1 week Ago
Spoilers below for those who aren't watching The Last of Us' latest episode live on HBO or streaming it with a Max subscription.In just the second episode of its sophomore, HBO's The Last of Us delivered the kind of shocking and earth-shattering death that most shows would wait until a late-stage series finale to destroy its fanbase with. But in brutally killing off Pedro Pascal's Joel, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were just following the playbook that the latter helped create with his work on the award-winning video game The Last of Us Part II.
Not that it helped quell the tears.As a ginormous fan of the source material, I fully understand and support the reasons for maintaining the fidelity and timing of Joel's death, even as other changes were made to the timeline to justify Abby's left-field violence. And I'm as excited as I am nervous to see how the hit series follows up on such a gobsmacking tragedy, and will be live-blogging my thoughts on the stress-inducing episode's events.
(In case you missed it, check out my live-blog from the Season 2 premiere.)Some of my initial hopes for the episode:Joel's death revealed to be a dream.Joel's death revealed to be a hoax.
Joel's death revealed to be a total mistake, and he was just in a weird, non-breathing, open-eyed coma.For Ellie to beat the shit out of something as a way to counteract some of her angst.More cute Ellie and Dina moments that are completely free from tragic deaths.
I guess I only expect those last two to be actual possibilities. But one can still hope for miracles even after fungi has taken over the planet.All Those CorpsesUgh, that's a gut-punch of an opening, with Joel's corpse being cleaned and tended to.
It's unclear if that's the first time that Tommy has cast eyes on his brother's body, but the emotion on Gabriel Luna's face makes it a possibility. Though he could have just been looking to fuel his vitriol.Breaking my heart with this line, Tommy!"Give Sarah my love.
"Although my heartstrings certainly stretched tighter as the camera pulled out to reveal all the other bodies in that room that aren't Joel.P.S.
I really didn't like the caption "wet rag scraping lightly" popping up as Joel's arm is being washed.Ellie's Screams Will Haunt MeWell, if Tommy's grief was sad, then seeing all the PTSD on Ellie's face was downright traumatizing. I would not want to be at her therapy sessions for the next bit.
Or ever.OMG That Title Sequence ChangeShout out to The Last of Us for even using its opening title sequence to squeeze all the heartbreak out of us as possible. As is made evident in the final seconds, we no longer see two characters on the road to survival, but just one.
(Image credit: Max)Someone hand me a tissue to wipe my...
bloody nose. And don't question why the blood is all clear and tear-like.Ellie & Gail 4EverHa.
Okay I stand corrected. I would LOVE to be at all of Ellie and Gail's therapy sessions, with Ellie so clearly bullshitting her way through them, and Gail allowing it so long as she can recognize authentic recovery in her patient..
