Part of me tried to carry out hope that they could change that destiny for the present—they’ve modified numerous different stuff concerning the narrative, together with rather a lot about Henry and Sam themselves. But actually that was most likely simply wishful considering born out of a deep reference to the characters. The specifics would possibly change, however this plot beat wanted to remain in there, exactly as a result of it is so emotionally uncooked.
Andrew: I do not know the way each beat goes to play out, however I do know the story is outlined by the Joel-Ellie dyad. Which provides the present this unhappy air of inevitability every time another person joins the occasion. First with Tess, and now with Henry and Sam. I do not assume that each ally they make alongside the way in which goes to finish up lifeless or contaminated or each, however the odds of them heading west with Our Heroes appear fairly dangerous.
So, you say a lot of particulars of the Henry-Sam story are totally different than within the video games, and also you mentioned final week that this Kansas City story and the characters in it have been totally different from the video games. Without realizing what’s coming within the subsequent few episodes, what function do the adjustments serve? Just reformatting issues to be extra workable on TV or one thing else?
Kyle: Some of the adjustments are sort of incidental within the grand scheme, like making Sam a bit youthful and deaf. The largest change to this entire arc is the creation of Kathleen, who provides a stronger narrative focus to the extra anarchic Hunters faction within the sport. I did respect them attempting to humanize her just a little bit along with her memory about her brother and such, however ultimately, I didn’t actually really feel dangerous when Little Miss “LOL, no trials for these jokers” received her comeuppance.
Andrew: The present determined it wanted to make Kathleen a monster and humanize her inside simply two episodes, and that’s onerous to do, particularly when all we find out about her brother is informed and never proven. Melanie Lynskey provides it her finest shot, however on the finish of the day it’s onerous to root for the character advocating for baby homicide. The means that Joel and crew simply sort of… go away her to her destiny was sort of darkly humorous, whether or not it was meant to be or not.
By distinction, one factor the present managed to determine rapidly was the friendship between Ellie and Sam. We’ve talked about her “powerful lady” exterior right here earlier than, however the factor this story hammers house so properly is that, deep down, she’s only a lonely child who’s rapidly realizing that everybody she grows near might go away her.