The Last Of Us Analysis - Tumblr Posts

Something that ticks me off is people comparing TLOU the game with TLOU HBO and saying it didn’t have as much emotional impact as the game, or that it didn’t “recapture the magic”.

Like… yeah of course it didn’t have as much impact for YOU. You played the game first, and saw it for the first time in the game. With TLOU HBO you saw it again, of course it’s gonna have less of an emotional impact on you when you don’t already know the scene.

Some people went into TLOU HBO expecting to feel exactly what they felt when they played the game, but that’s impossible. The show will never be able to “recapture the magic” for you, because you know the scene and what they’ll say. You already know the emotional beats and the plot.

That’s why ep 3 hit people who played the games and people who didn’t so hard, not just because it was an amazing story, but because you didn’t know what would happen. You didn’t already know the scenes or what they’d say, because of course it “doesn’t have the magic” when you already know exactly what comes next unlike when you played the games.

I watched TLOU HBO first, and all of the emotional beats struck their mark perfectly and hit me like a damn semi-truck.

“You’e not my daughter, and I sure as hell ain’t your dad”, “I swear”, “I got you baby girl”, they all wrecked me like they wrecked you when you played the game.

Of course the scene is gonna hit harder when you’re experiencing it for the first time, rather than the scenes being “worse” in the show.

I never saw any pacing issues with TLOU HBO, like the thought literally never crossed my mind. I talked to other people who’ve watched it without/before playing the video game, no one said anything about pacing issues. In fact basically the only people who complain about pacing issues are the people who played the games.

At first I took this as the rose tinted glasses toward the games like I have for the show, where the thing you experience first you’re probably going to like more, and people were just annoyed that it was different. Then I saw this post that made so much sense to me that it just changed my whole perspective on it.

I’m not sure how to find it now, but it basically said that it made sense people who played the games would feel like the pacing is off or that they were rushing through it, because when they played the game there were these long breaks in between the important scenes for gameplay. In the show there weren’t long breaks for fights or item collecting, so of course it feels rushed for the people who played the games.

For some reason I hadn’t thought of that, and it totally floored me.

Something ‘When We Are in Need…’ does SO well is that throughout the whole episode you have the same reactions, and feel the same things as Ellie.

It starts and she’s hungry and Joel’s really sick and it makes you, the viewer, scared for Joel and scared for Ellie, too.

Then she goes hunting and finds the deer and then she meets David, and it’s suspicious and you don’t trust him, then they start to talk and it’s a good time and you almost start to have fun and then…

“James put the gun down.”

Right along with Ellie you think: Oh fuck. Shit just got real.

I watched a video essay on how they were able to accomplish this setup and turn, and it’s really just an incredible feat of writing, directing, and acting.

Then you and her are desperate to heal up Joel, and feel that sad sort of warmth as she cuddles up to him.

Then the Silver Lakers come back and Joel’s helpless and still you feel the same thing as Ellie through the whole sequence, you feel the same worry for Joel and the same intensity. Then she gets taken down and right along with her you think ‘uh-oh’.

The next scene with Ellie is when she wakes up in the cage, and once again it all applies. You, along with Ellie, are super wary of David and are desperate to escape. To get out of there.

Then you see the ear at the same time as Ellie. Even if you already suspected the cannibalism from the earlier scene with the stew, you still have that same disgusted reaction of ‘oh god are they gonna eat her?!’.

Then he takes her hand, and you have that same awful, shuddering realization. Even if you were like me and immediately were like “this guy is definitely bad”, you still get that confirmation, and the you still absolutely have that ‘oh fuck’ moment.

Then she breaks his finger, and just like her you have that moment of victory, before once again it all comes crashing down.

Then through the ‘I’m infected’ and restaurant fire fight your heart is pounding and you’re barely breathing. It’s intense and scary and then he’s on top of Ellie and I don’t think any piece of media has ever gotten me more scared.

Then she starts hacking at his face with the cleaver, and that scene is… indescribable, honestly.

Ellie stumbles out of the burning building and you just feel shocked.

Joel comes up behind her and her pulse jumps momentarily, and then you see it’s Joel and just like Ellie you’re so so glad he’s here. And his ‘I gotchu baby girl’ is in my opinion the most comforting, sad, cathartic moment on television.

The way that we’ve been in Ellie’s shoes the whole episode, with her rather than watching from the outside, makes that final moment so much more impactful. We’ve been through hell with Ellie, and now we get that comfort too. It’s absolutely brilliant filmmaking, and was such a good way to play it for maximum emotional ‘oomf’.

It’s also why I sorta disagree with many of pacing complaints about that episode, because if it was too extended or had unnecessary action scenes it would’ve lost those “shared feelings”.

Also, I know not everyone felt this way watching the episode, especially people who played the games because they already knew what was going to happen, meaning that they couldn’t have those heel turns and realizations that put you so well in Ellie’s head. (I have a different post about this general effect).

But I think it was very intentional, and for people who it worked for it was some of the most impactful, incredible tv, period.

Here’s why the infected scene in episode 5 of TLOU works so well…

Buildup: As of episode five in the series, we’ve seen infected multiple times already, and every appearance has built up this “threat-level” of them. In the first two episodes we see both the larger scale of the infected and how scary they can be in hordes (like the driving scene and the capitol building, as well as the absolutely brilliant overlook scene), but also how threatening they can be solo (Joel and Sarah in the diner and the museum scene)… also in episode three we get Bill’s little “ehehe” from an infected death which is just as if not far more important as well.

By the time we see the infected come running out of the crater, the writers have already intentionally and precisely given us the knowledge of just how scary the infected can be.

That’s also why I’m glad they only did this type of massive battle once in the series, because once they did it, it becomes impossible to recapture that buildup and almost “unleashing” of the infected, of seeing just how scary they are.

The buildup also includes the more typical rising tension of the episode (which was, like everything else in the show, done absolutely fantastically), and the foreshadowing of the infected by both Kathleen and Henry.

Scale: The infected scene in episode 5 is by far the biggest in scale action sequence of the show. The huge amounts of infected pouring out of the rubble and the massive Bloater, as well as how many people are involved, the fighting in the background, it makes the whole battle feel huge. It leaves you in this sense of almost “awe” that so many great action sequences have.

Horror: In the sequence there are horror elements added in to make it feel scarier (complementing both of the points above). Obviously zombies are already horror-esque, but that’s not what I mean.

I feel like the best example of horror elements being incorporated into the fight is the part where Ellie is in the car. Enclosed spaces are a horror staple. Ellie being trapped in the enclosed space with an infected, and later Henry and Sam trapped under the car, transition this battle beautifully into tension-filled smaller scale sections in this massive battle, with parts so pinprick focused on the people we care most about, and how bloodthirsty and terrifying these monsters are.

We also see it in Kathleen’s shocking and gruesome death, and the power of the bloater, almost reminiscent of the predator or other near-unstoppable horror forces.

Cinematography: The lighting in the battle is so good, with the fire and darkness adding to this scary effect of the battle, as well as this extra layer of dynamism and contrast.

Also, I’m always a sucker for background fight, following characters as they navigate through violence. The way this sequence does it is also incredibly well done, with the background ever-shifting and changing, with the focus of the shot being on someone actively trying to avoid the fight and get past this living mass of gore.

The handheld style of TLOU is something I can write essays about (and I will! Post about cinematography coming soon lol) but in this sequence it makes you feel like you’re on the ground with the characters as the battle rages around you.

Monster Design: This one is self-explanatory, I’d say. The clickers, and the Bloater, my goodness the Bloater, look so incredibly good. And the way that they created this almost alien thing overtaking regular peoples bodies and turning them into monsters is incredibly amazing, and the practical effects make it look so real and detailed (they had the makeup guy who did the Night King and Vecna)

Emotional Resonance: This one’s pretty simple. The battle makes you feel things. Not just fear for the characters, though there’s definitely a lot of that, but also showcasing Joel and Ellie’s growing bond, with Ellie trusting Joel to have her back and Joel desperately trying to protect her.

It was absolutely magnificent, and an absolute feat of filmmaking.

Let’s talk about the cinematography of TLOU HBO…

Cinematography can effect a show in a lot of ways, from helping to set a vibe/aesthetic to affecting the tone of the story to enhancing the emotion of scene.

Good examples of this are Succession and it’s almost mocumentary-style camerawork with the handheld style, pans, and pop zooms giving it a more comedic tone and adding to the immersion, occasionally complimented by smoother shots and mixed with prestige, HBO-style sets, or White Lotus and it’s bright colors and smooth, luxurious camerawork and beautiful locations that help to transport the viewer away and sell the absurd way that these people live.

The Last of Us has a very unique tone, with a very bleak backdrop and moments of genuine emotion and tenderness without melodrama. It intentionally lets scenes breathe and doesn’t try to make itself glamorous or polished, and that’s something helped by the style of cinematography. It’s something that sets it apart from most modern-shows, and gives you that feeling of watching something “real”.

The Last of Us’ cinematographers, Ksenia Sereda, Eben Bolter, Christine A. Maier, Nadim Carlson, and Catherine Goldshmidt, use subtle, handheld cinematography to immerse you in the world of the Last of Us, making you feel like you’re alongside the characters (something I mentioned in a previous post). It’s intentionally not sleek, and really helps to establish this more intimate connection to the characters by not being afraid to get up close and personal to their reactions and emotions.

The show’s work with perspective and lighting is especially breathtaking, with shots that can find beauty in anything, wether it be dust in the light, the silhouette of a man on a horse, the subtle patterns of blurry chainlink, or someone backdropped in fire in one of the scariest scenes on television.

The Last of Us uses it’s cinematography to enhance the tone and emotion of the absolutely fantastic show, as well as staying beutiful even traveling through the wreckage of the USA.

@adhdprincess here! I have a headcwnon ask:

How do you think the Jackson community deals with troublemakers/lawbreakers? Do you think they give second chances? Do you think they have executions? Exiles?

Hmmmmm, that’s an interesting one.

I think they’re very particular with who they let into Jackson (and the only reason Joel and Ellie got in was because of Tommy), so they try not to let anyone in who has the potential to really fuck things up.

But sometimes things happen, and I think that the leaders of Jackson have a very in-depth conversation about what the perpetrator deserves.

Things like thievery are taken very seriously, since the state of resources in Jackson are so fragile. If someone steals food or other important resources, they’re probably given a very stern talking to (VERY stern) and forced to do community services and maybe lose some privileges that they have to earn back.

I don’t think they deal with more serious crimes much because of how exclusive Jackson is, but it’s probably happened once or twice.

We know Jackson isn’t above killing people, but the people there don’t really seem to be living in fear or oppression. My bet is that if someone does something really bad, the perpetrator gets ridden out into deep into the forest, maybe to some large gorge or river, and killed. They don’t make a big deal out of it, it’s just sorta “one day they’re there, the next day they’re gone.”

Dialogue Styles and The Last of Us

There are many different ways that media handles dialogue, but in my observations they can usually be sorted into three different categories: Poetic, Witty, and Real.

There are more complicated and technical ways to look at it, but most shows have one that is the main “style” of dialogue.

Poetic Dialogue: People talking pretty, basically. It’s unrealistic, but speaking in metaphors or beautiful words can make you cry or give you chills.

Many monologues use poetic dialogue. Think of Luthen’s “revolution” speech in Andor or Silco’s “drowning” speech from Arcane. Period pieces or fantasy media also tend to use poetic dialogue.

Witty Dialogue: Dialogue that’s funny or smart. It’s also unrealistic, but really fun to watch!

Most good comedies most often use witty dialogue, like Community, Arrested Development, and Brooklyn 99. As do dark comedies like Succession or Aaron Sorkin Dialouge like the Social Network (that movie fucks, btw).

Realist Dialogue: Pretty self explanatory. Realistic Dialouge that sounds like how real people talk.

Examples of good realist dialogue include The Bear and Better Call Saul.

(Quick side note: Realist Dialogue isn’t indistinguishable from normal conversation. Usually dialogue and the way people talk is very different. Real dialogue just captures a more natural and raw way of speaking than the other examples.)

So what category does The Last of Us fall into?

Well, here’s the interesting part. I would say that the game and the show fall into different dialogue categories.

I would say that the game falls into the ‘Witty’ dialogue type, while the show falls into the ‘Realist’ dialogue type.

The show also occasionally dabbles in Poetic Dialogue, like Bill’s speech to Frank at the end of ep 3, Joel’s “I’m failin’ her in my sleep’ speech. If you’ve watched Chernobyl you’ll know that mixing real and poetic dialogue is a Craig Mazin specialty.

While both, like most pieces of fiction, have moments of all three (like the show absolutely has witty moments and the game has poetic ones), their main styles are different.

While there are many ways that you can see the differences in dialogue styles, but the starkest contrast is the way Ellie talks.

In the game you can definitely see the Juno-esque origins of Ellie that people have speculated about. She talks with this quickness, even in dramatic moments. She’s always got a quip or a joke or something clever to say (though you see less of it in the final part of the game).

In the show Ellie talks more like a real teenager. She’s clever and a she’s funny, sure, but she also gets flustered or doesn’t know what to say. She says the wrong things or rambles or she blurts stuff out and she sounds young in a way that game Ellie doesn’t.

You can see the difference most clearly in scenes very similar in both the show and the game, like when she shoots the man in Kansas City/Pittsburg, or when she wakes up in David’s cage.

In both these scenes you can definitely see show Ellie a bit more flustered, a bit more scared, and a bit more young.

TLOU HBO was able to use it’s medium to increase the realism of the story (something I’ve talked about before), and a way of doing that is to change how the characters themselves speak.

There are many other examples, but these are definitely some of the clearest.

But while the way they talked changed, the characters stayed quite consistent with only a few very intentional differences, and I think it’s awesome, and a testament to how strong the characters were, and how the writing in the show is that it doesn’t feel too jarring or separate. At the end of the day they’re very different, but both absolutely play to their strengths as a medium and I think that’s pretty cool!

I love how TLOU HBO uses colors…

Before Sarah dies the colors are a lot warmer, a lot “kinder”, almost

But when she dies, and it transitions to present day, the colors get colder. More stark.

But Ellie’s colors are warm

And you see that contrast…

…then you see their color schemes come together

In ep 9 of TLOU when Ellie wakes up in car after Joel kills the fireflies, her hair is kinda splayed out over her head on the car seat.

…if she was just put down normally, her hair wouldn’t been at least partly under her head, which means Joel fucking readjusted her hair to make her more comfortable after he massacred a hospital!

Good god this show will never leave my brain…

My Top 5 Shots in Every Episode of TLOU

Episode 1

TW: Guns, creepy imagery

Quick disclaimer that I was not able to find two scenes I wanted for shots in this list. I couldn’t find unedited versions of the scene with the infected child, or Ellie’s introduction, however their are plenty of other amazing shots in this list without them!

Number #5

The Last of Us quite often has very shallow depth of field. That means shots in which the background is out of focus (blurry). It works well for a lot of things, like making really pretty shots or drawing attention to certain things, but in this case it uses it for suspense. Ms. Adler twitching in the background is absolute nightmare fuel, and the way that it was played, with the camera focused on an unaware Sarah the whole time, was so incredibly well done and scary that this shot became one of my favorites of the episode.

Number #4

This one is great on a lot of levels. Not only is it pretty, with the out of focus fire lighting half of Sarah’s face (making the shot prettier with shallow depth of field), but the color scheme absolutely rocks too. But I think my favorite thing about this shot is the emotion it portrays without saying a word. Props to Nico Parker, because the tone of the visuals and her devastated expression really show the toll the apocalypse is taking on Sarah.

Number #3

This shot is a masterclass in “show don’t tell”. With just this image, we instantly know exactly what type of place our protagonists are living in. Dirty streets, snipers on roofs, lack of freedom or happiness. Somehow this one shots delivers paragraphs of exposition, and does it so well and good-looking that it’s not only bearable, but excellent.

Number #2

Another example of how well this show uses depth of field, this shot works on so many levels, and also just looks absolutely awesome. The contrasting colors of the oranges and browns of the set vs. the blues and grays of the screen is so striking, and I have just always been an absolute sucker for shots of shots, and this is one of the best executed ones I’ve ever seen.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

This shot is simply fantastic. The explosion, the people, the view through the car window, it all just works absolutely so well.

Another excellent example of visual world building, showing the tanks driving through the streets. The ultra-high camera angle also looks fantastic, and the way they used the rooftops and textures is just incredible.

Two really gorgeous, well-lit shots of Sarah.

Just like the entire show, this is a really well lite scene, and the way it uses depth of field is so well-done and pretty. Also the high 3/4 angle is fantastic, and don’t even get me started on the eery, creepy tentacles.

Number #1

This is just an I incredible shot all around. The side profiles and rim-lighting for Joel and Sarah, the out of focus explosion centered in the background. It’s so well executed, and you can feel the emotion, the fear, coming through the screen. Bravo!

Tune in for ep 2 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots In Every Episode of TLOU

Episode 2

Number #5

An incredibly intimidating, memorable shot. I love the horde below, and the over-the-shoulder shot with Ellie out of focus. It’s such a terrifying picture, and also really helps drill in how dangerous the infected can be.

Number #4

TIE! Two absolutely gorgeous shots that I thought could work well as a pair in this list since they’re both remakes of shots from the game. These are absolutely breathtaking, and showcase the ruined city so incredibly well. I love the way they use focal point to draw your eyes to specific places in the shot, and I adore the change from the game with the gorgeous golden lighting.

Number #3

I could go on about this shot forever. I adore the way Tess is framed in the arch, and her reflection on the floor. This shot really draws your eyes to the center using the walls, rays of light, and the contrast of the brighter floors and reflection. It’s just excellent.

Number #2

I’ve written about the symbolism of this shot in another post (that ended up being my most popular TLOU post ever), but it’s just absolutely fantastic. Ellie in the light and Joel in the dark, with Tess as a transition between the two. It’s just so incredible and symbolic, not to mention the beauty of the contrast and the sunbeams and the shadows. It’s just breathtaking on so many levels.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

Something I’ve mentioned before, and will absolutely mention again, is how much I love the shallow depth of field of a lot of TLOU. I’m an absolute sucker for shots in which danger is blurred out behind a character (that will come up in other posts), and this shot does it so well. I also love the beam of light, and the intensity of the shot. It’s just really cool and well executed all around.

Not only is this shot gorgeous from a set design and lighting standpoint, but we also get the best character in the entire world ever: PIANO FROG! WOOT WOOT!!

I just love the way the sinkhole take up a lot of the shot, and Ellie and Tess are in the foreground. I think it’s really unique, and is this really cool way of making the shot look pretty, but also show scale.

Number #1

Not only does is this shot absolutely gorgeous, but it also works so well from a symbolism standpoint. Ellie lingering where Tess died, not able to push past it like Joel pretends he is, with the burning statehouse in the background, and the stricken, shocked expression on her face. It’s gorgeous, heartbreaking, and an indicator of what’s to come… (Also the only place I could find this shot unobstructed was a ‘Ending of TLOU Ep 2 EXPLAINED’ video, so apologies for the channel logo on the bottom left)

Tune in for ep 3 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots in Every Episode of TLOU

Episode 3

TW: Mass grave

Number #5

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the shallow depth of field in this show is SO freakin’ pretty. I love how it uses focus to lead your eye and how it creates subtle patterns in the background. I also love the side-profile of Bill and the rim-lighting. It’s just overall a really, really well done shot.

Number #4

I mean what to even say? The lighting. The blocking. The framing. It’s just absolutely incredible. The way this shot showcases emotion through all of those factors is extradorinaiy, it’s just extraordinary. It’s soft and melancholic and beautiful just like episode 3 itself.

Number #3

*sniffle* I’m gonna love you for a-a long *sob* long *wailing intensifies* time…

Number #2

This shot is absolutely breathtaking in the worst (and best) way. The bones in the foreground, Ellie and Joel in the mid ground, and the hills and sky in the background. It’s beautiful, it’s horrifying, it’s incredible—it’s the Last of Us.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

This shot is so good. The fallen plane, Ellie and Joel, it’s just so well done.

Once again, the shallow depth of field works so well here. The flames, the lighting, the composition, it just all blends so incredibly well to make a fantastic shot.

*deep inhale* WAHHHHHHHHHHHH

Number #1

This image, two old men pushing each other through the ruins of the world, is so fucking incredible. I could go on about the incredible set design and colors, but really, it’s just beautiful. It’s emotional. It’s gonna stay with me for a long, long time…

Tune in for ep 4 tmrw!

TLOU s2 first look (in video form) came out, and HOLY FUCK IT’S INCREDIBLE!! But you guys know me… you know how I am… let’s analyze this sucker.

Spoiler for tlou part 2

Other than the amazing dialogue and acting here, this scene thrills me because now we know we get at least a little more time with Joel. Thanks, Craig❤️

I’ve seen people say it could be therapy, which I love, but it’s also possible it could just be a normal conversation. Either way, I can’t wait!

Onto the next shot!

The “the tattoo looks bad!” People are sweating lol This looks AMAZING!! The scarring makeup is so well done! But ALSO did someone say shallow depth of field?? No?? Okay we’ll screw me I guess. Also, IT’S THE MOTH AGHHHHHH

Beutiful recreated shot. The shallow depth of field is gorgeous, and the lights… it’s just beutiful!

First thing’s first…

👏BELLA👏FUCKING👏RAMSEY👏 …holy shit.

It’s possible that the person holding onto Ellie’s shoulder is Maria, since if you turn your brightness up you can kinda see her side-shave hairstyle.

I have two theories for this: 1, this is right after the chemical burn? Or 2, this is after Joel dies? I could be totally wrong, though.

The guy in the background doesn’t look familiar to me, and none of the main cast have beards like that. I think he’s a new character, probably just a small role as a doctor.

ALSO DID SOMEONE SAY SHALLOW DEPTH OF—

This is definitely Jackson. You can see that the gates are the same as Jackson’s from ep 6.

And I’m fairly sure that it’s an infected horde, since none of them seem to have guns or weapons.

FUCK YES. LET’S FUCKING GO.

(No analysis here. Just hype.)

Definetly Seraphites, probably from the iconic forest scene. Looks great, love the lighting here.

First look at Dina!! Woo!!

Ellie has an assault rifle, and I think she might be on some rafters here, judging by the metal and because she’s definitely above ground level.

Gorgeous landscape shot, probably around the Jackson area.

JEFRREY WRIGHT RAHHHHHHHHH I don’t believe there’s a fight in the kitchen with Isaac in tlou part 2 (correct me if I’m wrong, but I definitely don’t think so?). He could be fighting Ellie here, which would probably be triggering for her (bad memories of guys fighting her in kitchens)

Firstly, KAITLYN LOOKS SO GOOD WOOHOO!!! Secondly, awesome recreated shot.

Not 100% sure, but could this be Tommy and Ellie? The first person looks like Tommy, with the longer dark hair and jacket. And the second person has the same color jacket that Ellie was wearing in the first look, and seems smaller than Tommy, which would also line up.

Awesome shot! I bet this is in the tunnels, especially since the shot after you see an infected slam against the doors.

Anyway, those are all my observations for now! This was the best 20 seconds of my day, and I’m so UNBELIEVABLY hyped!!

My Top 5 Shots in Every Episode of TLOU

Episode 4

TW: Guns

Number #5

I mean what to even say with this ridiculously strong start? I love the shallow depth of field, the reds, black, and browns, and the off center framing. It’s just really great looking.

Number #4

Have I mentioned how much I love the shallow depth of field shots In this show? I have? Well too bad. I’m talking about them again. THEY JUST LOOK SO GOOD!! Also I love the rim-lighting and the flared light in the background. They all just come together absolutely beautifully.

Number #3

A pretty iconic shot, and for good reason. It’s one of my favorite landscape shots in the show. The sight of the overgrown bridge and the sunken boats is just incredible and haunting. Fantastic.

Number #2

Have I mentioned the shallow depth— But other than that, I also just love the lighting and shadows. The emotion of the shot is great, too, Bella’s expression from shooting the raider is just so oof. Everything about this shot is just fantastic.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

This one’s just absolutely badass. The colors, the exhaust, the spray paint, it just rocks!

I love the greens here, and have I mentioned how much I love the shallo—

Amazing lighting here. I love the beams shining through the shrubbery and onto Ellie, and the composition with her just off center is so good.

Three absolutely amazing and gorgeous landscape shots!

Number #1

Hey, did someone say shal— The symbolism of this shot what makes it so incredible to me. The skeleton in contrast to Joel, the way they’re facing each other, the way they’re similar, how it’s in the same seat of the car he’d been in all episode, because Joel stills feels dead. Because this episode is the turning point, when he starts to come back to life because of Ellie… god, it’s just about fantastic. It’s just so fucking good.

Tune in for ep 5 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots From Every Ep of TLOU

Episode 5

TW: Gore

Number #5

An absolutely gorgeous one that really shows off the tenderness of this scene through the warm lighting and intimate feel. Ellie silhouetted in the lamp light is beautiful, and centering of her between the two beds is really great.

Number #4

An absolutely amazing shot from the ‘Kansas City Freed’ sequence. The shallow depth of field, making the crown out of focus, looks incredible. And the blue and yellow lighting works so well.

Number #3

Not only is this just a gorgeous shot, but the symbolism is absolutely stunning. This is right after Henry paints the mask onto Sam’s face, and seeing the way that it’s reflected back onto him, since he’s Sam’s hero, is just so brilliant and fantastic.

Number #2

I mean, what can I say? I am an absolute sucker for shots in which there’s out of focus danger in the background. But this one is amazing on so many other levels, too. The lighting from the fire looks incredible, and the shallow depth of field, showing the flames and lights in the background through the dirty windows, is just fantastic. All that mixed with the intensity of this shot make it just absolutely incredible.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

TLOU ultra-wide shots never miss, and this is no exception. I love off-centering of Ellie and Joel, and the way they’re framed by the streetlights. It just looks amazing!

This shot is so intimidating. The chains in front, something they’ll use more of in episode 8, and the dim, dreary vibe of the room really make this feel gritty and dirty in such a fantastic way. I just can’t get enough!

Just an absolutely gorgeous shot. I love the different colored lights and the way they reflect off the metal in the hallway.

Just an absolutely bangin’ landscape shot.

I just love the use of focus in this show, and the way that it helps give this scene a very melancholy, introspective tone by making Joel alone, even when there’s someone with him.

Number #1

MY BOYYYYYYYYYYY. MY BABY BOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Tune in for ep 6 tmrw!

My Favorite Shots in Every Ep of TLOU

Episode 6

Number #5

I mean what to even say about this shot? I’m an absolute sucker for silhouettes, and the rolling clouds and flare-lighting through the horses legs are just so gorgeous. It should really say something about how beautiful this episode is that this is somehow number 5!

Number #4

God, this shot is so good. Joel staring up at the warm lighting of the house, knowing what’s about to happen. The emotion in this shot is so palpable, and it just absolutely kills me in the best way.

Number #3

I mean what can I even say about this one? It’s just an absolutely gorgeous shot. I’m a total sucker for this show’s shallow depth of field, and the way it was done with the lights is just absolutely amazing.

Number #2

Silhouette✅ Blue lighting✅ Indicates emotion or tone✅ Am I a predictable sucker? Yes. Yes I motherfucking am.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

The lighting and the emotion on Pedro’s face is just so good. This shit makes me feel stuff, and I think that is one of the best things a shot can do.

Once again, absolutely killing it with the tone and contrasts here. Seriously I respect these directors and cinematographers so much. It’s so cool to see the occasional times where the last of us opts for a not handheld style, and how they’re used to establish certain emotions.

This one’s gorgeous, but I already had two scenic horse shots in here, still this deserves at least an honorable mention.

Number #1

I love this shot so goddamn much!! The warm lighting and sideview of Pedro’s face as he turns off the lamp is just amazing. It’s such an emotional shot, and the way it uses perspective and focus is incredible.

Tune in for ep 7 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots From Every Ep of TLOU

Episode 7

Number #5

It’s a relatively simplistic shot, but it’s just executed so well, and in such an emotional manner that I absolutely love it. Like every other shot on the list, and in the entire show, the lighting is incredible. But I think my favorite part of this shot is the emotion on the actors’ faces. Seriously, these two 20-year-olds are some of the best actors I’ve ever seen.

Number #4

A relatively unnoticed, quick shot that I just adore. I’m a sucker for silhouettes, always have been, and when they’re done in such a unique and awesome-looking way I just can never get enough.

Number #3

An absolutely iconic shot, and for good reason, this is just absolutely fantastic in every way. The center framing of Ellie, the different colored lighting, it’s just so gorgeous.

Number #2

God, this one is so good. I can feel the emotional gut-punch just looking at it. The composition here is so good, and the warm lighting and colors gives the whole thing this gorgeous, unique feeling that I just absolutely love. This shot represents the episode: Warm, beautiful, and devastating.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

I love the high camera-angle and the shallow depth of field. This was just a shot that really captured my attention—it just looks excellent!

I debated between this one and the mall shot, and while the mall shot won out, this one absolutely deserves a mention. The lighting steals the show here; the blues, pinks, and purples, the neon lights, it’s just absolutely fantastic.

I love the composition and (you guessed it) the lighting. I also love how it contrasts with the flashback, using more muted and dull colors while still looking great.

This shot just hits the spot. The composition, the lighting, how well the tone is indicated through it, the attention to detail for the Boston QZ in the window. It’s just awesome.

Number #1

The carousel sequence was so gorgeous, but this shot stood out to me especially. I love Riley standing and Ellie on the horse. I love the center-framing. I love the lights reflected in the glass. I love the palpable emotion in the shot—I just love this one.

Tune in for ep 8 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots From Every Ep of TLOU

Episode 8

TW: Gore, David (blegh)

Number #5

This is a pretty “blink and you’ll miss it” shot from the chase scene, but once again, the use of focus and composition here is brilliant. The symbolism of David looming over his men, neatly lined up to him, is so, so good. But also it just looks fantastic!

Number #4

This shot is so good. The show once again uses its shallow depth of field to add to the suspense and intensity of the cinematography. I’m an absolute sucker for shots in which the threat in the background is out of focus, and this one just does it so well. It’s just so good!!

Number #3

The ultra wide shots may never miss, but neither do the ultra close-up shots (or any shots but… y’know…). This is just such a beautiful shot. The horizontal side-profile is incredible, and so is the subtle contrasting lighting. Pedro really sells it, too. You can see the emotion in his eyes.

Number #2

Episode 8 of TLOU is the least scenic of the episodes. It takes place in ruined houses and gray cells, far calls from the cityscapes or wilderness of the other episodes. Yet somehow the director and cinematographer were able to use lighting, focus, and composition to keep this episode as gorgeous as the rest of them. Nowhere is that more evident than in this picture, that somehow the show’s signature shallow depth of field to make these patterns out of the out of focus chain-link and bricks. It’s just a really well done, fantastic looking shot.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

A couple gorgeous wide-shots

So good. So, so, so good. The intensity of this shot is palpable. Bella Ramsey is just such an incredible actor!

Great job to the writers and Scott Shepherd, because I genuinely hate David so much that I tried avoiding putting him on my list as much as possible. This was originally #3 but I just… I just couldn’t do it…

This one’s amazing. The contrast, the rim-lighting, it’s just really well done and pretty.

Number #1

God, what to even say about this shot? Not only is it gorgeous, with incredible lighting and the shallow depth of field making the flames out of focus, but it’s also the equivalent of a gut punch in the form of a single frame. The dark, the shifting light, Bella Ramsey’s unreal acting—it’s just incredible. Truly, truly incredible.

Dishonorable Mention…

I hate this shot. I fucking hate this shot. I hate it so, so much. No shot has ever given me such a visceral, disgusted reaction… …but that was the goal so… good job I guess…?

Tune in for ep 9 tmrw!

My Top 5 Shots of Every Episode of TLOU

Episode 9

TW: Gore

Number #5

What can I say? I just think this one is gorgeous. It represents why The Last of Us HBO’s cinematography works so damn well. It’s subtle, atmospheric, and gritty, while still being absolutely gorgeous. I love the dingy yellows, and the rim-lighting on Marlene. Just a fantastically put together shot.

Number #4

This shot is absolutely brutal in the best way. In the show, the camera doesn’t show the bodies of dead people, opting to go the route of showing the main characters when someone dies. It’s this really effective way to make the violence more impactful and character-driven. During the hospital massacre, however, they very purposefully don’t do that. They show the bodies. They show the people falling. It’s this really affective subtle twisting of the knife that gives this sequence this really unique and incredible tone of shock, and it absolutely wouldn’t have worked without the buildup of amazing, character driven violence until then. Small (“small” tangent aside, the shot itself absolutely rocks! The high-angle of the body squished against the stairs. Joel scavenging the dead man for parts. It’s so brutal and clinical, another thing the hospital sequence does incredibly. It’s an extremely affective, amazing shot.

Number #3

This show’s ultra wide shots just go so hard, but this one even more than most. The dreary sky, the ultra wide on Anna showcasing the field and the city in the background… it’s so atmospheric and just absolutely fantastic. Bravo.

Number #2

What can I even say about this shot? The lighting. The contrast. Ashley’s incredible acting. It’s just incredible.

Before I reveal my #1, here are some honorable mentions…

It’s the symbolism here more than the shot that makes this absolutely excellent. But Joel taking Ellie out of the light just hits so hard I couldn’t not include this somewhere.

Another absolutely gorgeous side-view shot, it’s just so good!! The reason this one isn’t number five is because there was already another amazing side view on here…

I debated this and the other Anna shot for number two, and while the other one came out on top, this one is just so gorgeous and emotional I couldn’t not include it.

This one’s just really pretty lol

Number #1

I don’t even know how to express how good this shot is. It works on so many levels, and in so many ways. It’s dark and emotional and it has incredible contrast (all things that describe episode 9 as a whole) Ellie over Joel’s shoulder, in the dark, with the gorgeous rim-lighting and the deep blues… it’s just incredible. INCREDIBLE.

That’s all for now, folks! I’ll do this again when s2 comes out!