The Reel Rejects - THE LAST OF US EPISODE 1 - Review & Breakdown | HBO | "When You're Lost in the Darkness"

Episode Date: January 16, 2023

THE LAST OF US HBO SHOW IS FINALLY HERE! Greg & Andrew React To Season 1 Ep 1 - Our Recap, Breakdown, Easter Eggs, Ending Explained, & Review featuring Pedro Pascal Joel, Bella Ramsey Ellie, Sarah's death, Tess, Marlene, Gabriel Luna Tommy, Clickers Tease, and all the scene differences from the game including the opening, car chase, & MORE. What an opening!  #TheLastOfUs #thelastofushbo #TheLastOfUsEpisode1 #EndingExplained #Episode1 #TrailerBreakdown #TheLastOfUsBreakdown #endingexplained #TLOUEpisode1 #TheLastOfUsEndingExplained #EpisodeBreakdown #HBO #EasterEggs #LastOfUs #Theories #TLOU #Joel #Ellie #Clickers #Sarah    Become A Super Sexy Reject For Full-Length T.V. & Movie Reactions!  https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects  Follow Andrew On Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/agor711 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agor711/  Support The Channel By Checking Out Our High-Quality Merch:  http://shopzeroedition.com/collections/reel-rejects-merch --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-reel-rejects/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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That's such a great shot. Damn. It's got a lightning flash. Yeah, buddy. that was a damn quick one hour 19 minutes yeah that was excellent man that was that was excellent I was absorbed yeah I could have taken my eyes off the screen I was so wouldn't it that I mean you made a really good point like even if you were not a diehard fan or you had never played the video games like you could still watch the show not knowing anything and still find a way

to get invested in these characters and enjoy the world building that was happening here but But on the other hand, if you are someone who is obsessed with these video games, like they just, like, my biggest thing, and this is not meant to be a whole Disney, like, I can't stand those live action remakes that they make, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and all that. Like, I respect the visuals in those films, but a lot of times they're just carbon copies. And I'm like, every time I'm watching a lot of those films, I'm like, all right, I respect the filmmakers. I love these actors, but this just feels like an exact.

exact carbon copy remake of what I've seen originally, whereas this yeah, they paid respect and homage in certain areas, and I'm sure the rest of the show is going to do it if this first episode you know, has shown what it can do, but... And just as a reminder, we won't talk about anything that's supposed to happen in the future.

I'm not, I'm not, I'm just saying for foreshadowing, but I just love, like, the stuff that they included, the stuff that they left out. Like, it wasn't a case of, like, maybe if you're a diehard Harry Potter fan and you read the books, like, oh, they didn't include that, or they left that out. It's like, no, they actually did a really good job of expanding a lot of things

that were talked about in quick conversation in the first game, but then really, like, we got to see certain things like the whole first day of the breakout, like from Sarah's perspective, the whole buildup, the tension building, and then really getting invested in Sarah, like, obviously if you play the game, you're still saddened about by what happened to Sarah, but I felt myself like really, really extra saddened this just because, again, we got the whole day to spend with her. And she's such an interesting character. She's really unique. She's curious. She's smart. She's got a great relationship with her dad. They've got that cute bondship that they have with each other. And then obviously the relationship, the three of them have. But I thought this

first episode was just a great way to start this off. And I mean, I'm really a harsh judge on this just because it's my second favorite video game of all time for anyone who doesn't know. I've mentioned that before. But I thought this was a great introduction first episode for this. Fantastic introduction. for i mean for those haven't played the game like it starts off on sarah but it's it's like the scene on the couch basically that's the watch yeah yeah the scene on the couch of the watch and then as opposed to going to the neighbors you know sarah wakes up i'm forgetting the one part i'm forgetting he doesn't go bail Tommy out of jail is that no i don't remember any of that

the game he was just at he ran back into the house and then the neighbors attacked and then and then Tommy and then Tommy kept on calling on the cell phone yeah they could they attack Joel and Sarah's house. Yeah. The neighbors and then Tommy shows up versus how it sort of plays out here but I like how they did it here because a lot of times it seemed like a lot of the choices they said were like

how can we make this feel more involved how can we make this feel more personal rather than Sarah just being scared with the neighbor attacking let's get to know the neighbors so we can see some of the emotional repercussions that come with it like I noticed a lot with the characters

that you got with the infected you would focus a lot on their eyes so you would see a lot of the horror of the reactions that you get from our protagonist but then you'd see a lot of the menace and the eyes of the infected and I thought that was a smart execution

because it does yeah the way they expand the time here allows you to just become more invested in have things feel more personal like I loved everything with Marlene not Marlene sometimes I fluctuate the name I loved everything with Joel

and Tess because yeah they don't I mean it's obvious in the game that like something's romantic yeah but but you kind of get the sense like is it's still super romantic

or is it like once in a while they kind of hook up you know but here is no they're practically like living together and they really care more for each other like I like the touch of like looking at her eyes and how he's just like ready to like

get revenge for them right away and so That was a very neat touch. And everything about it, yeah, like the recreations of the, what they were really capturing the most here that is so important because, yeah, they, it's not the kind of thing. I find this, oh, I'm finding my words right now. I find this whole experience really fascinating because it's as if they're aware this

game is massive. So there's going to be some shit that we're going to have to be very faithful to. And so they're doing it. I think for a first episode they really nailed it in a way that I feel like would make video game fans happy and make people who are not familiar with the game happy and that's a really hard thing to do

and most video game adaptations suck at that especially ones like Last of Us which are such an involved story where the cut scenes and the cinematics are such an intricate part of it and so it does play on the nostalgia factor but it's not the way they weave in the expansions and the other scenes feel necessary for the show experiences. If you just did a one-to-one adaptation, it wouldn't work as well, and it would just feel like a carbon copy like you were talking about, whereas here it manages to make those scenes where I'm like, that is exactly the video game, still feel refreshing, still feel unique, and not just I'm watching the game.

It actually has an emotional effect versus I'm watching the same beats happen. happen again because of what they decided to change, because of what they decided to weave in there, because they are capturing the mood and the experience so well. And I love this. I actually thought this was a really strong pilot for as a massive fan of the video game, but just as a fan of like damn good television. Yeah. Yeah. It's just really good. It's really good TV. Like another touch they add it because they don't. I love the inclusion of what they did there at the end with Joel and the guard. Yeah. Because that's in the game, but they don't do the flashback, right? Yeah. They don't do the flashback. No, it's just Ellie just stabs him and then they shoot and that's it.

And then why are we smuggling an infected girl? There's none of the, you know, all the Joel having the flashback and then all the grief just bottling up and then he takes it out on that guard. None of that was in the game. But yeah, but it also tells you for like a pilot, like on a pilot. for a first episode, it's really smart because it's queuing in the audience for thematically what these characters are going on in the journey of what Joel will be going on. Like, it's telling the audience right there. Like, I'm just to be safe.

I won't say it, but it's pretty obvious, you know, the surrogate daughter thing, you know. I thought that was wonderfully done. There are some stuff that, like, they obviously changed, you know, with Robert. There's like a whole mission. Yeah, yeah. completely gone. Also, too, they made Joel an alcoholic in this. It feels... They allude to that.

Yeah, I mean... In the game. Yeah, I mean, but now actually seeing it and seeing popping pills, it just, it feels more personal and you can relate to his situation a lot more like actually seeing it rather than being hinted at it. So I actually like that inclusion. I also love the whole really

expanding upon the... I mean, obviously, we saw in the beginning of the game, them being in the QZ in Boston, so we understand that there is martial law, but like seeing a totalitarian government and like the ramifications of what can happen. Obviously, we did see hints of, or we saw stuff of that in the game, but actually seeing and then seeing all the extras around,

like, this would really suck to live in this world. And like, it captures the coldness and the brutality. Yeah, for sure. And also, too, I really thought they did a phenomenal, phenomenal job of just really shifting the tone,

like on the first day of outbreak. Like, you know something's about to happen, but it's cheerful, you're in a good mood. And then like, you start when things start going sideways

like the mood just again like you feel the tension you feel like how dower it gets and just I just thought this show just really nailed that balance and the sound design in this episode was

excellent and a lot of the characters too you nailed that they they got the likenesses down and they just they nailed they just sounded like the Miss it's crazy

Diego Luna has taught me too oh my goodness Gabriel Luna sorry Diego I'm sorry Gabriel Luna my bad Gabriel Luna I mean like goodness gracious that's the weird part because it doesn't sound like impersonations that's natural they sound like they're really they're great performers they're playing they're living that lived like you said lived in they're they are the characters but they don't sound like they're impersonating them definitely which is kind of the worry that you run into but like i don't know how they managed to fucking nail that because even with like because you know i it's funny you Because you said, Diego Luna, who's in Star Wars, and Pedro Pascal, who's a Mandalorian.

And, you know, a Mandalorian season two, they have Katie Sackoff, who plays Bocatan of the animated and then in the live action. And now Merle Dandridge has Marlene. Yeah, exactly. And there was something there that, like, I like Katie Sackoff's performance in Mandalorian, but I was a little bit more aware of what they were doing, whereas here it just, I'm not that, I'm more like appreciative

because I know the character Marlene, but I wasn't, but it just melded so naturally to it. I was kind of dazzled by how natural everything felt. Absolutely. And I love that introduction scene we got with Bella Ramsey and Merle Dandridge with Marlene and Ellie.

That was, that was such a, I mean, because again, in the video game, as you all know, or for those of you who haven't played it, we see the first scene is where Ellie tries to stab.

with the knife, you know, after Marlene brings them back. So that was really cool seeing that scene, getting the setup for their relationship, just how she put her in, you know, in the Fedra military camp in Boston and that, you know, there is a history there. So I just, I really thought that was such a great setup for their relationship because we didn't really get to spend a lot of time with Marlene and Ellie in the video game.

So just even that one little scene right there, I really appreciated that. Yeah, because there are things that are going to happen that I imagine the plot of this will has to go that we won't go into right now but you you they do talk about like Marlene's emotional investment in Ellie and we didn't really get to see any of that in the game and here they gave us that and I was like oh yeah that's clever just like a little moment like don't point the gun at her point and I mean just little things like that just add to what you're saying the trust with the yeah oh yeah I have an anecdote but also the trust in the like with it when he when she does give her the backpack and the knife and then she

just sits right closer i'm like oh that's great you're building the bond yeah yeah without spoiling shit like good stuff to come that's good stuff's coming and i and i i think the changes they make are smart like sure what i have like the mission with robert yeah but you know when i think about on the game i'm not like man that is such such an important plot point i'm like now you that that's showing you that that's showing you kind of the lifestyle of what they get and it leads into the marlene stuff but they gave us other things to show you like how they make money and rations all right i like the inclusion of how he's looking for to yeah and because that's not in the game not at all and so to but i you know i like obviously tommy would come back around

but the to start off there again that just makes it more personal that that that creates a thread of of a bunch of more things to make you look forward to stuff so i think if you haven't played the game like it's not a change to me that upsets me and i'm like no that's smart for television that that makes it more because i're like okay when's tom again what's tom you've been up to like we have an idea of what tom's up to but as an audience member you're like what's going on there why can't we get a hold of to tommy yeah no if you make changes for the better that serve the plot in an interesting and satisfactory way then i'm i'm all for it i still have the mission from the video game so it's not the end of the world again if it betters the plot and

is done in a very satisfying way i'm all for it and that that that getting rid of the whole Robert mission, that didn't bother me in any way shape or form. No, I mean, you got some cool violence in the game it shows you how violent Joel's But we got to see that with the guard Exactly, so that was fine. That's why

it's a great choice because it's the introduction of the impact of showing how violent Joel can get whereas in the game that is with like with the Robert stuff and they're like shooting some people. It's like it seems like they're choosing which moments to show the violence or the violence has an emotional impact for the

characters versus sometimes in the games you're just like killing people and not only that i like that ellie got to see right away how how crazy joel can be too so i thought that was an interesting choice because again i don't think in the video game she saw that side of joel that or that quickly i mean because i mean they're only five 10 minutes into their mission it seems like at that point when she sees him just you know going raging bull on the guy so i mean i thought that was again just a bold and interesting choice that serves the plot and done in a satisfactory way and one last thing I really love... One last thing.

I feel like I got to talk for hours. I know, I was going to say. I really did like the whole symbolism and the whole theme of just out of time with showing all the clocks and the watches and all that because, I mean, it was basically just a countdown to the world just completely changing and flipping on its head.

So I thought that was, again, just really wise choices. The cinematography in this episode, the sound design. It was really well for... I mean, it really didn't feel like an hour and 19 minutes. I was like, I couldn't believe the episode was done by that.

I had to remind myself that. there was a camera. Yeah, right. I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, I need it. Sometimes I say something because I was like, I was back to just playing the game where I was like quiet and paying attention. Yeah, no, it was really, really strong first episode. And the music too.

Oh, Gustavo, Santow, Lala, him. I think it's great because they, I've definitely played some, I've definitely seen some video game adaptations where I'm like, I'm familiar with the game and I watch it. And I'm like, oh, this just seems manipulative or pandering. And this was the first time I was watching this, like, really experienced. experiencing as an avid game lover of they are they're really bringing this to life in a way that feels more than satisfactory um just for one second we like they're so shocking gabriel luna's voice i don't we ever mentioned

oh the tommy voice that was just unbelievable what the shit why does he sound like exactly like it's like did they have geoffrey pierce like doing the dub it no it's gabriel luna like that's that was really in it really impressed Like the first time you said, I was like, it did sound a little. And then I heard a couple more, I was like, holy crap. It sounds just like it. It sounds just like. It's not like an impersonated. It naturally sounds like Tommy.

Then they do stuff to specifically make game lovers get excited about shit. You know, like when they are doing the Sarah scene in the car where they go into her perspective, I'm like, oh, man. They are recreating this specifically more than just that that's how it is in the game. So we have to do it. Yeah. They do shit where you're like, the game lovers are going to love this. And I'm like, yeah, this is working for me.

And they also, they did a fake out too because in the game, the car hits, a car crashes into them. And then in this, the car almost crashes into them, fake out. And then you got the airplane that lands. A great touch. Yeah. No, I thought that was really, again, really subvertive and like it, but done in an interesting and satisfactory way.

I feel like it's going to be a common theme of words I use a lot on this show. if this first episode is anything to run by but a fantastic first episode again even if I wasn't a massive fan of this I'd really love this first episode but being a massive fan like this is again just first episode one of the best video game adaptations

I've ever seen just from a first episode I know that's a quick remark to make after the first episode but this was just really really well done like and again I try making this a movie at first I'm like what are you nuts you can't make this movie it's got it have to be like a four I was saying it for years that

like video game, especially ones that are so story-based. Yeah. They have to be TV shows. Yeah, you need to spend more time with these characters. If this show remains consistent for the remainder of the season, it's, we have a revolution on our hands of video games. See Immortal Combat in 1995 now. Yeah.

No, it is a, it is a testament. Yeah. No, this is why video games should be television shows. Yeah. And just this pilot alone, which has only scratched, like, barely. scratch the surface. We're barely into the game. Yeah, we're barely like in the game, you're like, oh, the mission's finally starting.

Yeah, and that's where it leads you on. I think it's so smart. I can't wait to see how some of the action scenes are done. Yeah. But it doesn't feel like they're going to do action scenes. It seems they're going to do violence, you know. And I think we'd be remiss tonight. Really quickly mentioned, I thought they nailed the look of the clickers, like just with the hair

out of the mouth and that scary tension vibe. Yeah, we haven't got our full on clicker yet. We got first day. No, no, I didn't say clicker. I said runner. You say clicker. I did? Oh, okay.

Sorry. Play it back. It's the Colorado snow got into my brain. But now I, I, the runner, I'm sorry. I think you were right. It did say clicker. The runner, the runner that we saw at the beginning, the neighbor at the Adler's house, I believe, they said. I thought they, and some of the other runners that we saw like.

God, I love this. I love him so happy with this. But again, the tension you feel, I mean, I made a comment saying this really feels like a John Carpenter film. Like, it was really doing a good. job of building tension in a way like in the game you do feel that but it's it's hard to describe the differences you feel when you're watching it like actually like cinematically on a tv show but i thought they did it's just a great again that's that's the nuance of balances that i already loved in this first episode there's so many different things that they were able to to accomplish

and really balance out so really really good first episode well with a game you have to you you are the player you're in control you're in control so you're in it and so with the show you do have to expand because you have to do more work to make the audience feel in it. Yeah. You just have to because there's already a natural subconscious thing that happens as as the player versus when you're not actually the player, you have to do more work. And be and be and that more work I think is like definitely paying off to make you feel more to make you feel more involved. I do think with Bella Ramsey, she's really capturing the essence and there are times in

performance and I'm like sometimes it still feels like I'm aware you're acting but for the most part I wouldn't say that for the most part I'm like loving what you're doing petro pascal is killing it oh yeah pedro pascal is just fucking nail yeah he's nailing it and just really quickly on bella ramsely i i from i i can totally understand sympathize with what you're saying i think from a perspective of just the foul mouth smart ass like she's got that portion down in my opinion so far so far yeah i think i think i think it's first episode yeah no first episode but no i'm i'm curious to see as we spend more time and we expand upon the show like i'm i am more curious to see just you know how more into character she gets as ellie because so far i like her i like her i like her i like her i haven't

fallen in love with her yeah yet but not much time has been spent right you know and and and and and uh and we have to see the development of the relationship with her and joel because that's the heart of everything right of course um and i'm like okay if that's down then i'm like boom we're Yeah, we're going to hook, line, and sinker if you get that relationship down. I was really impressive, that was great. They fucking did it, man. They did it. The buildup to that.

That was a great first episode. And I love where they ended it, too. Like, that was perfect ending as well. Like, great. Yeah, because it's setting up themes, character, mission at hand, and now going to the other side of the wall, you know, like, oh, we're about to really see some shit. Like, you have not seen anything at all. No, no, and even story-wise, like, more than visuals, like story-wise. Yeah, yeah.

It's just, there's so much more to tap into that you know they're going to. If this first episode's a testament at all to where they might go. Yeah. I'm excited. I really loved it. And now I wanted to watch this with a fellow gamer fan. Yeah. Because that was, that was amazing.

Yeah, that was great. I loved it. I was so impressed with that. I was so impressed with that. Yeah. Well, what did you guys think of the first episode? did you love it what qualms did you have um be curious to know be curious to know subscribe leave a like and uh hey we'll we'll catch you all soon follow andrew thank you guys

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