HBO: The Last of Us

The spores being replaced has no real impact on the story at all and if that’s someones biggest complaint then I’d say they’re doing a pretty good job so far.

RandomHero said:

If people don’t want to like something because they don’t like the guy who made it, that’s fine, but calling something unrealistic when it’s based on actual science and the way organisms actually operate is just trying to cover up that they have an agendas against someone.

The hive thing might be a little far fetched but I think it’s important to keep in mind that the cordyceps fungus is a real thing, and fungus actually can communicate over some distance as long as it’s connected.

It’s not as unrealistic as it seems.

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Fungus also uses airborne spores to reproduce. I do get that the hive thing is true as well. But why is one being replaced for another?
Both games have important scenes regarding areas with spores.

Rayman said:

Hive-mind fungus roots based on this real and also scary thing. It adds another scientific reality to the scary idea behind fungae adapting to humans. Can’t see what’s wrong with that, it’s expanding lore based on the same roots (pun totally intended) that the whole series is based on.

About the “"These things don't have to get violent”, I don’t see why and where you see the issue. He says they don’t have to, not that they won’t under this or that circumstance. Alas, it’s not a written rule like “stay still in front of a T-Rex to stay alive”, and/or if it is, we still don’t know what that rule actually is. Anyhow, i do get what the intention behind the scene is and I find it specially not that hard to understand for those of us who played the game. It’s a moment of “beauty”, love-like, which compares beautifully with humans vs humans scenes such as the one with Joel beating the crap out of the other guy. Why does “the beauty” of the fungus expanding create a reaction on you, yet the beating did not?

Last point about Tess… it definitely wasn’t as epic but imo it served the same purpose and closed a line without having to open another one with FEDRA. The series hasn’t had time yet to explore Joel yet, let alone open the FEDRA line. That decision does impact us who played the game, but not that much those who didn’t.

Just my 2 cents mate. Maybe you started watching the show with the wrong mindset. It’s happened to me quite a few times actually and time, fighting with friends and reading helped me in those times of need I still won’t ever like Robert’s Iron Man nor Captain America but hey… we all get to love or hate this or that pop culture phenomenon once in a while.

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I think what annoys me the most is how every video game tv series/movie adaptation has to be re-written to the point where it hardly resembles what made it popular in the first place. I'm not saying it's a terrible show, it definitely isn't. But it also isn't the "faithful adaptation" to The Last of Us game it claims to be. It's trying too hard to be different.
As for the violence this show is trying so hard to get away from - Yes, I do have an issue with that. The brutality and violence in their world shows what Joel and Ellie had to go through, the sacrifices they had to make to get to where Part I ends. It shows why it made them the people they are in Part II, and why their mindset is the way it is. Maybe that will come later on in the series, I dunno (doubt it though). I didn't mention Joel beating that guard to death because so far, it's been the only part that truly shows any of TLoU's brutality. I'm not saying I want some gore-porn tv show, but the brutality is important to the overall story. Especially if we're going to factor in Season 2 if it's based on Part II. TLoU Part I was practically an action/survival horror game, the show seems to want to get away from that for some reason. Or maybe I've watched too much horror and I'm a little desensitized. lol
You have a point though, a person definitely needs to have a different mindset going into any videogame-based series/movies, which is what I'll be doing from here on out. I suppose the first episode caught me off guard enough to believe that this might end up being an actual faithful adaptation to the game.
I'll admit, the clickers were cool. Maybe my favourite scene so far. And it was neat that they were voiced (clicked?) by their original VA's.

glitch1044 said:

Fungus also uses airborne spores to reproduce. I do get that the hive thing is true as well. But why is one being replaced for another?
Both games have important scenes regarding areas with spores.


I think what annoys me the most is how every video game tv series/movie adaptation has to be re-written to the point where it hardly resembles what made it popular in the first place. I'm not saying it's a terrible show, it definitely isn't. But it also isn't the "faithful adaptation" to The Last of Us game it claims to be. It's trying too hard to be different.
As for the violence this show is trying so hard to get away from - Yes, I do have an issue with that. The brutality and violence in their world shows what Joel and Ellie had to go through, the sacrifices they had to make to get to where Part I ends. It shows why it made them the people they are in Part II, and why their mindset is the way it is. Maybe that will come later on in the series, I dunno (doubt it though). I didn't mention Joel beating that guard to death because so far, it's been the only part that truly shows any of TLoU's brutality. I'm not saying I want some gore-porn tv show, but the brutality is important to the overall story. Especially if we're going to factor in Season 2 if it's based on Part II. TLoU Part I was practically an action/survival horror game, the show seems to want to get away from that for some reason. Or maybe I've watched too much horror and I'm a little desensitized. lol
You have a point though, a person definitely needs to have a different mindset going into any videogame-based series/movies, which is what I'll be doing from here on out. I suppose the first episode caught me off guard enough to believe that this might end up being an actual faithful adaptation to the game.
I'll admit, the clickers were cool. Maybe my favourite scene so far. And it was neat that they were voiced (clicked?) by their original VA's.

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Lets hope it gets better for you and for the rest of us. It’s been only two chapters, just try to think what were you thinking when you were 2 hours into the game… it sure wasn’t what you think of it nowadays. Maybe you’ll get there too to by the end of season 1.

chrisstbh said:

The spores being replaced has no real impact on the story at all and if that’s someones biggest complaint then I’d say they’re doing a pretty good job so far.

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Thats the thing though, it's not the same story. Honestly, the spores/roots isn't even something I thought about much while watching the show. I actually think that if they decide to add the fungus roots idea to Part III, it could end up creating a really interesting (and horrifying) twist to the gameplay. It might even be the reason they came up with it, who knows?
I just wish they could've left the story the way it was originally. There's been a lot of changes so far, and it's never fared well for videgame-to-movie/series adaptations to go off the rails story-wise. (Netflix Resident Evil anyone?)

Rayman said:

Lets hope it gets better for you and for the rest of us. It’s been only two chapters, just try to think what were you thinking when you were 2 hours into the game… it sure wasn’t what you think of it nowadays. Maybe you’ll get there too to by the end of season 1.

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Yeah, I was thinking that as well. It's definitely still pretty early to tell where this show is going, and I'll keep watching.
I even don't mind Pedro and Bella, I think that considering the shoes they have to fill, they're both doing a pretty decent job so far.
I will say one thing though, every episode makes me want to play the game instead. Looks like I'll be giving Druckmann my money again when the PC version releases. lol

glitch1044 said:

Thats the thing though, it's not the same story.

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But it is.

I think having not played the game is working to add to me and my wife's enjoyment of the show. I felt this was another solid episode for newcomers like me.

e30ernest said:

I think having not played the game is working to add to me and my wife's enjoyment of the show. I felt this was another solid episode for newcomers like me.

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Well the show is mainly for people that haven’t and maybe wont ever play the game, so it makes sense.

Everyone thats played the game is gonna compare the two, it can’t be helped.

e30ernest said:

I think having not played the game is working to add to me and my wife's enjoyment of the show. I felt this was another solid episode for newcomers like me.

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I'm in this camp as well. Not a gamer at all and only knew that the game existed because of these boards. Glad that I'm able to enjoy without comparison...

darth dennis said:

I'm in this camp as well. Not a gamer at all and only knew that the game existed because of these boards. Glad that I'm able to enjoy without comparison...

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I mean, I do play (too much according to my wife), but I didn't get to play this particular game because it was a Playstation game (I was more of a PC gamer). I knew the game existed, the very basic premise of it and how much praise it got so I was excited when this series was announced.

However since I did not play the game, I do not have a point of comparison so like you so I can take the series at face value.

As a huge fan of the games, I'm really loving the show so far and think it's not only the best game adaptation to date but also just a darn good show for anyone in it's own right, however in EP 2

Spoiler:

Tess's death in was far better in the game where she got gunned down offscreen and I actually chuckled at her death in the series as I felt was kinda cartoony

Her

Spoiler:

death was not cartoony for me because it showed how the fungus worked at already controlling her brain making the inevitable horrific fungal connection take it’s natural course.

Her being gunned down by soldiers just like in the game wouldn’t have bothered me either but they had a choice to make.

Show bad humans who are running a rag tag government.

Show the threat of the fungus horde.

They went with the latter which made sense for that particular moment.

Just THANK THE MAKER they didn’t go with spores it would’ve been just like that M Night movie The Happening!

You never go full M Night The Happening lol

I have to mention, the whole Jakarta scene did take me out of it a bit.

Spoiler:

You don't send a mycologist alone to inspect a corpse I would think. There would be a coroner at least I think to guide her around the corpse and show her the infection.

It could be argued that they did this to limit exposure to the corpse, but sending an untrained person to try to take samples off a body is also a hazard by itself.

e30ernest said:

I have to mention, the whole Jakarta scene did take me out of it a bit.

Spoiler:

You don't send a mycologist alone to inspect a corpse I would think. There would be a coroner at least I think to guide her around the corpse and show her the infection.

It could be argued that they did this to limit exposure to the corpse, but sending an untrained person to try to take samples off a body is also a hazard by itself.

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Her intro was my favorite part of the episode lol

e30ernest said:

I have to mention, the whole Jakarta scene did take me out of it a bit.

Spoiler:

You don't send a mycologist alone to inspect a corpse I would think. There would be a coroner at least I think to guide her around the corpse and show her the infection.

It could be argued that they did this to limit exposure to the corpse, but sending an untrained person to try to take samples off a body is also a hazard by itself.

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Reading WAY too much into it. Something like that is so silly to get worked up over. Even though a lot of concepts are based in reality, this is still a TV show. You don't need a packed room to set the scene for someone examining a body.

RandomHero said:

Reading WAY too much into it. Something like that is so silly to get worked up over. Even though a lot of concepts are based in reality, this is still a TV show. You don't need a packed room to set the scene for someone examining a body.

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I'm a nerd. It's what I do.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the intro, but I felt some minor details could have been improved.

jye4ever said:

Her

Spoiler:

death was not cartoony for me because it showed how the fungus worked at already controlling her brain making the inevitable horrific fungal connection take it’s natural course.

Her being gunned down by soldiers just like in the game wouldn’t have bothered me either but they had a choice to make.

Show bad humans who are running a rag tag government.

Show the threat of the fungus horde.

They went with the latter which made sense for that particular moment.

Just THANK THE MAKER they didn’t go with spores it would’ve been just like that M Night movie The Happening!

You never go full M Night The Happening lol

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I didn’t know you were into the last of us jye lol

glitch1044 said:

Thats the thing though, it's not the same story. Honestly, the spores/roots isn't even something I thought about much while watching the show. I actually think that if they decide to add the fungus roots idea to Part III, it could end up creating a really interesting (and horrifying) twist to the gameplay. It might even be the reason they came up with it, who knows?

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The show will almost certainly still be running and broadcasting by November 2024.

We are all still in a world wide pandemic. There have been a lot of casualties, scandals, controversy and division over all kinds of issues stemming from it. I can see HBO erroring on the side of caution here. There are certain storylines and certain themes they want to avoid, i.e. to not alienate some large segment of their potential audience.

The majority of Hollywood, at least those outspoken, lean in one specific direction. Making TLOU1 in line with the game doesn't help their cause or desired outcomes. It just doesn't.

I also believe HBO is looking at The Mandalorian and off camera controversies there. Including some with Pedro Pascal. His role in Wonder Woman 1984 was also polarizing to a large potential segment of the general viewing audience.

Everything offends everyone nearly all the time now. HBO wants lots of viewers and to make lots of money. They have to toe a certain line with themes and plotlines that push a little too close to real life.

What HBO does not want is TLOU turning into a referendum on what has happened in the past four years, particularly the last two, that every day Americans just can't avoid.

Look at how I'm threading the needle here. Because even skirting the issue, even if it's relevant to the show, I still am bracing myself and am expected to be attacked by someone. We have been conditioned to expected to be gaslit, canceled, shamed and attacked all the time now. It's the new normal. It's why HBO would rather take the tone of TLOU and make it as vanilla as possible. Someone, somewhere, is going to pissed out of their mind about something, and it's going to cost them money.

Put yourself as an executive anywhere right now in film and TV production. Could be HBO, could be AMC, could be Paramount, could be anything. If you say the wrong thing, just once, even if you say something that would normally have been seen as innocuous maybe 10 years ago, now you have to think about people digging in your entire life. Seeing if you said something in a high school term paper back in 1984 that could get your career set on fire today.

Could HBO make The Sopranos today? Sex And The City? The Wire?

I finished episode 7 last night. At some level, I can't blame HBO and Craig Mazin for toeing a certain line. At the end of the day, they just want to put food on the table for their kids like everyone else.

The toned down elements of TLOU is a lagging indictor of a larger complex issue within the entire industry but also reflecting on the way things are being treated and handled in our entire modern culture. I agree with anyone here who says, "Just tell a damn good story and focus on telling the best story possible above all else" I wholeheartedly agree with that. But it's not what we have now. TLOU is tailored to not offend those who are offended by everything. If that sounds pretty stupid, well, it is pretty stupid. What has happened to modern entertainment is the byproduct of lots of stupid people having a very large immediate platform.

MeatHookGekko said:

Look at how I'm threading the needle here. Because even skirting the issue, even if it's relevant to the show, I still am bracing myself and am expected to be attacked by someone.

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Yes, we won't go any further down that road. The forum rules forbid it for that very reason:

E. Controversial Topics (Religion, Sociopolitical, and Politics). Because they are so detrimental to the cohesion of any community, we do not allow the discussion of political/religious views, religious/political figures, or social issues that will inevitably draw members into a heated debate (e.g Evolution/Creationism or the politics behind gun control, abortion, etc). It is unrealistic to believe that a religious or political viewpoint won’t work its way onto the site in some fashion (e.g mentioning you will pray for a sick member). It is important to remember that the purpose of this policy is not to limit your ability to express your beliefs but to limit the division often caused by discussing/debating differing points of view regarding these subjects.

Wanna know if meat gecko is a man from the future. Already on episode 7. Someone must of have him the review code or something lol.

I hope they continue to show events that didn’t happen in the game and certain segments that expand the lore. The last of us lore is still rather mysterious.
Also seeing alot of people talking about that ending scene. While it was weird it’s not a big deal. The game kinda covered it better tho.
What’s next? Bills town and school I think? Wonder how they’ll adapt that.