I'm Rambling Sorry - Tumblr Posts

I have been reduced to near tears over ep. 3 for a multitude of reasons, but let me ramble specifically about Bill and Frank's story and how, despite how radical the changes are, it still fulfills the same general purpose as the game and teaches Joel and Ellie what they needed to be taught. Just from a different angle

More than anything, The Last of Us is about companionship and love. Each new character introduction and story is about showing the possible outcomes and consequences (both positive and negative) of allowing yourself to get attached to others.

Game Bill's story presents the negative consequences: resentment, grief, and loss.

But HBO Bill and Frank presents the positive consequences: love, trust, and (most important to Joel) purpose.

Both ultimately serve the same general purpose in teaching Joel and Ellie a lesson about companionship and do so well! Two sides of the same coin! It's great and I'm crying so much don't mind me.

It's also just a textbook case of what a good adaptation should do. It builds on an untouched storyline. It utilizes arguably the biggest benefit of television as a passive storytelling medium (the ability of the film camera to better focus on nonplayer characters for extended periods of time without having to justify itself with gameplay) and runs wild with it! It's so fucking good.