My feelings on the HBO series (Updated)

From the recent casting news, to the question of W. Earl Brown playing Bill, to the lines of dialog in Tess' audition that tell us about the direction of the show, to the best way to honor Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson in this series, here's an update on my feelings about the The Last of Us HBO series, featuring the song 'Wasting Time' by my son Ethan M.
00:00 So you wanna know
00:23 Recap of what I said in December
00:51 Pedro Pascal
01:06 Bella Ramsey
01:31 Gabriel Luna
01:55 Merle Dandridge
02:12 W. Earl Brown
03:14 Heather Doerksen Tess Audition
04:20 How to honor Troy and Ashley
05:08 Closing
===W. Earl Brown Interview===
W. Earl Brown video is a brief portion of a personal Cameo birthday gift to me back in January 2021 from my wonderful law dawgs Bananabel, Cory Caliber, Ozorhaar, FireflyDot, and Shadow Danyelle. Much love to you guys
===Music===
The song playing in this video is 'Wasting Time' by Ethan M
====More Wolf of Thorns====
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Check out my other TLOU essays and videos:
• The Last of Us
*English Captions by me*
Much love from WOLF OF THORNS 🤠

[@WolfofThorns]

Hey, guys, thank you so much for the love and support! If you are really digging my content, please consider checking me out on Twitch where I stream throughout the week: www.twitch.tv/wolf_of_thorns You can also join my Discord here: discord.gg/GWZKGBQyRY​ Once again, thank you all for being a part of my channel and this evolving experience! 🤠❤🤠

[@CorryWith2rs]

Would you like to do a discussion on the last of us HBO,1, or, 2 With me ?

[@omegagorilla]

Pedro Pascal is a huge positive for me. Them bringing in Marlenes og actress is giving me some hope they'll take the adaption seriously but ultimately I'm cautiously excited.

[@DekonTLOU]

Imagine if this Dan's real voice and he was in character in most of his vids this whole time 🤔

[@WolfofThorns]

DON'T TELL THEM MY SECRET, DEK!

[@malachigrimsley]

I love your work Wolf but I don’t think I could cope.

[@pissedmetalhead]

Oh snap dekon! A tess mention! 😁

[@littlepoodle7443]

“Eyes popped out” lmao understatement ;) He got his head bashed even worse than Joel 🥲

[@WolfofThorns]

Someone with an appreciation for the nitty gritty

[@ajscarecraft5560]

It would be awesome if the first episode is about Joel and Tommy surviving after Sarah’s death and Anna and Marlene starting the fireflies in los Angela’s like your pitch for a prequel

[@YouMe-ru6wi]

Yes I may be a little disappointed he is not gonna play Bill. But I do trust Neil and the other very talented people behind the project, so I'm still very excited for the show as long as they can get some great actors that can bring these characters to life that's all that matters. I also love the idea of Troy and Ashley getting a role in the show whether it's big or small it would be a great nod to the fans. I just hope Bill is not cut completely from the show that I would be very disappointed in for sure.

[@jijidabest7594]

I’ve been a huge tlou fan ever since I played the first game, I have a feeling they’ll do great with the show.

[@WolfofThorns]

Same. I'm pretty excited.

[@gugax5842]

Great video as always, wolf!! Love the accent😆😆

[@WolfofThorns]

Thanks, Gustavo! 😃 Glad you enjoyed it

[@gameuser990]

I found your channel on a whim, and now I can't get enough, love the vibe of the whole thing and so great full you expand the world even if they're pitches, and I hope you get snagged by naughty dog sooner or later for some of your incredible work. 🙏🏼

[@WolfofThorns]

Kind of you to say, Nate, and welcome to the channel

[@Everan614]

You can watch this as an Elseword story like in DC comics: Not exactly canon, a variation of events and the game being the main story always. Besides, technically it's gonna look great, just imagine the live action infected, and we have 10 episodes scored by Gustavo Santaolalla so more amazing music, regardless of the show's cast and story.

[@WolfofThorns]

Only speaking for me, there's no need to view this as a "What if" or to view one thing as canon and not the other. From my point of view, we're human beings. We tell and retell stories. It's our oldest artform and it predates civilization. There is no "canon". Great stories are meant to be told and retold time and again and sometimes they pass into myth and are re-imagined entirely. There is simply no need to cherry pick a specific telling over all of the others, regardless of where in time it came. After all, at the end of the day, with any good story, it's no really about what happens, it's about **how** it happens, as in, how the story is told. And if it's told convincingly and with passion, then everyone around the campfire is going to forget they're even being told a story. They'll be transfixed and transported in the story, and it won't matter six hills from sundown if it's the first telling, the original telling, or the seven hundreth telling with a million changes from a different storyteller if it can accomplish that.

[@YouMe-ru6wi]

I just saw the news that Bill and his partner Frank are definitely gonna be in the show so that's good news. It also said that Jeffrey Pierce(original voice actor for Tommy in the games) will also be joining the show playing a different role so that's also very interesting. So who knows maybe they could offer W. Earl Brown a different role as well. I'm still waiting on the casting for Tess, Henry and Sam, David, and Riley from the DLC Left Behind.

[@wickdaline8668]

Gabriel Luna was also Robbie Reyes/Ghostrider in Agents of SHIELD.

[@WolfofThorns]

"I never saw dat."

[@wickdaline8668]

@@WolfofThorns Me neither 🤷‍♂️

[@siboraremy9135]

Funny how basically all of my thoughts about the HBO show were told in the video👀 I'm very sad about W. Earl Brown not being cast. When it comes to Bill i haven't looked at any actors that i think would fit. I've had one person in mind this whole time and that person was W. Earl Brown. I hope that Bill will atleast be seen in the show. It would be even more devastating if he isn't. But, we do have other great castings to be happy about and we still have more to see!

[@WolfofThorns]

I am right there with you Sibora. Something tells me that the character and the town of Lincoln may not be in the show.

[@SidPhoenix2211]

@@WolfofThorns I guess you made the video right before they announced that Bill and Frank will be in the show haha

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

Wish them luck on the show. Personally, I feel like video games are the perfect medium for the story since it allows you to experience the world first hand and to really get inside the skin of Joel and Ellie. Like, in a game it makes sense that you constantly fight infected because that's what the characters are doing but in a show, it's harder to give moments like that a narrative purpose. Still, if they're going for it I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and will definitely watch. Even if it's boring, we'll always have the games.

[@wrench9782]

Love the accent. Very fun! 👍

[@WolfofThorns]

Thank you! 😃 Glad you enjoyed it, Wrench

[@TheMarine316]

I have mixed feelings about the castings, I mean one of the actors were in the games & the rest they just got the actors that they feel are a good fit, No problem there but if you’re gonna get actors that were in the game it made me think and honestly everybody from the game could work in the show other then Ashley Johnson, she can’t play a 14 year old at 37, Troy baker is almost as old as Joel was after the 20 year time jump, I’m looking forward to the show regardless of the castings I’m just perplexed why it’s a mix of new actors & game actors

[@gleam6370]

Ashley Johnson is 37? Jeeeeez

[@TheMarine316]

@@gleam6370 it’s hard to believe right

[@gabygarcia5914]

Apparently Tommy’s VA is going to play a small role in the series

[@TheMarine316]

@@gabygarcia5914 I know I just read that, why not just get most of the original cast, most are in the same age range

[@jacobconklin7697]

I dont think Troy really fits the build of Joel but I got what you mean

[@rogercasulleras3224]

Just got more news! Con O'Neil is gonna play Bill! As you already know, I'm a little heartbroken too it's not gonna be W. Earl Brown. But I'm kinda excited what this new actor is gonna bring to the character :P Guess we'll see! 😁 Thank you for all your videos Dan!

[@WolfofThorns]

Lol, yep, funny that all that news just dropped right as I published this--guess I gotta make another one!

[@someguy9345]

Is your voice different in the newest video??

[@abbyanderson2463]

OMG someone else who knows Bella Ramsay from the worst witch 😭

[@nam9085]

oh no i see the thumbnail, i know exactly what this is about

[@WolfofThorns]

😭

[@miebageri2666]

There's a dialogue in day one ellie says: doesn't matter who held the club. I'm gonna make her talk.(and she did that to nora) But next day after she found out where abby is, you can see in her journal she wrote: ( where are the rest of them? Do they matter if i get abby? NO) Why just a day before she was saying "no matter who held the club". But next day she says "rest of them doesn't matter". Can you make a video about it???

[@ManlyPelican]

If W.Earl Brown isn't playing Bill, I still have faith the show will be great, However as a wrestling fan i've seen this "Oh im not there im on the other side of the country" posts time and time again then boom they show up at the royal rumble or mania or something, So take him 'Confirming' he's not in the show with a grain of salt.

[@brandonclarke436]

19 SECONDS AGO!?

[@TheBiakko]

Disappointed with the casting, but casting doesn’t make a series. Good writing does.

[@alvarocoras10]

Really? Is it because they don’t look alike, or because they can’t act decent?

[@EthanDavis.w]

The only reason I don't want the show is because it's going to be like Game of Thrones in a way. Loosely based off the already written material until they run out and have to write the rest of the story from scratch. Then it will fall off and taint TLOU's name.

[@mr.banana7494]

i'm pretty sure they said they would be following the story of the games pretty closely plus a few bonus scenes that they weren't able to get in the actual games

[@ChristianJayTheCTrain]

Neil is a major writer of the show, he isn't going to pull a GOT or Walking Dead on it and start diverging when they ran out of material. Its only being made because Neil is attached with such a prominent role in the first place.

[@EthanDavis.w]

@Tivo Hev You aren't wrong, but TV shows are usually started just to make money. I pretty firmly believe that Naughty Dog has prioritized the writing and quality of it's games, and don't believe the shows will. Although I will watch and hope to be proved wrong. I have just been let down by so many of my favorite tv series in the past.

[@EthanDavis.w]

@@mr.banana7494 That would be great, but I wonder what will happen when they get to the end of TLOU 2 in the next few years. Will they wait for naughty dog to release the next game? I don't think that would be practical for a TV series that will develope a huge following by then. So they would have to branch out and write the rest of the story just for the show. I don't trust anyone but Naughty Dog to do that

[@EthanDavis.w]

@@ChristianJayTheCTrain That at least is reassuring. We will see how it plays out.

[@andreamontanaa]

I think that the show will not be better than the game, since the game is absolutely perfect as is. Despite feeling indifferent for the story because it won’t be anything new, I’m excited of how more accessible and easier it is to digest for non-gamers! None of my friends and family play video games. My mom for instance gets nauseous. I can’t wait for the show to release, so that they are able to watch the story. So in a way, I guess this adaptation is more suited for non-gamers? For this reason I’m not too concerned about the casting even though it didn’t quite satisfy me, since non-gamers won’t have any prior knowledge or familiarity with the characters.

[@Pouncingpuma7]

I'm cautiously optimistic about this show but my expectations are low. My main concern is that while The Last or Us is a story worth telling to more people, the truth is that much of the actual game is composed of well, gameplay, and combat. I'm sure the show will have action and combat, what fills the gaps in a TV series? There's probably going to be a lot of new dialogue, but the writing and performances need to be strong for it to feel like a real part of Joel and Ellie's journey rather than filler or an alternative version of their story. This is all from a fan perspective, but at the end of the day, the game will always the real story and I worry that the show will just end up stretching it thinner than needs to be. New viewers Im sure will like it as long as it's well executed, but as fans we shouldn't be expecting the series to broaden our feeling for the game.

[@jamall7003]

mmmmm Marlene 😍

[@jesseworsty]

Imagine this is someone’s first viewing of a Wolf video and they think he’s a brash New Yorker 😂

[@WolfofThorns]

lmao Jesse

[@harrytucker6720]

Ashley as Anna HELL YEAH! Troy... not so much 😂

[@WolfofThorns]

Agreed. Troy as Anna would never work.

[@thereisnoname9225]

50 seconds ago?

[@adrianrafaelmagana804]

Dooood this was the first video I have seen of yours, then I watched your other video update on the show. Then I was like this Boston guy has some pretty good content and watched some other older videos and I have to warn you....some non accent having JABRONI dubbed over your old videos and replaced the commentary with his down the middle having voice.... Stay vigilant my friend, there is no telling when he'll come for this video too ;p

[@WolfofThorns]

Gotta keeps me eyes peeled for this jabroni!

[@adrianrafaelmagana804]

@@WolfofThorns probably a damn Lakers fan, go Celtics am I right? Haha anyways, great videos man. Look forward to going through more of your content.

[@AmirJKhan2006]

Yo

[@WolfofThorns]

Ye

[@SidPhoenix2211]

I am just sad to see a LOT of judging going on in the comments in general. Folks, we've seen NOTHING from the show yet. Judging casting choices before the movie/show comes out is historically stupid. Keep an open mind, treat the show as its own thing, and then judge the show when you've seen it. Personally, I've seen enough work from Pedro Pascal (Narcos, Game of Thrones, If Beale Street Could Talk, Mandalorian, Prospect, Kingsman 2, WW84 (a disappointing movie in which he was genuinely fantastic)) Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Hilda, a lovely short film on KZbin titled Nancy), Con O'Neill (Chernobyl), to be optimistic about this.

[@WolfofThorns]

Not as much judging going on here as what was going on in my Grounded video--that's for sure.

[@andresguillen9186]

Why does your voice sounds like you got a Boston ascent. Not being mean.. just wondering

[@WolfofThorns]

The Brooklyn accent is one of many voices/characters I do all the time on Twitch. Felt like a fun ting to do with this

[@andresguillen9186]

@@WolfofThorns o alright. and I thought that was your regular voice. I couldn't tell. sorry about that. but keep doing it because I though you were using some effects to your voice.

[@prisma6799]

Bella Ramsey looks ironically similar to Abby

[@WolfofThorns]

Interesting. I absolutely do not see it.

[@pissedmetalhead]

Ish???

[@YouMe-ru6wi]

Yeah all the notes that you find about him in the first game were great. If they wanted to this would be a great opportunity to show him and bring that character to life. Of course there is also the rumored remake of the first game coming as well.

[@TheBiakko]

Why the accent though !?

[@WolfofThorns]

It's one of many voices I do all the time on my Twitch channel and have done for a long time. Voices is kinda my ting and it's fun to do on da video.

[@sinnattugaq]

I like your positive attitude, But showing Ellie’s parents i disagree with

[@ChicoBravado]

My dream casting for David would be William dafoe, to me he’s perfect for that role, but it won’t happen

[@ManlyPelican]

HBO have a track record for hiring a massive actor for 1 episode so its not off the table, My pick would be Tom Hanks, A guy whos famous for playing good/Likeable Guys i think he could really pull off the sinister but also kindness that david plays.

[@Mr_van_Der_Linde]

Did you cange your accent ? Lol

[@grail__knight3872]

the cast is a bit iffy, Ellie's actor looks way too young and I'm on the fence about Joel and Tommy, they look nothing alike and Gabriel luna looks absolutely nothing like Tommy. It's a shame they couldn't get W. Earl Brown in the cast though, I have high hopes for the show but the casting doesn't feel right, and I never understood why they would make a show about a game that's already getting a remake, will they even add anything new or really change anything worth noting?

[@SidPhoenix2211]

Here's a simple trick: Treat the show as a different thing from the games. It'll serve the show well, it will serve the game well. Secondly, looking exactly like the character =/= Good acting This is the kind of thinking that led to Rami Malek winning a fucking Oscar for his performance as Freddie Mercury. What a disaster that was. Pedro Pascal is a very talented actor and I am looking forward to seeing what he brings to the role. And Gabriel Luna is playing Pedro's Joel's brother, not Baker's Joel's brother. Thinking about it in these terms will help to make you some more sense of this casting. Ultimately, there's no point in judging something before it's out. Just keep an open mind and see what happens :)

[@enriquesanchez9016]

What's with the accent lol

[@WolfofThorns]

I do this voice and countless others all the time on stream

[@enriquesanchez9016]

@@WolfofThorns Sorry, i haven't been on the internet for a while and have not seen your videos on Twitch yet. Will watch them soon.

[@r520jr8]

Bro what the fuck was this voice 😭😂

[@LeeFevGolf1977]

Why are you talking like that?

[@WolfofThorns]

Someone doesn't visit me on Twitch, where this has been a popular character/voice, among many others for the past seven months or more, frequently featured.

[@sarcasm-83]

What's with the exaggerated, ridiculous accent?

[@WolfofThorns]

I do this voice all the time on my Twitch, among many others. Just having some fun

[@edwin99901]

What's with the satanic, negative atmosphere on your channel?

[@WolfofThorns]

@@edwin99901 👿

[@sarcasm-83]

@@WolfofThorns Ah I see. Hadn't heard it in any of the other videos so got curious :)

[@sarcasm-83]

@@edwin99901 It's just a bit of music :) No negativity intended. (with the music, or the question)

[@andreamontanaa]

The show seems pretty solid. I watched Chernobyl recently and wow.... it got me very excited to know that Craig Mazin will be behind this!