Craig Mazin

So it's a little bit like what Neil was saying. You kind of go back. You realize where you want to go. You run backwards to set it up and to feel inevitable. So the tank and the skeletons, the fact that these two young women... one of whom is openly gay, are walking through a gay neighborhood and they do not know what these rainbows mean. That's right from the game.

So it's a little bit like what Neil was saying. You kind of go back. You realize where you want to go. You run backwards to set it up and to feel inevitable. So the tank and the skeletons, the fact that these two young women... one of whom is openly gay, are walking through a gay neighborhood and they do not know what these rainbows mean. That's right from the game.

That was so, I remember just thinking how both beautiful and sad that was.

That was so, I remember just thinking how both beautiful and sad that was.

And I think it's even more drawn forward in the show because the world ends a bit sooner in the show. It ends in 2003, not 2013. Even more progress was stopped dead in its tracks. And, of course, then the moment where Ellie plays the guitar for Dina, that's about as close to the source material as you can get.

And I think it's even more drawn forward in the show because the world ends a bit sooner in the show. It ends in 2003, not 2013. Even more progress was stopped dead in its tracks. And, of course, then the moment where Ellie plays the guitar for Dina, that's about as close to the source material as you can get.

I mean, of course, Della and Isabella are delivering performances that are, you know, fresh and complete to them. But... From a writing point of view, my challenge for the script was, how do I get the stuff that I love from this section from the game and put it in here in a way that feels like it belongs and it's seamless and it's natural? Because there's so much.

I mean, of course, Della and Isabella are delivering performances that are, you know, fresh and complete to them. But... From a writing point of view, my challenge for the script was, how do I get the stuff that I love from this section from the game and put it in here in a way that feels like it belongs and it's seamless and it's natural? Because there's so much.

I mean, what Neil and Hallie did there. is awesome. And so it's a little bit like a duck press, you know, like I got to get so much stuff into a small amount of time without it feeling episodic or perfunctory.

I mean, what Neil and Hallie did there. is awesome. And so it's a little bit like a duck press, you know, like I got to get so much stuff into a small amount of time without it feeling episodic or perfunctory.

And if you're going to stop a television show to have somebody sing most of a song. One of the important things is there needs to be something happening inside of it. It cannot simply be a performance. There must be, you know, what Neil and I talk a lot about is how in our action sequences, the action is there to either reveal information about a relationship or to change a relationship.

And if you're going to stop a television show to have somebody sing most of a song. One of the important things is there needs to be something happening inside of it. It cannot simply be a performance. There must be, you know, what Neil and I talk a lot about is how in our action sequences, the action is there to either reveal information about a relationship or to change a relationship.

And that had to happen here too, because it's not optional for the viewer. So something has to be occurring here. By the point this happens in the game, Ellie and Dina have already become romantic partners. That's not true here yet. Dina is still—she's not ready. And maybe she's unsure. And then Ellie sings for her and you can watch Isabella perform Dina falling in love.

And that had to happen here too, because it's not optional for the viewer. So something has to be occurring here. By the point this happens in the game, Ellie and Dina have already become romantic partners. That's not true here yet. Dina is still—she's not ready. And maybe she's unsure. And then Ellie sings for her and you can watch Isabella perform Dina falling in love.

And I say perform, it's not adequate to describe really what you're seeing Isabella falling in love. It's a pretty remarkable moment. And I remember Kate and I were talking to Bella and saying, you know, there's this thing that happens when you play guitar and You can either serenade somebody to seduce them, or you can be shy and exposed and vulnerable and don't make eye contact.

And I say perform, it's not adequate to describe really what you're seeing Isabella falling in love. It's a pretty remarkable moment. And I remember Kate and I were talking to Bella and saying, you know, there's this thing that happens when you play guitar and You can either serenade somebody to seduce them, or you can be shy and exposed and vulnerable and don't make eye contact.

If you do, briefly, and then go right back to your song. You just do your song. And then while you're doing that, this other person is going to feel everything. And the two of them did such a gorgeous job. I was so proud of that moment. Because of course, on the beginning of a day like that, my heart is racing. I can't screw that up. I cannot screw that scene up.

If you do, briefly, and then go right back to your song. You just do your song. And then while you're doing that, this other person is going to feel everything. And the two of them did such a gorgeous job. I was so proud of that moment. Because of course, on the beginning of a day like that, my heart is racing. I can't screw that up. I cannot screw that scene up.

It means too much to too many people. And... I love that we presented a version of it that is both true to the game and its own thing because of its slightly different context. There's some interesting development that occurs there. And the change in their relationship that happens in this moment is pretty profound. It leads up to everything. Everything is led up to that moment.

It means too much to too many people. And... I love that we presented a version of it that is both true to the game and its own thing because of its slightly different context. There's some interesting development that occurs there. And the change in their relationship that happens in this moment is pretty profound. It leads up to everything. Everything is led up to that moment.