Future Days

The episode is pretty decent, but as a season opener, it doesn't feel as exciting (to jump into this world) and engaging as the pilot.

So if you're expecting the same highs that you experienced from the first episode of season 1, this is gonna disappoint you.

But personally, I don't have much of a problem with it, because it does what a first episode should do pretty well. It introduced a new group of antagonists and their motives in a short time, and it sets up what's about to come in this season with the new villains and romantic interests, and the state of Ellie and Joel's relationship.

But it is still a decent episode, even though I think it feels like a second or mid-season episode because of the pacing. Something like Disney would've coupled this episode with the next one and dropped the first two episodes since there's not much happening in here, apart from a zombie scene in the middle, and the rest is pretty much setting up new relationships, characters, villains, and new types of smart zombies.

Overall, it's one of those episodes you hope you watched when binge-watching the whole thing instead of waiting for a week for the next one, but it's still a decent episode nonetheless.

The show is nearly perfect - great writing, pacing, atmosphere, and outstanding performances by most of the cast. But Bella Ramsey as Ellie is a disaster. She completely ruins every scene she's in. Her face, voice, expressions, and awkward delivery just don't match Ellie at all. It's baffling how the creators thought she was a good fit. She drags the whole show down and makes it hard to stay immersed. Every other aspect shines, but her presence is a huge stain on an otherwise incredible and emotionally powerful series. Fans deserved better casting for such an iconic and beloved character - not this.

I thought they did a great job on this episode. Super impressed with the casting of Jesse and Dina, excited to see more of the Abby crew. This episode played out a lot like the game with only some minor differences in the order of things and some additions, which is nice. Hey and we got to see a stalker! I always loved the beginning of the game with the introduction of New Jackson and I feel like the show definitely sucked you in so that you're in their world which is a somewhat peaceful little town and community (except for Seth, he obv needs to chill). If you thought it was on the slow side, there is a reason for that. Ready yourself... the storm is coming. The next episode is going to break you.

Writing is disappointing. Why would you give away who Abby is from the very beginning of the episode instead of building her and her team like total strangers and shock the audience with the things they do later on? It was really a bad decision. The game did it better by slowly building everything.

Also the beginning of the game with Joel telling what went down to his little brother was much much better. Writers need to learn when it's not broken they shouldn't try to fix it.

Acting is so flat in this episode like they stopped caring about portraying their characters. Especially Pedro Pascal. Younger ones' acting also feel so.... fake.

They made Ellie annoying. She acts like a spoiled brat, doesn't follow orders and risks the lives of people around her but somehow everyone looks up to her and her friend Dina.... Did Craig Mazin forgot how to write stories? I really hope not.

Also I gotta say it again: portraying a strong female character doesn't mean they need to have a scene where they beat a man twice their size. It comes out so fake and cringe especially knowing that the skinny Ellie in the game hides and carefully and slowly hunts down her enemies Of course you can go full action with her but especially after playing as Abby you can easily tell which character the developers made for stealth gameplay and which is made for action gameplay.

It feels sad knowing that this episode could have turned out helluva lot better but the writing, directing and acting really took a few steps back from the 1st season.

I'm gonna watch the next episode too just to see the notorious Golfing scene, and then maybe I'll continue, I don't know, I'll see.

Well, after a long 2 year wait TLOU is now back and many of us had our worst fears for the show realized.

Season 1 was a great success despite the understandably controversial casting of Ellie in the form of Bella Ramsey. Despite her version of Ellie being very much so different from the source material, it was serviceable for the young, bratty version of Ellie, albeit a shallow representation to say the least.

But here we are, a half decade later in terms of the storyline and we have the exact same version of Ellie who looks like an underdeveloped 12 year old and hasn't matured a day since season 1.

There are too many complaints to repeat about this but it all centers around that it's simply too much to suspend your disbelief to the point where such a miscast can be overlooked.

While we could get away with this in season 1, it's just too much for season 2.