Fun fact: in the game, Sarah (Joel's daughter) was a high school soccer player. When he sees Ellie and Sam playing, he looks at his broken watch (Sarah's last gift) and sighs. It's such a well done detail.
The end scene is so devistating that there isn’t just one thing that hurts, but one thing that stands out to me is how desperate Ellie is to have her immunity mean something.
She wants to help and she thinks she can in that way and its heartbreaking that we all know you cant help someone that way.... She tried and that admirable
@@smokeydillon4965 absolutely agree, I think this show really elevated this entire arc as in the game it didn't feel like Joel carried that much worry for Henry. it was pretty easy to care for Henry and Sam to begin with as you explored with them initially in the game (and Henry never got 'betray' Joel the same way) here, you get a bit of that bleed of Joel's care for Ellie (and kids in general, again) as he didn't get to do anything to Sam once woken up at gun-point, and when he panicked trying to shoot the child stalker that went into SUV with Ellie. the way the show adds to how Henry interacts with Joel before they're lost, the theme behind Joel's loss of Sarah and coping becoming a guardian becomes so much more intertwined
@@smokeydillon4965 It happens soooo suddenly in the game to. Not that I couldn't see it coming once Henry killed Sam. It was just so out of nowhere in the game. Messed me up cause I totally understood why he did it.
They made Sam younger and more vulnerable than in the game, and fit them both in perfectly with the growing Joel and Ellie dynamic. I love how at the end we see Joel actually bury them, he had some fondness for the two but I think he mainly did it for Ellie. He's seen a lot of death and I think he'd have just left them. What a heartbreaking episode... as per usual
In the game Sam wasn’t deaf but I love the detail in the show that Sam just faded away in the room alone but didn’t attack Ellie because he was probably deaf as infected are capable of tracking by sound… ellie must feel guilty that she broke her promise of staying awake and let Sam become an infected all alone
The saddest thing I've heard yet was that after Ellie fell asleep, that Sam would know he was changing and that he sat on the bed with his back to her on purpose. He knew if he didn't see her, she'd be safer...because he didn't think he'd be able to hear her. So he sat there, waiting, staring out of the window...alone.
Bloaters are just a rare occurrence of when the fungus is able to basically completely take over the body and still function, rather than becoming a decaying clump like the guy you see in the tunnels in Ep 1.
I have never played the game, so i had no idea what that thing was, but just a glimpse of that thing in last week's preview of this show terrified me all week.
Yeah, in the game it is ofhandedly mentioned once, that clickers start becoming the mushy fungal things, but, if you disturb them in this process they wake up and never complete it. It is not specified but implied it's a really short window for someone to "create" bloater. That is why they are rare and in only ocassionaly traveled areas.
@@janstraka8674 in the podcast for last week's episode, they said that most of the time when the infection becomes so advanced, the victim usually finds a dark, secluded place and grows into the environment like the one Tess and Joel discovered in the basement in episode one. In the rare occurrence like the one you mentioned, or if the person was physically strong enough to endure that, they become a bloater. I guess that's why they tend to be so big.
I believe Ellie was intrigued by violence because they may have glorified it in her head but after experiencing Bryan has a more practical view of it and why she's now more shocked
The slight nod to Joel and Ellie’s bond was so great to watch. From the “asshole voice” to Ellie clocking Joel’s pattern of saying no before relenting, to the silent communication between Joel and Ellie during the Infected horde. Also loved the moment where Joel eyed the bridge. It showed that he easily could have ran away, consequence free. But he couldn’t because he was already in too emotionally deep. Joel’s line about how it’s easier for kids because they don’t have people to depend on them only to setup Ellie feeling heartbroken because she couldn’t save Sam who depended on her was so well done. It leads to sort of a role reversal where Ellie comes off more broken with the “Let’s go” line while Joel is the one to take a moment to reflect on what just happened. I really like that nuance in their dynamic and how much they are rubbing off on each other. And Lamar Johnsonn and Keivonn Woodward deserve an Emmy. They had an instant, magnetic chemistry that got you immediately connected. Just a clear case of efficient and economic storytelling. Not a single minute was wasted to get you to care about the characters and setup future dynamics. Also the Savage Starlight, Joel working his way through the street to get to the sniper, and the Bloater kill being just like the game was chef’s kiss. The Infected were truly terrifying in this episode. The clicker kid was so creepy. Brilliant episode.
Sam and Henry steel her desire to find the fireflies and make a cure. no matter the cost. shes now willing to die to prevent more sams. shes focused on her goal now and its gonna be a thing that drives them apart because joel is too broken.
As a game player, I knew what what coming but them adding this backstory for Henry and Sam made me cry immediately. I love Henry and Sam in the game, but for me these portrayals are even better. Which of course made everything harder.
Exactly, knowing how this was going to end and seeing more of their brotherly bond just broke me way before the end. This show should be a standard of how you do adaptations
I just realized this watching your video when Kathleen said to burn the bodies, in the last episode when Joel and Ellie were driving past the street that had all the skeletons and ashes, those must have been the FEDRA collaborators bodies. Makes that scene a little more depraved
Good catch, I noticed the bodies and wondered what they might be while Joel and Ellie drove around, but then forgot over the course of the episode and the wait. Thats a really interesting detail
The Henry and Sam scene is an almost right of passage into the fandom. When I saw them in the trailers I was immediately excited to see them, but then quickly remembered the pain I'll have experience AGAIN.
@@Jimmywinkel It was originally 10 but they made the first 2 episodes into one giant one. If not then episode one would have ended with Joel burning the kids body. They decided it was important to continue until the shows premise was completely set up and I think it was a great decision
@@Endgame_01 I could be wrong or not remembering properly but I thought, on the podcast, they said that the original first episode would have ended on the time skip, not going until the little boy's body was burned. Again, I could be wrong as I haven't listened to the podcast since it first came out over a year ago but that's what I think I remember.
One of the things I love so much about this adaptation is the expanded background we didn’t get in the games. Kathleen is a new character for the show created to show the moral complexities and shades of grey of the group Henry and Sam were fleeing from. I’ve been blown away how every time the showrunners have decided to change or expand on what happened in the game they’ve hit home runs so far.
As somebody that hasn't played the game, this is the one constant I have seen, from those that have: Every change/expansion makes sense, has a solid reason & works really well.
@@koi9826 that’s just how she sounds. Kathleen is scary as fuck not because her voice is of a higher pitch, but because she’s willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of her revenge, or kill anyone even associated with Henry. Her anger is understandable, even if all of her actions are not conducive to a better world.
Those two actors playing the brothers absolutely shone in their roles as Henry and Sam. Utterly heartbreaking. Also, fun fact for those of us who've played the games: the sign language subtitles are the exact same font and style as the ingame subtitles.
I think the only time I might've shed tears was Sarah's death in the game, but rarely connected to any animated characters in the game. The fact that it made me emotional every episodes of the live action just means how great the script writers are to have us capture human emotions and connections to these survivors and tear our heart out episodes after episodes....Sam, Henry, Ellie.....the innocence of youth...
I've played the game multiple times and still cried my eyes out at the end of the episode. Henry and Sam were so well portrayed in the show, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. This show is just pain.
This episode broke me. It only takes 30 minutes (give or take) to fall in love with these characters and another 5 minutes (give or take) to leave you heartbroken and an emotional wreck. I'm still trying to recover... this show is BRILLIANT and I am completely and unconditionally enthralled by it!
24:12 This episode is another reminder of how brutal and unforgiving this world is, regardless of who you are. Something as simple as running across a group of infected has catastrophic effects to deal with and even doing what one may think is the right thing has consequences everyone has to deal with. It’s no wonder Joel closed his heart off in the first place. The quicker you get attached to someone, the more likely you are to lose them.
A Bloater I believe is just assumed to be one of the few that Joel mentions to have lasted 20 years or longer. The longer one survives the more fungus hardens around the whole body.
I think there's a bit more to that. Being infected around 20 years ago is a condition, but it's probably also having a body that the fungus can leech on for that long without killing the body. Otherwise, you turn into one of those that was stuck to the wall in episode 1 or the fungus dries up like the one in episode 2.
@@duke4088 i have never played the game, but out of curiosity, when all of the infected including the "bloater" came out of the hole, why would they immediately start killing people? Isn't the whole point of the fungus to use its host to spread itself to everyone? How does ripping someone's head off help spread the fungus? Am i thinking too much into this? You sound like you are knowledgeable about the game, so i thought I'd ask you.
@@cullenarthur8879 For the benefit of gameplay mechanics, I don't think it was actually stated in the game that fungus only wants to spread. In the game there was no hive mind mechanic as well, they just want to bite you and that coincidentally also spreads the fungus. I think it's just the fungus in the game makes you violent and destructive. So about the supposed hive mind motivation of the fungus to spread first, I'm just as clueless as you.
@@duke4088 oh, o.k! Thanks for the information. I think the hive mind aspect is terrifying. I think you're right, the fungus makes you destructive and violent. If their contact with you leaves you infected, then fine, but they run on pure violent instinct. I find these type of "infected" way more terrifying than Romero style zombies from TWD because reanimated corpses never made any kind of sense to me. But people infected and controlled by a fungus or pathogen seems possible. The brutality of nature is amazing. The reason dogs foam at the mouth when infected with rabies is because the virus paralyzes the throat muscles, making it difficult to swallow its saliva, therefore making its saliva exit the mouth and spreading the virus to other organisms. That shit is terrifying!
@@cullenarthur8879 I think infected also have to eat to survive. Especially bloaters must have eaten a lot to the point that they are more concerned with eating than spreading the infection. And that is probably how you get a bloater.
I cried 10 years ago when I played the game. I cried last night when I saw that motel because I knew what was coming. Now I cried when I saw your reaction to it. This story is amazing but it will rip your heart out.
What you said about the little girl clicker was spit on, and it reminded me of that infected we saw in episode one, the one that was chasing Joel and Sarah through the restaurant. He was also very athletic, jumping over furniture to get to his target. They are really selling the superhuman abilities of the infected.
I loved the moment when Ellie thinks she can heal him; it's very sad because we (the audience) knew it wouldn't work, but it's also a reminder that despite what she's been through, she still has a childlike view of the world (maybe she also regrets not being able to save Tess in some way, or at least not trying to save her). Why is she different if she can't save the people she loves? Is she doomed to survive alone and see everyone she loves turn into monsters (cf. the fear she expressed)? There is also a double dialogue about Henry being a bad man because he did bad things but it was ok because he was doing it for Sam - once Sam is gone, in is own mind he's just a bad man.
I think also she's desperate to save people because she's been abandoned her whole life. Joel hasn't yet, but wanted to bounce at the start. Marleen pawned her off on Tess ( I know she had to but it sucked for Ellie). Her Mom. Making a friend and the he turned and she couldn't save him. Poor thing needs someone (Joel) to not leave her.
@@funnylilgalreacts Yes, that side kinda escaped me, maybe because I'm used to not needing anyone ^^, I guess the older we get, the more we try to ignore that side (me anyway). But yeah, I like the way you look at it :)
Tbh that was one change I didn’t really like. While it was a nice sentiment… the idea that Ellie would actually be that stupid to not at least tell Joel that Sam was infected, or gee, maybe keep her distance from him in the morning… I think the shock factor in the game hit a lot harder.
@@joeb918 Yeah I think she at least had genuine hope it would help, otherwise she would have told someone Sam got bit. But she kept it to herself to wait and see.
I do like that how Joel is a bit more humanized in the show, he asked the sniper to just put the gun down, like he is slowly becoming human again by being with Ellie
As far as differences go Joel and Henry had a few moments against each other and but got along more to like they start talking abput riding a motorcycle and imitating the sounds and laughing. Sam could talk and was a little closer to Ellie’s age, he wanted a Power Rangers/Transformers looking toy and Henry scolded him explaining their rule about traveling light. Sam never told Ellie he got bite and didn’t care about the toy she got for him without anyone seeing I was quite excited when I saw the Bloater, the digging is new. The Bloater was introduced at Bill’s chapter of the game and they can throw… not sure but it’s either spore bombs or acid bombs from their body, and in the games fire is typically the best way to deal with them cause they just eat your ammo and if you get too close your head will be ripped off. The people who lived underground is one of the stories told through notes left around in the world, a man named Ish had a boat that broke down on a shore and found the tunnels after a while he found other survivors and convinced himself to let them stay with him they had a thriving community with a school activities and games they collected rainwater from small openings to the surface and there was enough for kids would use waterguns. At some point someone made a mistake and the cordyceps came, Ish and a few others escaped but in one of the locked doors there was a room filled with sheets covering the children and a message “they didn’t suffer” and one adult body.
Just finished watching not even 1 hour ago and right away went to look for you reaction. And you did not disappoint.. No I didn't cry, but some fool was cutting onions in my face.. Those tears don't count!
The child actor climbing in the truck was very reminiscent of the actresses playing the demons in episode 8 of Lovecraft Country. Gymnasts, dancers and contortionists make the most creepy creatures in sci-fi shows.
I love it when people who haven't played the game before the series see the Bloater for the first time and get freaked out by their monstrous size and strength
Such a well done episode. So damn heartbreaking. The game and show are so gut wrenching and emotional. You almost forget the insane infected attack happened after seeing that ending. Thanks for letting us join you on this incredible, painful, and emotional journey.
Some context on the hideout they find in the tunnels. In the game, shortly after escaping the city, Joel finds a note in an old boat from a guy named 'Ish'. The four then enter the storm tunnels and they find the remnants of this community that 'Ish' helped establish. You never meet anyone, but through a series of notes and journals you learns about this group of survivors. Even though it has no impact on the game, it's an amazing piece of world-building. The painting of the castle on the entrance is exactly like the game, also the drawing Joel sees on the wall that has 'Ish' written on it, is identical to the one in the game.
@@guts9160 Yeah I was sad they couldn't fit in the Ish story but it makes sense. It would take too much time away from more important things. But I'm glad we got the reference, and it still exists in the game.
Craig and Neil said they could have made a while episode just for Ish but they decided to just give this wink and nod to the players on it instead. Either way, cool Easter egg
This show is extraordinary, the acting, the scenes are more devastating and they just destroy us. That sequence when the clickers and the bloater emerging from the ground was mind blowing and epic. Kudos for bringing up being deaf in this world and then the show having Sam deaf. Your craving to see what was underground in the tunnels, that little laugh when you were talking about Kathleen and her demise against the clicker was terrific made me smile. You’re delightful Angela, thx🧟♂️🔫👧🏻🤠🥰
When *that* scene with Henry and Sam happened in the game, I remember I set the controller down in shock, horror and heartbreak and I just kept whispering "Oh my god" to myself, with tears in my eyes. Even though I knew it was coming in the show, it was so well done that it was just as impactful as when I played the game and had no idea what was about to happen. All the actors were phenomenal 👏🏻
@@jaydenjones1374’ve played it multiple times and watched others play it even more… I don’t think it’s explicitly said that this is the case, it’s thought about by Sam, but Ellie tells him “that person isn’t in there any more.” Maybe in the earliest parts of being infected, as you can hear some things that sound like cries from people said to be just infected, but they lose or over time.
@@joeb918 I'm not sure about the show the it's established in-game that the infected still have remains of who they were. That's why you hear them wail and cry throughout the games. You even a find note with writing from an infected.
@@CatIndustrialComplexwas just editing that point in. Those are for ones that are just infected, like the ones just before they enter the museum…. Tess says something about them “just being infected.” So with those there are those crying sounds, but it’s not something that continues through the lifespan of the infection. It’s only in the recently infected. It’s debated by the characters, and players, but it’s not definitively said they’re conscious long term.
About the whole "something being off about Ellie" thing it is worth remembering that in episode 1 they mentioned that Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, left Ellie to be raised in FEDRA school. And so this very pragmatic, and at times corrupt, Paramilitary Government faction raised her.
Bloaters are terrifying and really really tough. I love what they did with Sam and Henry here. only 4 episodes left this season and I'm really looking forward to see what they do and your reaction to the story as a whole.
This episode broke me. I don't have a brother but i have two younger cousins who are like brothers to me ... and just thinking about this situation .... hardest cry i had so far in this show
Ahh yes, the "big one" is a Bloater. Incredibly scary in game. I have a very distinct memory of running into my first one, just screaming and trying to run away. Another fantastic but heartbreaking episode.
Bella's acting when Henry shot himself was fantastic. In the game they immediately cut to black. The decision to focus on Ellie's face instead was *chef's kiss*.
This is the episode that got to me. Even though I knew what was coming it still hit me like a ton of bricks. Anyone with younger siblings can definitely relate. Kudos to Lamar Johnson (Henry) and Keivonn Woodard (Sam) They absolutely nailed it.
I liked Kathleen because it showcased a very important theme of the show: that the loss of a loved one (or the potential of it) can drive one to do anything, at any cost. Including overthrowing a military government, mercilessly. She has loyal followers not necessarily because is a brilliant leader, and not because her brother was the leader, but because her losing him caused her to make decisions that he never would’ve done because of the kind of man he was.
Exactly! She’s brash, irrational, and vengeful, but also an active leader. She earned the trust of her people simply because she did something, unlike her brother who was apparently more passive.
A bag of crayons would’ve made me so happy as a kid. 😊🖍️ Texted my brother, who had watched the episode, a pic of the Bloater and “What the Fuck!” Rod: Her blood is medicine? Cool Chad: Is it? Rod: Oh shit! Rod: That sucks. Damn, this show! I really wanted Sam to be in this for the long haul. Loved his superhero mask. Yes, Ellie’s growth as a character is great to witness. Top notch acting from Bella!
Losing Sam and Henry was heartbreaking. But can we talk about the real tragic loss of this episode? Perry’s beard. That beard was way too nice to go out that way.
The bloater looked great. They are no joke in the game. Oh Henry and Sam. I knew it was coming, but there way a part of me that the end of their story would have gotten a happier rewrite like Bill and Frank did in episode 3. Still supper heart breaking. This story is definitely Joel and Ellie's story, however I am loving that we get to see and spend more time with side character, which we didn't get to do a whole lot in the game. Each character that we get to see and Joel and Ellie meet is super important for comparisons of Joel and Ellie's own relationship and how they view the world and what it means to endure and survive, along with the guilt that can come along with that. The show is doing an outstanding job.
Related to how awful disabilities would be in an apocalypse, there's a book called One Second After about an EMP attack on the US that essentially wipes out all electronics. The protagonist is a college professor who along with his family and students band together and make their campus a little fortress to fight raiders. One of the main themes of the book is that as soon as the power goes out anyone with any sort of medical condition relying on a constant supply of medicine or care is just straight up dead. Any older folks who need advanced medical care don't last long. The protagonist, who is generally portrayed as a good man, had a diabetic daughter and ends up having to rob and hurt people for their supplies of insulin so his child has any shot of living. In reality anyone with even a minor condition is an apocalyptic setting is pretty screwed. I can't imagine how hard it was for Sam and Henry to have to deal with deafness. I assume the leukemia may have made Sam deaf, but either way it's another level of paranoia for Henry knowing that Sam can't survive on his own at all without constant supervision and aid.
From what I remember, time creates bloaters. Cordyceps progresses in stages over time. The longer an infected stays alive the more the fungus grows from the inside out. So far in the show they've shown 3 stages from the recently infected runners to clicker then bloaters. Great reactions! Always fun to see someone experience the beauty of this story!
The reason Kathleen was hunting down Henry was mentioned in episode four actually. While she was interrogating Dr. Edelstein he pleaded with her, saying he wasn't responsible for her brother's death, to which she answered that Henry was.
The big one is called a Bloater. They are infected who've been that way for around 15-20 years. Basically, it's one of the earliest infected that was pushed into a hole instead of killed. As a result, the fungus has turned it into a heavily armored monster.
Bella's acting when Henry takes his life is amazing, so subtle but shows a split second of uncontrollable emotion. This episode does great at showing that Ellie is 14 and clicks with an 8 year old and has fun, as well as trying to be a grown up in a very dark world.
Truly one of most intense highs and lows of TV in a 15 minute span that I've experienced. I didn't play the game so I have no idea what's to come. But this one...the loss of Henry and Sam was such a gut punch. I have to continue to remember...so many characters will mean so many deaths. Great reaction video from you. BTW, love your hair!!
I skimmed but didn't see anyone else answering your question about the bloaters. They are the ones who had bodys strong enough to survive long enough to get that big. The infection goes in stages. It goes from Runner > Clicker/Stalker > Shambler > Bloater > Rat King (Rat King is kinda different, it's mostly a clump of infected grown together.) Once the fungus knows the host is about to die, it finds a dark place to post up and starts fruiting and releasing spores.
Since you asked, bloaters are people who have been infected for a long long time! There are four stages to infection, called (in order): runners, stalkers, clickers, and then bloaters
@@funnylilgalreacts You're in for one hell of a ride, that's all I say. Also the way they did the episode with Bill and Frank believe or not was actually a much happier ending than the way it turned out in the game. Who knows maybe they'll lighten things up a bit in some of the future episodes. Keep tissues nearby just in case though.
@@funnylilgalreactshere is that, but it’s also just a constant hitting of theme. Which happens in other shows, but not with this level of emotional whiplash, as this show or story can go from making you laugh and smile and in a split second break your heart. Edit: just started watching… I didn’t even notice the line on your face!
Sam being def was a good touch. This was almost exactly like the Game. When you said something better not happen to Sam, I was like Oh know I wanna cry for you now lol
34:48 The longer a person is infected with the cordyceps fungus, the more they start to change. Initially they are just the runners you see in the first episode. If they live around a year, they eventually reach clicker stage, which you saw in episode 2. Bloaters are the rarest stage, coming from clickers who have survived for years until the fungus has almost entirely taken over their body. They suck to fight in the game lol.
Bloaters are based on years of infection. In the hierarchy of cordyceps', from freshest to deadliest: Runners: Freshly infected - 2 Weeks Stalkers: 2 Weeks - 1 Year Clicker: 1 Year Shambler: 1+ years Bloater: 1+ years, near water Rat King: 20 years, special, combination of multiple strains of cordyceps. As it takes damage, parts will drop off and attack alongside.
This episode does an excellent job with what the biggest theme of The Last of Us 1 and 2 was all about for me... Like Depeche Mode's lyrics, "you should try walking in my shoes"
Did you watch the Behind the Scenes? Amazing interview with the actor that played Sam and the ASL interpreter/consultant. Good story on how they decided to have Sam be hearing impaired, I think it made it wayyyy more impactful. Great episode!
One thing I've noticed in a correlation between Ellie and violence / Ellie and her capacity for empathy; she is upset by uninfected people being hurt/dying, with little remorse shown towards the infected -- unless she knew them before they were infected, a la Sam. She was genuinely saddened seeing the mass grave in episode 3 and couldn't understand why FEDRA would kill people who weren't infected. She asked Joel if they were going to help the guy in the road, in a tone that suggested she thought it the obvious course of action. She took absolutely no joy in shooting Brian or Joel killing Brian thereafter. She was horrified watching Kathleen die, even though Kathleen was, in that moment, about to kill them. The only time she's seemed fascinated with a human's death was the FEDRA guard in episode 1, but I think that had more to do with the fact that somebody was defending her so viscously from what they perceived to be a threat to her (even if she didn't know at the time that it was more Joel's PTSD acting than a her-related thing). Ellie was an orphan raised in a FEDRA military school filled with other orphans; it isn't a stretch to say that she probably hasn't had much, if any, individualized attention from adults in a positive connotation, and probably none stepping in to take on a protective role. It makes sense that she would find it flattering, in a morbid sort of way, that this guy she just met that didn't even seem to like her was willing to beat somebody to death with his bare hands in order to protect her. I could go on about how this relates to her gun fixation and the knife-play with the infected under the gas station, but this comment is already way too long, so I'll leave it there. Just my take on Ellie's character based on what we've seen of her so far.
Bloaters are basically what happen when body builderrs / people of considerably larger mass get infected and survive for some 15-20 years. Most infected die off as runners, some make it to clickers, but larger people are more capable of withstanding the infection, and become fully mature (as far as we know) infected. Most of their muscle and skin has been enhanced/replaced by the fungus, making them incredibly resilient, and far stronger than an uninfected of similar size.
As a long time zombie lover, this episode had what is probably the best zombie horde scene in anything I've watched. The way they suddenly erupted from the hole, and the chaos that broke out immediately after... perfection. Fun note, when the bloater ripped the guy's head off, that was actually a nod to the death animation that plays when you get too close to a bloater in the game. As for Sam and Henry, I really love what they did with them in the show. They made you fall in love with them so much more, which made their end so much more heartbreaking.
Perry (Jeffrey Pierce), the bearded soldier who was decapitated by the bloater, was actually Tommy's (Joel’s brother) voice and mocap actor in the game. Nice tidbit of info.
Fun fact: in the game, Sarah (Joel's daughter) was a high school soccer player. When he sees Ellie and Sam playing, he looks at his broken watch (Sarah's last gift) and sighs. It's such a well done detail.
The end scene is so devistating that there isn’t just one thing that hurts, but one thing that stands out to me is how desperate Ellie is to have her immunity mean something.
She wants to help and she thinks she can in that way and its heartbreaking that we all know you cant help someone that way.... She tried and that admirable
Wow that is brutal and well put, Bella is killing this role every episode
Bella's reaction to Henry shooting himself was epic. She is a great actor.
I feel like that moment wasn't anywhere near as intense as it is in the game.
@@smokeydillon4965 absolutely agree, I think this show really elevated this entire arc as in the game it didn't feel like Joel carried that much worry for Henry. it was pretty easy to care for Henry and Sam to begin with as you explored with them initially in the game (and Henry never got 'betray' Joel the same way)
here, you get a bit of that bleed of Joel's care for Ellie (and kids in general, again) as he didn't get to do anything to Sam once woken up at gun-point, and when he panicked trying to shoot the child stalker that went into SUV with Ellie.
the way the show adds to how Henry interacts with Joel before they're lost, the theme behind Joel's loss of Sarah and coping becoming a guardian becomes so much more intertwined
@@smokeydillon4965 It happens soooo suddenly in the game to. Not that I couldn't see it coming once Henry killed Sam. It was just so out of nowhere in the game. Messed me up cause I totally understood why he did it.
that scream she lets out is haunting
@@smokeydillon4965 this in my opinion was better than the game
Perry, the "cool guy with the beard", is actually the actor that played Tommy in the game.
OH MY GOD I KNEW HIS VOICE WAS FAMILIAR.
They made Sam younger and more vulnerable than in the game, and fit them both in perfectly with the growing Joel and Ellie dynamic. I love how at the end we see Joel actually bury them, he had some fondness for the two but I think he mainly did it for Ellie. He's seen a lot of death and I think he'd have just left them. What a heartbreaking episode... as per usual
In the game Sam wasn’t deaf but I love the detail in the show that Sam just faded away in the room alone but didn’t attack Ellie because he was probably deaf as infected are capable of tracking by sound… ellie must feel guilty that she broke her promise of staying awake and let Sam become an infected all alone
Oof.
In the game, Sam says "Henry says they've moved on. Like in heaven. Do you think that's true?"
"Henry, what have you done?"
Oof, indeed.
I think ellie was more upset that her blood didn’t cure him
The saddest thing I've heard yet was that after Ellie fell asleep, that Sam would know he was changing and that he sat on the bed with his back to her on purpose. He knew if he didn't see her, she'd be safer...because he didn't think he'd be able to hear her. So he sat there, waiting, staring out of the window...alone.
@@PoeInTheDitch I’m. fucking. crying.
Incredible episode. Ellie's little gasp or wimper when Henry shot himself was such great acting.
It felt so real the way she screamed and the decision to keep the shot on her face for a little longer was great, Bella is so talented!
@@MM-hi The voice is great. The emotions on her face? Not so much.
This was new to her, seeing someone take their own life is different than taking out an infected.
true
@@XiaoyuuuYT her facial expression was fine💀
my friends had never heard me cry before we started watching this show together. now they have heard it three times. lol
@@WheresWaldo05 They said this is the first time their FRIEND has seen them cry dummy learn to read and comprehend
@@WheresWaldo05 well apparently it is sad because people find it sad lol
Bloaters are just a rare occurrence of when the fungus is able to basically completely take over the body and still function, rather than becoming a decaying clump like the guy you see in the tunnels in Ep 1.
I have never played the game, so i had no idea what that thing was, but just a glimpse of that thing in last week's preview of this show terrified me all week.
Yeah, in the game it is ofhandedly mentioned once, that clickers start becoming the mushy fungal things, but, if you disturb them in this process they wake up and never complete it. It is not specified but implied it's a really short window for someone to "create" bloater. That is why they are rare and in only ocassionaly traveled areas.
@@janstraka8674 in the podcast for last week's episode, they said that most of the time when the infection becomes so advanced, the victim usually finds a dark, secluded place and grows into the environment like the one Tess and Joel discovered in the basement in episode one. In the rare occurrence like the one you mentioned, or if the person was physically strong enough to endure that, they become a bloater. I guess that's why they tend to be so big.
I never played the game but I always imagined bloaters to be gooey and delicious
I believe Ellie was intrigued by violence because they may have glorified it in her head but after experiencing Bryan has a more practical view of it and why she's now more shocked
The Bloater decapitation is literally the exact same animation from whenever Joel gets killed by one in game. I love that little detail.
Correct! I did notice that right on the moment
I had PTSD given how many times a bloater has ripped my head off lol
I was waiting to see if the bloater did the kill! The iconic bitch slap before the decapitation 😂
The only difference is that in the game it breaks your jaw rather than rips the head completely off.
Thanks for the f@ckin spoiler!
The bearded guy's name was Perry. The actor's name is Jeffrey Pierce AKA Tommy (Joel's brother) in the video game.
The slight nod to Joel and Ellie’s bond was so great to watch. From the “asshole voice” to Ellie clocking Joel’s pattern of saying no before relenting, to the silent communication between Joel and Ellie during the Infected horde. Also loved the moment where Joel eyed the bridge. It showed that he easily could have ran away, consequence free. But he couldn’t because he was already in too emotionally deep. Joel’s line about how it’s easier for kids because they don’t have people to depend on them only to setup Ellie feeling heartbroken because she couldn’t save Sam who depended on her was so well done. It leads to sort of a role reversal where Ellie comes off more broken with the “Let’s go” line while Joel is the one to take a moment to reflect on what just happened. I really like that nuance in their dynamic and how much they are rubbing off on each other.
And Lamar Johnsonn and Keivonn Woodward deserve an Emmy. They had an instant, magnetic chemistry that got you immediately connected. Just a clear case of efficient and economic storytelling. Not a single minute was wasted to get you to care about the characters and setup future dynamics.
Also the Savage Starlight, Joel working his way through the street to get to the sniper, and the Bloater kill being just like the game was chef’s kiss. The Infected were truly terrifying in this episode. The clicker kid was so creepy.
Brilliant episode.
Sam and Henry steel her desire to find the fireflies and make a cure. no matter the cost. shes now willing to die to prevent more sams. shes focused on her goal now and its gonna be a thing that drives them apart because joel is too broken.
Spot on assessment 👏
Perfect assessment. Love everything you said
'Nothing better happen to Sam. My heart would just shatter'
I teared up at this point in the reaction. :/
Same. I went all: "Poor Summer Child" during that moment
Hurts even more knowing that Sam was Henry's first kill.
FUCK why you gotta do me like that
*only
@@TheJokerAkaCirque His second was himself.
hurts more when kathleen said that maybe sam was supposed to die, and at the end he did
@@bragagd1618 And that he was fated to die, she said. Presumably she meant that because of his... condition.
As a game player, I knew what what coming but them adding this backstory for Henry and Sam made me cry immediately. I love Henry and Sam in the game, but for me these portrayals are even better. Which of course made everything harder.
@@WheresWaldo05 What are you talking about?!
@@sarcasmxkate they are probably a troll
Exactly, knowing how this was going to end and seeing more of their brotherly bond just broke me way before the end. This show should be a standard of how you do adaptations
I just realized this watching your video when Kathleen said to burn the bodies, in the last episode when Joel and Ellie were driving past the street that had all the skeletons and ashes, those must have been the FEDRA collaborators bodies. Makes that scene a little more depraved
Good catch, I noticed the bodies and wondered what they might be while Joel and Ellie drove around, but then forgot over the course of the episode and the wait. Thats a really interesting detail
Jesus, I just realized that now
The Henry and Sam scene is an almost right of passage into the fandom. When I saw them in the trailers I was immediately excited to see them, but then quickly remembered the pain I'll have experience AGAIN.
They executed the henry/Sam story perfectly. Can't wait for the remaining 4 episodes this season
5? isnt it 10 eipsodes?
@@Jimmywinkel 9
@@Jimmywinkel It was originally 10 but they made the first 2 episodes into one giant one. If not then episode one would have ended with Joel burning the kids body. They decided it was important to continue until the shows premise was completely set up and I think it was a great decision
@@Endgame_01 I could be wrong or not remembering properly but I thought, on the podcast, they said that the original first episode would have ended on the time skip, not going until the little boy's body was burned. Again, I could be wrong as I haven't listened to the podcast since it first came out over a year ago but that's what I think I remember.
One of the things I love so much about this adaptation is the expanded background we didn’t get in the games. Kathleen is a new character for the show created to show the moral complexities and shades of grey of the group Henry and Sam were fleeing from. I’ve been blown away how every time the showrunners have decided to change or expand on what happened in the game they’ve hit home runs so far.
As somebody that hasn't played the game, this is the one constant I have seen, from those that have: Every change/expansion makes sense, has a solid reason & works really well.
The actor for Kathleen wasn't a good fit imo she seemed more like a Karen than anything else. Glad she wont be in the show anymore.
@@ShadowNova300 yeah tbh she just had a really ... soft suburban voice that didnt really fit at all
@@koi9826 but, like, don't you think that's even MORE terrifying? People like that are EVERYWHERE
@@koi9826 that’s just how she sounds. Kathleen is scary as fuck not because her voice is of a higher pitch, but because she’s willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of her revenge, or kill anyone even associated with Henry. Her anger is understandable, even if all of her actions are not conducive to a better world.
That little kid clicker that followed Ellie into the car is simultaneously the most adorable and most terrifying thing in the whole show
Those two actors playing the brothers absolutely shone in their roles as Henry and Sam. Utterly heartbreaking.
Also, fun fact for those of us who've played the games: the sign language subtitles are the exact same font and style as the ingame subtitles.
Went from "never killed anyone" to being the one to kill his own brother. RIP Henry and Sam.
I love that they included a nod to story of Ish. It's purely told through notes in the game, but it really packs a punch when you get the whole story.
Henry and Sam DEVASTATED me in the game and BOY last night’s episode DESTROYED ME EVEN WORSE 😭
I think the only time I might've shed tears was Sarah's death in the game, but rarely connected to any animated characters in the game. The fact that it made me emotional every episodes of the live action just means how great the script writers are to have us capture human emotions and connections to these survivors and tear our heart out episodes after episodes....Sam, Henry, Ellie.....the innocence of youth...
I've played the game multiple times and still cried my eyes out at the end of the episode. Henry and Sam were so well portrayed in the show, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. This show is just pain.
This episode broke me. It only takes 30 minutes (give or take) to fall in love with these characters and another 5 minutes (give or take) to leave you heartbroken and an emotional wreck. I'm still trying to recover... this show is BRILLIANT and I am completely and unconditionally enthralled by it!
24:12 This episode is another reminder of how brutal and unforgiving this world is, regardless of who you are. Something as simple as running across a group of infected has catastrophic effects to deal with and even doing what one may think is the right thing has consequences everyone has to deal with.
It’s no wonder Joel closed his heart off in the first place. The quicker you get attached to someone, the more likely you are to lose them.
A Bloater I believe is just assumed to be one of the few that Joel mentions to have lasted 20 years or longer. The longer one survives the more fungus hardens around the whole body.
I think there's a bit more to that. Being infected around 20 years ago is a condition, but it's probably also having a body that the fungus can leech on for that long without killing the body. Otherwise, you turn into one of those that was stuck to the wall in episode 1 or the fungus dries up like the one in episode 2.
@@duke4088 i have never played the game, but out of curiosity, when all of the infected including the "bloater" came out of the hole, why would they immediately start killing people? Isn't the whole point of the fungus to use its host to spread itself to everyone? How does ripping someone's head off help spread the fungus? Am i thinking too much into this? You sound like you are knowledgeable about the game, so i thought I'd ask you.
@@cullenarthur8879 For the benefit of gameplay mechanics, I don't think it was actually stated in the game that fungus only wants to spread. In the game there was no hive mind mechanic as well, they just want to bite you and that coincidentally also spreads the fungus. I think it's just the fungus in the game makes you violent and destructive. So about the supposed hive mind motivation of the fungus to spread first, I'm just as clueless as you.
@@duke4088 oh, o.k! Thanks for the information. I think the hive mind aspect is terrifying. I think you're right, the fungus makes you destructive and violent. If their contact with you leaves you infected, then fine, but they run on pure violent instinct. I find these type of "infected" way more terrifying than Romero style zombies from TWD because reanimated corpses never made any kind of sense to me. But people infected and controlled by a fungus or pathogen seems possible. The brutality of nature is amazing. The reason dogs foam at the mouth when infected with rabies is because the virus paralyzes the throat muscles, making it difficult to swallow its saliva, therefore making its saliva exit the mouth and spreading the virus to other organisms. That shit is terrifying!
@@cullenarthur8879 I think infected also have to eat to survive. Especially bloaters must have eaten a lot to the point that they are more concerned with eating than spreading the infection. And that is probably how you get a bloater.
They really found some great talent in all of the young actors in this show, just fantastic performances all around.
"Greybeard" aka Perry is played by Jeffrey Pierce who was the voice actor for Tommy in the games.
I cried 10 years ago when I played the game. I cried last night when I saw that motel because I knew what was coming. Now I cried when I saw your reaction to it. This story is amazing but it will rip your heart out.
What you said about the little girl clicker was spit on, and it reminded me of that infected we saw in episode one, the one that was chasing Joel and Sarah through the restaurant. He was also very athletic, jumping over furniture to get to his target. They are really selling the superhuman abilities of the infected.
It seems that they are so determined in trying to reach their victim that they totally disregard their own bodies limitations in trying to reach them.
I loved the moment when Ellie thinks she can heal him; it's very sad because we (the audience) knew it wouldn't work, but it's also a reminder that despite what she's been through, she still has a childlike view of the world (maybe she also regrets not being able to save Tess in some way, or at least not trying to save her). Why is she different if she can't save the people she loves? Is she doomed to survive alone and see everyone she loves turn into monsters (cf. the fear she expressed)?
There is also a double dialogue about Henry being a bad man because he did bad things but it was ok because he was doing it for Sam - once Sam is gone, in is own mind he's just a bad man.
I think also she's desperate to save people because she's been abandoned her whole life. Joel hasn't yet, but wanted to bounce at the start. Marleen pawned her off on Tess ( I know she had to but it sucked for Ellie). Her Mom. Making a friend and the he turned and she couldn't save him. Poor thing needs someone (Joel) to not leave her.
@@funnylilgalreacts Yes, that side kinda escaped me, maybe because I'm used to not needing anyone ^^, I guess the older we get, the more we try to ignore that side (me anyway). But yeah, I like the way you look at it :)
No spolier or anything, but the things you said about Ellie will be explored later, and yep, prepare to fucking cry.
That moment was great. Although the cutscene where she gives Sam the toy in the game is also cute.
Ellie really believe in her heart that her blood alone would save Sam’s life. She really didn’t know any better.
Maybe, or she was just trying to comfort Sam. Though it might be just her child’s understanding of her infection.
It was so heartbroken. I'm like, "oh, babygirl...that's not how that works." 😭😭😭😭😭
Tbh that was one change I didn’t really like. While it was a nice sentiment… the idea that Ellie would actually be that stupid to not at least tell Joel that Sam was infected, or gee, maybe keep her distance from him in the morning… I think the shock factor in the game hit a lot harder.
@@joeb918 Yeah I think she at least had genuine hope it would help, otherwise she would have told someone Sam got bit. But she kept it to herself to wait and see.
She’s only 14. I can see why she thought that
I do like that how Joel is a bit more humanized in the show, he asked the sniper to just put the gun down, like he is slowly becoming human again by being with Ellie
As far as differences go Joel and Henry had a few moments against each other and but got along more to like they start talking abput riding a motorcycle and imitating the sounds and laughing.
Sam could talk and was a little closer to Ellie’s age, he wanted a Power Rangers/Transformers looking toy and Henry scolded him explaining their rule about traveling light. Sam never told Ellie he got bite and didn’t care about the toy she got for him without anyone seeing
I was quite excited when I saw the Bloater, the digging is new. The Bloater was introduced at Bill’s chapter of the game and they can throw… not sure but it’s either spore bombs or acid bombs from their body, and in the games fire is typically the best way to deal with them cause they just eat your ammo and if you get too close your head will be ripped off.
The people who lived underground is one of the stories told through notes left around in the world,
a man named Ish had a boat that broke down on a shore and found the tunnels after a while he found other survivors and convinced himself to let them stay with him they had a thriving community with a school activities and games they collected rainwater from small openings to the surface and there was enough for kids would use waterguns. At some point someone made a mistake and the cordyceps came, Ish and a few others escaped but in one of the locked doors there was a room filled with sheets covering the children and a message “they didn’t suffer” and one adult body.
Just finished watching not even 1 hour ago and right away went to look for you reaction. And you did not disappoint.. No I didn't cry, but some fool was cutting onions in my face.. Those tears don't count!
The child actor climbing in the truck was very reminiscent of the actresses playing the demons in episode 8 of Lovecraft Country. Gymnasts, dancers and contortionists make the most creepy creatures in sci-fi shows.
She made me think of the little girl in "Barry" - which also involved a girl crawling inside a car and attacking the people inside.
I love it when people who haven't played the game before the series see the Bloater for the first time and get freaked out by their monstrous size and strength
Such a well done episode. So damn heartbreaking. The game and show are so gut wrenching and emotional. You almost forget the insane infected attack happened after seeing that ending.
Thanks for letting us join you on this incredible, painful, and emotional journey.
Some context on the hideout they find in the tunnels. In the game, shortly after escaping the city, Joel finds a note in an old boat from a guy named 'Ish'. The four then enter the storm tunnels and they find the remnants of this community that 'Ish' helped establish. You never meet anyone, but through a series of notes and journals you learns about this group of survivors. Even though it has no impact on the game, it's an amazing piece of world-building. The painting of the castle on the entrance is exactly like the game, also the drawing Joel sees on the wall that has 'Ish' written on it, is identical to the one in the game.
I was waiting for ish story but at least we got a reference
@@guts9160 Yeah I was sad they couldn't fit in the Ish story but it makes sense. It would take too much time away from more important things. But I'm glad we got the reference, and it still exists in the game.
Craig and Neil said they could have made a while episode just for Ish but they decided to just give this wink and nod to the players on it instead. Either way, cool Easter egg
This show is extraordinary, the acting, the scenes are more devastating and they just destroy us. That sequence when the clickers and the bloater emerging from the ground was mind blowing and epic. Kudos for bringing up being deaf in this world and then the show having Sam deaf. Your craving to see what was underground in the tunnels, that little laugh when you were talking about Kathleen and her demise against the clicker was terrific made me smile. You’re delightful Angela, thx🧟♂️🔫👧🏻🤠🥰
When *that* scene with Henry and Sam happened in the game, I remember I set the controller down in shock, horror and heartbreak and I just kept whispering "Oh my god" to myself, with tears in my eyes. Even though I knew it was coming in the show, it was so well done that it was just as impactful as when I played the game and had no idea what was about to happen. All the actors were phenomenal 👏🏻
What makes Sams death even worse is that he was right about the infected still being conscious
I’m not so so sure about that one. Unless they’ve said something on the podcast which I’ve not watched yet.
@@joeb918 it was true in the game
@@jaydenjones1374’ve played it multiple times and watched others play it even more… I don’t think it’s explicitly said that this is the case, it’s thought about by Sam, but Ellie tells him “that person isn’t in there any more.”
Maybe in the earliest parts of being infected, as you can hear some things that sound like cries from people said to be just infected, but they lose or over time.
@@joeb918 I'm not sure about the show the it's established in-game that the infected still have remains of who they were. That's why you hear them wail and cry throughout the games. You even a find note with writing from an infected.
@@CatIndustrialComplexwas just editing that point in. Those are for ones that are just infected, like the ones just before they enter the museum…. Tess says something about them “just being infected.” So with those there are those crying sounds, but it’s not something that continues through the lifespan of the infection. It’s only in the recently infected. It’s debated by the characters, and players, but it’s not definitively said they’re conscious long term.
About the whole "something being off about Ellie" thing it is worth remembering that in episode 1 they mentioned that Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, left Ellie to be raised in FEDRA school. And so this very pragmatic, and at times corrupt, Paramilitary Government faction raised her.
Bloaters are terrifying and really really tough. I love what they did with Sam and Henry here. only 4 episodes left this season and I'm really looking forward to see what they do and your reaction to the story as a whole.
The clicker kid was performed by a contortionist (and enhanced by WETA Workshop). Source: the official post-episode podcast.
This episode broke me.
I don't have a brother but i have two younger cousins who are like brothers to me ... and just thinking about this situation .... hardest cry i had so far in this show
Have you heard that corduroy pillows are really popular? They're making headlines across the country.
I'm conflicted... 👍 or 👎 🤷♂... (👍)
Ellie was probably thinking “if only he was inmune”. 💔
This whole journey, it can’t be for nothing.
8:20 "Awwww. I like Sam!"
Rookie mistake.
Every. Time.
All the people like myself who have played the games...felt so bad every time in the lead up you said how much you liked Henry and Sam.
Ahh yes, the "big one" is a Bloater. Incredibly scary in game. I have a very distinct memory of running into my first one, just screaming and trying to run away. Another fantastic but heartbreaking episode.
The Rat King gives me PTSD still.
@@vordt4139 Spoilers man, we played the games, but not everyone else. Throw a spoiler warning on your comment next time
@@duke4088 it’s the name of the type of zombie.. there is literally no spoilers in my comment..
@@RadicalMaddy Not yours man, the other guy was referencing the rat king
@@duke4088 OH. I was so confused 😂
Bella's acting when Henry shot himself was fantastic. In the game they immediately cut to black. The decision to focus on Ellie's face instead was *chef's kiss*.
This is the episode that got to me. Even though I knew what was coming it still hit me like a ton of bricks. Anyone with younger siblings can definitely relate. Kudos to Lamar Johnson (Henry) and Keivonn Woodard (Sam) They absolutely nailed it.
I liked Kathleen because it showcased a very important theme of the show: that the loss of a loved one (or the potential of it) can drive one to do anything, at any cost. Including overthrowing a military government, mercilessly. She has loyal followers not necessarily because is a brilliant leader, and not because her brother was the leader, but because her losing him caused her to make decisions that he never would’ve done because of the kind of man he was.
Exactly! She’s brash, irrational, and vengeful, but also an active leader. She earned the trust of her people simply because she did something, unlike her brother who was apparently more passive.
The dark and damp environment in the tunnels, accelerates the fungus growth and other conditions help to create the bloater.
I’ve played the game 5 times and this scene always gets me. Seeing it okayed out by real people really took it to another level. Wow.
A bag of crayons would’ve made me so happy as a kid. 😊🖍️
Texted my brother, who had watched the episode, a pic of the Bloater and “What the Fuck!”
Rod: Her blood is medicine? Cool
Chad: Is it?
Rod: Oh shit!
Rod: That sucks. Damn, this show!
I really wanted Sam to be in this for the long haul. Loved his superhero mask.
Yes, Ellie’s growth as a character is great to witness. Top notch acting from Bella!
Losing Sam and Henry was heartbreaking.
But can we talk about the real tragic loss of this episode? Perry’s beard. That beard was way too nice to go out that way.
This is one of the best reactions I've ever seen! I respect your opinions and feelings 💯
The bloater looked great. They are no joke in the game. Oh Henry and Sam. I knew it was coming, but there way a part of me that the end of their story would have gotten a happier rewrite like Bill and Frank did in episode 3. Still supper heart breaking.
This story is definitely Joel and Ellie's story, however I am loving that we get to see and spend more time with side character, which we didn't get to do a whole lot in the game.
Each character that we get to see and Joel and Ellie meet is super important for comparisons of Joel and Ellie's own relationship and how they view the world and what it means to endure and survive, along with the guilt that can come along with that.
The show is doing an outstanding job.
I love the distinction you made between doing something "bad" vs "evil," that's a great point.
Perry was played by the same actor who played Tommy in the game
Related to how awful disabilities would be in an apocalypse, there's a book called One Second After about an EMP attack on the US that essentially wipes out all electronics. The protagonist is a college professor who along with his family and students band together and make their campus a little fortress to fight raiders. One of the main themes of the book is that as soon as the power goes out anyone with any sort of medical condition relying on a constant supply of medicine or care is just straight up dead. Any older folks who need advanced medical care don't last long. The protagonist, who is generally portrayed as a good man, had a diabetic daughter and ends up having to rob and hurt people for their supplies of insulin so his child has any shot of living. In reality anyone with even a minor condition is an apocalyptic setting is pretty screwed.
I can't imagine how hard it was for Sam and Henry to have to deal with deafness. I assume the leukemia may have made Sam deaf, but either way it's another level of paranoia for Henry knowing that Sam can't survive on his own at all without constant supervision and aid.
sounds like a cool book
I'll have to check out that book!
I’m watching this with you for the first time. I know it’s rough but I love the emotion you put into your reactions.
You looked so traumatized when they first appeared out of that sink hole 😂
That was definitely a shocking moment though. Really caught me off guard!
From what I remember, time creates bloaters. Cordyceps progresses in stages over time. The longer an infected stays alive the more the fungus grows from the inside out. So far in the show they've shown 3 stages from the recently infected runners to clicker then bloaters. Great reactions! Always fun to see someone experience the beauty of this story!
23:50 Bella nailed that shout. Doesn't matter how many times I watch it, it still gives me chills.
The reason Kathleen was hunting down Henry was mentioned in episode four actually. While she was interrogating Dr. Edelstein he pleaded with her, saying he wasn't responsible for her brother's death, to which she answered that Henry was.
Perry tells Kathleen to run!
Kathleen: lightly jogs away like she's got all the time in the world
The big one is called a Bloater. They are infected who've been that way for around 15-20 years. Basically, it's one of the earliest infected that was pushed into a hole instead of killed. As a result, the fungus has turned it into a heavily armored monster.
Bella's acting when Henry takes his life is amazing, so subtle but shows a split second of uncontrollable emotion. This episode does great at showing that Ellie is 14 and clicks with an 8 year old and has fun, as well as trying to be a grown up in a very dark world.
Truly one of most intense highs and lows of TV in a 15 minute span that I've experienced. I didn't play the game so I have no idea what's to come. But this one...the loss of Henry and Sam was such a gut punch. I have to continue to remember...so many characters will mean so many deaths. Great reaction video from you. BTW, love your hair!!
I skimmed but didn't see anyone else answering your question about the bloaters. They are the ones who had bodys strong enough to survive long enough to get that big. The infection goes in stages. It goes from Runner > Clicker/Stalker > Shambler > Bloater > Rat King (Rat King is kinda different, it's mostly a clump of infected grown together.) Once the fungus knows the host is about to die, it finds a dark place to post up and starts fruiting and releasing spores.
I love that both gamers and non-gamers are loving this show equally
The Bloated is the 4 stage of being affected
For a really long time
13:02
It's nice the showrunners included the little things from the games like Ish in the tunnels
Since you asked, bloaters are people who have been infected for a long long time! There are four stages to infection, called (in order): runners, stalkers, clickers, and then bloaters
sigh... some shows are just designed to break our hearts 😔
I feel like because it's based on a video game every episode is a "one upper" of the last level played. So.... it's only gonna get worse.
@@funnylilgalreacts yeah it only gets worse... In a good way 🥺😅
@@funnylilgalreacts You're in for one hell of a ride, that's all I say. Also the way they did the episode with Bill and Frank believe or not was actually a much happier ending than the way it turned out in the game. Who knows maybe they'll lighten things up a bit in some of the future episodes. Keep tissues nearby just in case though.
@@funnylilgalreactshere is that, but it’s also just a constant hitting of theme. Which happens in other shows, but not with this level of emotional whiplash, as this show or story can go from making you laugh and smile and in a split second break your heart.
Edit: just started watching… I didn’t even notice the line on your face!
@@funnylilgalreactsRising action is a standard narrative trope, too. In fact, when it was released it was noticeably not like most other video games.
The way they held the camera on Ellie when Henry shot himself was so impactful.
Sam being def was a good touch. This was almost exactly like the Game. When you said something better not happen to Sam, I was like Oh know I wanna cry for you now lol
New subscriber. Just wanted to say great reactions! So heartfelt. That angry yank at the tissue at the end of the episode... yeah, this show!
34:48 The longer a person is infected with the cordyceps fungus, the more they start to change. Initially they are just the runners you see in the first episode. If they live around a year, they eventually reach clicker stage, which you saw in episode 2. Bloaters are the rarest stage, coming from clickers who have survived for years until the fungus has almost entirely taken over their body.
They suck to fight in the game lol.
I LOVE the bait and switch with the tunnels
Bloaters are based on years of infection. In the hierarchy of cordyceps', from freshest to deadliest:
Runners: Freshly infected - 2 Weeks
Stalkers: 2 Weeks - 1 Year
Clicker: 1 Year
Shambler: 1+ years
Bloater: 1+ years, near water
Rat King: 20 years, special, combination of multiple strains of cordyceps. As it takes damage, parts will drop off and attack alongside.
Love your reaction they are doing an amazing job at this show. Those infected came out of the ground like bugs and that bloater was a savage.
This episode does an excellent job with what the biggest theme of The Last of Us 1 and 2 was all about for me... Like Depeche Mode's lyrics, "you should try walking in my shoes"
Angela:I hope nothing happens to Sam, Me: I hope you have your tissues nearby ready kid Lol.
Really terrific breakdown analysis!
saving the bloater for now and the expanded characterization for the hunters was so good.
Did you watch the Behind the Scenes? Amazing interview with the actor that played Sam and the ASL interpreter/consultant. Good story on how they decided to have Sam be hearing impaired, I think it made it wayyyy more impactful. Great episode!
What a trooper. Records with nap-face! I admire your fortitude
Fun fact: the guy with beard who was Kathleen’s right hand man is the voice actor for Joel’s brother in the game
One thing I've noticed in a correlation between Ellie and violence / Ellie and her capacity for empathy; she is upset by uninfected people being hurt/dying, with little remorse shown towards the infected -- unless she knew them before they were infected, a la Sam. She was genuinely saddened seeing the mass grave in episode 3 and couldn't understand why FEDRA would kill people who weren't infected. She asked Joel if they were going to help the guy in the road, in a tone that suggested she thought it the obvious course of action. She took absolutely no joy in shooting Brian or Joel killing Brian thereafter. She was horrified watching Kathleen die, even though Kathleen was, in that moment, about to kill them. The only time she's seemed fascinated with a human's death was the FEDRA guard in episode 1, but I think that had more to do with the fact that somebody was defending her so viscously from what they perceived to be a threat to her (even if she didn't know at the time that it was more Joel's PTSD acting than a her-related thing). Ellie was an orphan raised in a FEDRA military school filled with other orphans; it isn't a stretch to say that she probably hasn't had much, if any, individualized attention from adults in a positive connotation, and probably none stepping in to take on a protective role. It makes sense that she would find it flattering, in a morbid sort of way, that this guy she just met that didn't even seem to like her was willing to beat somebody to death with his bare hands in order to protect her.
I could go on about how this relates to her gun fixation and the knife-play with the infected under the gas station, but this comment is already way too long, so I'll leave it there. Just my take on Ellie's character based on what we've seen of her so far.
Bloaters are basically what happen when body builderrs / people of considerably larger mass get infected and survive for some 15-20 years. Most infected die off as runners, some make it to clickers, but larger people are more capable of withstanding the infection, and become fully mature (as far as we know) infected. Most of their muscle and skin has been enhanced/replaced by the fungus, making them incredibly resilient, and far stronger than an uninfected of similar size.
As a long time zombie lover, this episode had what is probably the best zombie horde scene in anything I've watched. The way they suddenly erupted from the hole, and the chaos that broke out immediately after... perfection. Fun note, when the bloater ripped the guy's head off, that was actually a nod to the death animation that plays when you get too close to a bloater in the game.
As for Sam and Henry, I really love what they did with them in the show. They made you fall in love with them so much more, which made their end so much more heartbreaking.
Perry (Jeffrey Pierce), the bearded soldier who was decapitated by the bloater, was actually Tommy's (Joel’s brother) voice and mocap actor in the game. Nice tidbit of info.
Every Reactor: “You can’t make me fall in love with them and take them away..”
Directors: Watch this….😢😢😂