DigitalCount

I think his name was Perry. And yeah, they followed the person who got them results. Michael was probably too decent a person to order the acts that needed to be done to overthrow FEDRA. Once he died, he made a perfectly good martyr that the people were willing to avenge, and Kathleen was willing to commit atrocities in his name. That was the impression I got, at least.

During the scene where the boys are under the car, I was briefly worried by what appeared to be an Infected getting to them, but then it seemed like they were both okay. Of course that couldn't be the case. I really loved the rapport that Ellie and Sam had. She could have been such a great big sister to him. Despite ending roughly the same way as Bill and Frank, this hurt a lot more since they were so young.

I am also a bit hesitant, because strictly speaking, I didn't see it that way, but as I was watching...I definitely thought that it could be seen that way. It didn't give me the wiggins, but I can understand if it did for other people. I don't think you're making something out of nothing. But I also think that there's something that we're supposed to find a bit uncomfortable (though more in a father-daughter sense). I don't believe for a second that he's taking this trip purely because Tess asked him to, even though that's part of it. Like you said, Joel is not Ellie's father, but I think he's really having this sense of transference that is not exactly healthy. It's useful, because it makes him more devoted to the cause of getting her where she needs to go, but it's not coming from a great place. He wants a second chance to be a good man, not a bitter middle aged killer with innocent blood on his hands. Problem is, Ellie isn't Sarah. She's her own person and not a replacement goldfish. I do want to give some props to Bella Ramsey's choices during the aftermath of the skirmish with Bryan's group, because I remember seeing comments that she was relatively unfazed by killing the infected guy last episode. Here, she was incredibly torn up about even just wounding Bryan, which makes sense after hearing that he was just some desperate guy trying to help his community. It's one thing to kill someone who, from the looks of things, was more fungus than person by the time she found him. That guy probably would have thanked her if he could. It's another to hurt a person with a name who screams and cries for his mother. I'm guessing the duo at the end were Henry and Sam. I imagine our duo will end up helping them, which will bring them into more direct conflict with Kathleen and crew. Really felt her turmoil especially with the doctor, and I don't think I consider any of the likely resolutions to this situation a "happy ending." Onward and downward, I suppose.

I have to say I'm a little surprised about the Primetimer article about this episode, but I suppose this world takes all kinds. I thought it was beautiful and breathtaking myself. Edit: anyone who hasn't played the game should probably not read it. I myself haven't and managed to scroll past spoilers, but others might not be so lucky.

I've seen it suggested elsewhere that he didn't know exactly where Ellie and Tess were relative to him at that point, so he might've been putting them in danger by doing that old trick. Presumably he'd have done it if they were all together when he needed to reload.

Two other things: 1) the fungal scientist at the beginning did so much with a short scene. When she revealed that it was way too late for them and the only way out was bombs, I was shattered. I assume they didn't take her advice initially because no one ever listens to the scientist at first, though we do find out later that they used this tactic in Boston. 2) the scene where Joel is reloading his gun and the perspective tightens on his face was one of the most tense things I've watched in recent memory. I was thinking "that thing is going to be right next to him by the time he gets a fresh reload" and whew lad, there it was. Really appreciated the delicate movements as he was trying to make no sound putting the spent casings in his pocket while keeping the flashlight on his shoulder.

And even Ellie isn't invulnerable, like they pointed out. She's special, yes, but that doesn't mean she can't get eviscerated. Me, partway through the episode: man, Tess is a boss! I wonder why I never see people talking about her online? Maybe she's an original cha--oh. Welp. Seriously, that final scene had me shaking. I think I was whispering "you can do it, fight it" when she was trying to light the lighter before she succumbed to the infection. It was a heroic exit though.

I've read that this decision was motivated by concerns that having people wear masks for safety reasons in the context of the show might alienate some viewers. I guess I understand the desire to get as big of an audience as possible. Really enjoyed how heedlessly the one zombie was when he was chasing Joel in the restaurant and just bonking into things and flopping over everything. It did give a sobering realization that of course the fungus wouldn't make the zombies prioritize their physical safety, as hinted at by the opening discussion. Like a lot of others, I haven't played the games but am tangentially aware of a thing or two. When Joel said he was 36 early on I was a little confused but then realized there would be a time jump, because the Joel I'd seen from the games was closer to 60 than 40 as he was in the latter part of this episode. The Nokia brick cleared it up for me. Loved Joel's relationship with his daughter and it was heartbreaking when she died. I was worried that she was already sick when she mentioned going into the city, but someone elsewhere pointed out that it was probably related to flour or starchy food items (the pancakes they didn't restock, biscuits that Joel couldn't eat "because of his diet," cookies that Sarah didn't like, and the cake that Joel forgot to pick up). For a moment I was worried that Tommy would have to shoot his niece, but the resolution was still gut wrenching. Good hook at the end of the episode. I'm guessing Ellie has special antibodies or something and that's why Marlene was treating her like the savior, even going so far as to insist that Joel not even point the gun in her direction. What I'm unsure of is if Ellie's still carrying fungus on her, because presumably that's what the detector picks up rather than symptoms like a fever or anything else (since she was asymptomatic earlier in the episode). If she is, wouldn't that still be dangerous?

When Daphne made the remark about her trainer, I immediately thought she was saying she had the trainer's kid (at least the older one). I think perhaps the main reason why I don't think she was actually talking about how her kids help her cope is that she's never been coy about how much she loves the kids. I think she may have mentioned them in every episode. I don't see a reason for her to bring up her "trainer" and then oh, surprise, it's actually her kids; she'd just say "my kids get me through." Also, when she says "oops, another time then"...it's hard to describe, but a bit of her facial armor slips, and her expression is conveying "yes, that's exactly what I meant, what's it to you?" The sad part is that Cameron had a similar expression when he was supposed to be video chatting with the kids. He knows or at least suspects that they aren't his. But he's all smiles when he does emerge from the bathroom, so he's at least trying to treat them as if they're his own.

Not only did we see Niccolo slowly and deliberately ascending the built-in ladder from his dinghy, but Hugo also jumped into the ocean from the ladder area, and Tanya leaned over it when she was looking at him in dismay. It was comical how as she was trying to navigate going over the edge, the way out couldn't have been more than 20 feet away from her.

Same, Netflix strikes again. I guess Eve Best made the right choice after all.

Lol, I didn't realize there were so many other people who wanted to see Janae with Addy. I shipped them early on, but it only seemed like they were definitely going that way when Maeve expressed jealousy over Addy outright. I have to admit that that was what clued me in to Maeve being the mole; something had to happen to move Janae out of Maeve's orbit, and Fiona's assistant had to have some level of involvement in the group/tech skills. I didn't think it was recklessness rather than duplicity, but that was a better way to go since I don't believe Maeve would intentionally hurt Bronwyn. Nice to see remaining dangling threads to be addressed in S3. Unlike other shows of its type, I think these people have a plan and know what they're doing. I'm actually looking forward to seeing where they take this. Also still suspicious of Principal Gupta.

He may just know what he needs to control his dragon, like specific commands and such. Or knew, I guess :(

As far as an explanation goes, it's because of their family name--it's one letter off of mine. I hope the Starks are as honorable as they will be in the future. I need the Blacks to start putting some tally marks in the W column. Otto was right to an extent, the Greens have the Conqueror's crown and the throne, as well as the people of King's Landing. The Blacks are already on the back foot.

I can't believe it. I had wanted those four kids to be happy together, and now Luke is dead. First Aemond took Vhagar, the dragon Rhaena was to claim, and then he took her betrothed. I hope the speculation is true and she gets whatever the dragon was that Daemon was singing to, so she'll have a relatively more equal playing field. Am I right in understanding that that's the second biggest dragon after Vhagar? I hope she returns the favor. I've seen people mentioning that the Greens are almost entirely all much less honorable and brave than the Blacks and I agree. Any support I could have for the Greens is just various things about the Blacks that I don't like; there's nothing that actually makes the Greens seem good or supportable in and of themselves. They're all selfish, cowardly, scheming bullies. The only person with any redeeming qualities on their side is Helaena, and she's only there due to geography. It doesn't seem likely that they'll be consulting her for military advice, especially since they still don't seem to have figured out that she's a prophet. I don't know why I got attached to Luke so quickly, as well as the JLBR group. Maybe it's because I'm a younger brother as well, and he was so innocent looking. He didn't want to fight. He was obeying his mother's instructions. But this is the world of Thrones, so that was really just naïve of me. As was eating during this episode. Talk about a huge mistake...

It's 4AM in my neck of the woods, so I'll keep it short for now: I wasn't a fan of Rhaenys leaving the entire Green group alive. I feel like it was out of character for her to essentially rattle her sabre and then leave. That soured the episode for me, which was already slower than most. Did appreciate the peek into Alicent's perspective though. Looking forward to the reverse next week, but not to the prospect of 2 years for season 2.

He was essentially saying the same things he said at the petition, except more veiled. That's why Daemon laughed as he was talking. There's a reason why Laenor called him the Master of Complaints.

I really thought after the first episode that it would be Daemon vs. Rhaenyra with their tension in the background heating things up. I forgot that this universe just...goes for the incest, so that would have been too tame.

Quick note: the symbolism of Viserys's face being withered by disease on the Queen's side where Alicent and Otto were was simply perfect for at least two reasons: he didn't allow himself to see their machinations, and the rot came from them.

Was one of the servants reporting to her? It didn't look like Dyana.

I believe it's "No more, no more. My love..." Presumably near the end there he was seeing Aemma.

Am I missing something, or did Aemond not actually hit Jace with the rock? I'm seeing posts suggesting that the knifing was a belated response to Aemond's taunt rather than because Luke had just seen his brother get hit in the head with a freaking rock. If I'm not mistaken, that's the whole reason why it was Luke and not Jace who did it, because Jace dropped the knife after getting hurt.

I feel like Aemond and Baela are intentionally contrasted in this episode. Baela, seeing Jace obviously sad about his dead bio-dad, chose to show empathy and comfort, because she knows how losing a parent feels. She reached out to her cousins to help them all grieve together. Aemond knows how it feels to be without a dragon and he knew Rhaena felt bad about it. He had the same opportunity as Baela to be kind and to bond with Rhaena and to show empathy. Likewise, Baela had the same opportunity to be cruel to Jace for being illegitimate. Aemond chose to cause pain in the same way that Aegon hurt him, to someone who had never done him wrong. He could never confront Aegon, because Aegon is too strong, so he turned his cruelty on people he believed couldn't touch him. Just like a bully.

It's seeming more and more like Rhaenyra's words at the wedding feast were completely genuine--I had thought she was sort of teasing or flirting with him, but she would absolutely have just run off then and there, and she was really just looking for him to say the word. I've also picked up on what you saw about Daemon being the only thing she sees when he's around, and it was really telling to hear her account of how she felt being away from him had contributed to everything that had gone wrong in her life. Honestly, one could argue that the opposite is true; Daemon put it in her head that they were special and didn't have to follow any rules, and she has lived by that advice to the point of ruin.

The reason why I don't see him as heroic is because the tell is that he used a similar insult to hurt Rhaena (who had done nothing to him) as was used on him. Kids who get picked on can often go either way, either "no one should have to suffer the way I did" or "now it's my turn to be the person with the boot" and it seems intentionally written to signify that Aemond is looking forward to stepping on others. How long had it been since Laena died, when he told Rhaena that she should have taken her mother's dragon? How long had it been since Harwin died that he told the boys they would die burning just like their father? The kid is a bad seed. No hero's journey to be found in my estimation, and his scar is a bad-guy scar anyway.