conquistador

Of the episodes we have seen so far, this one was probably burdened the most with genre tropes and also some plot contrivances. However, I think the directing sells it anyway - there are some wonderfully tense moments, my favorite being the scene where Ellie is about to get cut up. Most definitely. It bought her a few valuable seconds. The biggest worry in this scenario was probably that Ellie had turned into an asymptomatic carrier, so that even though she herself was fine and recovered, that she would pass on the disease to people in her vicinity. We would have seen evidence of that by now though (*airborn spores* are kind of a big deal in the video game, that concept seems to have been omitted entirely). Perhaps what Ellie has is a newly mutated form of autoimmune disease, with an overactive immune system that targets her own tissue, incidentally damaging the fungus that is trying to control her body. Hence why it’s more effective than regular innate immune system responses.

I think the people on TikTok very much would like a full episode of Pedro Pascal groaning on an old mattress.

Yeah, it’s not ideal is it. 😂 The needle is not going to make or break the situation when there have been so many contaminations already. And it would be difficult for her to find textile that is sterile enough for this purpose (I don’t suppose she access to a stash of fresh gauze.). On the other hand, you have to be as hygienic as you can in this scenario... And the last thing Joel needs is for his wound to be even more irritated.

I’m glad that we got an explanation to Ellie namedropping Mortal Kombat II earlier in the season, because that really didn’t make sense to me at the time! Overall the episode was … Fine, I guess. My issue was that I couldn’t feel much suspense when it was so obvious how things were going to pan out, especially since the show has made a clear trend of disposing all new characters in two episodes tops (Tess, Bill and Frank, Kathleen, Sam and Henry…). Riley would then just be another person to add to that list.

Things are not looking super-duper for Joel medically. He’s at the risk for at least these things: 1. Infection at the site of the injury. This could lead to sepsis 2. Massive haemorrhage. This could lead to heart failure 3. Perforated bowels, with the further risk of faeces spilling out into the abdominal cavity. This too can lead to sepsis One could argue that the sharp and uneven edge of the bat handle is threatening to cause tearing damage to Joel’s internal organs. One could also argue that at least the handle functions as a plug until the opening has been sutured or healed on its own (after removing the piece in a more controlled environment). As a plug it would stop other foreign objects from entering the wound, but more importantly it would stop blood from spilling out. With no access to antibiotics or IV fluids, we probably want to settle for something similar for Joel that Frank managed for Bill when he was shot, including cleaning the wound and putting pressure on it. Realistically he also needs surgical attention, but I don’t see that as a possibility…

It is now the second week where this hot take (that nobody agrees with) has taken over the discussion… For comparison’s sake, let me point out that there actually happens to be a mainstream movie with a seasoned middle-aged killer, who reluctantly becomes a mentor for a teenage girl - and their relationship does have sexual undertones. I’m talking about Léon - the professional. If nothing else, the movie should serve well as an example for how the direction could have been if they wanted that kind of story.

Quoting myself here, but somebody pointed out to me that the cortyceps people may be fed nutrients through the hyphen network. So there may be an in-universe explanation this. But even so, the disease burden of carrying a fungal infection of that proportion would be immense. The infected should succumb to super infections and organ failure before long.

(Joel gets stabbed in the abdomen) Me: Oh no, that’s really bad Joel. But it’s okay, just don’t pull out the knife and at least we can avoid you bleeding out. And then… (Joel immediately pulls out the knife) Me: OK, you did that thing with the knife there. It’s fine! It’s not optimal, but we’ll manage. Let’s get you up on the horse, let him carry you so you can rest. Eventually we can… (Joel immediately rolls off horse) Me: Listen Joel, I’m quickly running out of options.

Yes - the hallmark of somebody who survives more than two decades in their post-apocalyptic society ought to be never letting the guard down. Sam knew he had been bitten - I think we have to assume that for whatever reason he was afraid of telling the grown-ups.

Haha, that might be true. I was probably too engrossed by the acting to notice. Speaking of which, Lamar Johnson as Henry did an incredible job.

This episode hit hard. It’s tough to have to see violence against a child. The psychological impact on Henry was equally devastating. As far as I can remember, we haven’t seen any infected children, making it all the more gruesome when Sam turned. I hadn’t really warmed up to Ellie’s actress prior to this episode, but I think she shone here. Very nice acting. One thing I have really enjoyed from this series from the very first episode, are the environments and set-pieces. Especially with how worn dirty and worn down everything has become. The conference room (with proper 2003 aestethic) really felt like people had worked there at one point. Same with the underground make-shift Kindergarten - it was a locale that told a story.

I commented on it on this very page. See below: The importance of Bill's letter especially should not be underestimated in the grand scheme of things. And that's two decades of backstory to reach to that conclusion, all told in the space of one episode.

His fate was sealed when it was obvious he could not save the gang member and that he is not a miracle worker, but just a person like the rest. Most of the modern doctor’s usefulness is removed without access to drugs (antibiotics, sedatives), labs, scans and so on. But delivering babies should still be quite useful, as well as orthopedics, general surgery, trauma surgery, emergency medicine…

Don’t get me wrong, I really like it too. Virus plagues have been done, but we haven’t seen fungal infections done like this. It opens up the possibility of a particular type of body horror, while feeling scientific enough to make it acceptable. Just don’t think too hard on how a fungus is supposed to maintain a human’s metabolism for twenty years, lol

I’m not sure it makes all that much more sense to me personally. Both zombies and cortyceps ”people” have the issue of needing sugar and oxygen. You are not able to move without energy expenditure, that is bottom line. And I am not seeing these guys get three square meals per day with toilet breaks inbetween.

I’m not seeing or feeling the sexual tension that you’re describing… Neither did I from the game. I am however getting the vibe of reluctant father figure (who says himself that ”family” is the reason for survival). The whole point of the first episode was laying the foundation for that dynamic. I get that they are leaning towards eachother. But it is not sexual, it’s more so that their society is so dangerous and have so few people whose company you can enjoy, that you have protect the few friends you do get along the way. Bill and Frank showcased this perfectly (though they actually were sexual, but that’s beside the point).

We had to sacrifice a bit of plot for the main characters, but instead we got an hour of unforgettable quality television. It’s more than fair trade. But there was actually quite a bit of value for the plot too, it was just mostly relegated to the last ten minutes or so (changes to Joel’s motivations, the dynamic between him and Ellie, access to vehicle and weapons).

Not only was the episode brilliant in itself, but I think it really benefitted from subverting a lot of genre tropes. If this was the Walking Dead, Bill and Frank would have fought each-other and eventually the house would have exploded. If this was Cormac McCarthy’s the Road, raiders would have successfully breached the fences and killed one or both of them horrifically while scavenging their properties. I was very nervous for these scenarios, but what we got was basically best possible outcome in this universe: dying happy on their own terms, after many years spent together. It was incredibly satisfying to watch.

Receive this good-night kiss, my dear. Bisou 😘

For me, the most video game-y moment was the bookshelf falling over, blocking the passage behind the trio. This is something you will see in video games, in order to close off areas that have already been completed - basically forcing the player to continue to make progress. It also makes for a natural saving ”check point” (e.g. if you come to a dangerous area full of cclickers).

Lol - that’s a very short and efficient CPR, then. The benefit of squeezing the heart directly I guess. I can get the argument that it is a fantasy and we don’t need to see child heroes die. I just don’t like the writers eating the cake and having it too; both letting Max ”die” with everything that comes with it (opening the gate and so on) but also letting her be magically resuscitated. It feels cheap, they should have committed to one outcome - and her dying was the outcome the season had been building towards. Makes me wonder if somebody higher up interferred with the original script…

This was a weak episode, especially coming off of the highs of the previous one. I hated most about it - still intrigued by the investigations in Hawkins though. The Russia plot really drags and makes the episodes much longer than they need to be. Hopper’s monologue was actually not bad, but how jarring is it to go from horrific war stories to Austin Powers’ judo chop in an airplane.

Fantastic ending. I’m glad we got final moments between Saul and Mike, Walt, Marie, Chuck (!), Kim. I’m equally pleased that Gus and the cartel didn’t show up again (I felt that they teased a Gale Boetticher cameo a couple of episodes ago, but we didn’t need that). Solid directing, and very fitting for a ”criminal” lawyer of Saul’s caliber to wind up in the courtroom but still be in charge of the situation.

I think I will not read this whole thread for fear of speculation, but I am surprised if it took the crying scene in this episode for people to realize Rhea Seehorn’s acting skills. She has been consistently great and her chemistry with Odenkirk has been key for the overall plot of the whole show…

I can only agree with everybody else regarding the battle between Vader and Kenobi, it was the peak of this series. However, I was annoyed by Leia’s outfit. Just seems too cute and quaint to me that this ten tear old girl would dress and style herself so alike how we know her as adult.