Day One

It was understandable that Episode 3 of S2 was a bit unexciting and uneventful as it followed the incredible, action-packed, emotional Episode 2, an episode that changed the course and dynamic of the show. Some time to regroup and refocus was needed and Episode 3 provided that.

Breath caught I expected Episode 4 to push ahead with plot development and action and show us where the show is heading. There is a great, protracted action scene that is edge-of-your-seat stuff. It also highlights the shows origins as a game as it feels like it could be straight out of a video game.

There's also an introduction to a character who is clearly going to play a major part in the show going forward. The fact that he's played by a known actor (Jeffrey Wright) gives it away.

Unfortunately, however, that's the extent of the highlights of Ep 4. Much of the rest of the episode is spent on the dynamic between Ellie and Dina and while this is not necessarily a bad thing, it just feels clumsy, contrived and boring.

This was always the problem with writing Joel out of the plot: Ellie isn't interesting and engaging enough to carry the show on her own and that's now coming home to roost. As long as Ellie remains the main character the show will always be a shadow of its former self.

Lover of the game here. Let me start this off by saying that I'm not allergic to changes, matter of fact, I loved most that occurred in the first season, but these have all been for the worse, and I can't force myself to enjoy the show anymore.

There is a very fine line, and the show shines when it ADDS to the story (like Isaac's background), not takes away from it. All of these changes so far have been completely needless and even worse, they've sucked out all of the tension, sense of urgency, danger and all of the atmosphere that devs of Naughty Dog crafted so masterfully. Matter of fact, atmosphere is a HUGE part of the game and without it, a lot of story beats just fall flat. And it is ironic that one of the biggest criticisms for the game is the pacing, but the pacing of the TV show is incredibly worse and makes the game look even better.

What baffles me even more is that Neil Druckmann is involved. I haven't seen a writer as out of touch with his work as this but here we are. And I say this as someone who has him as one of my favourite writers. And before any one cries "hE iS nOt a CreDitEd wRitEr uNtiL ePiSodE 6", mate, if you don't think he had any say in the scripting process pre-episode 6, then you are delusional.

Had you asked me a year ago what TV show I think would sweep the Emmy's, I would've said TLOU, simply because Part 2 is one of my favourite stories in gaming. But if you asked me this now - I'd tell you that all 3 of Severance, Andor and The Pitt will comfortably share its awards.

Oh and let me quickly touch on Bella Ramsey. Thought she was excellent last season, but she is simply not up to par for the role now. The script and particularly the childish dialogue isn't doing her any favours, but the holes in her acting are glaring.

The show is essentially the "CW PG-13" version of the game and honestly, I feel bad for the TV only audience who won't know any better.

The brilliance of the story lies in this:

At first, you have no idea who Abby is or why she's doing what she's doing. She's just a stranger killing someone you deeply care about after spending 20 hours playing as them. Naturally, you hate her. By the time the game gets to Seattle, Tommy is already on a warpath, and Ellie is hell-bent on revenge and is willing to kill anyone who gets in her way.

Then everything changes. You start playing as Abby.

At first, you still see her as the villain. But slowly... almost without realizing it, you begin to understand her. Her father. The Fireflies. What Joel took from her. You learn that Abby isn't evil. She's a survivor. A respected leader. Loved by many. A WLF not by choice, but by necessity. And then it hits you: Abby stops killing. She walks away. No vendetta against Jackson. No revenge against Joel's brother. Just... justice.

Ellie, on the other hand, says she's seeking justice, but it's revenge. And that realization forces you to question your own morality. What would you do? And the hardest question of all: is Ellie actually a terrible person?

I won't spoil the ending, but to me, it's one of the most powerful, emotionally complex moments in storytelling because of that flipped perspective.

The game masterfully plays to each character's strengths: Ellie is small but smart and deadly. Dina excels at understanding and managing the infected. Abby is a physical powerhouse, able to go fight virtually anyone.

That balance, that nuance, needs to carry over into the show. But so far, it feels like they've abandoned it.

I'm still all in, but my concern isn't just about Pascal. It's about the story itself. Some of the most important narrative elements are already missing.

I won't get into spoilers but seriously there should have been someone, anyone in the writers room to say something along of the lines of « hm, that sequence of events at the end between the two female characters feels forced and out of nowhere, shouldn't we rethink this? »

It makes no sense to the viewer so why couldn't the writers pick it up??

You know there's a problem when as a viewer I'm more interested in Jeffrey Wright's character and I roll my eyes at the main characters' actions.

C'mon writers, do better than this teen drama drivel.

My 6 rating is solely based on the action sequences that were outstanding, the character building of the two female characters, not so much.

This show has gone downward. I liked season 1 because of the tense father-daughter relationship between a rough and protective older man on one side and a vulnerable teenager on the other side. Joel's character actually carried the show. The makers of the show must have known that. Since there were some changes made to the original game story, they could've kept Joel's character for at least one more season and give him a more meaningful death.

Now the focus is apparently on a love story between two young women, a relationship that has no real tension. They are very alike, even have the same height. As does Abby. All small and thin but able to carry guns and fight much taller and tougher guys and zombies. I'm not saying that there is bad acting. I think a much bigger problem of the show is the obvious miscast.

Anyway, I'm not as intrigued in the show anymore, so I can say: "This was the last of episodes for me."