As a show hater: this one was far from the worst.
You telling me this is worse than episodes 3? You're crazy. To me episode 3 was clearly the worst. Ellie's town speech, Tommy being a bitch, Dina teaching Ellie about supplies, that damn therapist bitch talking with Tommy, Ellie/Dina camping, and the pacing being slow as molasses.
Episode 3 was a much better episode than this.
Ellie's town speech? The one that they quickly state was all BS in the very scene in which you're criticizing between Tommy and Gail?
I had hoped that they were setting it up that Gail or Eugene contacted Abby's group in Seattle.
I do agree that they can't seem to find a pace. They're rushing and they're dragging (literally whiplash if you know you know).
Episode 3 had some of Bella's best acting, established a better reason for Dina to go with her and for Tommy to follow. Tommy isn't a bitch, he's literally a father and a leader of a community.
This one wasnt perfect, far from it. It really was rushed with terrible dialogue. That scene with Dina/Ellie finding dead scars, then Dina started talking about her past all of a sudden. Wtf? Who thought that dialogue sounded natural? And Ellie being like a Marvel character in terms of quips in tense situations will never not suck.
But:
* The stalkers scene was well made. It was tense, despite knowing they both would live.
* It revealed that Jessie and Tommy are in Seattle, which is good. I feared they were going to change this.
There was never any doubt that Tommy was going to be in Seatlle. Not sure if I talked to you about this or someone else, but there was never any doubt.
Some of the dialogue even seems ADR'd, especially Dina's.
* Scars in the park looked awesome and the tension was also good.
The dialogue of the scar with the beard saying, "he's free now" was so corny and poorly delivered. As is the overuse of the cult repeating each other. The show can't decide how gory it wants to be. They're not doing themselves any favors. The people who are squimish are still being turned off by the gore and those who don't care about the gore are turned off by the cut away from things happening.
* Hospital chase was almost 1-1 with the game. Good.
The hospital chase was heavier in the game. Especially because Ellie takes Nora captive. Nora didn't WILLINGLY go into the area with spores.
* Hospital basement looked amazing and it was a great introduction to the spores (why just now? Dunno)
You can't do the Nora scene without spores. They made a cascading mistake in season 1 to not introduce spores so they didn't have to cover the actors faces, even though it would only have to be one or two scenes.
I'm glad they brought it back and I knew they would since I saw an interview with Craig Maizin, but it was a questionable decision to avoid it in season 1. How they manage it moving forward will be interesting I guess.
It was a rushed episode, yes, but with decent parts most of the time imo
Episode 4 was probably the best episode of the season minus the last 10 minutes which... checks notes... was also rushed.
Overall, I'd probably give this season a C- or a D+ as an adaptation and a C or C+ as a show.
I really enjoyed this episode. Hoping it continues to get better and last week was just a blip.
The biggest issue I have at this point with season 2 is it feels like they are speed running through the plot. But it's to be expected I guess..
They went from 10 episodes to 9 in Season 1 and they've decided to do 7 episodes in Season 2.. for reasons... I feel like HBO is just trying to limit the cost of the show, but what's weird is that with 7 episodes, at most you're guaranteeing is two billing cycles. Just seems to be an odd decision to cut the episodes down and then rush through it. I felt they were rushing in season 1 but season 1 feels like molasses compared to season 2.
I thought they'd end the season with Nora, but now I'm thinking they'll end the season at the end of Day 3, which is going to make for a weird season 3.