But, Houston, there is a problem.
So, I've played TLOU game at least three times, so I'm more than familiar with the story. The show, as Newt from Aliens might say, mostly follows the story... mostly.
But therein lies an issue that is increasingly vexing me. It isn't the actors or the story that is at fault, it is the small changes. The Oh so many small, seemingly insignificant changes. They all add up over time and not in a good way.
Now, don't get me wrong, I really like this adaptation. It's probably the most faithful game-TV series adaptation that I've seen, and Mazin and whomever is helping write it seem to love the material. But, and this is a big BUT (and I cannot lie) they have gone down the route of "improving" a tale which did not need any improvement.
The changes, as I mentioned, are small, but they are everywhere. An episode devoted to Bill and Frank's relationship, for example, which, whilst sweet, did little for the story. Then there was today's Henry and Sam episode, which decided to change the climax of that story arc to make everything Ellie's fault. Then there is the nature of the infected - with changes designed to make them seemingly more aware and intelligent. I won't even dignify the almost World War Z like battle that took place with a comment, since it is far too over the top, let alone the almost comical notion that the infected can burrow beneath the earth like Fallout's mole rats.
In short, all these little character and story changes are kind of getting annoying, and they are everywhere. It's starting to feel like that time George Lucas murdered the Star Wars movies by adding in all those awful out of place effects. It starting to feel like someone said "We can make it better!"
It's still good, but it feels off, like a Chinese Whispers tale told too many times.
Then there are the odd out-of-character decisions. Joel, for example, stowing the rifle he took from a FEDRA agent because "There's not much ammunition for it out here". Did he forget he was just a few hours away from Bill's place? Bill, the survivalist prepper who probably had ammo for it. Bill, who, even if he had no ammo, would probably trade Joel some supplies for it?
If you haven't played the games, there's no doubt it is one of the best post-apocalytic shows out there. If you have, like me, then the countless little changes may start to grate on you after a while (episode five in my case). I suspect the reverse will be true if you go from the show to the game. It will be different enough that it may irritate you.
On the plus side, their willingness to change things gives me hope for season 2. If that is based on the TLOU2 then some significant story changes will be needed if they don't plan on losing their audience in the first couple of episodes. Time will tell, I guess, but the final episode of Season 1 should give us a big clue as to that, I guess.
I just hope they remember that this is supposed to be Joel and Ellie's story, not anyone else's.
EDIT AFTER SEASON FINALE: So, I've dropped it down another point. The "additions" aren't thought through, leading to plot holes. Example - Marlene , the smart woman in charge of the fireflies unable to join the dots and maybe, just maybe, suspect that Anna lied about when she was bitten after when she discovers Ellie is immune.
Then there is the "chemical messenger" that makes cordyceps think Ellie is one of them. So why are they still attacking her?
In addition to these things, there is the singular lack of infected. For a setting that stresses how dangerous they are and that people have to live in fortified enclaves to survive, there are ridiculously few in number. Too few for a show that suggests society collapsed because of them.
Mazin also needs to stop introducing characters, giving them backstories/flashbacks and then killing them off all in the same episode. If the character isn't important enough for more than one episode of screen time, then they aren't important enough for backstory.
Speaking of episodes. Nine episodes to tell a twenty plus hour story. Really? That will be why there are so few infected scenes, characters rushed to their deaths and a general lack of urgency to events.
SUMMARY: Reasonably faithful story adaptation marred by far too many "embellishments". Some plot holes, too few infected and a couple of pointless one episode characters. Not deal-breaking, but just irksome and unecessary.
So, I've played TLOU game at least three times, so I'm more than familiar with the story. The show, as Newt from Aliens might say, mostly follows the story... mostly.
But therein lies an issue that is increasingly vexing me. It isn't the actors or the story that is at fault, it is the small changes. The Oh so many small, seemingly insignificant changes. They all add up over time and not in a good way.
Now, don't get me wrong, I really like this adaptation. It's probably the most faithful game-TV series adaptation that I've seen, and Mazin and whomever is helping write it seem to love the material. But, and this is a big BUT (and I cannot lie) they have gone down the route of "improving" a tale which did not need any improvement.
The changes, as I mentioned, are small, but they are everywhere. An episode devoted to Bill and Frank's relationship, for example, which, whilst sweet, did little for the story. Then there was today's Henry and Sam episode, which decided to change the climax of that story arc to make everything Ellie's fault. Then there is the nature of the infected - with changes designed to make them seemingly more aware and intelligent. I won't even dignify the almost World War Z like battle that took place with a comment, since it is far too over the top, let alone the almost comical notion that the infected can burrow beneath the earth like Fallout's mole rats.
In short, all these little character and story changes are kind of getting annoying, and they are everywhere. It's starting to feel like that time George Lucas murdered the Star Wars movies by adding in all those awful out of place effects. It starting to feel like someone said "We can make it better!"
It's still good, but it feels off, like a Chinese Whispers tale told too many times.
Then there are the odd out-of-character decisions. Joel, for example, stowing the rifle he took from a FEDRA agent because "There's not much ammunition for it out here". Did he forget he was just a few hours away from Bill's place? Bill, the survivalist prepper who probably had ammo for it. Bill, who, even if he had no ammo, would probably trade Joel some supplies for it?
If you haven't played the games, there's no doubt it is one of the best post-apocalytic shows out there. If you have, like me, then the countless little changes may start to grate on you after a while (episode five in my case). I suspect the reverse will be true if you go from the show to the game. It will be different enough that it may irritate you.
On the plus side, their willingness to change things gives me hope for season 2. If that is based on the TLOU2 then some significant story changes will be needed if they don't plan on losing their audience in the first couple of episodes. Time will tell, I guess, but the final episode of Season 1 should give us a big clue as to that, I guess.
I just hope they remember that this is supposed to be Joel and Ellie's story, not anyone else's.
EDIT AFTER SEASON FINALE: So, I've dropped it down another point. The "additions" aren't thought through, leading to plot holes. Example - Marlene , the smart woman in charge of the fireflies unable to join the dots and maybe, just maybe, suspect that Anna lied about when she was bitten after when she discovers Ellie is immune.
Then there is the "chemical messenger" that makes cordyceps think Ellie is one of them. So why are they still attacking her?
In addition to these things, there is the singular lack of infected. For a setting that stresses how dangerous they are and that people have to live in fortified enclaves to survive, there are ridiculously few in number. Too few for a show that suggests society collapsed because of them.
Mazin also needs to stop introducing characters, giving them backstories/flashbacks and then killing them off all in the same episode. If the character isn't important enough for more than one episode of screen time, then they aren't important enough for backstory.
Speaking of episodes. Nine episodes to tell a twenty plus hour story. Really? That will be why there are so few infected scenes, characters rushed to their deaths and a general lack of urgency to events.
SUMMARY: Reasonably faithful story adaptation marred by far too many "embellishments". Some plot holes, too few infected and a couple of pointless one episode characters. Not deal-breaking, but just irksome and unecessary.