maxfisher

If I was in that situation, I’d definitely want something as between me and the clickers as possible. It’s a bit safer of a position, as it gives them something to bump into that isn’t me.

Decker

Yeah, you'd want to make yourself as small and inaccessible as possible.

ViewAskewbian

In the after show podcast, the creators spoke about an interesting backstory they had for Tess that was never, eventually, filmed:

She had a husband and a young son that were both infected during the early days of the outbreak. She killed her husband but couldn't bring herself to kill her son. She locked him in a basement and, while he was pounding on the door to be let out, she just walked away leaving him. The creators state that they believe he is still there, trapped in the basement, but now a full Clicker.

GoldenJCJ

Great episode! It not a lot happened but the slow walk through the dilapidated buildings was tense enough to keep me on the edge of myself the whole show, particularly the museum.

So far it’s not a lot different than most post-apocalyptic zombie movies but I think they’ve done a great job with the organic, fungi look to the environment and the Clickers. One original idea, that disturbing the fungi on the ground will trigger the hoard of zombies, is a pretty interesting idea. They did a great job showing all the zombies being connected.

ViewAskewbian

I'm trying to think if, even once, in either game they call them "zombies" as we are here. I don't remember. I think they are just the "infected". Or "Clickers" and other names not brought up yet in the show.

Abob Teff

I always thought this was the case ... it explains the sound they make and why the fungus grows on their heads the way it does.

Joel said they can't see but they can hear. Joel also isn't the most educated man. Not saying he is dumb, but in the game and in snippets we have seen in the show Ellie often teaches him wrote facts from school or books. Joel isn't necessarily correct.

Abob Teff

I wish they had used this as a flashback. Damn.

I felt the first episode was too close to the game, but these adaptations often are so they can get that out of the way. I am loving the direction that we are starting to move in with episode 2. Still retaining familiar elements (even if it is through a casual joke that non-gamers won't get) but definitely building a new world of its own.

LOVED this episode other than I felt

ViewAskewbian

During the walk through the city, Ellie mentions hearing about infected that catch you sort of like bats. Something to that effect. In the after show podcast, the creators talk how the Clickers were left pretty as is in the game but when one of the HBO people didn't understand how they could "see", the line about the bats was added.

Abob Teff

Home with a sick kid today, so I have episode 1 replaying ... starting to uncover some of the foreshadowing and "bread crumbs" after episode 2 made some connections. Since this is the episode 2 thread, I won't spoiler tag these.

"Civil unrest in Jakarta" was on the radio at breakfast, leading to a conversation about where it is.

No pancake mix ... no flour!

In class, the teacher says "I see several of you shaking your heads." Uhh ... and then the student "tinkerbelling" Sarah in class ... I thought he was just a fidgety kid.

Joel forgets to pick up the cake ... no flour!

Finisher

Yeah I don't like the kid. And the actress gets on my nerves.

whotony

Ellie is a stereotypical annoying kid.
Hope that gets better.

The clickers made me think they were like giant chickens. The sound was a mix of clicking and clicking plus they looked like a chicken a little bit.

Abob Teff

Well, I was just listening to an NPR story about meat-substitutes, particularly for chicken nuggets, and fungal mycelium were cited as one of the best substitutes.


One thing that has bugged me since playing the game ... we don't actually know that Ellie is the only person immune. Not everybody had been exposed (spores in the game or bitten in the TV world) ... just saying.

Two things I want to see which we probably never will ... more about the downfall of the world (it happened in roughly 3 days) and a spinoff about the Fireflies and FEDRA.

Dan

On the two highlighted above..

I read elsewhere that Indonesia is a large exporter of flour, but a quick google search does not confirm that. Not sure why they picked Jakarta specifically for this story...

The fidgety kid was wearing a medical bracelet. May have been at the hospital in the last few days, just like the neighbor.

There was also Sarah not actually eating the cookies. I don't blame her... fuckin' raisins.

ViewAskewbian

Yeah, I'd be down for a prequel game.

Giantrobo

Gotta be honest, though I loved this part of ep 2, I did cringe a lil bit. Placing ground zero of global catastrophe in an Asian Nation would seem like it would to bring some criticism...

Giantrobo

Yall need to listen to the official Show Podcast. I think some of these stuff being asked here is addressed on it.

Dan

Oh, I have no doubt, given enough time, there will be thinkpieces aplenty covering this topic.

Meh. Podcasts are lame.
Actually, I like the 3 minute post-episode featurettes that give some insight but don't overstay their welcome. I'll probably listen to the podcast after the season is done.

Decker

I skipped the official one but listen to The Ringer network's podcast which is part of their Prestige TV Podcast series. It's pretty fun and informative. And much like the do with Game of Thrones and some Star Wars titles, they also have a "Deep Dive" podcast that goes a couple of hours long per episode (not that I would listen to that one).

Abob Teff

I started to add that, but we don't know for sure. I assume she didn't. The neighbor says, "You're going to take some cookies with you." However we never even see the cookies. I think it actually would have been more interesting if she had eaten some of the cookies.

Abob Teff

I was going to ask if anybody had any recommendations beyond the HBO official podcast. Decker, I can't find that one on Overcast ...

davidh777

I hate to get all game-nerdy, but it was pretty cool to see the long shots of the plant-dominated city. Also some of the scenarios like walking from roof to roof on planks.

Decker

It's exclusive to Spotify. Works with free Spotify though I believe.

JTH182

I always enjoy the Nerd Soup podcasts for shows I watch.

dstrauss

The largest flour mill in the world is in Jakarta. Likely the one they were referencing in the open to episode 2.

Dan

Yeah, that's what it was. Thanks.