Is “The Last of Us” trending towards being an all time great level TV series?

[Bears01]

I caved in today to all the insane hype the show has been getting and watched (almost) the entire first season and all I can say is: WOW. Absolutely riveting. The writing, the acting, the suspense, the emotion>>>>>all 10/10. 
 

I know it’s only 1 season so far, but given the insane popularity and acclaim, If the show continues on the same trajectory, will it be in the conversation as an all time great tv series? 

[perfect blue]

I think so. 

[Cameltoe Chariot]

Yes.

 

[zenyatta]

It's been phenomenal so far. I think so if they can stick the landing. 

[Jude]

Watched the first 2 episodes, I don't get the hype? The Zombies aren't scary compared to the ones we usually see.

[WildAmerican]

3 minutes ago, Jude said:

Watched the first 2 episodes, I don't get the hype? The Zombies aren't scary compared to the ones we usually see.

the show is not about the zombies.

[Dystopian]

it already is

[Venice B]

3 minutes ago, Jude said:

Watched the first 2 episodes, I don't get the hype? The Zombies aren't scary compared to the ones we usually see.

That's because this is not the usual "we must survive the zombies!" story. 

[Jude]

1 minute ago, WildAmerican said:

the show is not about the zombies.

What do u mean? Those people inflected by that fungus aren't zombies?

[Jude]

2 minutes ago, Venice B said:

That's because this is not the usual "we must survive the zombies!" story. 

Oh, okay. I guess I have to watch the rest of the episodes.

[WildAmerican]

2 minutes ago, Jude said:

What do u mean? Those people inflected by that fungus aren't zombies?

they are but the show is not really about them, on a deeper level, it's about the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved one's and humanity's capacity for love and violence during times of intense strife.

[feelslikeadream]

Yes, unless they decide to extend the series past the plot from the games, which will probably ruin it Since the second game is longer, they can do 3 seasons total, but that's it.

[Digitalism]

The game was better
The characters felt more helpless in that world in the game
This show is more typical good guys vs bad guys when the game was about everyone having to have shady morals to survive. 
It's a good show not best of all time material 

[sweetblindness]

Honestly, I'm doubtful. It's a good adaptation and a great show, but there are great shows every year that never really find themselves in the "best of all time" discussion. I think the main legacy of The Last of Us will still be the game.

[feelslikeadream]

3 minutes ago, Digitalism said:

This show is more typical good guys vs bad guys when the game was about everyone having to have shady morals to survive. 

Umm, noah fence, but how is this not the case in the show?   Every group (FEDRA, the revolutionaries in the QZ, the Fireflies, Joel & Ellie) has been developed to show how they have both good points and bad ones, so that basically every group exists in this gray area. The show actually does that better than the game since they flesh out side characters that Joel and Ellie don't get to know well in the game.

[Bears01]

24 minutes ago, Jude said:

Watched the first 2 episodes, I don't get the hype? The Zombies aren't scary compared to the ones we usually see.

No offense at all, but I don’t know how after 2 episodes you didn’t get the hint that it’s not your typical “zombie survival show”. It’s a show with a much deeper meaning and purpose and that was obvious by episode 2 

[Power love]

20 minutes ago, Venice B said:

That's because this is not the usual "we must survive the zombies!" story. 

Yes it is ….

[Digitalism]

11 minutes ago, feelslikeadream said:

Umm, noah fence, but how is this not the case in the show?   Every group (FEDRA, the revolutionaries in the QZ, the Fireflies, Joel & Ellie) has been developed to show how they have both good points and bad ones, so that basically every group exists in this gray area. The show actually does that better than the game since they flesh out side characters that Joel and Ellie don't get to know well in the game.

nah

Spoiler

for example on the game the people  from the last episode in that town wanted to killed Joel because he killed a lot of their people not just one. Joel in the show is shown as someone who is a nice person who only kills if he has to. Joel in the game kills anyone who gets in his way no questions asked.
 

I already had problems with the show runner in Chernobyl because they tried to create people that were good heroes when reality was much different. He always does this thing of good vs bad people. It's what works for him but It's not that realistic. I prefer the game

Edited March 8, 2023 by Digitalism

[feelslikeadream]

3 minutes ago, Digitalism said:

nah

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for example on the game the people  from the last episode in that town wanted to killed Joel because he killed a lot of their people not just one. Joel in the show is shown as someone who is a nice person who only kills if he has to. Joel in the game kills anyone who gets in his way no questions asked.
 

I already had problems with the show runner in Chernobyl because they tried to create people that were good heroes when reality was much different. He always does this thing of good vs bad people. It's what works for him but It's not that realistic. I prefer the game

But that's not quite true, Ellen. Looking at that very episode, 

 

Spoiler

Joel kills all three of the dudes looking for him; he could have easily kept them tied up or whatever, but he tortures one of them (the knife in the kneecap was horrible ) and kills all three. That's like the definition of "killing anyone who gets in his way no questions asked."

 

The thing about Joel killing 1 person vs. a bunch is that they had to change the University scene to make it more realistic for the show; in a video game, we suspend disbelief and think it's fine for one guy to kill 20 raiders in a few minutes. In real life, that wouldn't happen  So they changed that section and had him just kill the guy who stabs him.

 

I don't think it's fair to look at quantity of kills as some barometer for Joel's capacity for violence. He has killed a lot of people in the show, much more than most TV protagonists will ever kill in a series

 

[Digitalism]

4 minutes ago, feelslikeadream said:

But that's not quite true, Ellen. Looking at that very episode, 

 

  Hide contents

Joel kills all three of the dudes looking for him; he could have easily kept them tied up or whatever, but he tortures one of them (the knife in the kneecap was horrible ) and kills all three. That's like the definition of "killing anyone who gets in his way no questions asked."

 

The thing about Joel killing 1 person vs. a bunch is that they had to change the University scene to make it more realistic for the show; in a video game, we suspend disbelief and think it's fine for one guy to kill 20 raiders in a few minutes. In real life, that wouldn't happen  So they changed that section and had him just kill the guy who stabs him.

 

I don't think it's fair to look at quantity of kills as some barometer for Joel's capacity for violence. He has killed a lot of people in the show, much more than most TV protagonists will ever kill in a series

 

Spoiler

But that is like the first time they show him like that and he has a reason. In the game he just kills everyone because they just gets in the way. It's not the same. People feel more sympathy for the good guy that never kills unless he is revenging someone or saving someone. Totally different character and with a clear intention of making him likeable. 

 

[tiagol88]

19 minutes ago, Power love said:

Yes it is ….

no...it's not? that's not even the main plot of the show and game 

[getBusy]

55 minutes ago, Jude said:

The Zombies aren't scary compared to the ones we usually see.

This is the only reason why i’m watching it - i don’t like zombies but in this show they’re kinda irrelevant. 

[Starshine]

Yes. 

 

I think this show would have been better had they known how big it was going to be, bigger budget and longer season. Condensing the first season into 9 episodes was a safer choice and now that they have the credentials, season 2 should be even better paced. 

 

Also the Last of Us primary focus isn't really about the infected, it's about the aftermath of an apocalypse and the relationships, character building. Look at how many people we've gone through. It's literally the title, the Last of Us.  

[feelslikeadream]

20 minutes ago, Digitalism said:

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But that is like the first time they show him like that and he has a reason. In the game he just kills everyone because they just gets in the way. It's not the same. People feel more sympathy for the good guy that never kills unless he is revenging someone or saving someone. Totally different character and with a clear intention of making him likeable. 

 

Well we'll have to just disagree here because I don't see at all how Joel is more of the good guy in the show than he is in the game; it's not like the game makes him an anti-hero or something. He's 

clearly coded as the "good guy" there too  I mean, the opening sequence is pretty much designed to make the audience have a sympathetic attachment to him, and then all of his brutal actions are done in the service of protecting himself and Ellie, which audiences are obviously going to see as acceptable. I just played the game last year and can't think of a single time Joel kills someone without very clear and understandable motives.

 

I'm not saying the show is perfect by any means and I actually am really bummed they changed the university part (my favorite part of the game tbh), but I just don't see at all how Joel is more of a good guy in the show when they've been very faithful to his reasons for violence.

[Power love]

24 minutes ago, tiagol88 said:

no...it's not? that's not even the main plot of the show and game 

I’m sorry you feel this way but it very much is about zombies & survival in the new world. 
 

This concept has been done to death but this shows take is interesting so far.