“After we kill him, we kill him slowly.” I didn’t count on to get hit with such an emotional intestine punch simply 5 minutes into the primary episode, however right here we’re. Due to the egocentric actions of Joel (sure, they had been egocentric! I don’t give a rattling about his attachment to Ellie pushing him to “save” her), he’s made an enemy out of those closest to the “Fireflies” he killed. The one who enacted a plan to make Joel endure as slowly and painfully as humanly attainable is Abby. That opening second was a hell of a begin to the second season of The Final of Us and a collection of episodes that I’m certain will trigger a whole lot of jaws to drop from these of you who nonetheless haven’t performed the second sport. In my case, I accomplished the prolonged and extremely miserable marketing campaign that adopted the revenge-fueled exploits of Ellie and Abby and am eager on choosing out all of the sequel’s moments which were replicated onscreen in live-action type.
I’ve handy it to the set designers for this present – the snowy fort of Jackson, Wyoming that serves because the residing quarters for Joel and Ellie seems to be simply how I bear in mind it. I shouldn’t have been shocked by how near the supply materials it seemed, contemplating an HBO price range backs this present, however I used to be nonetheless pleasantly shocked by how correct that snowy residence seemed. The vast majority of the primary episode featured a number of occurrences that weren’t within the sport, akin to Ellie’s tough barnyard coaching routine and Joel’s intense remedy session. I loved the truth that these cases expanded upon the lore of the sport and supplied extra background on Joel’s conflicted emotions in regards to the unforgivable act he dedicated to retrieve Ellie, and Ellie rising right into a extra hardened survivor who can courageous the risks exterior the protection of her new group.
Because the episode wore on, two paramount sequences performed out that harkened again to Ellie and Dina’s patrol and their passionate dance through the notorious “Jackson Celebration.” Earlier than these occasions transpired, I received a kick out of watching Ellie tinker round along with her firearms on the modding desk in her dwelling – that was a minor but nonetheless noteworthy nod to how gamers improve their weapons within the sport. The remainder of the scenes targeted on Ellie’s time spent in her dwelling was filled with different Easter Eggs – Ellie’s signature acoustic guitar that’s marked by a butterfly image got here into view, plus we received take a look at Ellie’s journal whereas she’s jotting down Dina’s “bear-be-cue” joke (journaling is an important part of The Final of Us Half II’s gameplay). I additionally noticed some posters on Ellie’s wall that made me mimic Leonardo DiCaprio’s pointing meme, such because the one that includes Dr. Daniela Star, the protagonist who originated from the in-game collectible “Savage Starlight” comics and buying and selling playing cards. The opposite poster that pays homage to the sport is the one for the fictional band “Ideas Twenty,” which additionally adorns Ellie’s in-game wall. The ultimate Easter Egg that popped me (that’s wrestling lingo for getting a constructive response out of me, people!) was the switchblade Ellie pulls out of her desk as she heads out the door. That’s the identical spot the place she retrieves her beloved knife within the sport!
As soon as Ellie and Dina hopped on their horses and exited the protection of Jackson to go on patrol, one of many sport’s most crucial moments started to play out. As a substitute of following a blood path to the mutilated corpse of a moose, the present opted to go together with a bear that was torn to shreds as an alternative. What adopted subsequent was a giant changeup from the best way Ellie and Dina continued their mission within the sport – as an alternative of hopping by means of the primary ground window of a grocery store brimming with the “Contaminated,” they ascended to the second ground of the constructing to kick off their assembly with a pair of “Clickers.” After Ellie’s spectacular sneaking and knife-wielding expertise put one in all them down for good, she fell by means of the roof above the grocery store’s decrease sanctum. Within the sport, Ellie and Dina find yourself crashing collectively under and rapidly spring into motion whereas aisles filled with Clickers wander about. The present switches issues up by having Ellie take care of a sole “Stalker” throughout a irritating encounter that ended with Ellie getting bit whereas she put a number of bullets into her twisted adversary.
The closing section of this present stood out as the primary scene that was closest to the best way it occurred within the sport. And what made it much more important is the truth that it occurred in time with what was happening through the episode as an alternative of getting used as a flashback sequence. The scene I’m referring to is the Jackson Celebration, in fact – Ellie awkwardly standing by her lonesome, her lighthearted dialog with Jesse, the impassioned kiss shared between her and Dina, the indignant onlooker that voiced his disapproval of their habits, and Joel shoving the person who disturbed them to the bottom had been all replicated to perfection, frame-by-frame. Although I knew it was coming, listening to Ellie angrily inform Joel she doesn’t want his assist nonetheless hit me like a ton of bricks.
I’m happy up to now with how this present has produced The Final of Us Half II’s most unforgettable moments. And with the added plot wrinkles of cordyceps tendrils infecting the city’s water provide because it’s seen caught inside a central pipe, and Abby’s group lastly discovering the city that homes her sworn enemy Joel, I’m certain the remainder of the second season will introduce extra moments not included within the sport that provides extra background to its established lore.
