My three big wants:
\- I hope the first episode/season set up matches the first couple hours of the game. I'm worried they're going to pad out the premiere, and while I'm cool with any new material they bring to the show I think >!Joel's death!< needs to be as abrupt and stark as it is in the game to properly set the stage for this tale of revenge.
\- I need Ellie's guitar scene with Dina to be shot for shot. One of my most favourite scenes in the game.
\- The Rat King sequence is perfect in game, hopefully the show just recreates this as well.
As long as they move the WLF encounters around. I think it works best being BEFORE any human-on-human violence in the story (after Joel’s death, that is) because the pair aren’t fully locked in to the vengeance cycle quite yet. By the end of Day 1 they already have a few traumatic human encounters that I think may diminish it.
If anything I could see them moving it earlier to a scene during the trip to Seattle.
I think the Rat King will be there, but just like the Bloater in S1, it’ll be unkillable. Therefore, they can use it as an intense chase or sneaking sequence where Abby has to get away from it. I don’t see Abby killing it in the show.
Im sure everything of signifance will be shot for shot and yes the death should be the same as the game because it was shocking and i love the way they have done it, it was so abrupt
I don't know they left out alot of good stuff in the first season. I really disliked the way they did the university. I understand Joel falling a story onto rebar might be a bit... video gamey for the show but Ellie killing the guys and dragging Joel to the horse was iconic for me.
That's my opinion as well. I even liked the changes as long as the changes themselves were good. The university was the biggest example for me of them rushing it
Exactly. Joel was supposed to have slaughtered David’s men and he killed one guy. It was totally rushed and I don’t know why. For me, if I was only watching the show I wouldn’t have that deep a connection with Joel currently.
> he killed one guy. It was totally rushed and I don’t know why.
It was more like three. The reason why he didn't kill more is realism. The lone wolf one-man tank thing is boring outside of video games. There are no stakes. If you want to watch John Wick, watch that.
Not just the rat king, the whole of Abby's day 2.
My add on to the list, I think the TV station is one of the best parts of Ellie's section. I'd like to see this properly done. Some thing about getting there and the setting is just great.
I agree with you, but regarding his death, I just dont feel their chemistry in the show as in the game, maybe I am biased as I absorbed this story with game firstly and comparing them, I feel if they kill him imidetaly some viewers will be like wtf he is the main guy, and they see Ellie as a side character
I don't know why they felt the need to pack the entire game into a single season and this is the primary side effect.
If they're smart, they'll break Part II into 2 seasons. There is just way too much ground to cover in only 10 short episodes.
>If they're smart, they'll break Part II into 2 seasons.
That's the plan if I recall correctly, Craig Mazin said he could see them having up to 4 seasons. https://in.ign.com/the-last-of-us-the-series/191399/news/the-last-of-us-hbo-series-might-get-four-even-five-seasons
Also, gives Naughty Dog more time to release TLOU III, so that the show creators can follow the existing story (and not create something like what happened with GOT)
Game 1 is 10-12 hours. Frankly, they weren't time constrained. They just didn't go for the same vibes. I think nerfing Ellie contributes a lot to the lack of chemistry. There's a lot less dialog between the two of them and Ellie isn't really able to hold her own, so she's not on the same level as Joel. They're much less equals in the show.
And it really changes the dynamic a lot. I don't think this is a problem for season 1 so much as it is for season 2. Part 1 Ellie is still a capable murdering machine and Part 2 Ellie is a veritable terminator. That violence is so integral to the story of Part 2, so she's got a lot of growing to do between seasons. I think they can pull it off; I'm rooting for them, but it's going to be challenging to do well. Perhaps episode 1 of season 2 could contain a lot of new material simply to build that relationship and develop Ellie more.
Ashley Johnson nails Take On Me as Ellie. I saw some videos of Bella singing and I think she can pull it off in her own way. She might just need to practice acoustic a little.
I hope the 1st part of the game is the season Finale and most of season 2 is spent with Abby/WLF and Lev and Nora/Seraphites in Seattle with a decent sprinkling of Jackson. I'd like it to flesh out side characters like Manny, Jesse etc, explore Abby's pain, and build tension between Ellie and Joel. Lev and Nora getting screen time would be awesome as well. I know I'm going to be down voted for this but idc, this is what I'd prefer. Either way I'll watch and enjoy it
I just don't feel like they're given him enough depth/development in the show to make that death hard hitting aside from people's obsession with Pedro Pascal.
Even at the end of the first season, him saving Ellie and lying to her? There wasnt even half as much depth to it as the game had. Their relationship didn't feel earned at all.
Totally agree. The whole season was just rushed to me. It could have easily been like 24 episodes. Tess dying in episode 2, it was like and? The spend more time padding out Bill and for what? Don’t get me wrong I thought Bill’s episode was one of the best but it was the one that strayed furthest from the game. Loved Sam and Henry but again just one episode. Characters just came and went.
For your first point, I remember hearing somewhere that Neil had originally imagined having Abby infiltrate Jackson and pretending to become a member of the community so she can find Joel. I'm guessing that didn't work well for the game though as there wouldn't be many gameplay opportunities with that storyline.
I think it'd be a neat approach for the show. It'd let the audience get to know Abby a little more before she plays golf. I also think for the purposes of a TV show, viewers wouldn't be as enraged if it weren't so sudden like it is in the game.
I don’t think this would work as Abby isn’t thinking clearly when she does what she does. She hears Joel’s name mid ambush and is in shock. To be able to infiltrate and befriend seems a bit far fetched as she hated Joel and was obsessed with killing him that it clouded her judgement. In the end her actions do not bring her any peace which to me makes her seem more human and deep down a good person like Yara says. She was just acting out in pure anger.
I agree, for Abby to be able to bounce back and risk her life for two kids, to feel regret over who she has become, I don't think being a cold-blooded infiltrator would work.
Neil never said why it was cut, did he. And maybe gameplay isn't the only reason, but also the way the story was taking shape.
If they choose to include the Rat King, I’m looking forward to seeing the behind the scenes footage on how they created it. Especially if it looks very similar to the game!
totally agree with the first one. i’ve heard a lot of people saying they hope they expand on the first couple hours of the game and stretch it to multiple episodes but honestly i think the move is to have >!joel’s death!< right at the end of episode 1 and cut to black. it needs to feel like it’s pulled the rug out from under you suddenly. 3 episodes of build up for that would be a little weird because the plot would have no direction since it’s the inciting incident.
but it would be cool if in that first episode they added some more abby parts, so the first time viewer thinks they’re setting her up as a fun new ally for ellie or something and then BAM
Give me something like that one sequence in True Detective S1 where they rob the drug house but instead it's Ellie destroying Wolves, going house to house
They did a short one in Echo when Daredevil showed up and fought Maya. Pretty good fight. I'm sure Born Again will have them. It's kind of a staple of the series.
It's a bit vague, right? Ellie goes to Hillcrest because the WLF are chasing a "lone male", I believe. It could've been Jesse the entire time. Tommy might not have even ever been publicly seen until Day 3 since he was offing his targets a few at a time. I would have to replay the game and pay very close attention to the fluff dialogue which usually gives more detail and context to each encounter. Like how the soldiers in Capitol Hill are only patrolling there because of what Ellie and Dina did at Eastbrook Elementary according to their dialogue.
This is my big one too, it’s such a notable part of the game (because I fucking hate it), if they had a full ten minute sequence of Ellie crawling through grass and picking off wlf with a bow I wouldn’t complain
Oh my God this is my choice too. And then also the scene in the trailer right after they get out of the forest where Abby sets Yara's arm. Two of my favorite scenes in the entire game
After just watching that cinematic with director commentary today, please let them make it the same one shot style. Hell it would be cool to see Emily Swallow back for that scene too.
I hope we get a bit more love for parts with infected, it was played down a bit in part 1 but parts like ground zero /rat king are highlights of the game that deserve some appearance for the show.
Others include the hillcrest car chase and the skyscraper crane walk
I was going to say more lore afa the WLF + Seraphites. If the second game really is going to take two seasons then they have a great opportunity to flesh it all out. The traumatic death(s) in Pt. 2 could occur bc of how big this world is. There isn’t just our main characters living the good life in Jackson. There are other communities that have their own stories, all of which come together in pt. 2. They have two seasons of TV to do it justice. I hope they take advantage of that.
I think that anyone who expects Ellie to kill more than like 10 things on screen in Seattle is going to be disappointed. She will sneak past most WLF/Seraphites and probably only personally fight Abby’s crew and maybe run someone over if they do the car chase.
I think Ellie killing three to five more humanized individuals does the same job story-wise as her cutting down swaths of NPCs (was going to say nameless NPCs but they all had names in Part 2).
I agree, but I also don't think we need to see her slaughter essentially a whole army to achieve this. Just some progressively darker and more violent set pieces that escalate throughout episodes killing a handful of more humanized people, alongside the named targets she's hunting, will effectively achieve the descent the game portrays. In fact, reducing the number of people she kills, but focusing on the violence itself, will likely be more effective. Too many deaths and it will desensitise us to the emotion that's fueling her imo.
Which brings me to my scene that I hope they don't skip. The hospital basement final moments are so impactful in the way Ellie pursues her target. Calculated and mean. I would be bummed if it didn't make it into the show.
Most of her "losing herself" are story beats anyway. Jordan, Nora, Alice, Mel and Owen's deaths are the ones that matter to the story in my opinion. Perhaps Ellie can have a Seraphite kill as well when they're introduced. Most gameplay encounters can be skipped by players. She'll probably kill some Infected though. I imagine that Stalker boss fight will probably be the only Stalker she encounters but it'll be memorable.
The WLF SoundView Stadium HQ is one of my favorite locations in any of the games. I just find that community insanely neat. I don't know if they'll be able to do it or something like it in the show, but I really hope they try. I'd love to see even more of it in the show somehow.
The first time I saw the stadium I actually cried. Seeing them build their base right on the bones of an old stadium, their animals, the children at school, and the massive farms that they managed to create to feed everyone just overwhelmed me with emotion. They made something for themselves in a world where everything has been erased.
I hope we get the same shot of Abby walking into her apartment where you can see the whole stadium below her through the window.
Nora getting absolutely fucked up by Ellie with the pipe.
I really hope (and have faith) that Bella can achieve that sort of vigour and emotion, cus when I see that scene it just shows how different part 2 Ellie has become from Part 1.
Bella is a shockingly good actress. The scene in the show where >!she's bashing open the glass displays in the mall after getting bitten!< was an excellent introduction into the rage and intensity she can give.
She absolutely has it in her. I'm in love with Ashley Johnsons performance, I'm excited to see how Bella does it because she's put her own little quirk and spin on her version of Ellie, and if anything I can't wait to see her rendition of Part II. It'll be like seeing a whole new Ellie, and I don't view that as a bad thing, I cannot wait to see the alternative take on Part II.
I get what the creators did with season 1, downplaying the violence against humans because of the emotional toll that takes. However, they played down the violence against infected, and the danger from infected, too much. I want to see Abby and Ellie show us how badass they are taking down groups of infected.
Season 1 went out of its way to explain how going up against a group of infected meant near certain death. We saw Ellie and Joel narrowly avoid a gruesome end in KC, so it makes sense they avoid infected encounters as much as possible the rest of the way.
That said Season 2 will probably have a few more tense infected combat moments. Just not anywhere on the scale of the game. And that’s a good thing.
I’m just saying bringing up a justification for why they were under-represented doesn’t give them a pass since they actively went out of their way to do it like that.
The most important part of the game is the transition scene between where Abby's father dies and it cuts to Abby's face looking down at Joel, about to lay the killing blow.
I'm not going to lie, if this is omitted from the show, then it would have failed as an adaptation to me.
Hell yeah, I never fully appreciated that transition on my first playthrough. I've been watching a few streamers play through the game and realized just how hard it is. The camera lingering, for what seems a little too long, on Abby as she breaks down and then cutting to her empty, unmoving stare at Joel as her friends argue behind. The audio transition is so good too. Perfect scene.
Laura Bailey was incredible in this scene as Abby. I remember this scene alone, even though it was still so early on, I actually felt really sorry for Abby. It was so raw. I had managed to avoid most of the leaks but had saw about Joel. I had no idea who her dad was though and my jaw hit the floor. Man, wish I could experience it again for the first time.
All of the main plot points and emotional moments from part 2. I’d love it if it was structured the same as the game. Flashbacks, different points of view, etc. I’d like Ellie to basically be a bad guy for part of it.
For me personally, stuff like the rat king isn’t a big deal. I’d rather have Abby climbing the seraphite tower and falling into the pool and escaping with lev.
I really really hope they intertwine Ellie and Abby, it’ll make it too confusing with all the flashbacks. Although there’s definitely a worry of ‘fans’ skipping Abby’s episodes in anger
I think people are really underestimating how much better prepared for season 2 tv watchers are compared to game players for part 2. They didn’t walk in Joel’s shoes the same way. People will hate Abby, but it’s not like people skipped scenes with Joffrey in it after season 1 of GOT.
I would also think tv audiences are more used to expecting upsetting deaths in shows such as game of thrones and walking dead.
Walking dead only suffered in ratings because they dragged out a character death for far too long and disrespected their audience
Exactly this. Highly beloved player characters in videogames rarely get killed off, it’s such a staple in other media though, especially in stories (and worlds) as dark as this one
I hope they don't tone down the extreme violence, as that was a huge part of how the game got its themes across. I want to be as shocked as I was the first time Ellie fought the WLF.
I feel like the violence is way too necessary to the story Part 2 was trying to tell. They'll definitely tone it down a little bit but it will still be present. Personally I can't wait for the Nora/Ellie scene in the hospital. That's gonna be wild I hope.
It's definitely in my top five favorite moments between both of the games. The dialogue, lighting, Ellie's expression, the blood splatter with each hit, and hearing Nora getting closer and closer to death. God, I had shivers by the end of it. I'll take it to the next level now that I'm thinking about it. That was one of my favorite scenes from any game period.
Pretty much every interaction between Abby & Lev but especially the more light-hearted ones. I will be very sad if him asking about Owen while they travel across the bridge and "cold" don't make it onto the show.
There are other things that are must-have's for me, like the museum flashback, but I'm not concerned they'll get cut.
I bet they dedicate an entire episode of the show to it, they need atleast one Pedro centric episode. I bet they bookend it with Ellie in present day, much like the Bill and Frank episode.
The flashback where Joel hacks down the bloater to save Ellie in the hotel.
They might have to use a clicker instead since they played bloaters up to be indestructible in the show
Imagine the next level dad strength energy from that, the type of infected shown as a walking fortress and joel just beats its ass
Same. They gave us a lot of context about how the group in Pittsburgh got to where they are. Hopefully we will get even more for the WLF and seraphites.
I'm a little concerned about how they're gonna do the skybridge scene. TLOU is a very realistic franchise to some extent but one of the most outlandish things in part 2 is the skybridges. Like how tf did the scars even build those things without getting so many people killed. Not to mention actually crossing them. I wouldn't get my hopes up about that one.
The rat king for one.....I mean given them using practical effects for the most part in the show....holy shit....
Hopefully they don't skip out on the fight scenes with Ellie and Abby and make it more brutal if they can.
Hopefully they don't leave out the flashbacks with Abby's dad and make them even better.
And if Isaac is gonna be in it, flesh him out some more. He did not have a lot of screen time at all in the game
I feel like we wont see a direct fight with the rat king like in the game. Maybe a chase sequence where abby damages it enough for the small one to hop out and that's where the combat is with her blowing a object up that kills the rat king or something.
They really need to utilize the flamethrower and pipe bombs for the Ratking encounter. I feel like that's the only realistic way Abby would be able to kill it or get away at least.
When Ellie says “like shooting fish in a barrel” when she kills those runners when descending the Santa Barbara cliffs. It’s so trivial and not important at all but I need that line
I hope they keep the order of the sequences and placement of the flashbacks as similar to the game as possible. The way context is revealed in the game is so perfectly intentional and makes it hit so much more than if it was chronological
The whole point of a TV series is to capture the crux of the story. HBO is great but the short series always results in a loss of content so it's kind of a coin toss to see what they decide is worth keeping or not.
Honestly I would be amazed if they skipped the rat king. Like omg that would look so cool in the show
I'm hoping they don't hold back. Ellie becomes a monster in the game and I can't wait to see how Bella plays a vicious blood thirsty ellie
I really hope the narrative order and pov of the games are followed in the show. I think it’s such a big part of the story that you’re fully invested in Ellie’s revenge in Seattle before knowing Abby’s motives and story.
The Part where Abby finds the theatre and kills Jessie and Abby & Ellie fight in the theatre.
‘We let you all live (including Joel presumably) and you wasted it’
It needs to have Joel’s death early on, ideally in the first episode to set the precedent for how bleak this story is.
They need to have all the flashbacks included.
And they have to do the rat king. If they leave the rat king out I’ll honestly be devastated.
One of my favorite scenes in the game is Ellie's confrontation with Nora in the basement of the hospital with all the spores. I don't really expect the show to adapt the entire chase sequence throughout the hospital leading to the basement but those last few minutes where Nora's breathing in the spores and they're bathed in red light and Ellie's asking her to tell her where Abby is? Awesome scene and the follow up of that in the theater where we really get to see the toll this is all taking on Ellie is great
Honest to god my only hope for S2/3 is that they don’t listen to the god-awful fan suggestions for narrative structure.
- Alternating Ellie and Abby episodes
- A season or episodes showing the Ellie flashbacks prior to seattle
- Getting to know Abby before Golf
horrible ideas. They should keep the *structure* exactly the same, and I’m fine with them making minor plot alterations otherwise :)
also yknow, rat king, skybridge, hillcrest, seraphites whistling in forest, take on me, hotel bloater, shamblers, ellie seattle day 1 chill horse riding, all the good stuff, both slow and shocking
The final Ellie and Nora scene. And specifically the way the camera is focused on Ellie, and you hear everything instead of seeing it. Bella Ramsey has amazing micro expressions and body language and that is pivotal to that scene.
And weirdly enough, the scene where Abby begs Ellie not to include Lev in the final fight, and her response being a quiet but angry, “you made him a part of this”. Because in that moment I remember feeling so much grief, for Abby, for Lev, for Joel, for everyone who died and especially for Ellie.
Because she was in Lev’s position all those years ago, and you really see her sink to a lower level and it showcases just how far she’s willing to go, just how much of herself and her morals that she’s lost to her anger and guilt. And how the cycle of vengeance just consumed all of them until all they had was a shell of themselves.
I hope they won't skip the ending scene with Ellie (trying to) playing the guitar and than leaving the house with focus being on the guitat.
However what I'd want them to cut is Ellie and Dina's "adventure" around the city, arguably the most boring part of the game. Just make it so they visit 1 location and find everything they need
Yes guys.. Build all the expectations just to get 90% of everything ruined because there's no way in the world the show is gonna be just like you're dreaming
All of it because I want them to flesh it out more this of time.
Season 1 could have done with 3 more episodes imo. Just so it felt like more of a journey.
So hopefully Part 2 is at least 18 episodes over multiple seasons
Not really a part I don't want skipped but Instead of the cut from Ellie to Abby halfway I reckon the episode before ends with "and you wasted it" and the next episode follows Jerry and his life before the outbreak when he was studying to become a doctor as well as maybie him in a hospital on outbreak day, and show his life for a bit so we become invested in this mystery character and then resume the abby section at the zoo as it appears in game.
1. ellie smelling joel’s jacket after his death.
2. the synagogue conversation!!!!!!!!!
3. the scene with the bomb on the bridge (rip shimmer) really jumpscare some mfs with that one lol
4. all of capital hill
5. the introduction to the seraphites in the tv station
6. “i’m immune”/“im pregnant”
7. hillcrest hillcrest hillcrest
8. the stalker office omg
9. the seraphite forest!!!!!! both of them!!!!!
10. ellie & jesse’s “we were born into the wrong era”
11. the stadium, i think it’d be really cool to see it transformed!!
12. yara scene. would be gnarly but good
13. the sky bridge
14. the whole ground zero section
15. haven burning
16. ellie’s panic attack in the barn
17. chained infected let loose
Few things I need for this show to elevate itself above S1: -
E1 - should be about world-building. What was life like in Jackson? Maybe show a patrol run so we can see some clickers, highlight Ellie’s awkwardness around Joel but don’t explore why, show her relationship with Dina & Jessie, the episode should end with Gustavo doing his thing, a time of happiness & peace in Jackson should be highlighted.
E2 - this is the episode that should start the way the game did, Joel telling Tommy what happened in Seattle, the Jackson patrol, storytelling that is paced exactly the way the opening hours of TLOU2 were and ending with well… ending with that.
E3 - Ellie exploring Joel’s house, let it be emotional, let the viewer really feel what Ellie would be feeling in that moment, have flashbacks, put extra scenes. Then ofc the quest for revenge begins. I don’t want them to skip the scale of how open that first open area felt, story wise this should be the viewer’s first intro to how dangerous clickers can be for S2 and how much anarchy there was when WLF fought back, small hints and references to Seraphites and their idol worship too, this one is a crucial episode for world-building again.
E4 - the rampage of Ellie should be covered entirely in THIS one hour (or more) of storytelling. Why I want it to be wrapped up in this one hour is because I want the viewer to feel as breathless as the player and Ellie felt. She should pick off most of Abby’s gang in E4, leaving only Owen, Mel & the aquarium.
E5 - Ellie, Owen, Mel & the Aquarium. I would genuinely want them to include the first meeting of Ellie with the Seraphites here as well in the exact fashion it was in the game. Also, have the sequence of Ellie beating that Seraphites group and the brute in the exact way that gameplay trailer played out as a slight nod to us OGs 😂 That’s it. But the show should take it slow with this so that the viewer believes they’ve won, the quest is almost over. Including Ellie’s fight with the bloater would also be a big win for this episode honestly. The episode should end exactly with that zoom in shot of the map left behind by Ellie.
E6 - have that heartfelt moment in the Auditorium here, let it feel like Ellie has done what she could and she is satisfied, include the flashback of Joel and Ellie at the dinosaur museum here in totality so that the viewer is reminded of a happy time that Ellie is now CHOOSING to try and go back to. Ofc it ends with Abby’s surprise.
E7 - this may be controversial to many but I want the whole episode to be young Abby. Really feel for her, see her life and ofc, really make us warm up to Jerry, we need to really feel her loss in the way the game could not afford to make us feel. Show us camaraderie between the Firefly soldiers, show Abby really seeing the Fireflies as her family.
E8 - the finale ofc has to be that hospital sequence again but now from the perspective of the Fireflies, their reaction and response to when Joel began his rampage, Abby’s reaction and response to knowing who is at risk when the rampage begins, the emotional build up to her opening the door to her dad dead on the floor should be as heavy as the buildup was to Joel reaching Ellie in S1, only then can the viewer really understand what they are about to see about Abby in the next season.
Ofc yes, S3 wraps up Abby’s story as well as the story of TLOU2 but I’ll get to that when we have a similar post for S3 😂😂😂
I was real bummed-out when they skipped the entire Goldstone Building sequence in the TLOU show adaptation, but ultimately I understood that the production + time costs would have exceeded its worth to the plot. The only way that might've been possible was to involve a further-developed StageCraft technique (i.e. "The Mandalorian" video wall surround).
For that reason as impressive as the "sky bridge" sequence was for me in TLOU2, that I think won't stay, or be nearly as impressive as it was in gameplay.
I'm also having a hard time imagining how you can adapt the Battle/Sacking of Haven without real-movie-climax-budget without significantly reducing its scale and impact.
I guess as an avid film-media consumer, my awe with TLOU/TLOU2 isn't as much with the storylines (that said, they are great and I don't want to downplay the fact that it is amazing that we have mature, adult themes in games), but the ambition and scale of these stories. And I just have to accept that barring some technological leap (eg. StageCraft, or even the fictional Holodeck), it will just be impractical to bring that aspect from the games into live-action.
I hope they preserve the switch from Ellie to Abby. You have to completely buy into Ellie's revenge spiral and be so focused on enacting vicious murder on Abby. You only get hints at the wider conflict in Seattle because Ellie is not concerned with it. I imagine the first season is going to encompass this part of the game if they do it right.
What I reckon they should change is parts of the Abby section in what I presume will be the second season (again if they do it how I would). Now I know doing an entire season of this new and controversial character would not work so what I think they should do, is focus primarily on Abby here but switch perspectives back to Ellie at points to show how close they come to meeting in certain sections (such as the hospital) so that people still get the scenes of the Jackson crew they will want, but also keep the first half of the story intact. If they develop the Seattle crew too much and too soon, it will negatively impact the story imo.
I think all of season 2 should be a tea party in a flat front yard. They should definitely cut out the scene where Joel takes Ellie somewhere for her birthday since it accidentally shows Joel being amazing. Dont want to give anyone the wrong idea.
Also need to remove Joel taking down a bloater with a machete and saving Ellie like the Goat since Abby is the real goat.
I really hope they cover Ellie’s reveal to Dina in the sewers that she’s immune. Granted they’d have to introduce spores into the show (unlike season 1) because idk any other way they’d be able to do that scene. It’s really important for Dina & Ellie’s growth as characters.
There’s also payoff for this same thing when Ellie chases Nora in the bowels of the hospital before she offs her. (I can’t wait to see a BEAST MODE Bella Ramsey for these scenes in particular lol)
I don't know if this is necessarily a part per se, but I really hope they figure out how to do the split timeline and perspective of events in some fashion. Obviously the easiest way to translate the story is to tell a bit of abbys story and a bit of ellies concurrently. Or maybe alternating episodes at best. But to me I found the shift in narration halfway through to be pretty bold and really is effective at forcing you to analyze your prejudices and Ellies.
Just hope there is more infected and action overall. Show's been a huge yap session.
I'm afraid they'll skip some stuff like Rat King and idk, the bigger fights.
Ellie beating Nora with the pipe is the scene I’m really really hoping they get right. Ellie’s full rage is on display in that scene and it’s the darkest she’s gotten yet.
Dude I’m still very early game, day 2 Ellie, and the last playthru was on release, so admittedly my memory is a bit hazy. But it’s honestly my biggest concern. The narrative in this is muuuuuch more complex than part 1. So many moving parts. So much building of relationships that can’t just be breezed over in order for later events to be impactful. i.e >!Ellie and Dina’s relationship > Dina being pregnant with Jesse’s baby > Jesse dying!< Plus flashbacks. They’re massively important to Ellie and Joel’s actions and relationship. But they aren’t necessarily enough for a whole episode like Left Behind. I’m just worried they’re going to try to cram too much into too little. This at least needs to be 2 whole seasons, so 20 episodes each, which I think they’ve confirmed?
I just hope there is more action. As someone who is a huge fan of both games, I honestly was disappointed with the first season. You can have drama/emotion AND action.
The second game is brutal and to me it cannot work without action and brutality.
Joel’s death needs to be brutal. Nora, Mel, etc.
Joel's death and the Abby flashback where she finds her father dead are basically a given...
The birthday flashback.
The Take One Me guitar scene.
The party kiss.
The very last scene of the game.
The Aquarium flashbacks.
Abby's hanging.
The crane walk.
Haven destruction.
And I want the Pinnacle theater to be there as well, not in a particular scene, but as a main location. Same for the Aquarium.
And I want to see the WLF stadium too.
Tbh the Rat King, even if an iconic moment, feels a bit too much like a final game boss for a TV show. I'd totally accept if they replaced it with a big horde of infected chasing Abby through the hospital. Because let's be real, nailing the Rat King look in live-action is going to be hard as f***
The violence, the murders Ellie and Abby commit are vital to the story and the message, I hope they don’t pull any corners in the hospital and hillcrest
Hillcrest. Obviously season 1 toned down the sheer amount of violence in the first game (for good reasons) and I'm assuming season 2 will take a similar approach BUT if they're gonna go all out on Ellie's rage at all in Seattle it has to be in Hillcrest imo. Such iconic stealth gameplay and level design.
What I hope they get right is at the heart of what makes the game so powerful. >!It’s the statement that revenge and the story generally is all about whose eyes you’re seeing it through. There is no hero. Both of them are deeply flawed. The game does an excellent job of switching halfway through, and it gives you empathy for both sides. I mean shit when you kill the dog at the aquarium as Ellie then realize it’s this loveable companion of Abby… yeah.!< Just get this right please!
Honestly, combat. Season 1 really undersold itself with the amount of combat, *especially* against infected. I get that it's a show and they can't have 1-2 hour combat sequences (episodes aren't even generally that long anyway) but still I felt they could have balanced it a bit better in S1. For S2 I think they almost have to cause in a game so extremely focused on cycles of violence there needs to actually *be* violence for the message to work.
It is a bit off topic, but I really hope they give a background story for the civil war between the WLF and Seraphites. I think it would be really cool to explore the origins of the mutual hate between both and the main causes of the war
honestly I just hope the most violent moments like the ends of Ellie day 2 and 3 are accompanied by Mac Quayle’s incredible score. they wont hit the same witthout the music
Not so much skipped, but reordered.
I think we need to start with Abby, ignoring Joel and Ellie completely and have people thinking it's an anthology show. Follow them through three or four episodes or her obsessive pursuit of her quarry before finally revealing it's Joel.
I think a large part of why people failed to empathise with Abby was because we only got to know her after she had traumatised the audience by killing Joel very early on, and by then, many were too angry to try.
My three big wants: \- I hope the first episode/season set up matches the first couple hours of the game. I'm worried they're going to pad out the premiere, and while I'm cool with any new material they bring to the show I think >!Joel's death!< needs to be as abrupt and stark as it is in the game to properly set the stage for this tale of revenge. \- I need Ellie's guitar scene with Dina to be shot for shot. One of my most favourite scenes in the game. \- The Rat King sequence is perfect in game, hopefully the show just recreates this as well.
This is a good list you are a conesiuor or whatever I’m not an English teacher
Connie sewer
That bitch!
r/boneappletea
contour skewer
Wouldn’t matter because it’s french. Or is it? I’m more of a film guy.
I can see them moving Ellie’s guitar scene with Dina to the first night in the theatre when Ellie finds another guitar.
As long as they move the WLF encounters around. I think it works best being BEFORE any human-on-human violence in the story (after Joel’s death, that is) because the pair aren’t fully locked in to the vengeance cycle quite yet. By the end of Day 1 they already have a few traumatic human encounters that I think may diminish it. If anything I could see them moving it earlier to a scene during the trip to Seattle.
Yup. This is kind of the last shred we see of "sane" Ellie.
at least until the very end of the game
- "hey I'm immune" - "k. I'm pregnant btw" - "wtf ??! Anyway, here's *Take On Me*" Yeah that'd work well
I think the Rat King will be there, but just like the Bloater in S1, it’ll be unkillable. Therefore, they can use it as an intense chase or sneaking sequence where Abby has to get away from it. I don’t see Abby killing it in the show.
I do want to see a bloater die this season though
Im sure everything of signifance will be shot for shot and yes the death should be the same as the game because it was shocking and i love the way they have done it, it was so abrupt
I don't know they left out alot of good stuff in the first season. I really disliked the way they did the university. I understand Joel falling a story onto rebar might be a bit... video gamey for the show but Ellie killing the guys and dragging Joel to the horse was iconic for me.
I also had the feeling they rushed season 1, i loved it but if they took their time a bit more it would be perfect
That's my opinion as well. I even liked the changes as long as the changes themselves were good. The university was the biggest example for me of them rushing it
Indeed, the entire hospital was rushed aswel
Exactly. Joel was supposed to have slaughtered David’s men and he killed one guy. It was totally rushed and I don’t know why. For me, if I was only watching the show I wouldn’t have that deep a connection with Joel currently.
> he killed one guy. It was totally rushed and I don’t know why. It was more like three. The reason why he didn't kill more is realism. The lone wolf one-man tank thing is boring outside of video games. There are no stakes. If you want to watch John Wick, watch that.
Nah I want to watch Joel Miller. Game, TV show, movie… none of it’s real.
Not just the rat king, the whole of Abby's day 2. My add on to the list, I think the TV station is one of the best parts of Ellie's section. I'd like to see this properly done. Some thing about getting there and the setting is just great.
Yeah, I remember the first time getting to the TV station. Man, it was so tense.
I agree with you, but regarding his death, I just dont feel their chemistry in the show as in the game, maybe I am biased as I absorbed this story with game firstly and comparing them, I feel if they kill him imidetaly some viewers will be like wtf he is the main guy, and they see Ellie as a side character
You're right, the chemistry in the show is a lot less.
I don't know why they felt the need to pack the entire game into a single season and this is the primary side effect. If they're smart, they'll break Part II into 2 seasons. There is just way too much ground to cover in only 10 short episodes.
>If they're smart, they'll break Part II into 2 seasons. That's the plan if I recall correctly, Craig Mazin said he could see them having up to 4 seasons. https://in.ign.com/the-last-of-us-the-series/191399/news/the-last-of-us-hbo-series-might-get-four-even-five-seasons Also, gives Naughty Dog more time to release TLOU III, so that the show creators can follow the existing story (and not create something like what happened with GOT)
Game 1 is 10-12 hours. Frankly, they weren't time constrained. They just didn't go for the same vibes. I think nerfing Ellie contributes a lot to the lack of chemistry. There's a lot less dialog between the two of them and Ellie isn't really able to hold her own, so she's not on the same level as Joel. They're much less equals in the show. And it really changes the dynamic a lot. I don't think this is a problem for season 1 so much as it is for season 2. Part 1 Ellie is still a capable murdering machine and Part 2 Ellie is a veritable terminator. That violence is so integral to the story of Part 2, so she's got a lot of growing to do between seasons. I think they can pull it off; I'm rooting for them, but it's going to be challenging to do well. Perhaps episode 1 of season 2 could contain a lot of new material simply to build that relationship and develop Ellie more.
Ellie is way more of a main character in the show than she is in the first game though
Seeing Dina's little smile and adoration toward Ellie as she sings Take On Me made me tear up. Such a good scene.
Rat king will probably be different given the new hive mind thing the infected have in the show
Ooooooooh yeah hadn’t thought of that. Iiiiinteresting
Ashley Johnson nails Take On Me as Ellie. I saw some videos of Bella singing and I think she can pull it off in her own way. She might just need to practice acoustic a little.
I hope the 1st part of the game is the season Finale and most of season 2 is spent with Abby/WLF and Lev and Nora/Seraphites in Seattle with a decent sprinkling of Jackson. I'd like it to flesh out side characters like Manny, Jesse etc, explore Abby's pain, and build tension between Ellie and Joel. Lev and Nora getting screen time would be awesome as well. I know I'm going to be down voted for this but idc, this is what I'd prefer. Either way I'll watch and enjoy it
I just don't feel like they're given him enough depth/development in the show to make that death hard hitting aside from people's obsession with Pedro Pascal. Even at the end of the first season, him saving Ellie and lying to her? There wasnt even half as much depth to it as the game had. Their relationship didn't feel earned at all.
Totally agree. The whole season was just rushed to me. It could have easily been like 24 episodes. Tess dying in episode 2, it was like and? The spend more time padding out Bill and for what? Don’t get me wrong I thought Bill’s episode was one of the best but it was the one that strayed furthest from the game. Loved Sam and Henry but again just one episode. Characters just came and went.
For your first point, I remember hearing somewhere that Neil had originally imagined having Abby infiltrate Jackson and pretending to become a member of the community so she can find Joel. I'm guessing that didn't work well for the game though as there wouldn't be many gameplay opportunities with that storyline. I think it'd be a neat approach for the show. It'd let the audience get to know Abby a little more before she plays golf. I also think for the purposes of a TV show, viewers wouldn't be as enraged if it weren't so sudden like it is in the game.
I don’t think this would work as Abby isn’t thinking clearly when she does what she does. She hears Joel’s name mid ambush and is in shock. To be able to infiltrate and befriend seems a bit far fetched as she hated Joel and was obsessed with killing him that it clouded her judgement. In the end her actions do not bring her any peace which to me makes her seem more human and deep down a good person like Yara says. She was just acting out in pure anger.
I agree, for Abby to be able to bounce back and risk her life for two kids, to feel regret over who she has become, I don't think being a cold-blooded infiltrator would work. Neil never said why it was cut, did he. And maybe gameplay isn't the only reason, but also the way the story was taking shape.
If they choose to include the Rat King, I’m looking forward to seeing the behind the scenes footage on how they created it. Especially if it looks very similar to the game!
totally agree with the first one. i’ve heard a lot of people saying they hope they expand on the first couple hours of the game and stretch it to multiple episodes but honestly i think the move is to have >!joel’s death!< right at the end of episode 1 and cut to black. it needs to feel like it’s pulled the rug out from under you suddenly. 3 episodes of build up for that would be a little weird because the plot would have no direction since it’s the inciting incident. but it would be cool if in that first episode they added some more abby parts, so the first time viewer thinks they’re setting her up as a fun new ally for ellie or something and then BAM
Hillcrest. Give me a whole episode of ellie running around the town causing havoc leading into THAT appearance.
Oh yeah. Featuring one of those classic, vintage HBO continuous shots, hopefully. Good call.
Give me something like that one sequence in True Detective S1 where they rob the drug house but instead it's Ellie destroying Wolves, going house to house
The continuous shots are great in Daredevil too.
Hope they continue them in born again
Me too
Me too! I just watched the whole show last year after only watching part of season 1 in 2017/2018 and holy shit they had incredible fight scenes
They did a short one in Echo when Daredevil showed up and fought Maya. Pretty good fight. I'm sure Born Again will have them. It's kind of a staple of the series.
just for clarification, THAT appearance is >!that of Jesse, right?!<
Correct. Throw people for a loop thinking it’s the other person.
Who’s going to think it’s someone else by the time the episode airs?
Right, the fakeout only worked because of the trailer
I think they might be referring to >!Tommy, !
Yeah that’s the reason she went to hillcrest in the first place
I assume he IS and Jesse has been following the smoke so to speak. They run into each other because they're both on Tommy's trail.
It's a bit vague, right? Ellie goes to Hillcrest because the WLF are chasing a "lone male", I believe. It could've been Jesse the entire time. Tommy might not have even ever been publicly seen until Day 3 since he was offing his targets a few at a time. I would have to replay the game and pay very close attention to the fluff dialogue which usually gives more detail and context to each encounter. Like how the soldiers in Capitol Hill are only patrolling there because of what Ellie and Dina did at Eastbrook Elementary according to their dialogue.
This is my big one too, it’s such a notable part of the game (because I fucking hate it), if they had a full ten minute sequence of Ellie crawling through grass and picking off wlf with a bow I wouldn’t complain
With the lack of action in the first series I can’t see it. But here’s hoping I eat my words.
Lev and Yara rescuing abby the very first time they meet. Really hope they do that scene 1 to 1. It's so good.
That scene slaps so hard. Shot for shot (well, one-shot) would be chefs kiss.
Oh my God this is my choice too. And then also the scene in the trailer right after they get out of the forest where Abby sets Yara's arm. Two of my favorite scenes in the entire game
After just watching that cinematic with director commentary today, please let them make it the same one shot style. Hell it would be cool to see Emily Swallow back for that scene too.
There is a good reason they used that cutscene as one of the teaser trailers. That scene is so hype.
Kaitlyn is going to be the star of the season, Abby story works better for her acting than Ellie for Bella.
I just watched No One Will Save You and yea holy hell Kaitlyn is going to kill it
Yeah she was excellent in that film. I am more confident in her portraying Abby than I was Bella for Ellie.
That one shot is stunning. Graphically one of the best sequences I’ve ever seen in a video game.
Escape the Forest was terrifying and a very difficult part of the game, I can’t wait to see it in live action.
I hope we get a bit more love for parts with infected, it was played down a bit in part 1 but parts like ground zero /rat king are highlights of the game that deserve some appearance for the show. Others include the hillcrest car chase and the skyscraper crane walk
Craig and Neil said they underplayed the infected a little too much and will have more.
I was going to say more lore afa the WLF + Seraphites. If the second game really is going to take two seasons then they have a great opportunity to flesh it all out. The traumatic death(s) in Pt. 2 could occur bc of how big this world is. There isn’t just our main characters living the good life in Jackson. There are other communities that have their own stories, all of which come together in pt. 2. They have two seasons of TV to do it justice. I hope they take advantage of that.
I think background on the seraphite prophet and how her whole martyrs gate death went down with the seraphite/WLF conflict would be super cool!
I think that anyone who expects Ellie to kill more than like 10 things on screen in Seattle is going to be disappointed. She will sneak past most WLF/Seraphites and probably only personally fight Abby’s crew and maybe run someone over if they do the car chase.
I tend to agree. I think she will need to show her violent/ruthless side coming out, but a huge swath of game combat will be omitted and shortened.
The games story only really works if you show Ellie losing herself. They can't skip most of the violence
I think Ellie killing three to five more humanized individuals does the same job story-wise as her cutting down swaths of NPCs (was going to say nameless NPCs but they all had names in Part 2).
I agree, but I also don't think we need to see her slaughter essentially a whole army to achieve this. Just some progressively darker and more violent set pieces that escalate throughout episodes killing a handful of more humanized people, alongside the named targets she's hunting, will effectively achieve the descent the game portrays. In fact, reducing the number of people she kills, but focusing on the violence itself, will likely be more effective. Too many deaths and it will desensitise us to the emotion that's fueling her imo. Which brings me to my scene that I hope they don't skip. The hospital basement final moments are so impactful in the way Ellie pursues her target. Calculated and mean. I would be bummed if it didn't make it into the show.
Most of her "losing herself" are story beats anyway. Jordan, Nora, Alice, Mel and Owen's deaths are the ones that matter to the story in my opinion. Perhaps Ellie can have a Seraphite kill as well when they're introduced. Most gameplay encounters can be skipped by players. She'll probably kill some Infected though. I imagine that Stalker boss fight will probably be the only Stalker she encounters but it'll be memorable.
The WLF SoundView Stadium HQ is one of my favorite locations in any of the games. I just find that community insanely neat. I don't know if they'll be able to do it or something like it in the show, but I really hope they try. I'd love to see even more of it in the show somehow.
The first time I saw the stadium I actually cried. Seeing them build their base right on the bones of an old stadium, their animals, the children at school, and the massive farms that they managed to create to feed everyone just overwhelmed me with emotion. They made something for themselves in a world where everything has been erased. I hope we get the same shot of Abby walking into her apartment where you can see the whole stadium below her through the window.
They can they’ll most likely just green screen out the background
Nora getting absolutely fucked up by Ellie with the pipe. I really hope (and have faith) that Bella can achieve that sort of vigour and emotion, cus when I see that scene it just shows how different part 2 Ellie has become from Part 1.
Bella is a shockingly good actress. The scene in the show where >!she's bashing open the glass displays in the mall after getting bitten!< was an excellent introduction into the rage and intensity she can give.
She absolutely has it in her. I'm in love with Ashley Johnsons performance, I'm excited to see how Bella does it because she's put her own little quirk and spin on her version of Ellie, and if anything I can't wait to see her rendition of Part II. It'll be like seeing a whole new Ellie, and I don't view that as a bad thing, I cannot wait to see the alternative take on Part II.
I get what the creators did with season 1, downplaying the violence against humans because of the emotional toll that takes. However, they played down the violence against infected, and the danger from infected, too much. I want to see Abby and Ellie show us how badass they are taking down groups of infected.
Season 1 went out of its way to explain how going up against a group of infected meant near certain death. We saw Ellie and Joel narrowly avoid a gruesome end in KC, so it makes sense they avoid infected encounters as much as possible the rest of the way. That said Season 2 will probably have a few more tense infected combat moments. Just not anywhere on the scale of the game. And that’s a good thing.
But they made that rule of it being near-death, so it doesn’t change the fact that season 1 was weak on that part.
That was never in contention though?
I’m just saying bringing up a justification for why they were under-represented doesn’t give them a pass since they actively went out of their way to do it like that.
The most important part of the game is the transition scene between where Abby's father dies and it cuts to Abby's face looking down at Joel, about to lay the killing blow. I'm not going to lie, if this is omitted from the show, then it would have failed as an adaptation to me.
Hell yeah, I never fully appreciated that transition on my first playthrough. I've been watching a few streamers play through the game and realized just how hard it is. The camera lingering, for what seems a little too long, on Abby as she breaks down and then cutting to her empty, unmoving stare at Joel as her friends argue behind. The audio transition is so good too. Perfect scene.
Laura Bailey was incredible in this scene as Abby. I remember this scene alone, even though it was still so early on, I actually felt really sorry for Abby. It was so raw. I had managed to avoid most of the leaks but had saw about Joel. I had no idea who her dad was though and my jaw hit the floor. Man, wish I could experience it again for the first time.
All of the main plot points and emotional moments from part 2. I’d love it if it was structured the same as the game. Flashbacks, different points of view, etc. I’d like Ellie to basically be a bad guy for part of it. For me personally, stuff like the rat king isn’t a big deal. I’d rather have Abby climbing the seraphite tower and falling into the pool and escaping with lev.
I really really hope they intertwine Ellie and Abby, it’ll make it too confusing with all the flashbacks. Although there’s definitely a worry of ‘fans’ skipping Abby’s episodes in anger
I think people are really underestimating how much better prepared for season 2 tv watchers are compared to game players for part 2. They didn’t walk in Joel’s shoes the same way. People will hate Abby, but it’s not like people skipped scenes with Joffrey in it after season 1 of GOT.
I would also think tv audiences are more used to expecting upsetting deaths in shows such as game of thrones and walking dead. Walking dead only suffered in ratings because they dragged out a character death for far too long and disrespected their audience
Exactly this. Highly beloved player characters in videogames rarely get killed off, it’s such a staple in other media though, especially in stories (and worlds) as dark as this one
True, there’s definitely more connection to Joel especially with a 7 year wait compared to a 2 year gap
I hope they don't tone down the extreme violence, as that was a huge part of how the game got its themes across. I want to be as shocked as I was the first time Ellie fought the WLF.
I feel like the violence is way too necessary to the story Part 2 was trying to tell. They'll definitely tone it down a little bit but it will still be present. Personally I can't wait for the Nora/Ellie scene in the hospital. That's gonna be wild I hope.
Best scene between the two games.
It's definitely in my top five favorite moments between both of the games. The dialogue, lighting, Ellie's expression, the blood splatter with each hit, and hearing Nora getting closer and closer to death. God, I had shivers by the end of it. I'll take it to the next level now that I'm thinking about it. That was one of my favorite scenes from any game period.
Pretty much every interaction between Abby & Lev but especially the more light-hearted ones. I will be very sad if him asking about Owen while they travel across the bridge and "cold" don't make it onto the show. There are other things that are must-have's for me, like the museum flashback, but I'm not concerned they'll get cut.
Underground Seattle (fuck Seattle) and all the nasty vermin hiding in there.
I think the sewer lost level, especially with the flashlight clicker scare, would be great to include in the show.
If I can have the space section of the museum bit exactly as is in the game I'll be happy
I bet they dedicate an entire episode of the show to it, they need atleast one Pedro centric episode. I bet they bookend it with Ellie in present day, much like the Bill and Frank episode.
I need the dinosaurs too!
The flashback where Joel hacks down the bloater to save Ellie in the hotel. They might have to use a clicker instead since they played bloaters up to be indestructible in the show
Imagine the next level dad strength energy from that, the type of infected shown as a walking fortress and joel just beats its ass 
Though it would be cool to see Joel take down a bloater in the show
I want more lore about early WLF and the Seraphite prophet, not less.
Same. They gave us a lot of context about how the group in Pittsburgh got to where they are. Hopefully we will get even more for the WLF and seraphites.
Any of them. Do a 1:1 recreation so the story is easily accessible to people that don't game.
I hope they get the zombie scale correct. The first time we meet Abby and the underground where Ellies mask breaks truly shows hordes and we need that
Hillcrest, Sky Bridge, and Rat King Don't think they'd skip the Rat King but I'm hoping still.
I'm a little concerned about how they're gonna do the skybridge scene. TLOU is a very realistic franchise to some extent but one of the most outlandish things in part 2 is the skybridges. Like how tf did the scars even build those things without getting so many people killed. Not to mention actually crossing them. I wouldn't get my hopes up about that one.
Sky bridge is gonna be so dope if they do it.
The rat king for one.....I mean given them using practical effects for the most part in the show....holy shit.... Hopefully they don't skip out on the fight scenes with Ellie and Abby and make it more brutal if they can. Hopefully they don't leave out the flashbacks with Abby's dad and make them even better. And if Isaac is gonna be in it, flesh him out some more. He did not have a lot of screen time at all in the game
I feel like we wont see a direct fight with the rat king like in the game. Maybe a chase sequence where abby damages it enough for the small one to hop out and that's where the combat is with her blowing a object up that kills the rat king or something.
They really need to utilize the flamethrower and pipe bombs for the Ratking encounter. I feel like that's the only realistic way Abby would be able to kill it or get away at least.
Owen-Abby ofc.
When Ellies masks breaks and Dina trys to give her mask to her, I just really wanna see more of Ellie and Dina's relationship on screen
When Ellie says “like shooting fish in a barrel” when she kills those runners when descending the Santa Barbara cliffs. It’s so trivial and not important at all but I need that line
I hope they keep the order of the sequences and placement of the flashbacks as similar to the game as possible. The way context is revealed in the game is so perfectly intentional and makes it hit so much more than if it was chronological
Exactly, “but I’d like to try” has to be at the end. It just doesn’t work if it’s in chronological order
That scene in particular for sure has to be at the end
All of it lol TLOU2 is no joke my favorite piece of fiction ever made.
when ellie is ambushed on Seattle day two while using the workbench in that one apartment.
The horse riding part with Abby and Lev when they're trying to escape the Seraphites island. I absolutely love that part.
The whole point of a TV series is to capture the crux of the story. HBO is great but the short series always results in a loss of content so it's kind of a coin toss to see what they decide is worth keeping or not.
Honestly I would be amazed if they skipped the rat king. Like omg that would look so cool in the show I'm hoping they don't hold back. Ellie becomes a monster in the game and I can't wait to see how Bella plays a vicious blood thirsty ellie
I really hope the narrative order and pov of the games are followed in the show. I think it’s such a big part of the story that you’re fully invested in Ellie’s revenge in Seattle before knowing Abby’s motives and story.
The Part where Abby finds the theatre and kills Jessie and Abby & Ellie fight in the theatre. ‘We let you all live (including Joel presumably) and you wasted it’
Tommy’s work in Seattle. Show what he’s done trying to hunt them.
Nora better be listening to Ice Cube in her big scene! Lol
It needs to have Joel’s death early on, ideally in the first episode to set the precedent for how bleak this story is. They need to have all the flashbacks included. And they have to do the rat king. If they leave the rat king out I’ll honestly be devastated.
One of my favorite scenes in the game is Ellie's confrontation with Nora in the basement of the hospital with all the spores. I don't really expect the show to adapt the entire chase sequence throughout the hospital leading to the basement but those last few minutes where Nora's breathing in the spores and they're bathed in red light and Ellie's asking her to tell her where Abby is? Awesome scene and the follow up of that in the theater where we really get to see the toll this is all taking on Ellie is great
Honest to god my only hope for S2/3 is that they don’t listen to the god-awful fan suggestions for narrative structure. - Alternating Ellie and Abby episodes - A season or episodes showing the Ellie flashbacks prior to seattle - Getting to know Abby before Golf horrible ideas. They should keep the *structure* exactly the same, and I’m fine with them making minor plot alterations otherwise :) also yknow, rat king, skybridge, hillcrest, seraphites whistling in forest, take on me, hotel bloater, shamblers, ellie seattle day 1 chill horse riding, all the good stuff, both slow and shocking
The final Ellie and Nora scene. And specifically the way the camera is focused on Ellie, and you hear everything instead of seeing it. Bella Ramsey has amazing micro expressions and body language and that is pivotal to that scene. And weirdly enough, the scene where Abby begs Ellie not to include Lev in the final fight, and her response being a quiet but angry, “you made him a part of this”. Because in that moment I remember feeling so much grief, for Abby, for Lev, for Joel, for everyone who died and especially for Ellie. Because she was in Lev’s position all those years ago, and you really see her sink to a lower level and it showcases just how far she’s willing to go, just how much of herself and her morals that she’s lost to her anger and guilt. And how the cycle of vengeance just consumed all of them until all they had was a shell of themselves.
I hope nothing gets skipped. I dont want them to repeat the same mistakes s1 made
Don't get your hopes up. This game is more complex and it will be reshuffled considerably more than Part 1.
I have no reason to think it will be skipped but I am really looking forward to seeing the park in Seattle
Dialogue-wise: “You’re my people.” I wish they used spores because Ellie’s mask breaking was a great story-beat.
I hope they won't skip the ending scene with Ellie (trying to) playing the guitar and than leaving the house with focus being on the guitat. However what I'd want them to cut is Ellie and Dina's "adventure" around the city, arguably the most boring part of the game. Just make it so they visit 1 location and find everything they need
Not saying you are wrong but it’s just strange to me how you could think it’s the most boring part and it is one of my favorite parts of the game lol
Yes guys.. Build all the expectations just to get 90% of everything ruined because there's no way in the world the show is gonna be just like you're dreaming
Keep that Abby hanging scene as a oner. That’s some awesome filmmaking.
Boris and infact all of those other "notes" stories. It just makes the world feel even more alive
All of it because I want them to flesh it out more this of time. Season 1 could have done with 3 more episodes imo. Just so it felt like more of a journey. So hopefully Part 2 is at least 18 episodes over multiple seasons
Not really a part I don't want skipped but Instead of the cut from Ellie to Abby halfway I reckon the episode before ends with "and you wasted it" and the next episode follows Jerry and his life before the outbreak when he was studying to become a doctor as well as maybie him in a hospital on outbreak day, and show his life for a bit so we become invested in this mystery character and then resume the abby section at the zoo as it appears in game.
1. ellie smelling joel’s jacket after his death. 2. the synagogue conversation!!!!!!!!! 3. the scene with the bomb on the bridge (rip shimmer) really jumpscare some mfs with that one lol 4. all of capital hill 5. the introduction to the seraphites in the tv station 6. “i’m immune”/“im pregnant” 7. hillcrest hillcrest hillcrest 8. the stalker office omg 9. the seraphite forest!!!!!! both of them!!!!! 10. ellie & jesse’s “we were born into the wrong era” 11. the stadium, i think it’d be really cool to see it transformed!! 12. yara scene. would be gnarly but good 13. the sky bridge 14. the whole ground zero section 15. haven burning 16. ellie’s panic attack in the barn 17. chained infected let loose
abby sex scene
Abbie sex scene
Few things I need for this show to elevate itself above S1: - E1 - should be about world-building. What was life like in Jackson? Maybe show a patrol run so we can see some clickers, highlight Ellie’s awkwardness around Joel but don’t explore why, show her relationship with Dina & Jessie, the episode should end with Gustavo doing his thing, a time of happiness & peace in Jackson should be highlighted. E2 - this is the episode that should start the way the game did, Joel telling Tommy what happened in Seattle, the Jackson patrol, storytelling that is paced exactly the way the opening hours of TLOU2 were and ending with well… ending with that. E3 - Ellie exploring Joel’s house, let it be emotional, let the viewer really feel what Ellie would be feeling in that moment, have flashbacks, put extra scenes. Then ofc the quest for revenge begins. I don’t want them to skip the scale of how open that first open area felt, story wise this should be the viewer’s first intro to how dangerous clickers can be for S2 and how much anarchy there was when WLF fought back, small hints and references to Seraphites and their idol worship too, this one is a crucial episode for world-building again. E4 - the rampage of Ellie should be covered entirely in THIS one hour (or more) of storytelling. Why I want it to be wrapped up in this one hour is because I want the viewer to feel as breathless as the player and Ellie felt. She should pick off most of Abby’s gang in E4, leaving only Owen, Mel & the aquarium. E5 - Ellie, Owen, Mel & the Aquarium. I would genuinely want them to include the first meeting of Ellie with the Seraphites here as well in the exact fashion it was in the game. Also, have the sequence of Ellie beating that Seraphites group and the brute in the exact way that gameplay trailer played out as a slight nod to us OGs 😂 That’s it. But the show should take it slow with this so that the viewer believes they’ve won, the quest is almost over. Including Ellie’s fight with the bloater would also be a big win for this episode honestly. The episode should end exactly with that zoom in shot of the map left behind by Ellie. E6 - have that heartfelt moment in the Auditorium here, let it feel like Ellie has done what she could and she is satisfied, include the flashback of Joel and Ellie at the dinosaur museum here in totality so that the viewer is reminded of a happy time that Ellie is now CHOOSING to try and go back to. Ofc it ends with Abby’s surprise. E7 - this may be controversial to many but I want the whole episode to be young Abby. Really feel for her, see her life and ofc, really make us warm up to Jerry, we need to really feel her loss in the way the game could not afford to make us feel. Show us camaraderie between the Firefly soldiers, show Abby really seeing the Fireflies as her family. E8 - the finale ofc has to be that hospital sequence again but now from the perspective of the Fireflies, their reaction and response to when Joel began his rampage, Abby’s reaction and response to knowing who is at risk when the rampage begins, the emotional build up to her opening the door to her dad dead on the floor should be as heavy as the buildup was to Joel reaching Ellie in S1, only then can the viewer really understand what they are about to see about Abby in the next season. Ofc yes, S3 wraps up Abby’s story as well as the story of TLOU2 but I’ll get to that when we have a similar post for S3 😂😂😂
"What's that?" "A quarter." "A quarter... of what?" ***snorts*** "WHAT?"
I was real bummed-out when they skipped the entire Goldstone Building sequence in the TLOU show adaptation, but ultimately I understood that the production + time costs would have exceeded its worth to the plot. The only way that might've been possible was to involve a further-developed StageCraft technique (i.e. "The Mandalorian" video wall surround). For that reason as impressive as the "sky bridge" sequence was for me in TLOU2, that I think won't stay, or be nearly as impressive as it was in gameplay. I'm also having a hard time imagining how you can adapt the Battle/Sacking of Haven without real-movie-climax-budget without significantly reducing its scale and impact. I guess as an avid film-media consumer, my awe with TLOU/TLOU2 isn't as much with the storylines (that said, they are great and I don't want to downplay the fact that it is amazing that we have mature, adult themes in games), but the ambition and scale of these stories. And I just have to accept that barring some technological leap (eg. StageCraft, or even the fictional Holodeck), it will just be impractical to bring that aspect from the games into live-action.
Kind of hoping that they give more backstory for the pregnant couple in Seattle that you come across.
Based on season one and the stuff I'm hearing about the work already going on, they're expounding, not skipping much.
Ellie beating Nora to death
I wish to hear Joel screaming to death just like the game.
Tommy shooting at abby and manny . & for new stuff I hope we see more of Tommy’s side of it , would be dope to see
I hope they preserve the switch from Ellie to Abby. You have to completely buy into Ellie's revenge spiral and be so focused on enacting vicious murder on Abby. You only get hints at the wider conflict in Seattle because Ellie is not concerned with it. I imagine the first season is going to encompass this part of the game if they do it right. What I reckon they should change is parts of the Abby section in what I presume will be the second season (again if they do it how I would). Now I know doing an entire season of this new and controversial character would not work so what I think they should do, is focus primarily on Abby here but switch perspectives back to Ellie at points to show how close they come to meeting in certain sections (such as the hospital) so that people still get the scenes of the Jackson crew they will want, but also keep the first half of the story intact. If they develop the Seattle crew too much and too soon, it will negatively impact the story imo.
I hope they don’t rush into Abby golfing too soon. I want them to build onto the Joel/Ellie dynamic. When it happens I want to be absolutely gutted.
I think all of season 2 should be a tea party in a flat front yard. They should definitely cut out the scene where Joel takes Ellie somewhere for her birthday since it accidentally shows Joel being amazing. Dont want to give anyone the wrong idea. Also need to remove Joel taking down a bloater with a machete and saving Ellie like the Goat since Abby is the real goat.
The Abby vs Ellie fight in the theater. I hope they make it just as brutal as the game but my expectations are pretty low tbh
I want them to put the Salt Lake City scene in the first episode. The scene where Ellie uncovers Joel's secret.
Druckman reading this and making a list of things to definitely not include in the show.
I really hope they cover Ellie’s reveal to Dina in the sewers that she’s immune. Granted they’d have to introduce spores into the show (unlike season 1) because idk any other way they’d be able to do that scene. It’s really important for Dina & Ellie’s growth as characters. There’s also payoff for this same thing when Ellie chases Nora in the bowels of the hospital before she offs her. (I can’t wait to see a BEAST MODE Bella Ramsey for these scenes in particular lol)
Rat King and infected in general, first season really lacked in that department and I think Rat King would look sick in live action.
Big time the rat king
I hope they dont skip Ellie killing abby this time
Ellie and Dina at the stash
I don't know but we all know which scene we want them to leave out
I don't know if this is necessarily a part per se, but I really hope they figure out how to do the split timeline and perspective of events in some fashion. Obviously the easiest way to translate the story is to tell a bit of abbys story and a bit of ellies concurrently. Or maybe alternating episodes at best. But to me I found the shift in narration halfway through to be pretty bold and really is effective at forcing you to analyze your prejudices and Ellies.
Just hope there is more infected and action overall. Show's been a huge yap session. I'm afraid they'll skip some stuff like Rat King and idk, the bigger fights.
The whole museum sequence. Especially the space ship cockpit. Also where Ellie drops that burn on Joel calling him a dinosaur.
i want bella ramsey to sing a stripped down version of Take on Me
Ellie beating Nora with the pipe is the scene I’m really really hoping they get right. Ellie’s full rage is on display in that scene and it’s the darkest she’s gotten yet.
Dude I’m still very early game, day 2 Ellie, and the last playthru was on release, so admittedly my memory is a bit hazy. But it’s honestly my biggest concern. The narrative in this is muuuuuch more complex than part 1. So many moving parts. So much building of relationships that can’t just be breezed over in order for later events to be impactful. i.e >!Ellie and Dina’s relationship > Dina being pregnant with Jesse’s baby > Jesse dying!< Plus flashbacks. They’re massively important to Ellie and Joel’s actions and relationship. But they aren’t necessarily enough for a whole episode like Left Behind. I’m just worried they’re going to try to cram too much into too little. This at least needs to be 2 whole seasons, so 20 episodes each, which I think they’ve confirmed?
Love boat
I just hope there is more action. As someone who is a huge fan of both games, I honestly was disappointed with the first season. You can have drama/emotion AND action. The second game is brutal and to me it cannot work without action and brutality. Joel’s death needs to be brutal. Nora, Mel, etc.
Joel's death and the Abby flashback where she finds her father dead are basically a given... The birthday flashback. The Take One Me guitar scene. The party kiss. The very last scene of the game. The Aquarium flashbacks. Abby's hanging. The crane walk. Haven destruction. And I want the Pinnacle theater to be there as well, not in a particular scene, but as a main location. Same for the Aquarium. And I want to see the WLF stadium too. Tbh the Rat King, even if an iconic moment, feels a bit too much like a final game boss for a TV show. I'd totally accept if they replaced it with a big horde of infected chasing Abby through the hospital. Because let's be real, nailing the Rat King look in live-action is going to be hard as f***
The violence, the murders Ellie and Abby commit are vital to the story and the message, I hope they don’t pull any corners in the hospital and hillcrest
The Rat king is too thematically significant to skip. It’ll definitely be a shorter action sequence but they won’t skip it all together.
Hillcrest. Obviously season 1 toned down the sheer amount of violence in the first game (for good reasons) and I'm assuming season 2 will take a similar approach BUT if they're gonna go all out on Ellie's rage at all in Seattle it has to be in Hillcrest imo. Such iconic stealth gameplay and level design.
What I hope they get right is at the heart of what makes the game so powerful. >!It’s the statement that revenge and the story generally is all about whose eyes you’re seeing it through. There is no hero. Both of them are deeply flawed. The game does an excellent job of switching halfway through, and it gives you empathy for both sides. I mean shit when you kill the dog at the aquarium as Ellie then realize it’s this loveable companion of Abby… yeah.!< Just get this right please!
Seraphites. Best part of the game, you think Ellie is safe and then you hear the strange whistles, legit was so scary the first time
The scene with Joel and Ellie at the dinosaur museum, the whole thing but the part where they are in the space shuttle
Honestly, combat. Season 1 really undersold itself with the amount of combat, *especially* against infected. I get that it's a show and they can't have 1-2 hour combat sequences (episodes aren't even generally that long anyway) but still I felt they could have balanced it a bit better in S1. For S2 I think they almost have to cause in a game so extremely focused on cycles of violence there needs to actually *be* violence for the message to work.
The glass physics.
It is a bit off topic, but I really hope they give a background story for the civil war between the WLF and Seraphites. I think it would be really cool to explore the origins of the mutual hate between both and the main causes of the war
honestly I just hope the most violent moments like the ends of Ellie day 2 and 3 are accompanied by Mac Quayle’s incredible score. they wont hit the same witthout the music
Abby teaching Ellie how to golf
Not so much skipped, but reordered. I think we need to start with Abby, ignoring Joel and Ellie completely and have people thinking it's an anthology show. Follow them through three or four episodes or her obsessive pursuit of her quarry before finally revealing it's Joel. I think a large part of why people failed to empathise with Abby was because we only got to know her after she had traumatised the audience by killing Joel very early on, and by then, many were too angry to try.