The Last of Us Post Mortem, Sinners Review and the Dangers of Critic Hype

We host a post-mortem discussion on The Last of Us Part II - Episode 2: Through the Valley, following the brutal and emotional loss of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal). We explore the immediate and long-term consequences of his death on Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Tommy (Gabriel Luna), and the newly introduced Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), while unpacking how this pivotal moment reshapes the emotional core of the story and sets the tone for the rest of the season.

We also review Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a bold and genre-blending film that mixes sci-fi, spirituality, and social commentary with a deeply personal story. Shot, in part, on stunning IMAX 70mm, the film uses the large format to amplify its scale and emotional depth while delivering a story with strong cultural resonance. We dive into how Coogler’s vision sets Sinners apart from other blockbusters and explore how overwhelming hype can sometimes skew audience expectations and impact a film’s reception.

If you want to see more from Heroes Reforged, head over to our YouTube channel or get early access to our reactions on Patreon.

Chapters---------------------------------------------------0:00:00 - Like & Subscribe0:00:20 - Watch along on Patreon0:01:05 - The Last of Us Part II - Season 2 Spoilers0:06:10 - How will the show be different?0:11:03 - Was Abby justified?0:20:44 - Ellie and Joel's final moments0:26:03 - Realism in the show0:27:48 - Sinners non-spoiler review0:31:00 - Why it's a standout0:32:55 - Where it ranks amongst other Ryan Coogler movies0:33:59 - Explaining film formats0:40:25 - This movie's too sexy0:42:28 - Sinners hype0:45:15 - Dangers of internet hype0:52:55 - Agustin's regular dad life0:55:14 - Adam's girlfriend's Sinners experience0:57:22 - Closing thoughts