I put off watching S2 of the HBO Series up until recently, as I had nothing else to watch. I honestly can't get through the series without getting hung up on something every 5 minutes or so. There are so many things to list, from HBO Ellie having the emotional range of an electric car on a AA battery, to the weak story the game itself offers.
BUT... I don't intend for this to be just another rant. Here is my proposal for Naughty Dog:
Take the L. Then take this gorgeous IP and just redo Part II. No DEI, no virtue signaling—just good, old-fashioned storytelling focusing on the unbreakable bond between Joel and Ellie and the gritty, grounded struggle for survival. A narrative where the characters drive the story, not some message supporting "the current thing" that’s driving the characters.
I am sure we are all happy to pretend the HBO show and Part II never happened. Let's literally rewrite history. Same goes for the show. Just recast and start over.
Part III and Season 3 are just going to further drive this franchise into ruin. It’s not too late to call a mulligan.