joel as a hunter and his life before he met ellie 20 years later
this was the first AAA story based single player game that i played. I had been watching a lot of youtubers play games but this one i went in myself. One of the best games ive ever played, terrifying and so emotionally invested.
And the intro into the game you play. Yooooooooo i wasnt ready for that, that section alone shows the utter brilliance of the screen writer for the game. I still get teary just thinking about it. I wasnt ready and tbh it really brings home why Joel is the way that he is.
Great video! Subscribed!
I am kind of the unusual case when it comes to my opinion of part 1 and 2. I prefer the 2nd game because it was more layered for me thus more interesting to unpack. I would like them to complicate part 1's story a bit more for the HBO series adaption. Like, I hope they play around with the narrative structure by making it nonlinear like part 2. They could explore Joel's hunter past along with the impact of Ellie's relationship with Riley, reveal Sarah's death until later in the show, etc. through flashbacks that are placed appropriately in the series to enhance and compliment what is happening during the present timeline. I also hope they flesh out the secondary characters from the first game like Tess, Bill, and Marlene a bit more. I feel like their roles in the game were more functional for the primary characters' arc rather than having their own character arc. However, I trust the people behind this show and want them to do whatever they think is best.
Just waiting for the day they make Bioshock into a movie
Would you kindly
Im so glad to see your back! Your videos are always so well put together! Ive never actually played, but youve gotten me interested in trying to see how the two adaptions differ/match up!
thank you! you should absolutely check it out
The production of the first season wraps in June 2022, so it won’t be able to air in the Spring. My guess is Fall/Winter 2022.
wow that’s a really long production timeline - thanks for the info!
Godamn this is such a great video, please upload more dude
I don't usually check this kind of Chanel but love TLOU and you did a great job especially for an up and Comer. Like and subscribed.
Keep up the good work.
thank you!!
sincerely one of the best works i’ve seen related to the hbo serie and videogame, you nailed it dude, amazing !
I love the video man, keep it going ❤️
Loved the video man. Very excited for this Last of Us HBO show and to hear your thoughts on it.
thank you for watching! I’m excited to talk more about it too
@@nickcurl I made a LOU2 video essay if you want to watch on my channel. Absolutely no pressure just would love to talk more about the game/continue the conversation ND started with their games :)
I’m all down for change when translating a story into a different medium, but out of everything, I really hope they don’t change the soundtrack. To me, it’s far too iconic, and I don’t know if they can capture the same response from me with an original soundtrack.
Gustavo Santaolalla is composing the music for the series as well!
The winter interrogation scene really shows just how unhinged Joel is. If they don't include that in the show, they better include something good.
Just as reviewed and predicted. It has saved and surpass the expectations of becoming a big hit for HBO. Great things to come!!
I agree i never thought that they will fail people concerned dont understand what naughty dog and hbo are capable of
wow, i can’t believe you have so little subscribers! the quality of this video was amazing!
Nice work :) sincerely, honesty is always right. I am following you.
cant wait to see pascal southern accent joel voice...i heard his southern accent in Kingsman and he sounds like joel sometimes if he add a serious tone to it..it'll be perfect...and i saw a clip of him in low budget movie he does sound like him...
And you sir have just earned a subscriber
Great summary of what is happening! Cheers!
great video! amazing editing and script ... everything is very professionally done , the view count was criminal tbh , but i checked the channel and you only have 3 videos so maybe it's that , anyway just wanted to say great content (watched the sharp objects video , fucking loved it) so good luck , in no time you'll gain much more views ✌
balancing a full time job with consistently making high quality videos has proven difficult :(
"Would you say I'm a dramatic person?"
"You own two cars and one of them is a Tesla."
I think they're trying to say yes lol
awesome video by the way! the editing was really good, and i found the entire thing super interesting and enjoyable! cant wait to see more : ]
Thank you!! I'm excited to talk more about this show once it's out
I cry every time, too.
What it has going for it is that Naughty Dog is involved at a high level. What fans of the game are going to have trouble with, including myself,, are accepting unfamiliar faces playing Joel and Ellie...
Thats a really huge deal, and will not be surprised if I find the show unwatchable because of it.
The only thing I need is Pedro with a thick beard and a southern accent and I’ll be good
Edit: You need to do a video on Part 2. I adored it and I really want to see what someone else thinks about it!
I think Pedro will have both of those things haha
@Isaac Pritchard unfortunately it doesn’t look like it from the set photos. Unless he has a full gray beard and the way the photo was taken it doesn’t show up.
Good job, mate
why this doesn't have more views?
Touching on Ellies Left Behind DLC they pretty much already have it laid out for them. If you really think about it, Left Behind already played just like a one hour episode of a television show. We literally helped Ellie survive while learning her backstory at the same time. I’m 100% alright with adaptations veering off from the main narrative, but if they just completely lifted the Left Behind DLC word for word and beat for beat I wouldn’t be disappointed or surprised.
Just came across your channel, awesome analysis videos! Can't wait to see more content from you. Any hints on what the next video is going to be about?
Thank you! Two hints are in the video, one of which is very unsubtle lol
I am looking forward to this series now that the crew is so obscure and foreign, that is an awesome choice.
I'm personally very optimistic about the show, especially seeing some of the footage people managed to post from behind the production. Pascal looks great as does Bella Ramsey, I can only hope that I'm not wrong to be so excited about the show. I loved the game so I'll be going into the show with knowledge of the story and characters, still I'm hoping that we get at least 10% of some more original content that perhaps didn't make it into the game. Thank you for making this video and I'm waiting for more coverage of the show from you ;)
I would love for them to make Tlou2 TV Show and make some changes. But I would also love if they just didn't change the story that much and just put Joel's death farther and later in the story, at the part where we fully understood Abby's motivations and Joel is not taken from us too early.
Once they adapt the last of us 2 story in the tv show, man things are gonna get ugly, the gore coming from Ellie towards the wlf is gonna be epic.
The second games visuals could actually be insane to see in live action
The only thing that pisses me off is when people bitch about the casting. The casting for Joel and Elly is badass and they will f**king kill it.
I just want Mr. Giraffe to come back bro
only thing I am worried about is that the HBO show brings in more toxic fans, like the fandom is already a mess it doesn't need to get worse
With David?
I still think Cole Hauser who plays Rip wheeler in Yellowstone would have been a better fit for Joel
haven’t seen yellowstone but just looked him up and he definitely fits the description!
He doesn't look like Joel at all.
The second game has great gameplay, but story wise it's Game of Thrones Season 8 or The Last Jedi. The second games story unfortunately shits all of the first game. So glad they're not adapting the second game, praise the lord!
I CAN'T STAND IT I NEED TO SEE THE SHOW!!!! i don't think I will love any story more than the last of us
As a true fan of both last of us games, @mertkaykay made a video analysis of the game that gave me some seriously uncomfortable reflection of the series, and I would genuinely love your perspective on it. She comments on the forced emotions given to the player in order for the story to work, as well as draws very disconcerting parrallels between the last of us part 2 and the war between Israel/Palestine and Neil Druckmans personal biases and how that was reflected in game. I would just overall love for you to touch on this topic more, as the last of us is something I hold so closely to my heart, but unfortunately now have a somewhat tarnished view of.
Hello! You sent me down a rabbit hole so I watched her TLOU2 analysis from 2022 and parts of the "The Last of Us Manipulated You" video that you referenced. I took a ton of notes lol, and if I ever decide to return to The Last of Us on my channel it's definitely given me a lot to think about.
I don't wanna go through point-by-point of MertKayKay's video (which was overall well-thought out and argued) with everything I disagreed with, and also have like no interest in inter-RUclipsr disagreements lol. I guess if I had to summarize my thoughts on her critique, it seems like the theme of revenge and cyclical violence wasn't emotionally resonant for her, and therefore the story of Part 2 fell flat for her in most ways. Which makes sense!
I think I have a fundamental disagreement with the idea that the game points a finger at the player to make us feel guilty for Ellie's actions. By about day 2 of Ellie's part I was like... ok girl you have lost the plot lmao. The tension between me as the player, Ellie as the character I'm "controlling", and the linear narrative/decisions she makes was fascinating to me and I haven't experienced anything quite like it. Maybe I need to play more games, but I don't think I've played a game where what I wanted the character to do and what the character was doing were so opposed (I also play a lot of RPGs and less linear-narratives).
On the Israel/Palestine comparison with the WLF/Seraphites, it certainly warrants a serious analysis and discussion, and I fully agree with everything she said regarding the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. That being said, I think a 1:1 comparison between the two falls apart fairly quickly, and (this was just my experience by the end of the game) I saw the WLF as entirely in the wrong, and think the writing intentionally painted them that way.
Ultimately, I think it speaks to the power of narrative and story that a game released nearly 5 years ago can still generate this level of discussion, analysis, debate, and emotions. Our relationships with stories are not static, they can evolve and change and we can fluctuate between adoration and intense critique. If anything, I hope her video encouraged you to replay the games with a new lens and make up your own decision on what works, what doesn't work, what's resonant, and what makes you uncomfortable. Thank you for the recommendation!
@nickcurl thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I didn't expect such a thorough response! I completely agree with you regarding her review of the last of us part 2, I actually just watched that after I wrote my initial comment. I was initially referring to her "The Last of Us Manipulated You" video, which I found more powerful and found myself more struck by what she had to say. No hate towards her, but I agree that a lot Part 2 didn't resonate for her in the same ways it did for me, and she kind of dog piled on the game in ways I didn't agree with. Before watching her videos I had just watched all of yours, which actually led me to her video on the last of us, and I figured you would find some of the comparisons interesting.
I definitely see some similarities being drawn between WLF/Seraphites and Israel/Palestine. The WLF living in a sort of kibbutz like society in the stadium, with shared farming and resources, with children going to school despite the war torn/post apocalyptic environment, it seems like an interesting comparison. Especially with Isaac being a warmongering merciless character, he could be analogous to Netanyahu. Which many Zionists are still critical of, and Neil could fall into that category. The discovery of Neil's zionist beliefs honest hurt my love for the the game quite a bit. I went on his Instagram to see if that Israel flag post was still up after everything that has happened, and sure enough it was. I have a hard time separating the art from the artist, and the morals around that whole concept in general.
Another thing that stood out to me is where she points out how the game forces you align with Joel morally through the lack of empathy, forceful emasculation and lack of logic employed by Marlene and the fireflies, paired with Ellies lack of consent, that makes the narrative a lot less of an interesting grey area that I initially found it to be.
I've played the first game at least 5 times, but the second game only once. The overall darkness and emotional weight has sort of prevented me from revisiting it, but I think you're right. It would benefit me to play again with a renewed perspective and see how much I feel the comparisons she made hold up with a fresher perspective. Thank you for giving me more to think about, and I can't wait to see the other content you produce in the future, I value your insight!
Take Joel and Ellie's relationship completely out of the original game and it immediately loses its status as one of the great video games of this generation. Well... Neil Druckmann absolutely succeeded in destroying that relationship in TLOU 2 along with brutally killing Joel and turning the girl everyone loved into a emotional, psychological, and physical (two missing fingers?!) wreck... completely destroying both characters forever. Anyone who now thinks that Neil Druckmann, the same WOKE, brain damaged village idiot who wrecked the characters...is going to magically create a great series that starts off by selecting actors that look absolutely nothing like Joel and Ellie. LOL... good luck with that garbage. Calling it now, the show will absolutely bomb and there won't be a season 2.
lighten up buttercup, you literally have no idea how the show is gonna be
New subscriber.
glad to have you!🖤🖤
See, many times a similar algorithm has been utilized in this kind of movies: A few good fellows on purpose ( to save the humanity, no less) traveling across post- something landscapes , battle hordes of infected ( zombies) , thugs, savages, another good fellows, each other etc. Moved from location to location on same pattern. Why you sure another good attempt with another twist will make them HBO money? A mediocre movie made in attempt to repeat success of a great game rather common rule than exception.
But I hope it’s good as arcane league of legends
Yeah I don't feel like they got the casting on point. Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson must be frustrated. They both earned the right to play them onscreen & are central to the sensibilities of the characters. Please sort it out Naughty Dog!
Nice video, i hope you suceed.
thank you!
only 1000 views?
with your help we can make it a million 😌✨
@@nickcurl Less Goo!
the game was shit but any zombie show can succeed even if the game its based off of was a terrible joke and isnt really gaming just sneaking same button mashing
good fuckin vid man
👍
Neil Schuckmann doesn't care what the fans or audience would like to see in a game or movie. If Neil does what he did in TLOU2 with the HBO TLOU, he will ruin the series. I'm 100% confident that Neil will find a million ways to ruin the TLOU on HBO, but if he takes his head out of his butt, and finds the talent he pooped out after TLOU, than maybe this series might succeed. Only time will tell, if Neil will take all the negative reviews and criticism he received from TLOU2 and correct his wrongs and ego.