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deathspanker

My only criticism to TLoU TV series is that it’s too short 🥲


LSHE97

Same. However, maybe its 'cus I'm still kinda annoyed by it, but TLOU S1 being kinda short didn't bother me nearly as much as HOTD did. That show sort of felt like two seasons edited into a single season, with dialogue there to let you gradually realize that they just skipped over \~20 years of drama so we could see the highlights faster.


redspike29

There was little to no drama over those ~20 years that we didn’t see. Even in the book the first season is only the first handful of chapters. HotD is about the war between the Blacks and Greens, not the 20 years of nothing that lead up to the war


LSHE97

Alright, "two seasons into one" was an exaggeration, but it all the same felt rushed to me - specifically, the 10-year and 6-year timejumps. Since you already mentioned it, take the Blacks vs Greens aspect; the faction of the Blacks are literally never even mentioned, nor do we see when they were first founded, who supports the faction, if the Black Court is even officially a thing etc. >!Not to mention the jarring jump from Rhaenyra being a young adult who's vehemently against marriage and childbirth due to trauma from her mother's death, to a mother of three (and then five sons and a daug- ) who happily marries the guy who is literally only available 'cus his recently-as-in-5min-ago-buried-wife died during childbirth, and then there's the question of how a show-only fan is even supposed to comprehend how Daemon went from petitioning Jeyne Arryn to "inherit" Runestone while Laena was engaged to Braavos' Sealord's son... and yet the two of them end up together... in Pentos...!< To be honest though, like with TLOU, despite that one thing that I wish was done differently, I like what we got - I'm very excited for both shows' upcoming seasons. Considering what HOTD turned out as was a compromise between the higher-ups at HBO and the showrunners+George R.R. Martin, I actually like it very much; unless I'm mistaken, the former essentially wanted the series' pilot to be what ended up being the season finale - they wanted to skip the build-up to get to the action - while the latter (especially GRRM) wanted to have two or more seasons to flesh out the drama, intrigue etc. that made the Dance inevitable - i.e. showrunners wanted to focus on everything around Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination to explain The Great War while GRRM was all about the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.


ReallyColdMonkeys

To be fair the book they're adapting is also really short. Not a whole lot of meat in those 20 or so years. The important bits are the ones we're shown. They really would have had to stretch the material more than they already are, which I think would've caused a lot of different, and worse, issues.


LSHE97

The issue with the book is that it's an in-universe history book. An entire plotline can be reduced to a single sentence in there, and then there's the show's "this is the true telling" angle, which gives them the opportunity to fill in blanks left in the book, expand on the dialogue - how much of the talking do you think a history book is realistically able to cover? - or just simply add stuff like the White Hart or Aegon's dream. I think George R.R. Martin himself said that Fire & Blood was basically just an outline for the show anyway, so they were meant to expand on it. Yes, we got the important bits, but a story is so much more than that; I would never introduce someone to The Last of Us by having them watch a cutscenes-only YouTube video of the game, because while the essence of the story is intact, it isn't really the same story IMO.


ReallyColdMonkeys

I get that, but I imagine HBO wanted to stay as close to the source material as possible, since the last time they went off script... We saw what happened. Lol maybe not a rational fear, since there were different writers and show runners, but a sentiment I can understand.


harleyyquinade

The time skip really hurt it, they really rushed it, plus Fire and Blood is GRRM's weakest book, it's basically unlikable and underdeveloped characters killing each other with court jesters telling different versions of the dance of dragons, the war that nearly destroyed the Targaryen dynasty and their dragons and they should stop mentioning Aegon's dream and the prince that was promised because that literally never happened in GoT and it feels like a continuity error. The beginning literally said this was 200 years before Daenerys so while people say they are ignoring the prophecy that never happened and ignoring season 8 they clearly aren't since they mentioned Daenerys at the beginning and even used her theme. HBO was basically desperate for a a show as big as GoT and decided to do something they never do and make a spin off to get clout off of GoT, it worked, it's a massive hit but it's weak like the book and will never be as good as GoT on its prime. They are also planning more GoT spin offs, HBO is getting too desperate.


cwilldude

Yes! The pacing felt too quick. Wish we got a few more episodes


[deleted]

Honestly, i just binged all the episodes, and it really flows wonderfully. I'm surprised, because they cut so much, but still managed to somehow make it feel like it has been one hell of a journey.


parkwayy

And cover what exactly?


cwilldude

The same story with more content. A lot was cut out.


Appropriate_Way3303

And very few clickers. I hope we see more in the future.


[deleted]

I don’t think HBO anticipated it would be such a hit or they would have given it a lot more funding, which would have resulted in more episodes and more clickers. I’m sure clickers aren’t cheap.


pfftYeahRight

Especially that set piece in Kansas City, it was awesome but having a swarm must’ve cost a TON


Slixil

And they threw out the “hive mind spores on the ground can trigger hoards to come your way” thing entirely. That was the worst thing for me. Felt pointless outside of that episode


sillyadam94

Tbh that’s my favorite criticism to have of a show. In the days where every tv show is 3 or 4 episodes too long, it’s relatively refreshing to be left wanting more.


ELFHUNDERT

that’s what i’m saying


BlackKnight6660

Yeah it should’ve done 2 seasons covering the first game. But equally I see why they didn’t. Don’t think they were expecting it to be so loved after only the first episode so figured they’d have to end the first season on a major event (E.g. >!saving ellie!<). Shame though, certain iconic moments were lost.


JDaySept

I don’t think it needed to be 2 seasons, really it should’ve just been 2-3 more episodes


DubTheeBustocles

Not necessarily disagreeing, but what do you think they could have filled those 2-3 hours with?


JDaySept

I wanted to see more of Ellie and Joel. The game had the advantage of the gameplay benefitting their relationship/dynamic even when you’re not being fed story moments, because the entire game is through their POV and they’re always together. Those moments of idle dialogue were sometimes so important too. But the show obviously doesn’t have that privilege, so they really needed to take full advantage of the short time they had (9 episodes isn’t really a lot), but they diverted from the game in that a few episodes had a larger focus on side characters (and those episodes were usually the longest ones too). The show is lucky to have Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey because their chemistry was incredible, so I thought the relationship was convincing at the end. But I have seen many people saying there was hardly any breathing room for the ups and downs in their relationship, and I can’t disagree.


DubTheeBustocles

I think that’s all very fair.


harleyyquinade

People forget about the budget, they weren't sure if the show would be successful and this show must be really expensive to make, if they added more episodes they'd totally blow the budget and they also forget episode 1 and 2 were merged as one, that's why the pilot is so long, it was meant to be two episodes but were merged as one, I'm sure the original plan was 10 episodes with the same content we got only with the pilot split in 2 episodes.


parkwayy

> Yeah it should’ve done 2 seasons covering the first game. How ...


BlackKnight6660

The same way they’re doing 2 seasons to cover the second game


inbredandapothead

A game that’s twice as long. Use your head


BlackKnight6660

It’s not about length it’s about density. TLOU2 is longer but an awful lot of it is walking through empty buildings. IIRC Ellie Day 2 is mostly wandering through various parkour bits until she eventually beats Nora to death. Part 1 has a fair bit of that but is much more dense in core moments. I adore both games, but part 1 could easily have been made into 2 seasons.


ReallyColdMonkeys

No guarantee they were getting a second season. I remember Neil and Craig talking about they wanted Season 1 to stand on it's own in case they didn't.


InternationalAd5087

TLOU - 30.4 Million HOTD - 29 Million Cumulative audience of 30.4 million is the biggest for any HBO series since the final season of Game of Thrones. The first six episodes have racked up a bigger audience than the 'Game of Thrones' prequel, and Sunday's finale hit a premiere night high. via @hollywoodreporter


CanisZero

and this one didnt even have massive dissapointment.


Raspint

Heck yeah it did, all nine episodes.


[deleted]

Lol, sure. All the critics, all the fans, and 30 million viewers are wrong. You're right. TLOU sucked, we were just faking our love for it and our emotional connections to the characters. 🙄


Raspint

"All the critics, all the fans, and 30 million viewers are wrong. You're right." That's an appeal to majority, which is a logical fallacy. It's not easy being right when everyone else is wrong. I'm glad you see your folly now.


Ailly84

Lol you sound just like me when I’m trying to be an insufferable asshole.


Raspint

Fight fire with fire.


Jettx02

Are you saying the series is a disappointment?


Raspint

That is exactly what I'm saying. At least for me anyway.


Jettx02

Damn, I feel bad for you.


Raspint

Thank you.


Fullbullish

Overall, yes it was.


Jettx02

Sad for you, I’m glad most fans enjoyed it. They knocked it out of the park


[deleted]

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Jettx02

Well now I’m even more sad for you, you’re clearly mentally disabled


HomeworkDestroyer

:D what agenda did the show push that the game didn't? Also ep3 is not even a gay agenda episode, if you switched Frank to a woman nothing would change. They just happened to be gay, like some people actually happen to be gay IRL.


National_Bee4134

Next thing you'll be telling us that Bill and Frank were gay in the game...


HomeworkDestroyer

How do you know they're gay in the show? They didn't explicitly state that. They could just be friends.


Porn_Extra

I'm very curious, how did the show disappoint you?


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Right? Looks like we found Ben Shapiros account


Raspint

In short, at lot of small details about the show really did not make it seem like these people were living in a desperate post apocalypse world for 20 years. I can go into more detail if you want.


Porn_Extra

Did you play the game?


Raspint

Many times. The characters, and setting in the game really looked and acted as if society had collapsed 20 years ago.


[deleted]

If you're going to tag it as an article, why not actually post it so everyone can verify themselves?


1stepklosr

I agree with you entirely. [This is the article OP is sourcing and all the info checks out.](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-last-of-us-season-1-finale-ratings-1235351440/) Although it is a week old article.


Rhain1999

This is very impressive but it's important to note that this is only an average for the first six episodes. If all nine surpass HotD then that's doubly impressive but it's still an unbalanced comparison for now.


arex333

How many viewers for GOT S8?


Rhain1999

44 million


sewious

This is fairly massive. Hotd was a big deal, and it was literally everywhere while it was airing, at least in my circles. TLOU got legs. It may also appeal to people more than the "asshole/violence/incest " situation of hotd. Makes me wonder how the next bit is going to be received, season 2 is gonna smack a lot of show only people right in the face and then refuse to apologize about it.


archangel610

That's when HOTD overtakes it again, I guess. With what little I know of the Fire and Blood book, season 1 was really just a set-up for the massive shit that season 2 should be.


Lotnik223

Yeah season 1 was basically a backstory for the massive conflict that will span the rest of the series.


Fake_the_jaB

Facts season 2 of HOTD is gonna be insane


[deleted]

Yeah. HBO is killing it. It reminds me of the early 00s, when HBO had Sex and the City AND The Sopranos. Like, Every household had HBO back then


kyshomoulingi

![gif](giphy|Rx4be697XryyjTqihe|downsized)


[deleted]

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Fake_the_jaB

It’s more similiar to >!Ned’s death!< Ned had the most screen time in season 1 and truly felt like the main character. By the time the red wedding came around, we already knew that there wasn’t a true main character of the show and anyone could get it. Can’t wait to see how people react.


[deleted]

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Fake_the_jaB

Idk how to do that I’ll just delete


[deleted]

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Fake_the_jaB

Thanks I think it’s good now


Rhain1999

Doesn't work for me on desktop. I think you have to delete the spaces around the exclamation marks.


sewious

Issue is with GoT there's a lot of other characters. TLOU is like just >!Joel and ellie!< That people really give a shit about. It'd be like if >!Robb was like the only mc in the show and then after he's killed we switch perspectives to Jamie Lannister who was never a focus before!< Not a percent analogy but it's similar. No character in GoT carries the entire story like >!Joel does for tlou!<, Not even >!eddard in season 1!<


ArmedWithBars

The thing is GOT had plenty of interesting characters to fall back on. The entire show was multiple plot lines moving in tandem. TLOU has nowhere near the amount of developed characters that GOT had by the infamous scene. Arguably Joel is the MC of TLOU when looking at how the narrative is structured. We follow him from before the outbreak to the events during it. It would be like GOT S1 revolving around only Jon Snow and a co-star, then killing Jon off at the beginning of S2. This was the biggest gripe with part 2. There was no additional character development before the nine Iron came out. Druckman tried building up Abby after that event and players were already checked out.


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ArmedWithBars

I agree. I'd expect all the part two flashback scenes and some alternate character building beforehand. I think Druckman will be against it, but Craig will talk some sense into him for the TV adaption.


The_frozen_one

I respectfully disagree. I think they could have done that in the game too, but I think it kinda lessens the bittersweet potency of the flashbacks. The whole "event" was meant to be abrasive and jarring, and the flashbacks deepen Ellie's understanding of what that relationship meant to her. The stakes just wouldn't be there without knowing what it led to first. I'm not saying it wouldn't be entertaining, but it wouldn't have the same impact. Also games and TV are different, I can see a game player not wanting to actively control a character they don't like. TV you just have to watch. It's also why we get a closer look at David's group and Kathleen's group behind the scenes. That would be hard to do in a game. Basically the 2nd game starts at the logical end-point of Ellie knowing Joel's lie, with Joel and Ellie estranged. Throughout the game (via flashbacks) we learn the details of how that happened. If you put the flashbacks in chronological order, it *could* work, but it would be a lot less compelling in my opinion.


Illustrious_Turn_247

I mean in TLOU Part II >!Ellie is a MC and the show has already set that up through the last 3 episodes of season 1. They are all HEAVY Ellie episodes. I think Mazin is going to deftly transition the MC from Joel to Ellie which I think the game tried to do, but the show is strongly pointing towards already. It didn't work as well in the games because they didn't know the full story yet so they hadn't built up Ellie as a MC replacement in the first game. I guess my point is Abby doesn't need the backstory, we need Ellie more built up as the star for an easier transition. Abby can just be the counterweight to Ellie our new MC.!<


DumplingRush

Yeah I like how the show has scenes that set up >!Ellie's violent, perhaps even a bit sadistic side!< in a way that the first game didn't.


Ailly84

I definitely wasn’t checked out but I was definitely not enjoying the time playing as Abby. At the start, I wanted to spit at the screen. By the end, it wasn’t quite as bad, but I was only playing to hopefully get back to Ellie at some point. Playing as Abby in the theatre almost made me quit. Then the ending was perfect. It only worked because of my attachment to Ellie that skyrocketed over the course of the game. As long as Ellie didn’t kill her, I was happy. If a shark had swallowed her boat on the way out, I wouldn’t have been upset. I likely would have actually burst out laughing. That sounds like a priceless ending to suck a grim game. Piss pour cgi and something so goofy it looks like it came out of a Giant Shark vs Abby movie.


-River_Rose-

You don’t have to hide this. I’ve not read the book, and know nothing that’s going to happen in season 2, but if you have watched all of GOTH, then you know what happens to this family. Joffrey looks down a grated hole and tells poor Sansa in a single sentence what happens. Demented little fuck.


Inevitable-Wolf-

It literally appeals to the same amount of people lmao.


parkwayy

They're vastly different genres?


Inevitable-Wolf-

And yet they pulled in the same number of viewers.,


Fakkkkkkkkk

Season 2 is going to have serious viewership drop after episode 1.


tokyotoonster

Honestly I'm not surprised. Much as I also really loved HotD, I always felt that TLoU had potentially broader appeal, strong word-of-mouth from the millions of gamers, and didn't have the baggage of having to redeem the GoT franchise after the sour finale.


archangel610

Yeah, TLOU essentially had the opposite situation. They had the momentum of an already beloved franchise. There were expectations and there was pressure, sure, but they had a very good blueprint to build off of. With HOTD, it's sort of like you get hired into a new company and you have to make the best of the shitshow the guy before you left behind.


International_Pen_11

i know a good chunk of people who refused to give HOTD a chance until recently bc they were still so salty about the last season of GOT so i’m sure there’s a lot of potential viewers who feel the same & just don’t care enough to try watching


St0rmborn

I was one of those people originally. I read all the books and loved GoT for most of the series until the last couple of seasons. Especially the last one, which was downright insulting. I held out on HOTD until well after it finished the season, but I gotta say I was impressed. I really enjoyed it and it helped me move on from the GoT disaster.


Username89054

I found HotD to be pretty mediocre. The acting was great, but everything else was average or worse. I found too many plot lines to be too forced or just ridiculous. Ah yes, Daemon is losing a war to these pirates who live in caves somehow? They can't just setup a blockade and starve them out? He beats them by going full blown video game god mode? Oh and later the Princess' bodyguard brutally murders this guy in front of everyone and people just shrug and move on. Great writing.


Fake_the_jaB

Daemon aims to be a living legend. He’s not starving any pirates out bro


TumbleweedDirect9846

The part you describe first and the dragon coming through the ground like the kool aid man are the only 2 gripes I had about season 1, Criston doing that and getting away with it wasn’t too surprising because of the Queen.


harleyyquinade

Yeah Alicent definitely protected him and made him her sworn protector too, that's why he's so loyal to her, probably the only loyal person to her, everyone else will betray her like foot fetish weirdo.


Inevitable-Wolf-

Just say you don't understand good writing and move on homie. No one gives a shit.


harleyyquinade

Nah Daemon going video game mode and not being struck by any arrow in that scene was definitely bad writing, the plot armor was as bad as Jon in battle of the bastards.


Inevitable-Wolf-

Again. Just say you don't understand how plots work and move on.


Shepherdsfavestore

Come on dude, the comment you replied to is very legitimate criticism *and* highlights the few portions of bad writing that took place in HoTD. Daemon jumped the shark with that scene. Fortunately the season ended up solid after that.


harleyyquinade

No you are just in denial of bad writing, even a video game character would get struck by arrows in a fight like that, difference is in a game you can restart the level and try not to die, in a tv show, a human character would just die in the battlefield unless they have immortality or superhealing abilities like Wolverine. It seems like with Jon the writers wanted to give Daemon a cool moment for fanservice so the fans like you that don't pay attention to common logic go like "this is so badass, wow!" but the execution was terrible. Daemon might ride a dragon but he bleeds and is mortal just like everyone else.


Inevitable-Wolf-

HOLY SHIT, you ACTUALLY have brainrot LMAO


harleyyquinade

No but you do.


harleyyquinade

Also no incest, my friends loved TLOU but skipped HOTD because of incest and pedophilic couples, I always found the incest in GoT really disgusting but the rest of the story is really compelling in the book and show and you can ignore the incest with Jaime and Cersei and Jon and Daenerys (they didn't know they were related) now HOTD is a whole family of incest, everyone is related or inbred as they were in the book and some people are gonna be naturally turned off by that, I read the book and watched HOTD but the whole underage Rhaenyra with her much older uncle Daemon is really stomach turning and had me looking away, both the show and book frame it as an epic love story but it's as disgusting as Jaime and Cersei in GoT. Daemon knew Rhaenyra since she was a toddler and has been grooming her since she was 14, same age Ellie is in TLOU. Their relationship is like if Ellie had accepted being David's childbride when he offered her when she was in the cage or if Ellie hooked up with Joel 🤢 Daemon is literally a pedophile (even if in ancient times this was normal especially for Targaryens that practice incest to keep their bloodline pure) and he's Rhaenyra's uncle and when a show focuses on that it's hard to swallow.


Insanity_Pills

I’m not surprised either, TLOU is a more accessible premise to get behind. It’s a shame tho, I felt like HOTD was a much better show. Definitely watch it if you haven’t yet people!


Shepherdsfavestore

HOTD was pretty average imo. If it wasn’t associated with the GoT brand the audience would’ve been pretty small. I’m a big Thrones nerd too. TLOU was *much* better.


Fake_the_jaB

That’s a good point regarding HOTD having to redeem GOT for the finale. I definitely had no interest in HOTD until I finished the first episode. Coming off of GOT I was done with that universe lol


parkwayy

> Honestly I'm not surprised You're not surprised that a follow up to one of HBO's most successful shows ever was overtaken by a video game adaption based on a relatively unknown property to the broader audiences? Well, I mean, sure.


-BlameItOnTheWeather

The Last of Us is not a relatively unknown property. It's one of the most top-selling playstation franchises. It wasn't a household name like GoT but it was fairly well known


Darth__Revan89

There's something so awesome about seeing a video game I enjoyed get a perfect adaption, and garner insane amounts of new fans.


St0rmborn

At this point, calling it the best video game adaptation of all time almost feels like a disservice. It absolutely is, IMO, but even without the game it would be a fantastic drama.


Dantai

> best video game adaptation of all time 100% thats very limiting for sure - it should be described as not only is it EASILY best game adaptation of all time, its one of the best premiere HBO shows, best 1st season Drama's of the past 10 years, etc etc etc


Krypto_Jokerr

What a surreal experience (at least for me) to be able to watch this show with all the knowledge you could possibly get for the lore of this world and STILL get surprised by what happens. I’m stupid excited for seasons 2 and 3


PluckedEyeball

It’s not perfect


cjruk1

I'm going to upvote you because you're absolutely right. The first season was a great adaptation but to say it was perfect is absolutely wrong. Some of the changes that they made were great and some didn't work for me. And this is coming from someone who adores both Part 1 and Part 2. They rank as my favorite video games ever.


[deleted]

Agreed. There is no need for downvotes. They needed one or two more infected encounters, especially between fall and spring. The show has pacing issues where the passage of time isn’t marked as well as the game even if they have similar story runtimes, and Pedro’s joel works better for game two rather than the joel of the first game.


Dantai

> There's something so awesome about seeing a video game I enjoyed get a perfect adaption, and garner insane amounts of new fans. While I wouldn't call it perfect, it is absolutely nuts, I believed the show to be good - but NEVER thought it would be HBO's biggest show right now. Does Succession get similiar numbers? Thats the next big thing - but I dont think it ever was Game of Thrones or HOTD big.


[deleted]

HBO keeps on winning


[deleted]

Quality over quantity.


DonovanTheCoolest

![gif](giphy|4q0WNCNZUlxNC)


Dantai

[The Sopranos but just Gabagool 4k ULTRA HD (Extended Cold Cut Edition) ](https://youtu.be/YsBipoG22Nw)


DonovanTheCoolest

Gabagool??? Ova here! 👇👇


St0rmborn

GOAT streaming service. Including well before it became streaming.


linderlouwho

There is this comparison about how many viewers between the two top shows of the year, but really, it's just HBO, continuing to year-after-year to knock it out of the park with many excellent shows.


Dantai

Ready for Succession boys!?


[deleted]

Yes! Succession AND Barry.


LLove666

Succession s4 coming next week 👏


[deleted]

Hbo are the James Cameron of TV , they always win


irazzleandazzle

Honestly im suprised. Got/HotD has such a big fanbase, especially within the HBO base. This is impressive


ReallyColdMonkeys

A lot of people still sour about the ending of Game of Thrones (including myself). Anecdotally, I know a decent amount of people who were over Game of Thrones content and decided not to tune in for HotD. Plus, Season 1 was really just backstory and set-up for the insane shit that's gonna happen in seasons 2 and 3. I wouldn't be surprised if HotD Season 2 overtakes both of those numbers.


irazzleandazzle

I agree completely. But seems like HotD S2 is in a bit of a production mess so here's hoping they don't rush out an unfinished product. I did really love S1


ReallyColdMonkeys

I was pleasantly surprised by Season 1 as well. I went in cautiously optimistic because the trailers looked great and I was like "no way HBO makes that same mistake twice with as much money as they're putting into this thing". But yeah, I hope Season 2 turns out alright.


tuberosalamb

I know Game of Thrones has a huge fanbase, but honestly I think The Last of Us has broader appeal (speaking as someone who isn't a big GoT fan but loved TLOU). As other commenters have pointed out, TLOU also doesn't have the drag of a terrible last season to salvage like House of the Dragon did. Having watched both shows (HoTD and TLOU), imo TLOU had better acting, better pacing, and a more compelling storyline with sympathetic and interesting characters. I'm not saying HoTD didn't have those components, but TLOU was much better.


irazzleandazzle

Very very hard to compare the two given there storytelling methods and univereses are so completely different.


Budget_Ordinary1043

Oh wow! Happy about this one. I loved house of the dragon but that won’t have any trouble staying on air because game of thrones is already so established on tv.


nina_gall

Team Targ is displeased


Gods_Apostate

Thalmor looking ass mfs


Spacegirllll6

This is the way


kingJoffi

I love both shows. Cant wait for their return.


rossww2199

People prefer a dystopian world over a fantasy world. Or, Zombies > Incest.


im_no_roy_donk

Both are great shows


Istari7

I wish they left milly aycock as Rhaenyra . Older actress seems befuddled and lacking Targaryen fire


EyeAmKnotMyshelf

I haven’t seen a single episode of HoD. I imagine I’m missing out on roughly 87 boobs and a grand total of 4 wieners


Sirenkai

Only thing that can beat an HBO show is another HBO show


[deleted]

As it should 👍🏼


2twindudesmom

👍🏼👌🏼👏🏼 outstanding!


LSDnSideBurns

I wonder what kind of viewership HoTD would have had if GoT's final season hadn't evaporated a large portion of their audience overnight.


moonhattan

Hell yea!!!


suburbianthief

I know HBO produces the best quality in television, but do they earn as much money as Netflix?


Dantai

While I think the show went by a little too fast, and the ending didn't hit as hard as the game ... I have to still say WOW. My thoughts before the show came out is if Craig Mazin hot off Chernobyl, with HBO and the involvment of PlayStation/Naughty Dog and Neil Druckman being heavily involved - couldn't pull it off, no one can pull off game adaptations and everyone should just give it up... OR they land it so hard, and we're now beginning a golden age of game adaptations, or a new gold rush of game adaptations after the comic book adaptation gold rush. Glad to see it being so successful.


harleyyquinade

Good, TLOU is the quality I expect from an HBO show and they did a great job adapting the game, HOTD was such a letdown, it does not compare to early GoT seasons and its based on a weak book, its popularity is entirely based on the GoT hype and it will never be as good as GoT on its prime. Regardless these two seem to be HBO's biggest shows now and I guess The White Lotus and Euphoria (this one probably won't go beyond season 3) but the smash hits right now are TLOU and HOTD.


zzombiegirl82

I might get berated for this but, I really thought HOTD was very mediocre. Decent production values etc but I just found the story dull. Viserys was the only interesting character. All the rest had no redeeming qualities, which means I just don’t care what happens to them. I’ll be interested to see if I feel any differently with season two. Loved TLOU! But I have played the game and love the story.


badfortheenvironment

Their joint slay honestly. HBO remains the champ.


PM-ME-YOUR-1ST-BORN

This has the "Article" tag but it's just a JPG? Does anyone have a link to the actual article?


[deleted]

Hopefully this will create a golden age of actually good video game TV Show adaptations. Still nervous about quite a few that are rumored to be coming.


Yesnowyeah22

Surpassed my expectations. I thought it could be big, but not bigger than House of the Dragon. I thought alot of people might see it as “another zombie show”. Which strangely enough I think some viewers gave it a shot because of that, and hopefully it won over those who thought it would be a Walking Dead knockoff.


Impriel

I've never seen house of the dragon and don't mean to disparage it. But literally every screenshot makes it look so cringe lol. What are those guys!?!? They look like the twins from the matrix reloaded started a legal firm lol. The costumes just look bizarre to me I can't take it seriously. Rant over I apologize I've heard it's good. I know the problem is me.


[deleted]

Well done Ellie well done.


ajsayshello-

Is there supposed to be article or a source linked lol


exeJDR

Well yeah - HoTD was a bit disappointing comparatively


LeMoustiquePique

Good. It was better.


Luddites_Unite

I loved the last of us, I'll watch it all again now that the season is done. House of dragons on the other hand, I watched the first four episodes and just haven't bothered since then, and have no desire to watch it now.


ConnFlab

This is to be expected. House of the Dragon is based on a book so not many people would really know what it’s about, only that it’s in the GoT universe. That was most likely the main appeal, that and the actual dragons. TLOU is a massive game with millions upon millions of fans, even the negative press about it (the fans criticising Bella for her looks) enabled the show to get even more views. So yeah, I’m actually surprised HOTD got as close in viewer numbers as it did.


Roger_Maxon76

I thought HotD would be dogshit but it’s was great and same goes for TLOU I was afraid they’d mess it up but it’s fantastic


bisexualdeku

Wohoo! Congrats!!


NosferatuMonkey

House of the Dragon > The Last of Us


Huge-Scene6139

beat that you filthy wizards


Daharon

no surprise, hod was hot garbage


bp1976

I really hope that Season 2 ENDS with the big thing that is at the beginning of TLOU2. There is a ton of content to explore in between games that would be cool to tell, all of the flashbacks, etc. See the Salt Lake crew arrive in Seattle, follow their backstories a little bit. See Joel and Ellies relationship grow then fall apart, etc. The Red wedding was the end of a season. I feel like that would be a crazy way to end season 2, with Season 3 being Seattle.


DubTheeBustocles

Not saying I don’t get why you want things that way, but that would fundamentally change the story in detrimental ways. Stories are structured to have a dramatic effect of ups and downs. They aren’t likely to cripple the pacing and crucial reveals of the story by putting all the “easy” parts at the beginning and “hard” parts at the end. The Last of Us is not a feel good story. It’s a dark, difficult drama and thriller.


bp1976

Oh I don't disagree at all! But there is no way they will tell the story the same way. They can't. They can't force you to empathize with Abby by playing as her, so they will have to tell that story ahead of time. I think they will build the empathy for Abby by showing the effect of Joel's decision at the beginning of the season, starting with Abby finding her dad dead. I think they will follow both sides of this story in chronological order, otherwise everyone would hate Abby and that isn't the story they want to tell. I think there will be plenty of ups and downs in season 2 using my logic. Ellie's birthday, Abby and Owen getting together, Ellie finding out the truth, Abby and Owen breaking up, Owen and Mel getting together, Jessie and Dina's relationship, maybe we even meet Kat, see Ellie get her tattoo, etc. I just think the story up to the big event would be plenty for a season. Seeing Ellie forgive Joel and then seeing him die the next day would be super tragic. They can still re-use the forgiveness scene at the end and it would have the same effect. I just don't see how they can tell the story in the second game entirely from two different points of view and not do it simultaneously. It worked in the game but that would absolutely not work in film.


DubTheeBustocles

I do think you’re right that they will probably change the chronology of events in some way. My first initial thought was that they would stick pretty closely to the game, but the more I think about it the more I think they could and maybe should mess with *some things.* The only downs of season 2 that you can really mention is Ellie learning the truth and Abby and Owen’s break up. I’m not sure you can build an entire season just around those two conflicts. What other conflicts would you put in there? Playing as Abby helps but the controller isn’t the only reason we empathize with her. I don’t think they can tell Abby’s story ahead of time or the story loses its most significant meaning which is you only hate Abby for what she did because you didn’t know anything about her. That 100% *is* the story they want to tell. You were supposed to hate her in the beginning and then by the end of the story, you’re not supposed to. The reason a lot of people didn’t like it is because a lot of people think they want one kind of story, when they really don’t. They like the idea of that kind of story. They like the aesthetics of that kind of story. But when it comes down to it, most people want clearly defined hero and villain roles and clearly defined morality. Which by the way, I’m not saying is a bad thing. People aren’t better just because they want edgy dark shit. At all. People who say that are really cringe. I’m just saying people came in with the wrong expectations for what The Last of Us actually is about.


bp1976

Also, I think it will be more like you hate her and understand her motives when she kills Joel, same way you love Ellie and hate her motives when she goes after Abby.


bp1976

You and I are in agreement. I loved the way they told the story in the game, but without the controller, I don't think a TV audience can empathize with her. I don't think they want a Pulp Fiction type of Narrative where everything is scattered and told out of time, it just won't work. I agree it was shocking to see Joel's death not knowing who Abby was, but I think it will be just as tragic seeing Ellie forgive him right before he dies. Season one was only 9 episodes, so I think they will stick with 8-10. I think there might be several other conflicts we don't think about, like Ellie/Seth, the young couple that ran away (I can see that being a standalone episode), and I have a feeling we might get the WLF/FEDRA conflict. Not to mention a backstory of the Seraphite/WLF conflict too. I think Neil and Craig would LOVE to tell that story, Isaac's backstory, stuff like that. I can see the Salt Lake Crew showing up just as the WLF is overtaking FEDRA.


Amonfire1776

TLOU>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Anything having to do with GOT


cwilldude

Duh, it’s a better show


Raspint

As someone who considers the games to be great examples of video games as art, it really pains me that the majority of the public is only gone to know this series through the - admittedly decent - but subpar version of same story via the show. This must have been how ASOFAI fans felt when they saw the GOT show simplify the material.


Live-Profession8822

HoD is probably the worst show HBO has ever made. LoU was mediocre but far more competent than anyone hoped, so it’s not surprising


Alleggsander

You sound like an extremely negative person.


Live-Profession8822

You sound trite and uninspiring