RugbyRebels

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:04 am Adaptations of zombie video games couldn't be more different than these two:

The Last of Us is high-quality, grimly serious stuff. Not much originality - it plays as The Walking Dead meets The Road (albeit not quite as depressing) - but the relationship between the leads carries the show.

► Show Spoiler

The last episode is a bit of a let-down, as the indestructible Joel massacres the Fireflies. There could have been an interesting debate about one person's sacrifice for the greater good but the Fireflies are so despicable that we get a bloodbath instead.

Resident Evil is much dumber, but what it loses in quality it makes up for in quantity. There's so much going on, so many twists in the split-timeline story that it's an enjoyable ride, even if you have to switch your brain off occasionally.

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 12:12 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:04 am Adaptations of zombie video games couldn't be more different than these two:

The Last of Us is high-quality, grimly serious stuff. Not much originality - it plays as The Walking Dead meets The Road (albeit not quite as depressing) - but the relationship between the leads carries the show.

► Show Spoiler

The last episode is a bit of a let-down, as the indestructible Joel massacres the Fireflies. There could have been an interesting debate about one person's sacrifice for the greater good but the Fireflies are so despicable that we get a bloodbath instead.

Resident Evil is much dumber, but what it loses in quality it makes up for in quantity. There's so much going on, so many twists in the split-timeline story that it's an enjoyable ride, even if you have to switch your brain off occasionally.

► Show Spoiler

I didn't think the Fireflies were presented as despicable, at least, not more than anybody else. If it's a choice between ending the apocalypse and one death, then I understand (if not necessarily agree with) what they've done. Yes, they're abhorrent for taking away Ellie's agency by doping her and planning to harvest her brain without asking her consent, but Joel is exactly the same by making the decision that everyone who could possibly have come after her needed to die and then lying to her about it, so that she wouldn't have the option to make the choice that he didn't want her to. Everyone's making decisions *for* and *about* Ellie and whether she should be sacrificed to save the world, except for Ellie herself, who they specifically prevent from knowing a choice even exists in case she chooses the "wrong" one.

Puja

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:07 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 12:12 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:04 am Adaptations of zombie video games couldn't be more different than these two:

The Last of Us is high-quality, grimly serious stuff. Not much originality - it plays as The Walking Dead meets The Road (albeit not quite as depressing) - but the relationship between the leads carries the show.

► Show Spoiler

The last episode is a bit of a let-down, as the indestructible Joel massacres the Fireflies. There could have been an interesting debate about one person's sacrifice for the greater good but the Fireflies are so despicable that we get a bloodbath instead.

Resident Evil is much dumber, but what it loses in quality it makes up for in quantity. There's so much going on, so many twists in the split-timeline story that it's an enjoyable ride, even if you have to switch your brain off occasionally.

► Show Spoiler

I didn't think the Fireflies were presented as despicable, at least, not more than anybody else. If it's a choice between ending the apocalypse and one death, then I understand (if not necessarily agree with) what they've done. Yes, they're abhorrent for taking away Ellie's agency by doping her and planning to harvest her brain without asking her consent, but Joel is exactly the same by making the decision that everyone who could possibly have come after her needed to die and then lying to her about it, so that she wouldn't have the option to make the choice that he didn't want her to. Everyone's making decisions *for* and *about* Ellie and whether she should be sacrificed to save the world, except for Ellie herself, who they specifically prevent from knowing a choice even exists in case she chooses the "wrong" one.

Puja

► Show Spoiler

The Fireflies' goal is a good one, even a humanity-saving, heroic one, but their method is pretty 'evil', or is presented as such, especially when compared with the surrogate dad saving his little girl thing that Joel has. I know it's all kind of grim and depressing but the story does make it a lot harder to sympathize with the potential humanity-savers than the homicidal protective dad. It's not exactly presented as a dilemma.

....obviously, morality aside there are big story problems like:
When Joel and Ellie arrive at the Fireflies' hospital they meet Marlene, who sent Joel on the mission in the first place. So why didn't Marlene just bring Ellie herself?
Marlene thinks the contents of Ellie's head are important enough to kill her, but not important enough to kill Joel, or even keep him locked up till the operation is done.
Even after Joel has massacred the Fireflies, the allegedly tough Marlene still makes the (instantly fatal) error of giving him the chance to change his mind rather than shooting him in the back and salvaging her plan to save humanity.

... nonetheless, a good show!

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:33 pm

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Did it have the scene after all of this with Ellie asking Joel about what really happened? I remember feeling very conflicted about Joel's actions, as we're supposed to, but that scene afterwards really made it work and made Ellie a much more interesting character.

I didn't watch much past episode 1 because it was essentially a shot for shot remake of the game for the most part, so it felt like I'd already seen it. I'm still a bit unsure how I feel about that, but I saw the third episode and thought it was really interesting for them to flesh out some of the other characters rather than re-creating cut-scenes. It pissed Ben Shapiro off too so that's another positive.

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 3:04 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:07 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 12:12 pm

► Show Spoiler

I didn't think the Fireflies were presented as despicable, at least, not more than anybody else. If it's a choice between ending the apocalypse and one death, then I understand (if not necessarily agree with) what they've done. Yes, they're abhorrent for taking away Ellie's agency by doping her and planning to harvest her brain without asking her consent, but Joel is exactly the same by making the decision that everyone who could possibly have come after her needed to die and then lying to her about it, so that she wouldn't have the option to make the choice that he didn't want her to. Everyone's making decisions *for* and *about* Ellie and whether she should be sacrificed to save the world, except for Ellie herself, who they specifically prevent from knowing a choice even exists in case she chooses the "wrong" one.

Puja

► Show Spoiler

The Fireflies' goal is a good one, even a humanity-saving, heroic one, but their method is pretty 'evil', or is presented as such, especially when compared with the surrogate dad saving his little girl thing that Joel has. I know it's all kind of grim and depressing but the story does make it a lot harder to sympathize with the potential humanity-savers than the homicidal protective dad. It's not exactly presented as a dilemma.

....obviously, morality aside there are big story problems like:
When Joel and Ellie arrive at the Fireflies' hospital they meet Marlene, who sent Joel on the mission in the first place. So why didn't Marlene just bring Ellie herself?
Marlene thinks the contents of Ellie's head are important enough to kill her, but not important enough to kill Joel, or even keep him locked up till the operation is done.
Even after Joel has massacred the Fireflies, the allegedly tough Marlene still makes the (instantly fatal) error of giving him the chance to change his mind rather than shooting him in the back and salvaging her plan to save humanity.

... nonetheless, a good show!

► Show Spoiler

Oh, the plot holes in the last episode are egregious. Marlene even specifically mentions how dangerous she considers Joel and how big of a risk he is, and then GIVES HIM A KNIFE FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS before ordering him moved with just a couple of guards. It was so incompetent that I originally thought she'd done it on purpose because she wanted him to rescue Ellie. Mind, this is also the show that allowed Joel to get magical penicillin that took him from death's door sepsis and gaping stomach wound to being able to overpower a succession of uninjured men in the space of an afternoon.

I didn't necessarily feel that the Fireflies were presented as evil - obviously they are from the perspective of Joel and his PTSD and trauma and his replacement daughter, but Marlene got to set out her case of "It's Ellie or it's the world" and the surgeon's desperation and pleading resulting in him choosing to die rather than allow this one-off opportunity to fix the planet go. I also liked that Joel's rampage wasn't framed or filmed as a heroic action-hero charge, which is could so easily have been. I was happy with the presentation of the moral dilemma myself, but that's just my perspective.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:33 pm

► Show Spoiler

Did it have the scene after all of this with Ellie asking Joel about what really happened? I remember feeling very conflicted about Joel's actions, as we're supposed to, but that scene afterwards really made it work and made Ellie a much more interesting character.

I didn't watch much past episode 1 because it was essentially a shot for shot remake of the game for the most part, so it felt like I'd already seen it. I'm still a bit unsure how I feel about that, but I saw the third episode and thought it was really interesting for them to flesh out some of the other characters rather than re-creating cut-scenes. It pissed Ben Shapiro off too so that's another positive.

► Show Spoiler

Yes, it had that scene. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were excellent all season, but they outdid themselves in that scene - the clearly broken Joel leaping two footed into treating Ellie as his daughter and Ellie wanting to believe his story, but having her bullshit meter needle flying off the scale.

I've heard it did stay very true to the game all the way through. Good for me, as I haven't played the games, but I had been wondering if there was any value in the adaptation to people who had. The third episode was amazing and made me cry like a baby, as well as the bonus of upsetting Shapiro.

Puja

Numbers wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 1:30 pm I watched Beef last night, 10 episodes around 30 mins long, it's very good entertainment, on Netflix.

I've also seen The Last of Us and found it good, I'm not bothered by Resident Evil so won't be watching that.

I also watched Letterkenny on ITVX, a Canadian comedy, it's daft but quite funny at times.

Blue Lights is a very good crime drama if you like that sort of thing, all episodes available on iPlayer.

I also watched Outlast a reality survival show set in Alaska, it was ok but some of the people in it will most likely make your blood boil.

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 10:29 pm Greg Davies in The Cleaner

The latest Inside No 9 episode

Barry


All great

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 1:49 pm

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 10:29 pm Greg Davies in The Cleaner

The latest Inside No 9 episode

Barry


All great

Was that the game show episode of Inside No. 9? Looks like they still have interesting ideas even in the last season of the show.

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:14 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 1:49 pm

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 10:29 pm Greg Davies in The Cleaner

The latest Inside No 9 episode

Barry


All great

Was that the game show episode of Inside No. 9? Looks like they still have interesting ideas even in the last season of the show.

It was yes. I'd seen some headlines saying record number of complaints about a Lee Mack game show, but hadn't put 2 and 2 together. Did people really think it was a game show? It seems obvious that it wasn't even before the ending. Very very funny.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:49 pm

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:14 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 1:49 pm
Was that the game show episode of Inside No. 9? Looks like they still have interesting ideas even in the last season of the show.

It was yes. I'd seen some headlines saying record number of complaints about a Lee Mack game show, but hadn't put 2 and 2 together. Did people really think it was a game show? It seems obvious that it wasn't even before the ending. Very very funny.

I did wonder how many grannies had heart attacks when

► Show Spoiler

someone's head exploded

on that nice Lee Mack's new show.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

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they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

► Show Spoiler

they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

► Show Spoiler

they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

Numbers wrote: ↑Wed Apr 12, 2023 1:30 pm I watched Beef last night, 10 episodes around 30 mins long, it's very good entertainment, on Netflix.

I've also seen The Last of Us and found it good, I'm not bothered by Resident Evil so won't be watching that.

I also watched Letterkenny on ITVX, a Canadian comedy, it's daft but quite funny at times.

Blue Lights is a very good crime drama if you like that sort of thing, all episodes available on iPlayer.

I also watched Outlast a reality survival show set in Alaska, it was ok but some of the people in it will most likely make your blood boil.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 4:42 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

► Show Spoiler

they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

The books series is weird, because they have Wool, which is a fairly straightforward standalone story, but then it's followed up by Shift, which is a huge glob of backstory, exposition, flashbacks, character depth, plus some side stuff that isn't necessary at all. That makes the second book exceptionally hard work to read - feels more like a collection of short stories than anything with a plot - but the third book, Dust, draws upon all the stuff established in Book 2 and uses it really well.

I wonder if the padding out is them trying to incorporate the lore and the backstory from Book 2 into the show in a more natural way - so they cover books 1 and 2 in two series, but all mixed together instead of the good first and difficult second.

Puja

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:11 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

► Show Spoiler

they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

I quite enjoyed that as well. Thought it started well but tailed off a little mid series before finishing really well. Looking forward to series two whenever that’s released.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 10:10 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:11 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 2:09 pm Silo is worth watching if you're into dystopian SciFi. It's a pretty straight adaptation of Hugh Howey's Silo series (of which I've only read the first, Wool).

Unwisely ....

► Show Spoiler

they've decided to pad out the story so we only get halfway through Wool by the end of season 1 (it would have been better to do the whole book, but . . . $$$). So the action flags a little halfway through.

Still pretty good though.

I quite enjoyed that as well. Thought it started well but tailed off a little mid series before finishing really well. Looking forward to series two whenever that’s released.

Yeah, it's nicely handled and acted. And we should be grateful they didn't turn it into yet another young adult adventure - I'm sure they were tempted. Maybe they saw The 100 and thought just no.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Thu Jul 13, 2023 7:06 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 10:10 pm

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:11 pm
I quite enjoyed that as well. Thought it started well but tailed off a little mid series before finishing really well. Looking forward to series two whenever that’s released.

Yeah, it's nicely handled and acted. And we should be grateful they didn't turn it into yet another young adult adventure - I'm sure they were tempted. Maybe they saw The 100 and thought just no.

Or Allegiant and the other films in that series which are just utter crap