HBO Original | The Last of Us | Part II OT | You Can't Stop This

Wouldn't it make even more sense since it's "all hands on deck"? I really don't think in an apocalypse people would be "nah that's a woman...choose a man instead"
Would also depend on the state of the population, if it's regrowing at a good rate or if it's still struggling to meet replacement rates. I doubt in the latter women would be let into front line combat roles as easily as men.
 
Honestly I feel so bad for the actress, she must be having a hard time reading and hearing about all the criticism and memes. Honestly I feel sorry for her, its not her fault, its the idiots in charge of the show and the casting thinking this was a good choice. Those people should be fired and kicked out from the industry

Absolutely stupid decision all around, no excuses

But the actress seems like a good person and I dont wish her any harm, the whole situation is just sad
 
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Decided to drop the show, but I am enjoying all the memes.
I managed to not laugh at anything in their thread until I saw this picture.
 
Honestly I feel so bad for the actress, she must be having a hard time reading and hearing about all the criticism and memes. Honestly I feel sorry for her, its not her fault, its the idiots in charge of the show and the casting thinking this was a good choice. Those people should be fired and kicked out from the industry

Absolutely stupid decision all around, no excuses

But the actress seems like a good person and I dont wish her any harm, the whole situation is just sad
Don't feel sorry for her. It was her decision to become an actress and she is making good money with it. If i would have been a millionaire at her age, people could talk all day long how ugly i am and how much my acting skills suck.
 
I think she is being carried by the people around her. Everyone else seems to be better at handling the scene than her.

Nope, don't agree. Bella and Isabella Merced's chemistry is through the roof and they've really sold me on the idea that they're in love.

Young Mazino as Jesse has been fine but nothing exceptional. Haven't seen enough of Gabriel Luna as Tommy yet. Jury is still out on Kaitlyn Dever as Abby as well; I'm not sold on her yet but we haven't seen her all that much either.
 
I didn't think I would ever say this but the sets do look so much better in a five years old computer game than in this brand new real life TV show.
Like, the hospital is my favorite location in the game and it's so eerie. It's afternoon ingame so although it's dark, it's not THAT dark. The scenes are so much more detailed because of this.
In the show it's so dark as if they try to hide the lower budget with darkness.
Maybe it's easier to place lots of background objects in a room in a videogame. But I think the show's impact is not the same because of this.
When you adapt one of the world's most expensive and detailed video games you should have the necessary budget so that they are similar.
And I don't like the yellow pissfilter on every flashlight either! It changes the complete atmosphere and mood.
 
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Jury is still out on Kaitlyn Dever as Abby as well; I'm not sold on her yet but we haven't seen her all that much either.

Dever has never been bad, so I am sure she will be good. Glad you are enjoying everything. There were some things I liked last night, like the cult group and chasing down the one WLF girl. Although people in an elevated position with clear line of site not being able to shoot her was a bit silly.
 
Dever has never been bad, so I am sure she will be good. Glad you are enjoying everything. There were some things I liked last night, like the cult group and chasing down the one WLF girl. Although people in an elevated position with clear line of site not being able to shoot her was a bit silly.

Yeah, the expanded depiction of the Seraphites has been a highlight of season 2 for me. And the Stalkers. I love how in the show, the cordyceps growth almost look like horns on the Stalkers.
 
Much better episode than last week's, but I'm still not feeling Bella as Ellie at all. The scene where she's confronting Nora at the end feels like you're watching a child talk to an adult.
 
Much better episode than last week's, but I'm still not feeling Bella as Ellie at all. The scene where she's confronting Nora at the end feels like you're watching a child talk to an adult.
Ironically i feel like Bella is much better at playing angry Ellie than the Ellie we've been seeing lately with Dina.

Dina has been stealing all the scenes with Ellie. Even early in the episode she seemed more focused than Ellie which makes no sense, lmao.
 
Ironically i feel like Bella is much better at playing angry Ellie than the Ellie we've been seeing lately with Dina.

Dina has been stealing all the scenes with Ellie. Even early in the episode she seemed more focused than Ellie which makes no sense, lmao.

Yeah, Isabela has been a fantastic add and her extra scenes are very welcome. She's doing capital A acting.

I like the change that Dina also felt that emotionally tried to Joel, not just Ellie. Makes sense as they're the same age group and Joel would treat both of them similarly, as surrogate daughters.
 
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I think Ellie at the end with Nora was fine. What I think didn't fit was Ellie the entire episode was all cheery, smiling, and in love and then at the end she just transforms. I guess you can say a switch flipped when she was holding the guitar, and maybe it did, but 1) She shouldn't need a switch to flip. She should've already been that way. 2) If the guitar is a trigger for her, why not at the music shop?

I think the scene would've been more impactful if show Ellie was driven by incessant rage like game Ellie was. But with that said, I think Bella delivered the scene fine. She's a girl who looks like a teenager. It's always going to look a little silly when translated to live action, it is what it is. Like I've mentioned multiple times before, it was always why it was going to be hard to translate Part II to TV. A 19 year old on a revenge tour against militants and cult militia is just hard to believe outside of a game setting.

Looking at the episode in a vacuum though, the only things I didn't like about it were cheery Ellie and Jesse saving the day, and the writers holding back that he and Tommy left for Seattle purely to create a shock value moment.

As an aside, every time I open my Youtube there's another video talking about how "The show is done and it's about to tank!111!11!"

It's just hater grifting clickbait. It may not be as good as the game, but it's not awful.
 
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I think Ellie at the end with Nora was fine. What I think didn't fit was Ellie the entire episode was all cheery, smiling, and in love and then at the end she just transforms. I guess you can say a switch flipped when she was holding the guitar, and maybe it did, but 1) She shouldn't need a switch to flip. She should've already been that way. 2) If the guitar is a trigger for her, why not at the music shop?

I think the scene would've been more impactful if show Ellie was driven by incessant rage like game Ellie was. But with that said, I think Bella delivered the scene fine. She's a girl who looks like a teenager. It's always going to look a little silly when translated to live action, it is what it is. Like I've mentioned multiple times before, it was always why it was going to be hard to translate Part II to TV. A 19 year old on a revenge tour against militants and cult militia is just hard to believe outside of a game setting.

Looking at the episode in a vacuum though, the only things I didn't like about it were cheery Ellie and Jesse saving the day, and the writers holding back that he and Tommy left for Seattle purely to create a shock value moment.

As an aside, every time I open my Youtube there's another video talking about how "The show is done and it's about to tank!111!11!"

It's just hater grifting clickbait. It may not be as good as the game, but it's not awful.

It's been shown several times that she's putting on a facade around others and that she's broken on the inside. Look at her dishonest speech in front of the council about it not being personal, her lies to the medical staff and the therapist about where she's at mentally and emotionally, and her chipper attitude around Dina.

Now contrast that with her screaming in shock and agony when she woke up in the hospital, her crying with Joel's coat, her singing Future Days in the theater, and her killing Nora. When she's by herself or not around others that know her, she's a different person.
 
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Honestly I feel so bad for the actress, she must be having a hard time reading and hearing about all the criticism and memes. Honestly I feel sorry for her, its not her fault, its the idiots in charge of the show and the casting thinking this was a good choice. Those people should be fired and kicked out from the industry

Absolutely stupid decision all around, no excuses

But the actress seems like a good person and I dont wish her any harm, the whole situation is just sad
She identify as non-binary, she is a dumbass who likes attentions, don't feel sorry for her.
 
I watched the first 3 episodes but so far I feel this season has been worse than the first, aside from the town siege which was fun. Im struggling to find the motivation to catch up with it whereas last time I would be there every sunday night to watch the new ep.
 
Just caught up. This season fucking sucks, and the video game dances all over it. I think the biggest issue is the tone. It's all over the place. And goddamn I hate to beat a dead horse, but Bella was a miscast. I'm not even getting into her looks, but acting wise she's just the wrong choice to play Ellie. Her awkard and autsistic approach to the character just makes this adult woman come off like she's still 14. It just makes her character hateable, in a story that fundamentally is supposed to make the character questionable to begin with.
 
The stereotyping of gamers not liking anything is living strong in this thread :messenger_grinning_sweat: but I understand the reasoning!

In my opinion, it's pretty good, some really cringe dialogue in there especially between Ellie and Dina. But generally believe the look and feel of the show, the casting, the pacing is being really well handled. It's not being a 1 to 1 re-enactment of the game since this medium has obvious limitations.

In terms of Bella being Ellie, with it being a TV show, does it matter that much that the actress doesn't look identical to the game character?
 
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In terms of Bella being Ellie, with it being a TV show, does it matter that much that the actress doesn't look identical to the game character?
Well, if I just go to McDonald's for cheap pleasure, I want my Big Mac to look like a Big Mac. Bella doesn't look like Ellie. She looks like a Big Mac too! 😂
 
The stereotyping of gamers not liking anything is living strong in this thread :messenger_grinning_sweat: but I understand the reasoning!

In my opinion, it's pretty good, some really cringe dialogue in there especially between Ellie and Dina. But generally believe the look and feel of the show, the casting, the pacing is being really well handled. It's not being a 1 to 1 re-enactment of the game since this medium has obvious limitations.

In terms of Bella being Ellie, with it being a TV show, does it matter that much that the actress doesn't look identical to the game character?

It doesn't matter THAT much, what matters more is that she looks and acts like she's 13.
 
Much better than last week. This show is brilliant whenever Ellie and Dina aren't alone together and dogshit whenever they are.

'You love me?', prrrf. Next thing Ellie will be telling Dina how here everything is soft, and smoothe.
 
Wouldn't it make even more sense since it's "all hands on deck"? I really don't think in an apocalypse people would be "nah that's a woman...choose a man instead"
I think it can work, it just stood out here. I actually think it worked great in season 1 with the Sam and Henry episode. In that one, Kathleen is the sister of a very successful/charismatic male leader and people follow her because of that when he died. It was jarring here because she was two feet shorter than the men that were loyal to her. which is not to say that they can't reveal more information later that makes you go, oh okay that's why they listen to her. Cause otherwise, it's not obvious why this elderly woman who is also a dwarf commands so much respect from more capable men.

It doesn't have to be about a relationship to a male or physical strength or whatever. Maybe they listen to her because she is a brilliant strategist. It's just not clear from this episode.

It's also an unlikely thing and I doubt it gets addressed by the show tbqh. We can look at modern militias and armed gangs. Not many women leaders afaik.
 
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First season was good. But this season is laughably bad. That final scene between Ellie and Nora had me laughing at the terrible acting.
 
I think the biggest issue is the tone. It's all over the place.

This pretty much encapsulates what I see as the big problem with season 2. Yes, it's obviously not tonally consistent with the game, but I find it more of an issue that it's not even consistent with the motivations of the characters as they are presented within the show itself. Even if I look at it completely removed from the context of being an adaptation of an existing work, this has felt absolutely nothing like a revenge crusade, and more like "Ellie and Dina's Seattle Gaycation". Ellie was practically frolicking into the scene at the start of episode 5. The scene in the theater that follows is copied from the game, but contrasted with the mostly upbeat tone of the show and the much greater focus on Ellie and Dina's relationship, it almost feels like the writers going "Oh right, we should probably bring up the whole Joel-being-dead thing up once in a while, eh?".

I'm still following along with the game as new show episodes come out, but since the museum flashback happens earlier in the game, I've already seen it. I don't like that we're apparently going to segue straight into it from Ellie killing Nora, but I do hope they get it right, at least....it's by far the best part of the game story-wise from what I've seen so far.
 
While Ramsey was solid as young Ellie, I'd agree that she isn't quite nailing the older, colder, angrier Ellie we expect. But then, the perpetually grim tone of the game wouldn't work in TV format. People expect a bit of levity and entertainment value, even in a show like this. I don't agree with the sentiment that she should have been recast, audiences would never have accepted it after growing attached to her in season one.

It's just hater grifting clickbait. It may not be as good as the game, but it's not awful.

Pretty much. In fact all my non-gaming normie friends who watch the show love it.
 
While Ramsey was solid as young Ellie, I'd agree that she isn't quite nailing the older, colder, angrier Ellie we expect. But then, the perpetually grim tone of the game wouldn't work in TV format. People expect a bit of levity and entertainment value, even in a show like this. I don't agree with the sentiment that she should have been recast, audiences would never have accepted it after growing attached to her in season one.



Pretty much. In fact all my non-gaming normie friends who watch the show love it.
Attached? Wasn't it only 8-9 episodes? We aren't talking about recasting Kelly Bundy here — no one was latching onto Bella for her character work with Ellie.

Could have recasted easily be done for overall betterment of the show but they decided to fall on the sword.
 
Attached? Wasn't it only 8-9 episodes? We aren't talking about recasting Kelly Bundy here — no one was latching onto Bella for her character work with Ellie.

Could have recasted easily be done for overall betterment of the show but they decided to fall on the sword.

Has anyone in the history of television been nominated for an emmy for a role and recast in the following season?

*and didn't leave on their own accord
 
Has anyone in the history of television been nominated for an emmy for a role and recast in the following season?

*and didn't leave on their own accord
Really using a line Emmy nomination as the anchor to your argument? Okay.
Off the top of my head, can't think of one.

But I can think of examples aplenty in sports where a failed championship run still got people the axe.

Same difference.
 
Really using a line Emmy nomination as the anchor to your argument? Okay.
Off the top of my head, can't think of one.

But I can think of examples aplenty in sports where a failed championship run still got people the axe.

Same difference.

You might not think it is a big deal, but the reality is that it is...

I personally thought she should be recast before the start of the season, but you're playing a dangerous game in doing so. Losing both Pedro and Bella when you have one of the most popular shows on television? That's a huge mistake.

It's not the same difference. In sports only one team can win.

And as I said, it would have been unprecedented to replace her after her success in Season 1. The reality is that she's a 21 year old playing a 19 year old. She's short and has a baby face, but the general audience does not care about any of those things. Bella Ramsey is going to be Ellie this season and next season. That's a reality.
 
You might not think it is a big deal, but the reality is that it is...

I personally thought she should be recast before the start of the season, but you're playing a dangerous game in doing so. Losing both Pedro and Bella when you have one of the most popular shows on television? That's a huge mistake.

It's not the same difference. In sports only one team can win.

And as I said, it would have been unprecedented to replace her after her success in Season 1. The reality is that she's a 21 year old playing a 19 year old. She's short and has a baby face, but the general audience does not care about any of those things. Bella Ramsey is going to be Ellie this season and next season. That's a reality.
In award nominations, only one actor can win. Not really a great point.

But to each their own. I definitely am not seeing what you're seeing.
 
In award nominations, only one actor can win. Not really a great point.

But to each their own. I definitely am not seeing what you're seeing.

That's because you don't realize that a nomination itself is a win. It's publicity for the show. Yeah, an overall win is better, but you don't mess with a show's success like this.

That you don't realize how unprecedented this would be is why you're not seeing it. It would be one thing if you were time skipping 10-15-20 years... but 5 years and the actress is literally older than the character she is playing...

The bigger problems for the Ellie character as created for Season 2 has been writing and hair styling. Her acting has been top notch.
 
There was a Reddit post today echoing what I said about Craig Mazin a few pages ago. He just doesn't understand the source material like he should.

What a shame. This show was so close to greatness. Bella and Mazin were unfortunately the wrong horses to bet on and the show kinda fell apart as soon as Neil took a step back.
 
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