This weekend, HBO and HBO Max premiere the first episode of “The Last of Us,” a post-apocalyptic thriller based on the hit video game. On Sunday, January 15, it will debut on HBO at 9:00 PM ET and stream in 4K on HBO Max. The series will have a total of nine episodes and follows the plot of the 2013 game, where a fungal outbreak turns half the world’s population into flesh-eating zombies – known as ‘clickers’.
Starring “The Mandalorian” actor Pedro Pascal as Joel, and “Game of Thrones” actress Bella Ramsey as Ellie, “The Last of Us” revolves around these two characters who initially want nothing to do with each other. Joel and his confidante, Tess (played by Anna Torv), are tasked with smuggling Ellie out of the Boston quarantine zone and across the US.
“The Last of Us” is HBO’s first attempt at adapting a video game into a series. But you wouldn’t know based on the quality. After so many video game adaptations fail, the show will likely come as a relief to many “Last of Us” fans. Granted, it was co-written by the game’s creator Neil Druckmann, so there was little room to flop in the first place. HBO’s “The Last of Us” is Druckmann’s love letter to the millions of loyal fans who help keep the decade-long franchise alive.
(“The Last of Us” spoilers ahead.)
At first glance, “The Last of Us” may seem like just another zombie survival story. However, unlike the gore associated with the genre, the HBO series doesn’t focus on dramatic, long-winded shootouts and shots of the undead being sliced in half. Instead, it focuses on the human relationships between the uninfected, as their world grows more uncertain by the minute.
In our opinion, what makes this show so great is the fact that viewers don’t have to play the game to understand it. While HBO’s “The Last of Us” is very accurate to the game’s timeline and has Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, there are some key differences that make the story appeal to a wider audience.
For example, the game is set in 2033, while the show is set in 2023. This was done to help viewers”connect a little bit more,” co-creator Craig Mazin said in a CNET interview. “When I watch a show in the year 2023 and it takes place in 2043, it is just a little less real. I thought it might be interesting to just say, “Hey, look, in this parallel universe, this is happening right now,” Mazin added.
Another distinction we’ve noticed so far is how in-depth the show goes with Joel’s backstory. The video game’s first cutscene is only about 15 minutes long, while HBO’s “The Last of Us” takes a more drawn-out approach.
The first episode begins with a flashback from 2003, when the first mold outbreak occurs. In this scene, Joel appears as a less intense man, who sleeps through his alarm clock and faces simple problems such as forgetting to buy pancake mix. Joel’s daughter, Sarah (played by Nico Parker), also gets a lot of airtime, with clips of her cooking scrambled eggs, fixing her dad’s watch and baking cookies with her neighbor. These scenes are unique to the show and give viewers more time to get to know the father-daughter duo, making the events that follow even more heartbreaking.
Image Credits: HBO
The episode then jumps to 2023 when Joel is a smuggler in a quarantine zone guarded by FEDRA (Federal Disaster Response Agency) soldiers, while a militia led by Marlene (Merle Dandridge) called “The Fireflies” seeks to revolt against military suppression and restoration wants government control.
Viewers then meet Ellie, a teenager who is immune to the fungus and is being held captive by The Fireflies. As in the game, the series will mainly focus on Joel and Ellie’s relationship and how their world views differ.
Other characters yet to be introduced include Frank (Murray Bartlett), Bill (Nick Offerman), Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey), Florence (Elaine Miles), Riley (Storm Reid), Perry (Jeffrey Pierce), and Henry (Lamar Johnson). .
“The Last of Us” is likely to do well for HBO Max, despite the streaming service raising its subscription price earlier this week.
As with its other highly anticipated shows such as the “Game of Thrones” spin-off, “House of the Dragon”, the company went all out to promote its latest series. Warner Bros. Discovery, for example, hosted a two-hour immersive experience and screening of the first episode in New York City, offering guests an array of “The Last of Us” themed treats, photo opportunities, and more.
HBO Max will also launch on January 15 “The Last of Us podcast,” presented by Troy Baker, the voice actor who plays Joel in the game. Druckmann and Mazin will also appear in episodes discussing how they created the show and other behind-the-scenes stories. Each episode is released along with the show every Sunday.
