408 - The Last of Us Part II (feat. Kenn Edwards)

A deadly virus rages across the world. The U.S. is in shambles. Despite the imminent threat, humans have started to turn on one another. And in other news, this week Paul and Arlo are talking about Naughty Dog's highly anticipated zombie apocalypse sequel The Last of Us Part II. Joining them for a discussion of this brutal, beautiful game is none other than Alex Jonestown Massacre guitarist Kenn Edwards. The gang discusses how the game departs from its predecessor, the incredible acting of Ashley Johnson and Laura Bailey, how writer-director Nate Druckmann forces the player to confront the consequences of their actions, and more. Also, Arlo didn't actually play it! Plus, Kenn tells us about AJM's new album Run-On Death Sentence and his Lost rewatch podcast Pushing the Button.

 

Next: there's hope for our ass after all. Sarah Kosheff joins us to discuss the filmed performance of Hamilton.

 

THE BREAKDOWN

Total Run Time: 02:55:47

• 00:01:24  -  Intro / Banter
• 00:06:43  -  Kenn’s new podcast
• 00:16:25  -  Kenn’s new album
• 00:30:24  -  The Last of Us Part II
• 02:45:45  -  Outro / Next

THE MUSIC

• “Future Days” by Troy Baker (2020)
• “Take On Me” by Ashley Johnson (2020)
• “Millennial Whoop” by Alex Jonestown Massacre, Run-On Death Sentence (2020)

THE LINKS

 

• Pushing the Button: A Chronologically LOST Podcast 

• Alex Jonestown Massacre  -  Bandcamp  -  Spotify 

• “Drinking the Kool-Aid with The Alex Jonestown Massacre” by Alicen Hackney, RVA 

 

• “The Last of Us Part II Is a Dark Game for a Dark Time” by Conor Dougherty, New York Times 
•  “Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross Open Up About the Biggest Twists of The Last of Us Part II” by David Ehrlich, IndieWire 

 

• “The Last of Us Part II boldly reckons with its predecessor and its own violent design” by A.A. Dowd, AV Club 

• “The Last of Us Part II: How Naughty Dog made a classic amidst catastrophe” by Sam White, GQ 

• “Last of Us 2’s Ending Explained - What Happens and Why When the Game Ends” by Phil Hornshaw, Gamespot 

• “The Last of Us 2 epitomizes one of gaming’s longest debates” by Chris Plante, Polygon 

• “The Last of Us Part II points toward a more honest portrayal of religion in gaming” by Gene Park, Washington Post 

• “The Last of Us (The Movie)” edited by Andy Gilleand 

• “The Last of Us: Left Behind (The Movie)” edited by Andy Gilleand 

• “THE LAST OF US 2 All Cutscenes (Full Game Movie) PS4 Pro 1080p HD” edited by Gamer’s Little Playground