Kansas

‘The Last Of Us’ Episode 5 Recap And Review: Kansas City Blues

Published

1 year ago

February 10, 2023

Press Room

‘The Last Of Us’ Episode 5 Recap And Review: Kansas City Blues

The Final Of Us

Credit score: HBO

The Final Of Us aired two days early this weekend slightly than delay every week to keep away from battle with the Tremendous Bowl this coming Sunday. That’s most likely a smart transfer on HBO’s half, and it’s definitely good for followers. Sadly, the episode fell somewhat wanting what’s come earlier than this season, and I can’t assist however suppose it’s partly as a result of what works in a online game simply doesn’t at all times translate to a TV present or movie adaptation, particularly when the variation has a reasonably severe tone and (largely) seems like premiere tv.

I discussed this a bit final week, however finally discovered the video ‘gamey-ness’ of that episode endearing slightly than off-putting. When bandits waylay our heroes in Kansas Metropolis, the following shoot-out options NPC dialogue that was mainly plucked from the online game, and it was fairly corny. That felt like a pleasant nod to Naughty Canine’s recreation. This week, whereas there have been some robust moments, felt quite a bit weaker than what’s come earlier than.

The Bloater

Credit score: HBO

The online game bit in Episode 5 that I’m referring to is the Bloater. Bloaters are a kind of Cordyceps mutant-zombie-monster that’s not simply extra disfigured and delicate to sound just like the Clickers we’ve met earlier, it’s just about lined head-to-toe with fungal development, and someway it’s grown into an enormous. These are essentially the most harmful kinds of enemies in The Final Of Us, a uncommon fourth-stage evolution of the contaminated which might be highly effective, aggressive and lethal, but additionally gradual and clumsy.

Even within the video games I didn’t actually just like the Bloaters. They felt essentially the most out-of-place of all of the contaminated, like one thing you’d add to a recreation simply to make enemies extra diversified. Within the present, the Bloater simply appeared tremendous goofy to me. This can be a present that’s been fairly gritty and practical thus far (fortunately not simply grim, as there are many humorous and tender moments additionally) however on this episode that realism got here toppling down the second the Bloater appeared. And I knew it was coming. I simply hoped it could work higher than it did. Certain, it’s sort of an “oh shit!” second however . . . then it simply feels kinda tacky.

What did work on this scene had been the remainder of the contaminated pouring out of the outlet within the earth and overwhelming Kathleen and her thugs. The little lady Clicker was tremendous terrifying and creepy and undoubtedly overshadowed the Bloater for me. She will get Kathleen in the long run, which was a pleasant contact. I used to be getting M3GAN vibes big-time.

Rebels

Credit score: HBO

As for Kathleen and her goons . . . I’ve to say I really feel sort of letdown. I used to be enthusiastic about this character final week, as a result of I really like Melanie Lynskey in Yellowjackets, however we actually didn’t get sufficient of her or her folks to essentially justify their existence. A smaller group of unhealthy guys searching Henry and Sam—possibly even a gaggle of scary white supremacist sorts—would have been quite a bit scarier and narratively efficient. As a substitute we get all these obscure particulars about Kathleen’s brother who Henry betrayed to FEDRA to save lots of Sam’s life and Kathleen and Henry each speak about how nice he was after which . . . contaminated come pouring out of the earth, there’s a gunfight, a bunch of individuals die and Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) escape with Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Woodard) and get the hell out of Dodge. Or, effectively, out of Kansas Metropolis (which was Pittsburgh within the recreation).

The perfect components within the episode had been between Sam and Ellie who develop into quick buddies instantly. I cherished all these moments—proper as much as the bitter finish. We’re reminded—as is Joel—that Ellie actually is a child. She’s 14 and Sam, who’s deaf, is 8, however they hit it off so effectively and the childlike facet of Ellie, sans all her posturing and snark, comes out in spades. The 2 are lovable, which makes the ending much more terrible and horrific.

Sam and Henry

Credit score: HBO

I assume I want the present had leaned extra into the connection developed between these 4 characters slightly than spend a lot time on Kathleen and her individuals who, in the long run, felt virtually pointless. We might have had some faceless hunters chasing down Henry and Sam and it could have labored higher, permitting extra time for the 4 good guys to bond on-screen. Take out the Bloater additionally and have the same showdown with the hunters, hunted and contaminated (although scaled method down as a result of we simply don’t want 75 goons chasing down our heroes in large zombie-proof vans, this isn’t Mad Max!) and I assure it could have felt extra intimate and labored higher.

In the long run, Sam is bitten and divulges this to Ellie who cuts herself, telling him that her blood is medication. She wipes it on his reduce and he asks her if she’ll keep awake with him. After all, she ought to have gone and instructed the adults, however she says she’ll sit with him after which she falls asleep. Within the morning, she wakes up and sees Sam sitting on the sting of the mattress and she or he should suppose that her blood medication labored as a result of she goes over to him and touches his shoulder. That’s when he turns round, tooth bared, eyes pink, snarling and feral and lunges at her. She screams and races into the opposite room the place Joel and Henry watch in horror.

Joel makes for the kids however Henry pulls a gun, tells him to cease. Henry is in shock, clearly doesn’t know what to do, however doesn’t need Joel to do something both. However when Sam leaps for Ellie and she or he screams, he acts on intuition and shoots his child brother within the head. Horrified, he says “What did I do? What did I do?” Joel tells him to present him the gun, however Henry factors the gun at his personal head and pulls the set off. And similar to that, their two new buddies are lifeless.

They bury them outdoors of the little motel and head off, on foot, towards Wyoming. As Joel finishes protecting the our bodies with grime, he appears to be like down on the little Etch-a-Sketch pad that Sam carried round and sees the phrases “I’m Sorry” written on it.

Ellie and Joel

Credit score: HBO

Verdict

That is each the darkest, most dispiriting episode of the season thus far and the one which clicked with me the least. Every part to do with Sam and Henry and Ellie and Joel labored nice, however all the things else felt sloppy and tacked on, like items glued collectively that didn’t fairly match. Kathleen and her folks felt without delay like an excessive amount of and too little, quite a lot of further baggage added for little or no payoff. Not like the marvelous Invoice and Frank story (which additionally didn’t actually sync with the primary plot) this instructed a narrative that basically didn’t transfer the needle a lot. The majority of the emotional weight happened between the 4 heroes, with the rebels serving largely as NPC unhealthy guys with an excessive amount of backstory.

What did you consider this episode? Let me know on Twitter or Fb.

As at all times, I’d find it irresistible when you’d observe me right here on this weblog and subscribe to my YouTube channel and my Substack so you’ll be able to keep up-to-date on all my TV, film and online game evaluations and protection. Thanks!

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Kansas

Behind Enemy Lines: Scouting Sporting Kansas City 🔎

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

Behind Enemy Lines: Scouting Sporting Kansas City 🔎

Photo via FC Dallas

FC Dallas embarks on a unique proposition over the coming days: being on the road against Sporting Kansas City twice at the same venue within four days. The two sides will play at Children’s Mercy Park in MLS regular-season play on Sunday night before a rematch in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Key Player: Daniel Salloi

Salloi has been dealing with injuries, but he’s always been a terror for FC Dallas to contain. Over the years, he’s accounted for eight goals and two assists against FC Dallas, including SKC’s first goal in 2023 in their 2-1 loss at Toyota Stadium.

Key Matchup: Erik Thommy vs Sam Junqua/Marco Farfan

The DP for Sporting has four goals and three assists on the season. He and Johnny Russell will likely rotate along the wings a bit, but either way, you can expect their attack to largely run through Thommy.

Availability Report:

Suspended: none
Out: Logan Ndenbe (knee)
Questionable: Robert Castellanos (ankle), Daniel Salloi (ankle), Remi Walter (knee)
On Loan: none
International duty: Felipe Hernández

Last year against SKC: The clubs split their season series last year with both teams winning their home games. FCD came from behind to beat SKC 2-1 in the first meeting at Toyota Stadium before SKC picked up a 2-1 win over FCD in the lone meeting at Children’s Mercy Park.

At home against FCD: After struggling at the SKC venue for several years, Dallas has finally found some positive results in the last few seasons there. Sporting has won just one of their last seven vs. FCD at Children’s Mercy Park.

Recent form: The struggles have been real for SKC in 2024, in their last ten games they’ve gone 2-8-0 (2-3-0 in their last five).

Potential Lineup:

Peter Vermes has stuck with his 4-3-3 formation for another season.

Melia, Pierre, Rosero, Voloder, Leibold; Rodriguez, Radoja, Thommy; Russell, Agada, Salloi

Stay aggressive: It will be hard not to overplay their hands in the first game before the important USOC game on Wednesday, but when we’ve seen FCD at their best this season, it has been due to a higher press and aggressive play from the attack. On Thursday night against Portland, the times when FC Dallas was most dangerous were their forced turnovers in the Timbers’ defensive end. SKC is leaky in the back and could give up easy attempts if FC Dallas puts on the pressure.
Keep feeding Musa in the box: I probably sound like a broken record at this point on this item, but it really is that simple. Musa has ten goals on the season, and lately a lot of that has to do with finding him in space, with the ball at his feet in the penalty area. The Croatian knows how to handle the rest from there.
Limit stupid mistakes in the back: Sporting is going to still press a bit, that has always been a trait of a Vermes’ team. Dallas will want to limit their errors in the back and avoid their slow build up play that we’ve seen them struggle through at times this season.

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Increased activity of vector-borne diseases identified in Kansas

Published

10 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

Increased activity of vector-borne diseases identified in Kansas

KDHE

TOPEKA – While ticks and mosquitoes are a natural part of our environment, it is important to know that some may transmit harmful diseases. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) tracks illnesses caused by ticks and mosquitoes, and as of May 29, 2024, has received over 200 laboratory reports of tickborne diseases. Additionally, KDHE has received several reports of tick bites and complaints of high numbers of ticks, which indicates that tick activity and density are increasing and are occurring earlier in the season this year.

Numerous tickborne diseases caused by bacteria are present in Kansas. These include Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses (SFGR), and Tularemia. Two rare tickborne viruses, Heartland virus and Bourbon virus, have also been identified in Kansas in both humans and ticks. All of these tickborne diseases are transmitted by the Lone Star tick, the most abundant tick in Kansas. Lone Star ticks can be found widely throughout at least the eastern two-thirds of the state in a variety of habitats and are aggressive human biters. This year alone, KDHE has investigated several tickborne disease cases with severe health outcomes, including hospitalizations due to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia, and a fatal case of Bourbon virus.

“Vector-borne diseases, both those that are transmitted by ticks and those transmitted by mosquitoes are extremely active this year,” Dr. Erin Petro, KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian, said. “I really encourage people to take the risk of vector-borne diseases seriously and take personal protective measures for themselves and their pets to reduce their chance of acquiring an illness from a tick or mosquito bite. We’re also seeing emerging tick-associated conditions, like Alpha-gal syndrome, which can have lifelong consequences for those affected, which is why bite prevention is so important.”

In addition to increased tickborne diseases being reported to KDHE, there have been increased case reports of West Nile Virus (WNV), which is a reportable disease. While WNV cases occur every year in Kansas, the concerning trend this year is how early it’s being seen. Cases of WNV typically start in late July to early August. However, KDHE has already had two cases of WNV reported.

These cases serve as an important reminder to take precautions as you enjoy the outdoors this summer. Ticks are commonly found at the edge of trails, on tall grasses and in wooded, shaded areas. Mosquitoes are often more common at dawn and dusk and can breed in small amounts of standing water.

To reduce the risk of contracting a vector-borne disease, take the following steps:

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 on all exposed skin. If going camping or hiking, treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin.
When doing yardwork, hiking, camping or recreating in areas where ticks and mosquitoes may be found, wear long pants tucked into socks or boots, if possible. Additionally, light colored clothing can make it easier to spot ticks.
Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors, such as emptying standing water, particularly in old tires, tarps and flowerpots. Empty bird baths at least once a week to disrupt the mosquito life cycle.
Ensure pets remain tick free by consulting with a veterinarian about tick prevention products.
After spending time outdoors, shower and check for ticks again (some can be hard to spot). The vital areas to check are in and around the hair and ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs and the back of the knees.
If a tick has bitten you, don’t squeeze it. Remove it with tweezers by grasping the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, then pull outward. Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. Don’t forget to check pets for ticks.
Pay attention to common signs and symptoms of vector-borne illness such as fever/chills, body aches and/or rash. If any of these symptoms are present within a few weeks of spending time outdoors in areas that may have ticks or mosquitoes, it’s important to talk with a doctor about being tested for vector-borne illnesses.

For more information, visit KDHE’s Tickborne Disease Data Stories to learn more about tickborne diseases, signs and symptoms specific to each disease, tick bite prevention and tick distribution. CDC also has additional information about vector-borne diseases on their website.

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2025 All-American Linkon Cure Pledges to Kansas State

Published

17 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Press Room

2025 All-American Linkon Cure Pledges to Kansas State

Kansas State University has successfully landed one of the premier players in the country. 2025 All-American Linkon Cure from Goodland High School in Kansas has committed to the Wildcats. According to 247Sports, Cure is the No.26 overall player in the nation and a five-star prospect.

https://x.com/CureLinkon/status/1807908366879965312

Cure will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Bowl will be nationally televised, live on NBC and Peacock, and will feature the nation’s top 100 high school football players.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 20,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 594 draft picks; 93 Super Bowl champions; 247 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC)

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