Kyle: Like anybody who’s performed the video games, I think about, I have been type of dreading watching this episode ever since we first noticed Henry on the finish of the final episode. The final word destiny of him and his brother Sam is likely one of the most indelibly unhappy moments in a recreation sequence that is stuffed with them.

A part of me tried to carry out hope that they could change that destiny for the present—they’ve modified plenty of different stuff in regards to the narrative, together with quite a bit about Henry and Sam themselves. However actually that was most likely simply wishful considering born out of a deep reference to the characters. The specifics may change, however this plot beat wanted to remain in there, exactly as a result of it is so emotionally uncooked.

Kyle: Yeah, if you’re touring alongside Joel and Ellie for any important time period, you may as nicely get away a purple Star Trek uniform. Actually, although, Henry was type of asking for it along with his “I am completely positive there are no risks on this creepy underground tunnel vamping. Simply no Style Savvy in any respect…

Kyle: A few of the modifications are type of incidental within the grand scheme, like making Sam a bit youthful and deaf. The most important change to this complete arc is the creation of Kathleen, who provides a stronger narrative focus to the extra anarchic Hunters faction within the recreation. I did admire them making an attempt to humanize her just a little bit along with her memory about her brother and such, however in the long run, I didn’t actually really feel dangerous when Little Miss “LOL, no trials for these jokers” acquired her comeuppance.

Kyle: Yeah, after the second time you level a gun at somebody just for Contaminated to distract/eat you on the final second, you realize the writers are simply out to mess with you at that time.

Against this, one factor the present managed to ascertain rapidly was the friendship between Ellie and Sam. We have talked about her “powerful lady” exterior right here earlier than, however the factor this story hammers residence so nicely is that, deep down, she’s only a lonely child who’s rapidly realizing that everybody she grows near might go away her.

Kyle: After which there’s the “my blood is magic” bit, which contrasts closely with the “no remedy is even attainable” stuff that we (because the viewers) acquired early within the sequence. Being fated to outlive an Contaminated chew when folks you’re keen on are dying from the identical factor has acquired to weigh closely.

Kyle: At the very least she has her pale comedian books and pun collections to maintain her spirits excessive. Escapism is necessary, particularly within the apocalypse!

Kyle: Yeah, it is exhausting to argue that the bloater’s look in that scene was actually crucial as something greater than fan service. And it does work significantly better within the recreation, the place it simply serves as a skill-testing tank that you do not have to consider too exhausting (right here I had the very same, “Wait, why does the fungus wish to behead folks?” response. Possibly there is a human thoughts beneath there? And he is simply actually mad?)

I can virtually image the story conferences the place the sport guys had been like, ‘Now we have to get a bloater in right here someplace!’ and ‘Is now the time once we can present a bloater?’ and the TV folks simply giving up and saying ‘Nice, you possibly can have 60 seconds throughout the underground Contaminated riot!’

Kyle: Yup. Simply so bloated with fungus that it serves as a type of armor.

Kyle: Henceforth, he shall be generally known as “Mr. Offended-pants.”

Kyle: And it captures the semi-helplessness of Joel watching and sniping from a constructing far-off, which mirrors a really comparable scene within the recreation. Any present that may seize and make drama and pathos out of the compulsory capturing gallery part in these sorts of video games is doing one thing proper.