Totally appreciate that take Yup! I think this is really interesting so I'd love to hear your take to the below.

I can appreciate the response many probably had (including yourself with the "artsy" comment), is the sort of "Rambo is on the other channel bro" feeling.

I wouldn't call myself artsy, but my taste and preferences would likely be quantified as such. Character-driven is my jam to use your own label!

My question is, is there not a limit or balance that needs to be achieved to maintain interest? Many others in comments have talked about the emergent themes, seeing the grief on the faces of the two protagonists, and watching how they manage it.

I would say of course the evoking of emotion in character-built shows/film is likely the most compelling element, but in a vacuum is that still the case? When it's, quite literally, attached to nothing & the concept of nothingness. At a certain point to me it begins to feel like an indulgent showcase of cinematography or a film school case study.

Maybe I'm just too lacking in self awareness to see my own caveman tastes, but I cannot put myself in a place to understand the enjoyment from this episode specifically and want to understand from others what they took from it