HBO’s “The Last of Us” is currently the biggest show on streaming and the talk of the online community.
From Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s performances as Joel and Ellie, the sets, the writing, the music, and the bleak, hopeless atmosphere with hope on the horizon all come together to truly make the series truly feel fresh and exciting. Yet, how well so far has the series adapted the beloved video game?
The Story
For readers that haven’t played Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us”, the following contains SPOILERS for the video game “The Last of Us” which the HBO show is based on.
The story follows a former contractor, Joel Miller, having survived the first 20 years of a horrific zombie-like outbreak following the death of a loved one. Finding himself in a tight spot, Joel agrees to smuggle a young girl, Ellie, out of Boston (know a military run quarantine zone/prison) and get her to a group of survivors, “The Fireflies”. What follows is death, horror, betrayal, and a bond worth dying for.
Needless to say, the game is still a big deal. It has now undergone 2 remakes from release, a controversial sequel, and is now HBO’s latest hit.
And one can’t help but wonder, given that absolute dumpster fire that was Paramount+’s Halo series, why is it that HBO’s Last of Us is doing so well?
The real answer is it was made with love and care and respect for the source material, whilst also adding new additions to the lore and creatures to make the world feel alive.
But, the short answer is Neil Druckmann (writer and director of the video game) and Craig Mazin (creator and writer of HBO’s “Chernobyl”).
Casting
While most Audiences seemed ready to love Pedro Pascal’s performance as Joel, the internet seemed to be brutal on Miss Bella Ramsey in the role of Ellie. While most fans would recognize her from her outstanding “Game of Thrones” role, some seemed concerned over her casting and seemed downright cruel to her.
And yet, in spite of all the criticisms, both Bella and Pedro have turned in astounding performances and have truly brought these beloved characters to life.
Moving aside from the main cast, every supporting character, no matter how small, is written and acted so well, you can’t help but find yourself wanting to know more. The writing on this show really is top notch.
The Adaptation
Regardless of how good the acting is, how good the sets look, the music (which can’t be stressed enough, is unbelievably good), all of that means absolutely nothing if the story isn’t there, if the believability isn’t there, and if the emotional moments don’t hit.
And, luckily, that is definitely not the case here.
This writer’s chief concern when even approaching the idea of there being a “Last of Us” series was “will it justify its own existence?” If the game already exists, why make a show telling the same story?
Well, the good news is, it exists to, not only elevate the source material and make the story more cinematic, but also to introduce this incredible story to the larger audience that probably doesn’t play video games. And, in doing so, the story is immortalized for a new generation of fans to enjoy, without having to worry about escaping the basement (if you know, you know).
The Verdict
HBO’s The Last of Us was, just yesterday, renewed for a second season. It’s the biggest thing on the internet at the moment, and rightly so. The show is incredible, it absolutely deserves the hype, and here’s hoping the rest of the season maintains the quality we’ve started out on, because if so, we may just have a classic on our hands.
Until next time, when you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light… unless that light is dangerous, then, you know, don’t do that.
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