A part of me tried to carry out hope that they may change that destiny for the present—they’ve modified a number of different stuff in regards to the narrative, together with rather a lot about Henry and Sam themselves. However actually that was in all probability simply wishful considering born out of a deep reference to the characters. The specifics would possibly change, however this plot beat wanted to remain in there, exactly as a result of it is so emotionally uncooked.
Andrew: I do not understand how each beat goes to play out, however I do know the story is outlined by the Joel-Ellie dyad. Which provides the present this unhappy air of inevitability every time another person joins the social gathering. First with Tess, and now with Henry and Sam. I do not suppose that each ally they make alongside the way in which goes to finish up useless or contaminated or each, however the odds of them heading west with Our Heroes appear fairly unhealthy.
So, you say a number of particulars of the Henry-Sam story are completely different than within the video games, and also you mentioned final week that this Kansas Metropolis story and the characters in it had been completely different from the video games. With out figuring out what’s coming within the subsequent few episodes, what function do the adjustments serve? Simply reformatting issues to be extra workable on TV or one thing else?
Kyle: A number of the adjustments are form 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 offers a stronger narrative point of interest to the extra anarchic Hunters faction within the recreation. I did respect them making an attempt to humanize her a bit of bit along with her memory about her brother and such, however ultimately, I didn’t actually really feel unhealthy when Little Miss “LOL, no trials for these jokers” bought her comeuppance.
Andrew: The present determined it wanted to make Kathleen a monster and humanize her inside simply two episodes, and that’s onerous to do, particularly when all we find out about her brother is instructed and never proven. Melanie Lynskey offers it her finest shot, however on the finish of the day it’s onerous to root for the character advocating for youngster homicide. The way in which that Joel and crew simply form of… depart her to her destiny was form of darkly humorous, whether or not it was meant to be or not.
In contrast, one factor the present managed to determine shortly was the friendship between Ellie and Sam. We have talked about her “robust woman” exterior right here earlier than, however the factor this story hammers house so nicely is that, deep down, she’s only a lonely child who’s shortly realizing that everybody she grows near might depart her.
