#and having such an unapologetically bleak and macabre sequel strips away why the original worked

[rise-my-angel]

hii mimi!! how are you?? how is everything? also!! what did you think of the most recent ep of tlou?? i love hearing your thoughts about shows!! ☺️☺️

I actually really love the small pockets of a somewhat normal life. First two episodes had what we know as a normal life but drenched in a looming dread of whats to be lossed. But then we get two main peeks of what is now. Under cut cus i talk so goddamn much:

Bill and Frank found harmony in their isolation and shows that the world is healing on its own already. Their lives and end had nothing to do with the world around them.

And I actually really liked Ellie at FEDRA. We barely know them, and have only seen one officer who even despite what he did l, wasn't just a bad guy. And I like Ellie's conversation with at the school. That these people are just like the fireflies. They believe they have the answer as to how to keep things together and their sacrifices are necessary. His talk with Ellie wasn't full of propaganda or manipulation. Just a man who thinks he's doing right by the world and wants to guide others. They do bad things, but so do the rebel groups and neither of them are totally in the right or wrong.

I do love how they didn't feel tempted to go for horror or shock snd show Riley's inevitable. Just like not showing Bill and Frank even just together. We know the ending for her because Ellie's in Marlenes hold not Riley. Its more tragic that we see her whole and never again.

I also, like episode 3 love how it shows that life still can be normal. That behind the walls or in them, people still find love and live a life that feels like before. The fact that so much of them was just pure goofiness in the mall was perfect. We saw normal can exist in Bill and Frank, that you can find it in Tommy and Maria, and now we see that Ellie already knows its possible. She grew up to be mostly normal and has experienced what love can feel like and now shes seen it out there, twice.

We never saw that with Joel after he left to go bail Tommy out of jail. Normal didn't exist for him but Ellie has seen and experienced it, she knows its possible and despite everything the person she wants to show that to the most is Joel. Its why she asks what theyre going to do with their lives after they reach the fireflies and not whats going to happen there. She knows what love feels like and now she wants Joel to remember how that feels.

Also, I love our two awkward as fuck little idiot lesbians. Two complete morons who perfectly capture "how romantic does this shit need to get before you dingbags are on the same level". On the carousel would have been picture perfect but they just don't know and they move on. I also love how Ellie also merciless bullies Riley, like she does Joel. Her love language is making fun of you and its the funniest thing.

Interesting I saw people say Ellies post bite reaction made them think Joels looked like that. But I don't think so. Ellie wasn't losing just Riley she was losing herself too. She KNEW (👀) she was at her end. Ellie reacted with upset and anger that finally spilt into tears when she accepted their fates. Joel's anger festered and grew. Spurred on by the people they surrounded eachother with who insisted they were indeed not good people.

I think Joel was numb for a while. So devastated his own soul had nothing left to give until other people ensured he could fill it with anger. Ellie's anger was instant and not really anger but helplessness. Its why her meeting Joel so soon after this is important.

She didn't have a chance to feel numb. She met Joel before that could kick in, and she recognizes someone who could be her. They're alike and I think Ellie picked up on it fast, and by reaching out to someone she felt could be her if she let herself forget the good she has seen and felt.

Its important they met so soon after, because while part died with Riley, her soul reached out to Joel before it could die too. They're the only people who could make that emptiness feel whole again for one another.

Also. Ellie is actually me excitedly asking if she was getting tacos.

#tlou spoilers #the last of us spoilers #i just love how the show refuses to paint the world as miserable #it's not its full of life and love and it's not bleak and horrific #bad things happen (me looking at the next episode) #but it doesnt define things and it shouldn't be the focus #its why tlou 2 doesnt work for me #its a story about finding hope and healing through love #and having such an unapologetically bleak and macabre sequel strips away why the original worked #it's not about revenge or anger or violence #its about overcoming those for the sake of love