Support NeoGAF

[Draugoth]

---

HBO says four of its current series have drawn more than 15 million viewers over the course of their runs.

The third episode of HBO’s The Last of Us delivered another week of ratings growth.

Sunday’s installment brought in 6.4 million cross-platform viewers, up from 5.7 million the previous week and 4.7 million for its Jan. 15 premiere. The uptick on Sunday came despite the episode debuting at the same time as the hugely watched AFC Championship game on CBS.

HBO also says that four of its current series, including The Last of Us, have averaged more than 15 million viewers for their most recent seasons.

 

[Ar¢tos]

Like them or not pretty cool that Bezos and Musk are tweeting about The Last of US.

This show has blown up mor than Neil Naughty Dog and Craig ever could have hoped.

Dang, not even episode 3 triggered an emotion on Zuckerberg!

 

[DeepEnigma]

Dang, not even episode 3 triggered an emotion on Zuckerberg!

 

[Swift_Star]

I haven't played the game since the original release but isn't this part pretty different? I think I remember one of the guys being alive and his place gets overrun so the two MCs are forced to move on.

yes it is different. They decided to make a different take on that part of the game that really paid off.

 

[Elysion]

Cute and hot, right?

Yeah, I think I‘ll skip this episode (or at least parts of it) if I decide to binge the show at some point. Despite having been exposed to gore, pornography and all other kinds of sick shit on the internet over the course of my life, there just something about two dudes making out that repulses me on an almost primal level. It‘s like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard; it makes me cringe in the truest sense of the word. I‘m not even religious or anything; I‘m just your typical decadent westerner, but I just won‘t ever be comfortable with this stuff for some reason (and no, I don‘t have repressed homo-erotic desires or whatever lol).

 

[Insane Metal]

Cute and hot, right?

Yeah no thanks, I'll skip this episode.

 

[Represent.]

Like them or not pretty cool that Bezos and Musk are tweeting about The Last of US.

This show has blown up more than Neil, Naughty Dog and Craig ever could have hoped.

seeing TLOU become this mainstream is kind of insane

its beautiful.

the quality of the games is so much above everything else in the industry, this is well deserved.

 

[The Fartist]

seeing TLOU become this mainstream is kind of insane

its beautiful.

the quality of the games is so much above everything else in the industry, this is well deserved.

If it gets any bigger, which it will, I'm afraid Sony won't be able to resist making TLOU Part III with or without Naughty Dog, especially with season two recently having been greenlit.

 

[Represent.]

If it gets any bigger, which it will, I'm afraid Sony won't be able to resist making TLOU Part III with or without Naughty Dog, especially with season two recently having been greenlit.

no way in fuck would neil let that happen. i know he doesnt have that kind of power, but this franchise is his baby.

Though I can see a TLOU4 in another city, new characters, etc be helmed by another studio of his choosing - directed by a guy he probably handpicks.

but this trilogy is his

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

If it gets any bigger, which it will, I'm afraid Sony won't be able to resist making TLOU Part III with or without Naughty Dog, especially with season two recently having been greenlit.

I’d rather have TLOU Part 3 be a TV show instead of a game tbh…

 

[kyussman]

Yeah, I think I‘ll skip this episode (or at least parts of it) if I decide to binge the show at some point. Despite having been exposed to gore, pornography and all other kinds of sick shit on the internet over the course of my life, there just something about two dudes making out that repulses me on an almost primal level. It‘s like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard; it makes me cringe in the truest sense of the word. I‘m not even religious or anything; I‘m just your typical decadent westerner, but I just won‘t ever be comfortable with this stuff for some reason (and no, I don‘t have repressed homo-erotic desires or whatever lol).

Yea,same here.What's funny is the amount of people on here who are unable to hear an opinion like this without making a snarky comment.

 

[RoadHazard]

Was pretty surprised that they

Spoiler

killed off Bill

, the first major deviation from the game. But that was a beautiful episode.

You people who say you are gonna skip the episode because it depicts two men who love each other are hilariously insecure. Grow up.

 

[Represent.]

I’d rather have TLOU Part 3 be a TV show instead of a game tbh…

*insert triggered reaction*

Season 3 of the show needs to end in a cliffhanger that we continue in Part 3 the game

 

[elcapitano]

If it gets any bigger, which it will, I'm afraid Sony won't be able to resist making TLOU Part III with or without Naughty Dog, especially with season two recently having been greenlit.

It'll be great if Part 3 gets made and hopefully it's already been started secretly.

But no one is making that game without Neil's permission and that's exactly as it should be!

Sony wouldn't dare let any else touch it and they wouldn't force them into it either.

Too risky to piss Neil and Naughty Dog off.

They'll be let do whatever they want which is a good thing as I said.

 

[elcapitano]

I’d rather have TLOU Part 3 be a TV show instead of a game tbh…

Yeah, fuck that.

It'll be a game if it exists as already confirmed by Neil.

The games are brilliant after all.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Yeah, fuck that.

It'll be a game of it exists as already confirmed by Neil.

The games are brilliant after all

Gameplay isn’t that fun to me. Rather have a well produced show

 

[DForce]

I was saying that the new stuff in ep3 was unnecessary if they stick to the game. But since it's deviating, further stuff from the game might get cut or altered.

You're ignoring the "if they stick to the game" part of my argument. If they don't stick to the game then the new stuff will probably be meaningful later on.

I'm not, because things that happen in the game also have meaning. He already explained it and you pushed it aside.

Seems strange to me if you don't want to lose someone you try to dump them off somewhere and forget about them. Now if you mean he doesn't want to see her get hurt on his watch is something I can agree with. Doesn't change my point that Joel wants to cut ties with Ellie.

It's literally being discussed between Ellie and Joel in the house. Ellie wanted to know what was he afraid of and then she brought up Sarah. At that point, Ellie knew why. Being afraid or losing someone isn't just watching them leave, it's dying under their protection. Joel failed to protect Sam, Tess, Herny, and Sam and this point is made clear in the TV show, too.

Tommy himself talks about having family that he can't just leave behind to travel with Ellie. Maybe you think he's lying in that scene but he seemed sinsere to me.

No, that was before the attack. You tried to use this point as the reason why Joel decided to take Ellie himself.

Joel reaffirms he's not her father right after that so I don't know what you're smoking, the turning point for Joel is when he decides to continue the travel with Ellie later on.

And watch his reaction on the horse ride back to Jackson. He looks at Ellie and you can see the regret on his face. That was said out of anger.

@3:36.00

 

[elcapitano]

Gameplay isn’t that fun to me. Rather have a well produced show

Your in the extreme minority with that take.

Anyway if the game exists we will have both so that would be the better outcome.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Your in the extreme minority with that take.

Anyway if the game exists we will have both so....

It’s not bad, but scavenging to items and sluggishly shooting people just isn’t that engaging to me

If they improve the gameplay systems, sure.

 

[Toons]

I’m sure they have encountered it but they don’t understand which is why they have questions. My son is growing up in a house with a man and a woman as a married couple so he just doesn’t get it.

Edited to add: my daughters to young to watch this with us but I’m definitely leaving this subject matter to her mom.

I mean I grew up in a religious household with a marriage between a woman and a man too..... but I still knew gay people existed lol

We knew what gay people were in elementary school. Nowadays you have celebrities and pop stars that are openly gay so again I find it strange how someone can go 14 years without encountering it

 

[Spitfire098]

This is insane. Can't just buy this type of mind share.

 

[Insane Metal]

"How dare they portray a gay couple like they act in real life???
Only hot lesbians can show intimacy, seeing 2 guys kiss makes me feel vulnerable! "

I don't feel like watching two men making out with my wife. It's ok if you do.

 

[RoadHazard]

I don't feel like watching two men making out with my wife. It's ok if you do.

They're not gonna make out with your wife, don't worry. It's just a show.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

Yeah, I think I‘ll skip this episode (or at least parts of it) if I decide to binge the show at some point. Despite having been exposed to gore, pornography and all other kinds of sick shit on the internet over the course of my life, there just something about two dudes making out that repulses me on an almost primal level. It‘s like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard; it makes me cringe in the truest sense of the word. I‘m not even religious or anything; I‘m just your typical decadent westerner, but I just won‘t ever be comfortable with this stuff for some reason (and no, I don‘t have repressed homo-erotic desires or whatever lol).

“Some reason”. Seems pretty clear what that may be.

 

[Ar¢tos]

I don't feel like watching two men making out with my wife. It's ok if you do.

But 2 women is OK?
You're afraid she might get turned on by it?

 

[Spaceman292]

Spoiler: Episodes runtime

I think the last episode is really short. Hope it doesn't feel rush.

Episode 4 – 46 minutes (February 5/6)
Episode 5 – 59 minutes (February 12/13)
Episode 6 – 59 minutes (February 19/20)
Episode 7 – 56 minutes (February 26/27)
Episode 8 – 51 minutes (March 5/6)
Episode 9 – 43 minutes (March 12/13)

43 minutes isn't exactly short. And it's probably just gonna be one huge gunfight

 

[Spaceman292]

Yeah, I think I‘ll skip this episode (or at least parts of it) if I decide to binge the show at some point. Despite having been exposed to gore, pornography and all other kinds of sick shit on the internet over the course of my life, there just something about two dudes making out that repulses me on an almost primal level. It‘s like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard; it makes me cringe in the truest sense of the word. I‘m not even religious or anything; I‘m just your typical decadent westerner, but I just won‘t ever be comfortable with this stuff for some reason (and no, I don‘t have repressed homo-erotic desires or whatever lol).

Sounds like repressed homo talk bro

 

[Georome]

I don't feel like watching two men making out with my wife. It's ok if you do.

Same. There are certain things I don't want to watch in my entertainment, and dudes making out is on the list.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

---

HBO says four of its current series have drawn more than 15 million viewers over the course of their runs.

This will piss off so many!

 

[kyliethicc]

I've now heard multiple people (like Jon Stewart) on different podcasts, none of which have anything to do with games, name drop The Last of Us and the show recently. Pretty interesting to see this story hit so mainstream

 

[Insane Metal]

But 2 women is OK?
You're afraid she might get turned on by it?

No it isn't, we avoid both equally.

 

[RoadHazard]

If anyone has missed it, I recommend the official podcast for the show. Troy Baker hosts it and interviews the creators about each episode, why certain things were changed from the game and others were not, etc.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

Same. There are certain things I don't want to watch in my entertainment, and dudes making out is on the list.

If I had those feelings I'd keep them to myself, cause they show insecurity and immaturity. 30 years ago, maybe - I was in a different mental state and so was the world.

 

[Toons]

The next time anyone sites imdb as some sort of concensus show them this.

 

[Banjo64]

What the fuck was that?

Don’t get me wrong, there was some good writing mixed in with some atrocious writing.

Bill standing out in the open blasting away with his scoped weapon. Bill trusting Jordan Peterson just for the sucky sucky. The entire dialogue once Bill invited Jordan in to his home, up until the bedding scene. Ellie stabbing clicker in the head.

Bill and Jordan’s actors sold it very well when they weren’t hamstrung by some of the dialogue. Some of their dialogue was good so not sure what happened with the script.

I’m starting to sense danger with this one lads, and that’s before Season 2 introduces the Incredible Hulk and all the bad source material to go along with it.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

i would seek help to understand why this makes me feel so uncomfortable. It sure isn’t healthy, is it?

Nope, but it can come from so many things. My mom used to comment on same sex holding hands until we (all her kids) told her it was absolutely normal. We could have picked up on her note, but the world teached us better.

 

[K' Dash]

But 2 women is OK?
You're afraid she might get turned on by it?

it's a preference, some people didn't play the game because it was too gory, that's a preference.

I personally don't have a problem with it, I thought the episode was merely OK since it added a lot of information on Bill and Frank that, to be honest, I don't give a fuck about... BUT some people do, more power to them.

instead of antagonizing people who don't want to see it because the content is not appealing to them, how about we move the convo on to what was great about it?

 

[Swift_Star]

What the fuck was that?

Don’t get me wrong, there was some good writing mixed in with some atrocious writing.

Bill standing out in the open blasting away with his scoped weapon. Bill trusting Jordan Peterson just for the sucky sucky. The entire dialogue once Bill invited Jordan in to his home, up until the bedding scene. Ellie stabbing clicker in the head.

Bill and Jordan’s actors sold it very well when they weren’t hamstrung by some of the dialogue. Some of their dialogue was good so not sure what happened with the script.

I’m starting to sense danger with this one lads, and that’s before Season 2 introduces the Incredible Hulk and all the bad source material to go along with it.

I think it’ll be fine, honestly.

 

[Toons]

What the fuck was that?

Don’t get me wrong, there was some good writing mixed in with some atrocious writing.

Bill standing out in the open blasting away with his scoped weapon. Bill trusting Jordan Peterson just for the sucky sucky. The entire dialogue once Bill invited Jordan in to his home, up until the bedding scene. Ellie stabbing clicker in the head.

 

[Ulysses 31]

I'm not, because things that happen in the game also have meaning. He already explained it and you pushed it aside.

Nope, I said the game has enough to motivate Joel implying there is set up and pay offs for things happening later on. I didn't brush anything aside. I merely speculated about the nature of the changes we might see in the show's future.

It's literally being discussed between Ellie and Joel in the house. Ellie wanted to know what was he afraid of and then she brought up Sarah. At that point, Ellie knew why. Being afraid or losing someone isn't just watching them leave, it's dying under their protection. Joel failed to protect Sam, Tess, Herny, and Sam and this point is made clear in the TV show, too.

And he still wants to cut ties with Ellie and forget her so my point stands that Joel didn't care enough for her at that point.

No, that was before the attack. You tried to use this point as the reason why Joel decided to take Ellie himself.

Well it was the case he had to continue on with Ellie alone for a moment because Tommy refused to take Ellie off his hands for family reasons. The bandit attack changed that but then Ellie went off on her own before Joel could inform her that he wouldn't be coming with her.

I didn't say that scene was the reason he decided to continue travelling with Ellie later on, that's a weird reach of yours. I brought that scene up to show Joel wants to dump Ellie but he's still stuck with her because of Tommy's initial refusal. In case that wasn't clear to you, I hope it is now.

And watch his reaction on the horse ride back to Jackson. He looks at Ellie and you can see the regret on his face. That was said out of anger.

@3:36.00

So you agree in that moment of anger Joel hadn't opened his heart enough for Ellie yet, great. The regret came later as well as his change of heart, like I said.

 

[Chiggs]

The Critical Drinker's take on the show thus far echoes some of the concerns I and others shared on Sunday night. I like how he specifically calls out that the most emotional, heart-wrenching episode thus far features characters that will have nothing to do with the remainder of the story. That's a problem.

I realize there have been some less than open-minded comments about the gay relationship, but those comments shouldn't detract from the critique that Episode 3 is basically just a distraction...no matter how poignant you may have found it.

Is there trouble on the horizon for the show? The Critical Drinker seems to think so.

 

[Chiggs]

Huge kudos to Vulture for having the guts to publish this negative review:

https://www.vulture.com/article/the-last-of-us-bill-frank-empty-prestige-storytelling.html

The result is tony, well-acted, carefully shot, and even well reviewed, but the experience of watching it is empty. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the show’s third episode, a standalone extrapolation from an implied arc in the game that tries so hard to imitate what we think of as prestige television that it forgets to say anything at all. Call it zombified TV.

By the end of the episode, Bartlett and Offerman are in old-age makeup, and an ill Frank has decided to die, having lived the best possible life in a world now run by fungus. Bill prepares a meal for him with poison served in the wine (pairs well with Beaujolais!), and the scene closes with Max Richter’s “On the Nature of Daylight,” a piece of music deployed to signal big emotional catharsis in everything from Arrival (where it cost the movie Oscar consideration) to Castle Rock and The Handmaid’s Tale.

Like that use of Max Richter, nothing in “Long Long Time” is innovative. Television, especially if it’s genre, is fond of pairing off characters to grow old in some story line, often shunting them off to a cabin in the woods or a timeline separate from the main action.

The larger issue for The Last of Us, however, is that it’s bringing this kind of obvious and sentimental storytelling to a genre that’s been thoroughly worked over. We’ve seen plenty of postapocalyptic films and movies and games make the same points, from Children of Men (released in 2006, so The Last of Us characters, with their 2003 collapse, never have to acknowledge that they’re doing the same thing) through The Walking Dead, I Am Legend, The Road, et cetera. Station Eleven, just last year on HBOMax, took the premise of a pandemic and used it to unspool a series of existential meditations about how art survives and why. The Last of Us doesn’t feel as if it’s adding to the conversation as much as regurgitating what has already been chewed through.

Spot on, IMO.

 

[Bragr]

Great start to the show. Great sets and effects (especially the mushroom stuff), Pascal is perfect as Joel. People praise Nick Offerman, but it was Jordan Peterson that owned that episode. It could have been a lot more awkward, but he was great. 8 out of 10 so far for the season.

My criticism, that holds a bit back for me:
- Ellie's sassiness is turned up 500%. Ellie was more nuanced, Ellie here is just a complete brat that snarks at everything in every conversation non-stop. Ramsey is also very monotone and struggles a bit with acting.
- Some of the huge vistas feel too much like green screen sets than reality.
- In the first two episodes, Tess has a weird wig. Not a big deal but it looked off.
- The thing where the mushrooms "notice" when people die and send "reinforcements" is just dumb.
- Some dumb scenes, like Bill standing in the middle of the street in range of everyone, or Ellie jumping into the hole without looking around the room.

 

[Toons]

The Critical Drinker's take on the show thus far echoes some of the concerns I and others shared on Sunday night. I like how he specifically calls out that the most emotional, heart-wrenching episode thus far features characters that will have nothing to do with the remainder of the story. That's a problem.

I realize there have been some less than open-minded comments about the gay relationship, but those comments shouldn't detract from the critique that Episode 3 is basically just a distraction...no matter how poignant you may have found it.

Is there trouble on the horizon for the show? The Critical Drinker seems to think so.

The critical drinker is an idiot. And hes proving it with takes like this.

Bill is whats known as a foil in literature. A character who mirrors the protagonists current or eventually character arc bur deviates from him in important ways. It can be used for foreshadowing. To emphasize the character of the protagonists or to provide a cautionary take for the protagonists to learn from.

The parallels between their stories will only become more relevant as Joel develops, and thus its perfectly fine for Bill to die here. The episode was about him hut its also about what Joel is going to become.

The fact TCD cannot see this when it is very clear and plain just tells me he doesn't understand storytelling.

 

[Kagero]

Yeah, I think I‘ll skip this episode (or at least parts of it) if I decide to binge the show at some point. Despite having been exposed to gore, pornography and all other kinds of sick shit on the internet over the course of my life, there just something about two dudes making out that repulses me on an almost primal level. It‘s like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard; it makes me cringe in the truest sense of the word. I‘m not even religious or anything; I‘m just your typical decadent westerner, but I just won‘t ever be comfortable with this stuff for some reason (and no, I don‘t have repressed homo-erotic desires or whatever lol).

I respect this stance. At least you’re honest.

 

[OsirisBlack]

I mean I grew up in a religious household with a marriage between a woman and a man too..... but I still knew gay people existed lol

We knew what gay people were in elementary school. Nowadays you have celebrities and pop stars that are openly gay so again I find it strange how someone can go 14 years without encountering it

Did you even read what I said? Encountered, didn’t understand and had questions.

 

[OsirisBlack]

If I had those feelings I'd keep them to myself, cause they show insecurity and immaturity. 30 years ago, maybe - I was in a different mental state and so was the world.

Why is this always the response? It doesn’t make a person insecure or immature because they choose to not partake in or watch certain things.

 

[Neff]

Good episode but the weakest yet imo. The relationship had its moments but ultimately felt a little too convenient and sappy, and I've always found sudden debilitating/fatal illness a cheap (and ineffective) plot device for tugging at the heart strings. Bill was one of the best things in the original game but here he's practically a different character with the same job.

I felt the press hype undermined it too. It's been a cracking show so far and I went in expecting something great but it was merely just a very competent slice of television.

 

[Swift_Star]

Huge kudos to Vulture for having the guts to publish this negative review:

https://www.vulture.com/article/the-last-of-us-bill-frank-empty-prestige-storytelling.html









Spot on, IMO.

I’ve read this, weak review. Guy didn’t understand anything about the episode or the show and adding stuff like “this isn’t innovative” just makes it worse. Guy is clueless.

 

[Chiggs]

The critical drinker is an idiot. And hes proving it with takes like this.

Bill is whats known as a foil in literature. A character who mirrors the protagonists current or eventually character arc bur deviates from him in important ways. It can be used for foreshadowing. To emphasize the character of the protagonists or to provide a cautionary take for the protagonists to learn from.

The parallels between their stories will only become more relevant as Joel develops, and thus its perfectly fine for Bill to die here. The episode was about him hut its also about what Joel is going to become.

The fact TCD cannot see this when it is very clear and plain just tells me he doesn't understand storytelling.

The Critical Drinker is a successful novelist that's worked with the likes of James Patterson.

You may not like him, but I doubt very much he is an idiot incapable of understanding storytelling.