finding hidden signs | the last of us ep. 2 breakdown

[@jossandqvist]

Dying at the fact that Julien would totally survive the first outbreak because he doesn't eat ✨flour✨

[@kimberlysanchez3693]

I think he eats seeds and grain not wheat or flower or barley tho since He’s a celiac but how would we possibly know about how other factories were or weren’t infected most mushrooms just need substrate to grow anything including rotting trees and dirt are also common substrate for mushrooms 😅 we will never know tho 😰

[@ropeburn1081]

I loved the hotel scene because Ellie had to say she couldn't swim, and you're expecting a pallet to be used, but then Joel just hops in and it's not even knee deep.

[@miroh8]

dude the mycology professor was an amazing actor, that whole intro blew me away. loving these episode breakdowns!!

[@missartist123]

Agreed. I was getting teary eyed when she told the cop/military guy what they needed to do to stop the spread. She accepted what needed to be done and wanted to be with family.

[@BeccaRayRay]

To have a biology-based scientist be the one to tell a military officer to bomb humanity is such a woah moment.

[@jungtothehuimang]

That whole scene was so uncomfortable to watch I was genuinely terrified, it was so so well done.

[@DoughyDewey]

shes like indonesian legendaty actress

[@annafoglesong1419]

When i tell you i cried when she said bomb 😭😭

[@KatTheMosher18]

Another thing I really liked was how he boosted Tess up to go look around and it literally looked like the game mechanic. Same with him and Ellie crouched and sneaking around the museum from display to display. Actually felt like it was a scene in the game.

[@nadja5551]

I smiled when she asked him to boost her up 🥲

[@VermilionLotus]

It's funny you should say that because I noticed a lot of "game-like" movements of the actors. I thought maybe I was reading too much into it or seeing what I wanted to see (or whatever), but if it's intentional, that's kind of fucking awesome. I mean, the game itself is based on motion capture of the voice actors (props to Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, etc), so it's going to be more realistic than other non-mocap games. Still, every once in awhile I was like "hey, that's kind of what they do in the game, too." lol

[@Stiasteny]

I can explain why! This episode is directed by the video game's co-creator. What a perfect choice because he knows EXACTLY how the shots should look. It really feels like the game 😊

[@snurrisen]

yes!! Ive barely looked into the game but some scenes are just sooo game-esque and i love it

[@kate_beck]

I absolutely LOVE how so much of the dialogue is taken word for word from the game. Like the - "Well I didn't shit my pants," - "Is it everything you hoped for?" "Jury's still out. But man, you can't deny that view. " - "Our luck had to run out sooner or later." - "Oops, right?" all are direct lines from the game!

[@tinatran6401]

I thought the kiss felt so violating and it worked/made sense to me. Since the infection feels that way - the fact that it takes over the essence of who you are is also very violating.

[@themardbard9096]

Yeah this is definitely what I was thinking too.

[@terma6846]

I forget where I saw or read but it was that Tess wanted to kiss Joel goodbye but couldn’t due to infection and as it took over she was sharing her thoughts with the hive mind and came over and did that for her lol

[@georgia2321]

Also for me the way they took the grossness & terror of what was happening and contrasted it against the absolutely stunningly beautiful way they shot that kiss (the lighting, the way it was framed, the lingering shot etc) omfg. For me that juxtaposition just made the kiss feel *that* much more horrific

[@sneekz07]

It wasn't a kiss. It was the tendrils probing.

[@sunnyspinach]

Did y’all see that it was confirmed the fungus spread through grain? IMAGINE IF THEY HAD EATEN THE CAKE OR THE PANCAKES? OR THE BISCUIT THE OLD LADY ATE??? And I bet Sarah didn’t eat the cookies because they were raisin cookies!!!

[@NimN0ms]

All that context was purposeful! It was to make us viewers realize how they didn't get infected originally!

[@RealBradMiller]

@@NimN0ms My question is how they made bread for the chicken sandwich, and why they'd take the chance with growing grains?

[@Planet-dad]

@Brad Miller I think it's such a smart scene though. Everyone we've seen so far eat any sort of flour or grain product has become infected. We know that's how it spreads. Joel and Tess are eating dried meat and are just watching ellie eat her sandwich without any thought or worry about infection. They're already amazed she survived the night and then she picks up this sandwich, which is how this whole thing started, and she eats it without hesitation because she's immune.

[@sunnyspinach]

@@Planet-dad omg I didn’t even think of her sandwich!!!

[@skittles696]

@@Planet-dad That would make a lot of sense, however I believe since then they would have been able to grind their own flour without using mass produced flour. It has been 20 years since then

[@darianaosuna1173]

Also for the part where ellie is in the light and Joel is in the dark, it could be a reference or callback to the fireflies motto, "when you're lost in the darkness, look for the light"

[@mandyc3095]

Ah you're right! Love that!

[@Lake_Liminal]

theres also the part where joel grabs onto ellie's arm to help her up during the clicker fight and then flinches his hand away when he realizes hes holding onto the bite mark spot. its like subconsciously hes starting to get over his fear of her but as soon as he realizes it he makes himself pull back again

[@kellybradley4815]

Yesss! I only noticed this in my second watch, you're totally right

[@kaitykaits88]

I assumed this was just because of his injured hand!! but i love your take

[@Lake_Liminal]

@@kaitykaits88 in the second episode’s podcast they actually talk about him flinching away from Tess when she goes to show him her bite and specifically talk about how good Pedro is at subtly showing Joel’s fears so I think the flinch away from Ellie was probably also about the bite

[@elle_lovely]

I feel like what surprised me most about this episode was how horrifying it would be to enter a multi story building thats literally alive with no illumination other than a flashlight. You see it in the game and it makes sense, like oh, its dark, theres no electricity, of course. But the shots they took from above to encompass just how thoroughly wrought the building was with living mass, literally entering a space that was more organism that human-built structure was like, a whole new level. I love these recaps

[@TheAfricanGrey]

I really liked Tess’s show death better than her game death and I’ll explain why. In the game her death felt way too quick and anticlimactic for such an important character. She takes out a couple guys then gets shot leaving Joel to fight his way through a ton more soldiers. Her sacrifice felt almost pointless at that moment but we know her death is what pushes Joel forward to take Ellie to Bill’s. He does it for her. In the show her death felt a lot more meaningful and impactful. She takes out a ton of infected, an entire building, and herself along with it, while also saving Ellie and Joel. It really fit her character beautifully to go out that way. It was a very badass death for a very badass character while also having the same emotional weight as the game scene. I thought her death was done very well. Anna Torv killed it for the short time she was on the show. I was really hoping Tess was gonna live for another episode man. 😭

[@Eggsandbaikey]

Through the show we also got to see more of her, so we connected to her more

[@jungtothehuimang]

I completely agree. The changes they are making in the show honestly work so well and are helping to build on the lore and characters so well. Tess's death felt so much worse in the show. This show is being handled so well I am genuinely so impressed.

[@mommy_jinx]

I agree too in the game it didn’t impact me very much but in the show I almost cried it was very well done

[@Lauren-zx3gx]

Let’s also not forget the fact that the game version is more so for the sake that of gameplay since we don’t see but hear what happens as we sneak out. This version works way better with this format.

[@SamArmijo]

I also liked Tess's death in the show, but there was something about her game death that heavily impacted me. I think the fact that it was so sudden and realistic is what had me reeling, it was like "Wait what just happened?" I felt like it didn't give me enough time to process and then when I did finally get to I was pretty fucked up. The show gave it a new vibe and I appreciated it. Tess is just a great character and the show gave her a new death just as much as they gave her new life. 10/10

[@Glowskel]

18:13 I think you could interpret the lighting almost literally as well! Like Tess and Joel are “in the dark” over Ellie’s immunity, and once Tess starts to believe Ellie, she “steps into the light”! Thought that was a cool visual representation :)

[@ed3651]

i love your brain

[@RyouCereal]

I think it’s a visual representation of “when you’re lost in the darkness look for the light.” Here, Ellie is the light

[@Glowskel]

@@RyouCereal oo very true! Especially as Tess is so willing to try and bargain w them but Joel is so against anything to do w them!

[@707isnotfound]

Thats also what I thought!!!

[@meowmew444]

"Controls him like a dog" is such a hilarious note, Julien lmao. I always loved in the game how whipped Joel was by Tess, she tells him to do something and he's like "yes, ma'm" 😳

[@DBMPI]

Joel's face during the silent reload was just awesome, made it so intense.

[@DBMPI]

I'm pretty surprised that you didn't mention the game music during the rooftop scene where Joel and ellie talk about the view, gave me goosebumps. Also he looked at his watch.

[@MrCaitMonster]

I won't lie, only thing i was upset about was the lack of looting, I was like "c'mon, you're not gonna check the cabinets and drawers!? There's guns and grenades everywhere! Take them!"

[@missartist123]

My husband said the same thing 😂

[@stayathomemommy1]

Haha the whole time I was like “he should look around he may be able to craft something!”

[@annafoglesong1419]

In every room they entered I said out loud “no lootin and scootin, boys?”

[@nadja5551]

Yes! I was so sad that they didn’t get a couple pocket fulls of grenades before they ran out. Like dude you might need them!

[@KiPisMe]

In the museum scene...I was like....why/how are there still guns there? Someone would have taken everything!

[@madelinemyers9459]

I want to point out how interesting the show portrays the theme of human vs nature. The way fungi is being used in the show is accurate( in that the mycelium spreads underground and that mushrooms are just a flowering body). Mushroom connected by their mycelium will have identical dna. It makes sense that all the clickers have the same movements. I also want to point out the overgrowth. How nature thrives when people don’t. I love it

[@witchywatson]

I loved this brief little moment when they're on the roof, Tess and Ellie walk ahead and Joel quickly glances his watch before sighing and following after them.

[@emzy11m]

Hands down best line of the episode is when Ellie is like I’ll just throw a sandwich at them 😂

[@inluvwcuco3008]

like shaggy

[@jessicasumargo6547]

like fr her sarcasm is so funny

[@ricecake3215]

What I loved that they did in the city is when Ellie looks up, you can’t see the top of the buildings. It’s that way in the game as well, they’re so tall you can’t lean back far enough to take in the whole view & Ellie can’t either.

[@Jordynbowe]

I can’t wait to see how well they make the bloaters

[@NimN0ms]

I think they showed one in the trailer and looks straight from the game.

[@TheAfricanGrey]

Can’t wait for the Rat King to make their appearance 💀

[@MrCaitMonster]

I also have to say the cinematography recreation of panic behind the controller when you sneak too close to the clickers and you've run out of shivs was so amazing. Joel needs to keep his eyes open for more scissors and bottles wth. Lol

[@RegalMermaid]

I saw they said the kiss was like what happens if someone isn’t fighting. Not resisting. No need to tear you apart.

[@flachtsix]

I think the lack of violence/usual aggression was because Tess was already infected, and they could tell. They ran after Ellie and Joel, but they almost ignored her at first. Idk

[@RealBradMiller]

@@flachtsix Yup, it'd be useless for the infected to kill other people infected after a certain point. I think the hive mind was beginning to control Tess which is why she was having trouble lighting the flame and why she didn't move when the infected person put his mycelial tendrils into her mouth.

[@Ghoulieanna]

Maybe a reason tess couldn’t light the lighter/pick up a nade was because the infection was already affecting her ability to think and act. Probably also why she didn’t (or couldn’t) move away from the kiss

[@dee...]

Ohhhh, good point! But they could have showed her trying to pick one up to make it more obvious or something.

[@georgierose]

@@dee... her hand was twitching after she grabbed ellie’s arm if that’s what you meant by obvious

[@dee...]

@@georgierose oh no, I mean they could have made it more obvious that Tess wanted to grab a grenade but couldn't because her body was being taken over. I just don't think it makes sense for her to have kept trying to light the lighter when she had a room full of 'nades. It makes sense that maybe she was too far gone to try and grab a nade but it would've been good if they made it obvious that she was trying. Idk, that's just my opinion.

[@TGIFridayy]

This episode was actually Neil Druckmann's live action directing debut! Probably why there was so much imagery/environmental storytelling with Ellie/Tess/Joel

[@101brighteyes]

I also noticed, after your last breakdown vid Julien, the symbolic reference to butterflies occurs again in episode 2. During the Ellie interrogation scene in the begining, before she wakes up, a butterfly flies into shot over her sleeping in the light. Also the firefly reference "Look for the light" is highly symbolized, as you touch on, in that scene. Ugh such an amazing show so far

[@martyy9469]

holy shit “look for the light” combind with the shot of ellie sleeping in the light, she is the fix for everything, she is the key to the fireflies, maybe this is super a astute observation. but i think it’s cool

[@miroh8]

there was a giraffe plushie in sarah's room in the game, and also one outside the highschool with bill near the buses! i think there might've been a few more in the game but those are the ones i remember edit: there was also one in the toy shop with henry and sam ☹️

[@Lollovovisossa7]

Yeah it shows up a couple times through the game. Pretty sure theres one in the "daycare" area in the sewers too. Its also a nod to the giraffe scene later obviously ^^

[@neatollama]

Literally just finished this episode and my first thought after was, " I wonder if Julien made a video about this episode yet" and here we are lol.

[@angla3383]

MEEEE I’ve been waiting 😭😭😭

[@UnshelledTwo4]

The game mechanics still applied too. He was shooting the clicker but it wasn’t till the head was destroyed that it stopped. In game we know you gotta shoot the head or you’re dead.

[@TamaraDeedman]

The entirety of the first season was shot in Alberta! When they were filming in my city, I went to look at the sets and other then the city buildings in the background they were entirely practical. the final shot of Ellie you screenshot is the legislature building in Edmonton!

[@laurenyury116]

Fellow Albertan here! It was so amazing visiting some of the sets!! Getting to see all of the Boston stuff they added to my Edmonton streets -- license plates, signs -- was super neat

[@3mma_lee]

THANK U FOR POINTING OUT THE LOOTIN AND SCOOTIN. I was so mad that they didn’t even grab ANYTHING from the building before it blew up bc i know there was HELLA LOOT there

[@larsawy9]

I was wondering why they didn’t take Tess’ backpack. Surely they needed whatever she had in there for “the road”

[@spacecowboyeddie6803]

Omg hearing Tess’s backstory they wrote…I easily was able to imagine how it might’ve presented itself onscreen, and wow…that really would’ve been heart-breaking to watch. Can you imagine her son just screaming and calling out to his mother from behind the basement door, and Tess, terrified but torn apart inside, backing away from it, breathing heavily… Can you imagine if they cut back from that flashback to her face as she’s watching a sleeping Ellie, with a gun in her hand. Later when she says how her and Joel aren’t ‘good people’, it would then give that statement even more weight. It would probably make the viewer squirm internally as we have a moral dilemma about what makes a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ person in these circumstances.

[@purfectangelboy]

i would’ve loved to see it, it breaks my heart that we couldn’t spend more time w her but i loved and enjoyed every second we got

[@khin6483]

I loved how they portrayed the network of the mycelium, through the nerve like imagery, and the kiss especially. It was hard to watch but it really hit home the idea of a hive mind and the network trying to infect as efficiently as possible, it makes me happy they are so detailed cause media has seen so many zombie movies/shows their isn’t much wow factor anymore but this really brings a new life to the archetype.

[@saarasippola3542]

Loved the fact that Ellie was sleeping in the moss-y fungal-y structure as Joel and Tess were waiting for her to literally become one with it

[@marcykiger9899]

16:20 I thought it was so cool (and it was probably a bit of a nod to the players) that there’s just a quick shot when they’re walking to the museum and you can see the blood on Tess’ neck. Such amazing attention to detail. I also wonder if the reason why Tess’ death was so “calm” was because she had already been bitten? They mention that all of the fungus is connected so I wonder in addition to her not fighting it, if the clicker’s fungus “recognized” the fungus that was growing in Tess. Thus providing the more gentle approach (while still invasive and disturbing) in the form of a kiss.

[@roannathephoenix8561]

I'm not a gamer and have no idea about this series but I love watching Julien talk so excitedly about it and discuss the cinematic aspects.

[@georgia2321]

I’m not a gamer either but you don’t have to be to love The Last of Us. I’ve lost count of how many times and how many different people’s play throughs I’ve watched, of both games. I’m rewatching the latest part 1 play through that Julien did a few months back and the story just NEVER gets old

[@pinkcurlygirl]

I'm SO glad you noticed the door-clicking sound!! I caught it on my first watch. This whole series is so detailed - there are no coincidences.

[@violetdepp]

i like how the clicker scene was as chaotic as the combat in the game felt. Suspenseful as you’re sneaking around then running around trying to get a shot and then it all goes quiet again. I was on the edge of my seat and it was so cool to see the show recreate that from the game

[@imperfecteclipse]

As a scenic artist for film, I love to hear so much appreciation for the art department! Many departments do so much work to build the world, especially in series like this. The team on this one is definitely killing it. I'd love to work on a production like this one day.

[@stephy327]

What I love about this series is how well they add in the foreshadowing, the small details and the side by side game/series scenes. Like for example when they're walking on the bridge and Ellie alludes to the Bloaters and both Joel and Tess just scoff and chuckles as if it's just another rumor because they haven't encountered one, yet when Ellie alludes to the Clickers, Joel and Tess look at each other in fear knowing THOSE are true because they've fought them. 2) The detail of shooting the Clickers. In the game, for me, unless I got a headshot in, it would take three shots to take the clickers down and they did that in the museum before Joel gets to pick up the rifle again, 3)Then the blood splatter on Tess' jacket right on the shoulder to hint that she was bitten and the way her whole character just becomes defeated and desperate thinking that Ellie is for real with her immunity and Tess hoping that maybe she can be redeemed from all the horrible things she's had to do to survive, 4) Oh and not to mention the side by side scene from the game where Ellie and Joel are staring out into the city as Tess bandages her ankle, with the same dialogue, the way the light hits both of them and the way Joel looks down at his watch before moving forward is just *cheff's kiss* This episode was just amazing!! And this episode was directed by Neil Druckmann.

[@cassidywilliams8498]

I was listening to the podcast on a walk and was super focused on it. When they played clicker sounds in it, my headphones made it seem like they were directly behind me. It made me jump so bad 😂 Thanks for the analysis episode! I love hearing your thoughts!!

[@bellahoegstedt6416]

I loved the parallel between the mycology Professor saying bomb the city & then later Tess explains to Ellie they bombed the city to try and stop the spread!!! Such a cool detail.

[@mintyyling]

just finished the episode and immediately ran here for professor julien’s lecture

[@EllaPress]

About Tess's death, I loved how it happened because to me, I think the infected noticed she was already becoming one of them. Like he could sense the fungus in her, and approached her slowly because he wanted to bond with her, so she let him. Amazingly done. I don't know if anyone has already said this in the comments.

[@cynthiabatchler477]

The scene with Ellie in the light and Tess and Joel in the dark reminds me of the quote you see spray painted on buildings in the qz. "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light." Making it Tess and Joel looking for the light that is Ellie

[@t0kki2]

i loved tess' character, she feels so fleshed out now. sohappy with this series so far!!

[@t0kki2]

another aspect of tess' character that i really loved in this series was that we got to see more of her personality. she's very much in control of her emotions, which made her so dangerous. In the scene with robert where she feigns being nonchalant to get out alive???? she's so badass lol

[@dee...]

@@t0kki2 yeah Tess in the game seems more overtly badass, but Tess in the show is very smart, shrewd and seems like a mastermind type character.

[@blessdbygod4ever]

okay i had no idea about this but apparently there was supposed to be a dlc where we learn about ellie’s mom but it never saw the light of day but it’s supposed to be shown in the show which is very exciting

[@alex46811]

Love the presentation and the screenshots. It’s interesting the different things the audience takes away from each episode. Like there are things I didn’t catch until Julien showed or explained. I can watch hours of a breakdown of each episode.

[@livridley3515]

I love the analysis of the lighting omg!! Tess going to join Ellie in the light because she actually starts to have hope that this might work, while Joel stays in the dark. That's so cool man I love these breakdowns

[@augustluna6707]

A moment that I rewatched over and over was in the hotel scene when Joel helps ellie up after she gets startled from that dead body. He reaches out his hand to ellie and once they have that physical touch, it makes him retract his hand so quickly and you can see the hurt in his expression. It’s almost as if he felt Sarah in that very moment and that’s something that stood out to me. Very beautiful acting.

[@dee...]

Julien should get paid by HBO because honestly his commentary after each episode makes me love the show even more. Seeing how enthusiastic he is brings out my enthusiasm even more! Also, I'm really excited to see how this show does the whole Winter part of TLoU.

[@lisi2315]

I love all of the changes they made so far. I feel like the infected overrunning Tess made her death so much more impactful. Not only did we get to witness her last moment but it was her literally coming face to face with her own fate and that of humanity as a whole while desperately trying to ignite that one last spark of hope. It was so smybolic. And the fungal infection itself actually feels much more menacing to me in the show, like it is its own sentient entity. The tendrils moving and constantly growing on their own trying to find the next host are so creepy. And the whole added factor of the cordyceps growing for miles underground and communicating really makes it feel like this undefeatable enemy looming behind the immediate threat of the infected that isn't just killing humanity but the entire planet. The scenes in the beginning with the scientists also add to that and it's way more scary to me. This show is unbelievable.

[@babystone42]

I'm really enjoying these walks through the episodes, it helps me notice more than I did while watching the episode ❤️ thank u julen

[@caperAntagonist]

the kiss scene in particular really struck me as a new way that they were showing infected on the show. They make several mentions of the infected being "connected" so if you stand on some strands of fungus you alert all of them. The infected that kissed Tess could sense the infection inside of her, it wanted to connect. it was tender, like welcoming her home. I think at that point because of her infection, she wanted to welcome it too, which is why she was struggling to light the gas up until it worked, right at the last second. Incredibly done, incredibly gross.

[@CieraHarrod]

That one scene where Joel is doing the silent reload in the museum and you can here the clicker like right in your ear as it was right beside him was absolutely suspenseful. I loved that audio effect they put into the show.

[@ii-mn2ht]

i liked how after the clicker fight, joel gives ellie cloth for her arm, and tess tape for her foot. And also how he boosts her up to go round and unlock the door. All the little nods to the gameplay and the attention to detail make it really special to watch.

[@mrsfieri]

around the 18:00 marke, julien points out that ellie is in the light while joel and tess are in that dark, do you think it’s the nod to “when you’re in the dark, look for the light”, how ellie will be the light in joel’s life. how joel slowly sees her as his daughter through out the game/show, and how that causes him to soften up and not be as rough as he was in the beginning

[@eliseblair5228]

This is the first time in years I’ve been excited about a Tv series. It’s just incredible

[@EurydiceAllAlong]

Does anyone remember an episode of Hannibal where the killer basically made a human mushroom garden because he wanted to combine humans and the mushroom network. Like The Last of Us would be his idea of paradise.

[@al7951]

I'm so glad you do these. It feels like talking to a friend who loves the game and show just as much as I do.

[@robertlee8400]

I think Tess was scared shitless because of what she was about to become & she knew she couldn’t tell Joel on her own & that’s why Elle step in & just blurted it out , Tess was afraid of what Joel might do after he found out she was infected , she knew her life on this earth was over . Has anyone ever played the game G.T.F.O. They have almost the same similarities with infected people but it’s set up like you have a crew of people & your going through a Supermax prison where the inmates are infected with a virus that changes them into some weird creatures just like clickers , they go on echolocation just like clickers . You have to go a get intel from different places & find out how this all started & why , I wonder if it’s connected or not .

[@FemaleFanFire]

My only critique of these videos is you can’t see all the text he wrote. I know it’s not much about the text but I would like to see it. Amazing video though and super excited to see more as I watch this series with everyone!! 🎉

[@saram3449]

I’m soooo in love with the show so far especially the changes they made!! Everything feels purposeful

[@Mads97415]

Oh my goodness I wish you were into the MCU when wandavison came out because I feel like you would have had so much fun commentary about that😆 Great recap/discussion video about this show again! Fun to hear your thoughts about it!

[@NimN0ms]

Someone needs to ask him to do this on the stream. Can you imagine Julien reviewing each MCU movie and show over a span of a few months...in his Julien way?? *Chef's kiss*

[@illiteratefr0g]

He was but after the craze I know he was watching the movies off stream like last year maybe

[@LissDrewThis]

i'm not ready to watch some of the later ones of these...gon get the tissues ready

[@virlinehonore9767]

I liked ur interpretation of the pic of Ellie in the light while Tess and Joel were in the dark

[@Aroreiel08]

I don't think it's just that Tess was giving up. She was already transitioning and becoming part of the hive. She was trying to fight, you could see it in her eyes, but her mind and body was betraying her. It was only that last ounce of Tess that allowed her to flick that lighter for the last time...and it worked. It's really tragic.

[@sarahwillacker4135]

The shot of Ellie and Joel looking out over the city while Tess was bandaging her foot, Ellie playing make believe at the hotel, Tess asking Ellie if she had a boyfriend waiting for her, so much goodness and so many great details in this episode! Episode 1 felt very fast paced and action packed, this one felt a lot slower but in a good way. They took their time to develop the characters and the infected, really let everything sizzle. I'm so excited for more of the Left Behind storyline, I'm going to fucking sob

[@magnoliapearson2461]

The Last Of Us was filmed in Calgary where I live and it's been so amazing to watch it and go "holy shit I drive that road every day!" or "oh I know that building!". The scene where they're walking across that curved overpass is on the Memorial overpass and I drive it almost everyday to get to work. It's made my appreciation for the show even greater because when they were here filming we got to see them put all these practical effects in our city and then to get to see the final vision come to life with the CGI effects and see how amazing it all looks is just so frickin cool!

[@qbawende]

17:30 now that you mention it. Neighbors have been force feeding biscuits to the old lady next door and she was the one to turn. You are right! this is definitely a hint that its flour that spread it, and its completely believable because spores love grain and would spread great through flour! Good catch! Love those vids Julen, can't watch you on stream due to time differences, so thank you for this!

[@missholywater]

I love how right before joel grabs ellie before tess faces the clickers and they have that moment but they DONT KISS... super powerful and true to the game ughhhh so good

[@karma.chameleon]

I didn’t even think about this, but - The doctor was eating in the beginning of this episode. It looked like a salad, but I wonder if she had anything to eat with grains in it… 😬

[@dee...]

When her hand starts shaking later (when she's drinking tea) that could either be her feeling scared or her being infected (or both)

[@erinstacy]

The filming was all done in Alberta, and I got to see first hand some of that incredible set design! They did some filming one street over from my house and I stumbled across a few other filming locations in Calgary. It was mindblowing to be driving along and see this street, bridge, etc. Covered in moss, vines, burnt out cars and other things that just made it look like it sat there abandoned for like 30 years. It was also wild seeing how fast they could set up and take down all of that. They only filmed by my house for about 2 weeks but the second it was done you would never have known they were there! So excited that they will be coming back here for season 2!

[@erinstacy]

Also the bridge scene you loved Julian is the fourth avenue flyover in Calgary. The museum building is actually the Alberta Provincial Legislature building in Edmonton (there were many jokes made here about whose office was blown up)

[@fiona.777]

just finished the review of the first one an hour ago, so glad this video is out!! you helped me discover the game, and now the show is out and i love it just as much. thank you for everything you've done for your audience ❤️

[@kellykapp0wski870]

Without a doubt, the mycelium almost coming *STRAIGHT FORWARD FROM THE BRAINSTEM* are one of the coolest additions to the universe. Major ick. The Worst. I love it.

[@montsegallegos4241]

My eyes still can’t unsee that smooch. But loved the way you explained Tess’s death. I can see how it was a little more forgiving . Also they go further into detail about the spores in the inside the episode clip. How it just wouldn’t be realistic in “the real world” cause spores would go everywhere. Love your episode breakdowns I was waiting for you to upload lol till next Sunday I guess 🫶🏻

[@crystalrose8394]

Hell Yeah! I was wondering if you were going to talk about it. I'm so here for it. I hope this is a weekly segment.

[@pj.2445]

i love these break downs i hope you’ll do them for all the episodes

[@SpencerHogg]

Favourite shot of the episode is the Memorial Trail / Flyover bridge - my commute to drive into work, every, day. Downtown Calgary!! I’m so happy to see this. The scene with the professor is also a restaurant downtown. The entire show is SICK seeing all of YYC / YEG in it with the CGI !! 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@BrokenDarkFire]

1.) I’m curious if anyone else hears an echo sometimes in the video? 2. but actually my main point) I love these episode reviews, and if you do one for every episode, I will be so happy. This series is stressful to watch but your reviews guide me past the stress into the actual story.

[@kosmos5177]

It was so awesome seeing my home city and sister city be featured! Our legislature being in this was just mind-blowing! The clickers scared the shit out of me. I'm not ready for bloaters!

[@virlinehonore9767]

6:11 omg when she lied about Riley I was like GIRL NO U WEREN’T!! 😂😂 I can’t wait to meet Riley tho 🥰🥰🥰

[@dearbronte686]

Brilliant episode - it is developing just so well. I loved how the actors playing the mouldy heads posed and moved - reminded me of the echo shadows in the game

[@SpiderKelsey]

I feel like the lighting and acting/facial expressions makes it feel like the game. Like games are so damn detailed now I could have believed it was animated a few times. Just on people’s faces

[@Glowskel]

Yesss I was waiting for this 🙏🏻 Love how much respect and fascination you have for this show 🥰

[@annagoplen5843]

7:09 the museum is a real building! (at least the exterior) I used to live where the series was shot and those scenes were filmed down the street from my apartment building

[@IbelinnCreations]

I really love these breakdowns you do Julien! It’s also so fun to see how much you catch that we might’ve missed ourselves! 🤗

[@annalunelli13]

since the imdb page for episode 8 has just like, Pedro, Bella, Ashley Johnson and Storm Reid - who's playing Riley (I think that's it, with like a random guard or something) I am convinced episode 8 is just going to be a full on adaptation of left behind, going back and forth between present with Ellie caring for Joel and the past with the Riley stuff, and the opening flashback being Ashley giving birth to Ellie (which we know is what she's doing from what Neil said and what the trailer has shown, and not gonna lie regardless of when they do it, I'm super excited to see the 'old Ellie' passing the torch to the 'new Ellie' by just fully birthing her) and then contrasting the birth to the final scene of the episode being that ending of left behind with her waiting to die with Riley. I just think it'd be really cool, that's the episode I would do, but watch me be super embarrassed when none of this happens, lol

[@themardbard9096]

I am enjoying these so much, I'm glad Julien is doing them!

[@Lemonincense]

i love your breakdowns and to see someone have as much love for this game series / tv show as much as i do

[@Marja1992]

I fucking love these episode reactions. Please please keep doing them, I love hearing your thoughts as a gamer and a photography fanatic, it is so cool and interesting

[@ella-louise9537]

6:23 YES!! i had to pause the episode and i just said “INCREDIBLE WORK SET DESIGNERS ARTISTS ETC WOW THIS IS AMAZING” genuinely just say there in shock like. the way they mix cgi and physical tangible elements makes such a great set design bravo. so immersive and so beautiful to look at.

[@SpiderKelsey]

The infected could already sense Tess was infected. I think that’s why it wasn’t violent with her, it just gave her the kiss of death to speed up the infection process

[@blooples757]

That little tangent Julien goes on abt Tess going into the light during that one scene at around 18:00 can be another reference to "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light." Joel is in the darkness, Ellie is his light.

[@fishcheekiez871]

17:44 when Julien said, “Ellie in the light, Joel and Tess in the darkness.” I immediately thought of the Firefly slogan, “When you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light.” Joel doesn’t even truly believe in Ellie, that she’s the cure to all this and at first neither does Tess. 18:22 but then in this screen shot you can see Tess move into the light while Joel stays in the dark, she’s looking for the light in this situation Tess not only warms up to Ellie but actually starts to believe in her.

[@wonderland8]

I just watched ep3 and I feel like I can’t go to sleep until Julien uploads his take on ep3 😅

[@thenderson3616]

The grenades pissed me off so bad 😭 like why didn't tess pick one up too in case the lighter didn't work

[@dee...]

Omg yes! That's the only thing that annoyed me so far in the show.

[@sweetcherrylimeade]

It was probably because she was turning into one of them and she wasn't in complete control of her body

[@currentlykmss]

19:15 There are so many parts of this show where we sit and chat with them that seem, at least to me, to be slightly static shots with COMPLETELY different lighting and textures that almost give me a “cutscene feel.” This was one of them. I wonder if it’s intentional?

[@RegalMermaid]

Scootin and not lootin is DEFFO something that’s been giving me grief haah. Aside from building weapons it’s one of the best elements of gameplay.

[@lucaswyzrd]

thank you for appreciating the art department so much!!!

[@Embeeech]

“I played Left Behind” YEAH ABOUT THAT COULD YOU PLS FINISH THAT ALREADY JULEN