It seems a shame that the first episode, essentially the setup for the rest of the show, turned out to be the peak of the first season. The episodes that came after felt rushed, disjointed, shallow. As though we're merely passing through all of the main plot points of the game via this fragmented, episodic narrative without any devotion to fleshing out the story, the characters, or the larger apocalyptic world.
Nine episodes already feel too short, but become even more lacking when the series spends time going off on a tangent about things that have very little bearing on the main story (as in episode 3) or wasting its momentum when it feels like there's finally some progression (as with episode 7). Characters die too early, often within the same episode they are introduced. The story takes us to a new environment, just for Joel and Ellie to move on elsewhere by the next episode. There'll be an interesting conflict, but again, everything's wrapped up by the end of the episode.
The show tries so hard to deliver these big emotional moments but they never hit the way they should because of the messed-up pacing. Unfortunately, the most exemplary of all this is the season's finale, which doesn't manage to even feel like a finale, is instead some sort of hurried, anti-climactic dead-end. What am I supposed to take away from this, what am I supposed to walk away feeling, having watched this? I really don't know. It doesn't leave me with anything.
On a positive note, the acting has been terrific, especially from the main duo, the series' design is incredible, and the overarching story is still a gripping one. Here's to hoping for a better, more developed (longer!) second season.
@shhhh Pretty spot on. I haven't played the game either, and it would seem, based on the comments on this site, people who have played the game rate the show higher than those who haven't. Of course there are exceptions.
Review by ShhhhhBlockedParent2023-03-14T13:03:33Z
I'm not familiar with the game, just for context.
It seems a shame that the first episode, essentially the setup for the rest of the show, turned out to be the peak of the first season. The episodes that came after felt rushed, disjointed, shallow. As though we're merely passing through all of the main plot points of the game via this fragmented, episodic narrative without any devotion to fleshing out the story, the characters, or the larger apocalyptic world.
Nine episodes already feel too short, but become even more lacking when the series spends time going off on a tangent about things that have very little bearing on the main story (as in episode 3) or wasting its momentum when it feels like there's finally some progression (as with episode 7). Characters die too early, often within the same episode they are introduced. The story takes us to a new environment, just for Joel and Ellie to move on elsewhere by the next episode. There'll be an interesting conflict, but again, everything's wrapped up by the end of the episode.
The show tries so hard to deliver these big emotional moments but they never hit the way they should because of the messed-up pacing. Unfortunately, the most exemplary of all this is the season's finale, which doesn't manage to even feel like a finale, is instead some sort of hurried, anti-climactic dead-end. What am I supposed to take away from this, what am I supposed to walk away feeling, having watched this? I really don't know. It doesn't leave me with anything.
On a positive note, the acting has been terrific, especially from the main duo, the series' design is incredible, and the overarching story is still a gripping one. Here's to hoping for a better, more developed (longer!) second season.