jiggles wrote:Barnsy! wrote:I don't think this happened in the game?
It did. Pretty much exactly as it played out in the show.
Yeah I was surprised when I re-checked this too.
Show was good, though probably very different an experience for TLOU-newcomers to those familiar with the game. For me (a serial forensic difference-analyser) I got a lot out of comparing the two.
Some overall thoughts on show (with reference to game, which apparently is sometimes unpopular here):
Overall there were few scenes which played out as good or better in the show than the game, if any. I think this is as much down to how well the original game was acted/directed, which in lots of small but impactful ways worked less well for me than the game. Interestingly the TLOU-newcomer I watched the show with often preferred the game whenever we'd take a look at the equivalent scenes, even saying things like 'oh wow that's real' and similar at some of the acting inflections and so on. I could even feel it working better on them from their reactions, even when without the surprises (as we'd only watch game stuff after show stuff).
Their overall conclusion was that both have their merits, though.
In general I thought lots of the show was directed quite straight and workman-ly, with up-close handheld dialogue stuff and in general few memorable images/compositions. But who knows how much that is because of the compare-o-vision? (also I realised I had low-tier Motion Smoothing on for the Now TV app and turned it off in the last episode! - this definitely - Definitely! - might've made it seem more basic-TV and less cinematic prestige-TV!)
By the end I was sold on Bella Ellie as something different but good to Ashley Ellie. Especially when they dropped her snarky, wisecrack shtick from early on.
Joel was further from game Joel, I think. Less commanding and in control, and more vulnerable.
Some additions like the Indonesia stuff was great. Some added nothing, I thought (like the Kansas rebellion leader stuff), and many lines/bits were changed for the worse for seemingly no reason.
Overall music use was worse in the show for The Moments
Show as a whole felt a bit small, and less of A Journey than the game. Partly because of literal time-spent-with-characters but also I think just in pacing. So endign episode felt weirdly understated and quickly resolved once they get to Fireflies. Like stepping into a room and saying Oh Sorry wrong one! before reversing out againSome thoughts on last episode, don't bother reading if you're averse to overly-hyper-specific analysis:
Pregnancy stuff was fine, I didn't think about it enough to find it as problematic as OR did, though I get why it muddies motives and stuff a bit
Marlene's sudden walk-in and shoot of Anna was a bit naff? In general I found Marlene's acting less convincing than the game which is very strange seeing as it's the same actress!
Giraffes was great and using the same music was the right call!
Joel/Ellie's conversation ('after all I've done') straight after, with face close-ups, and Bella's acting, was probably the best the show's been and equal to the game. Great.
Suicide detail with Joel was great, but felt weirdly stage-y/game-y how they both bothered to sit and chat and look at each other then afterwards wrap-up and walk away. Especially after we just had a similar stop-and-chat moment before?
Firefly smoke bomb looked weak! And the whine-and-slow-camera aftershock was another example of it feeling like pretty TV-by-numbers in direction and feel?
Interesting in hospital room scene that Marlene didn't say vaccine (compared to 'cure') - was this so as not to alienate some viewers beyond Joel's human choice itself?
Small thing, but acting of guards was TV-tough-guy again? 'I didn't see anyone say to stop' or whatever felt written?
Joel's killing spree felt very different to the game, I thought. More uncomfortable, more of a massacre? May be his impassive expression and the music tone. Almost felt like I was watching a psychopath school-shooter spree or something. Was effective! Felt like whatever the Old Joel was capable of (the Bad Things Tommy previously referred to) had come back. I'd have to compare to the gameplay but of the game to work out why it was less sympathetic? (likely intentionally so)
Ellie's car bit was well done but seemed much clearer in the show that she clocks on to what's happened, and even Joel's explanation seems more clearly like he knows even then that she knows? Whereas in the game Ellie seems more tired and accepting. Interesting difference. But again the electro-synth thing used in game was also more effective I thought.
Joel/Ellie hike I thought was a bit weird, as Ellie is clearly distrusting/unsure, and Joel's happy enthusiasms and Sarah comparisons read so much weirder the way they shot it with him right next to her and eagerly looking towards her and correcting himself. More unnerving and unhinged. Whereas in the game he's just chatting more off-handedly whilst cracking on up ahead? Interesting difference again.
Bella-Ellie's final face-acting was basically flawless I thought. Whatever ambiguity and compromise Ashley-Ellie nailed in the game, I thought was captured here too.Anyway I liked it, didn't love it, but got a lot out of watching it and thinking about it (and the differences).
(Unsure why The Lie is more interesting and important to people than The Choice though! Both are Significant)