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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 449 | The Last of Us (HBO) Review Discussion and Spoilercast (Season 2, Episode 3)
🕑 Added 2025-04-29 00:59:10 +0000 UTCIf last week's episode was a gut-punch, Episode 3 of The Last of Us' second HBO season allows for audiences to breathe, even if just a little. As several months ultimately pass, the citizenry of Jackson is able to dwell on and deal with not only Joel's death, but the Infected attack that nearly wiped them off the map for good. Yet, The Last of Us: Part II is a game all about revenge and the cyclical violence that's required to pursue it, and as we already know well enough, nothing is going to stop Ellie from pursuing her adopted father's killers. There are changes galore between game and TV show (including some ill-advised ones), but overall, we remain impressed with and engaged by what we've seen so far this season, and suspect you all feel the same way. So let's begin our journey towards and to Seattle, shall we?
Comments
YaBoyStevieJay
Guys, if 90% of the conversation going to be “why did they make these changes”, how about you just listen to the Neil and Craig podcast where they explain all of the changes. Then you can actually talk about the episode without wondering all of these things.
YaBoyStevieJay
People need stuff spelled out for them because media literacy is at all a time low. Dustin himself literally said he believed Ellie’s speech at the council, and Colin said he thought they were eliminating the porch scene because Ellie said they didn’t talk. Without Gale saying that Ellie is a liar, neither Dustin or Colin would’ve picked up on it.
Corey Adams
One thing that jumped out to me during my second viewing of this episode, specifically with the Seraphites. You’re led to believe that the little girl and the guy are father and daughter, however we know from the game that Seraphites wed their children to elders (this is the whole reason Lev runs away). Is it possible that was the relationship we saw between the two? Made the second watch through creepier when I noticed them holding hands, but maybe I’m just reading into it.
TheMuff1nMon
I thought this was the worst episode of the entire series and felt like filler. Hate what they’re doing with Tommy. They’re treating the audience like idiots as well. The whole council season existed to straight up tell you the themes and then in case you couldn’t pick up that Ellie was lying - they have a whole scene to straight up tell you. It’s bad writing. You could’ve cut everything except Dina tells Ellie, they tell Tommy then they should be off.
KillnStrangers
How many times can Colin in some sense, in some senses??????
XenoNative
"It's still working".... exactly.
Jared R
You literally described them doing the exact opposite of what they did with Abby and then called it the same mistake. With Abby, they told you everything. With the Seraphites, they’re misdirecting you. How’re these the same thing?
king_ryan_james
Unless this is an HBO coffee cup situation haha
Chetsnooze
Deena looks like a naked mole rat in the game but shes gorgous in this show. Either way i dont like either deenas purpose for the story.
SweetBabyRay
I really enjoyed this episode. I felt like you guys had a good cadence, and even though you had different takes on the episode, I felt like everyone had a chance to share their thoughts. Great job!
Jeece
The one positive I could say about this episode is if you have to add all this bullshit melodrama to pad out the show it was an interesting choice to have Seth help them out of Jackson. Introducing the scars as sympathetic instead of making you afraid of them and then having you slowly start to understand them over the course of the show is the exact same mistake they made with Abby. Explain everything about her immediately so there are no questions. Why?? The game is so impactful because of how/when the information is given to you.
king_ryan_james
Joel and Ellie had to have talked to each other. Joel was playing the guitar on the porch. Then, when Ellie wakes up in the morning, the guitar somehow ends up in her room.
Zachary
Shout out to Trupanion!! My sister has been working there since they were a startup. Glad you guys are being taken care of.
NUTSO JIMBO
It's odd, I actually prefer season 2 to season 1 so far. Season 1 to me just felt like a very watered down and worse version of the game in every way. Season 2 is still worse than the game but I actually appreciate there are more differences this time, helps to make it feel like less of a pale imitation.
NUTSO JIMBO
Very sad news to start the episode with. Much respect to Colin and Micha for still doing the episode. When my dogs were sick I didn't really sleep for days.
Your Boi Nicky V
Hope Treble will be ok, thanks for doing this show with all that going on
Harry
This ep was abit meh for me. There really can’t be too much set up when you have 7 episodes and so much story. Besides a few moments, it still feels like we’re getting season 1 Ellie from Ramsey in her tone. (carefree, cracking way too many jokes at this point). Seth from the dance had more anger for Joel’s death than Ellie/Tommy here 😭 To Colin’s point on filling in the gaps, I agree. We just got Bill and Franks story at this point last season which was arguably the best episode… it’s just not quite hitting the same but hopefully it picks up for me! Sending all my love to Treble… ❤️
Derek Alcott
I'm just not feeling this season. Maybe I'm over "Zombie Apocalypse" shows but I find myself just not caring about the characters. The actress that plays Dina is really good. Bella Ramsey just doesn't seem to fit for this show. Joel dying didn't have much of an effect on me. I kind of knew it was going to happen due to the amount of videogame podcasts that I listen to. Plus, I've grown tired of Pedro Pascal. Really wish that I could enjoy the show as much as others or even like I did the first season.
Derek Alcott
Totally agree. The actress is really good.
BatmanBeyond
❤️ to Treble
BatmanBeyond
Dina is the star of the show imo
PairOfShuse
Just wanted to say I hope everything ends up ok with Treble. My cat Gremlin had some issues at the beginning of the year. Pet insurance definitely came in handy since the cost has been over three grand so far. Might be early onset kidney disease. But, like you, even if I didn’t have the insurance, I can afford it and am happy to do so. Pets are family. Gotta always treat them as such.
TheHOOfan1
The time Ellie spent in the hospital changes things about the different relationships in the game specifically because of Mel and Dina's pregnancies. It means Dina got back with Jesse after the kiss and if Mel is pregnant in the show, it likely means she was sleeping with Owen after they killed Joel. It could have some big ramifications on the Dina-Ellie-Jesse triangle and the Mel-Owen-Abby triangle.
Brendan Ryan
Genuinely appreciate the work you all do. You don’t need to go this hard for us.
Michael McCoy
I really hope Treble is okay, hopefully she just has some strange quirks. Rooting for Treble!
Michael McCoy
Same. Each episode has made me feel worse about the show. But on the flip side it has made me appreciate the game more. The game really trusted the audience to understand the nuance, the show obviously does not.
Kazden Risk
Did NOT like this episode … eager to hear the discussion here. Let’s go!
Dennis
Yesssssss
