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Hoshi_Reed
Reviews
The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023)
Touching, beautiful and though deviates, it is better than the game
Though Joel and Ellie, the series main characters, were less than expected, they were just as powerful in advancing their characters in such a short time. Joel is hurting himself by hiding his emotions and not taking time to grieve his loss. Ellie makes a statement she may or may not believe and is possibly hiding her own feelings of self-blame/guilt. We are shown Ellie scavenging tampons (yeah for realism) and her curiosity about the infected. We are also shown her either not viewing them as human or being merciful when she kills him. (at this point it is hard to tell; which is great ambiguity to expand on in later episodes). We get info on the world and Ellie's naivety/awe about the "old" world. The end left me with good questions: Will Joel be surprised at Ellie's secret? Will her actions, or lack of a certain question, clue him in?
The main/A story was a romantic gay relationship involved a side character from the game and it was done in a touching beautiful way. And it wasn't just a romance, but a coming out. It was a journey on multiple fronts.
I enjoyed that we start off the main story with a bitter cynical survivalist. One whom not only lives in a rural area but whose world ended in 2003, BEFORE gays had the rights and acceptance of society that they do today (hopefully forever). He hated the world, and given the timeline we understand why. He starts off pursuing things to survive.
After meeting another man and growing to care for him he grows from that bitter cynic to someone who can't live without the man he loves. From someone who hid his identity to someone who allowed himself to love and be loved and found his purpose in life. He discovered that living is more important than surviving. Enjoying life and having a purpose is more important than existence.
This is a major deviation from the game, and RIGHTFULLY so.
-Game Spoilers-
In the game, Bill is a bitter cynical old curmudgeon. Frank left him and so Bill continued to hate the world. He later finds Frank, who had hung himself after being bitten, and doesn't grieve.
In the game this is necessary. It is necessary because Joel in the game still cares a little. He hasn't completely closed himself off. People aren't afraid of him (Malik, anyone?) He is the romantic type, he cared for Tess and she knew it (There's enough here that you have to feel some sort of obligation to me). Game Joel needed a narrative warning for the player on what Joel could become if he wasn't careful and continued down the path of hate and cynicism.
Show Joel is ALREADY there. He no longer cares. He IS the bitter old cynical man. The show doesn't need another. A Game Bill wouldn't narratively fit.
What Show Joel needs is the next step.
Tess told him:
Save who you can save
Show Bill wrote:
I saved him, then I protected him
These both work together as narrative blocks to build on the love theme.
Save them
Protect them
Provide for them
Care for them
Love them
Don't stifle them/Let them go
Game Joel was already half way there, so Game Bill was a warning. Show Joel is already at the bottom. He needs the next step on the path. A Game Bill would make Zero sense. What we got is superior since it fits better narratively.