HBO’s Last of Us is a series based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name, developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Released in 2013, the game for PlayStation 3 was remastered in 2014 for PlayStation 4 and now Season 1 is available on Playstation 5.
It follows the journey of Joel, a smuggler who escorts a teenage girl named Ellie across a post-apocalyptic America that’s been ravaged by a fungal infection that turns humans into zombies-on-crack-like creatures.
The TV series is produced by HBO and Sony Pictures Television. Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the game, and Craig Mazin, the creator of HBO’s Chernobyl mini-series, serve as executive producers and co-writers.
It stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Supporting cast members include Anna Torv as Tess, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Merle Dandridge as Marlene. Original music for the series features Gustavo Santaolalla, who also scored both games.
The first season of The Last of Us consists of 10 episodes that adapt the events of the first game. It premiered on HBO on January 15th and received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike.
Critics Are Blown Away
It opened with an eye-popping 99% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, with an unheard of 96% audience score. The Guardian’s TV critic, Rebecca Nicholson, wrote that Pascal and Ramsey’s characters both “manage to resist a sentimental approach yet still find such soul,” and that it is “a real achievement.” Overall, she gave the series a top rating of 5-stars.
Gamers praised the series for its faithful adaptation of the game’s story, characters, and themes. TV fans were wowed by its stunning cinematography, gripping performances, and emotional impact. The episodes are full of complex moral dilemmas set in a brutal, post-apocalypse world.
The Last of Us isn’t only a thrilling horror drama, but also a touching human story about love, loss, and redemption. It showcases how far people will go to protect those they care about, how hope can be found even in the darkest times, and how violence can have lasting consequences. Ultimately, it’s a story about how humanity can endure and survive against all odds.
The Last of Us is by far the best TV show ever made from a video game, and a masterpiece of storytelling that transcends both mediums. It is a must-watch for fans of the game and TV alike.
