Sophia Luckey
Staff Writer
HBO’s new hit adaptation series ‘The Last of Us’ tells an immensely powerful story, portrayed by a phenomenal cast. Each episode focuses on the power of love, and what it will do to a person in dire situations. ‘The Last of Us’ was brilliantly brought to life by its genius directors and amazing actors.
The show was adapted from its video game counterpart under the same title. The game was originally released in June of 2013 from Naughtydog and Sony, breaking records even a decade ago. Those who played the game fell deeply in love with it, as it was one of the first games of its kind with an actual deep story featuring a plethora of cut scenes. A DLC called ‘Left Behind’ was then released in 2014, telling players a little bit more about the origin of one of the main characters. 6 years later, ‘The Last of Us Part II’ was released, closing the story told in the first game.
‘The Last of Us’ in both forms of media is set in a post apocalyptic world, a fungal virus that infected around 60 percent of the population has led it to its demise. Joel, played by the talented Pedro Pascal, is a survivor who had experienced great loss over the twenty years living in the new world. It is then that his smuggler character meets Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, a 14 year old girl immune to infection. He is then tasked to take her as cargo across a challenging dystopian America.
Produced by Craig Mazin alongside the video game creator Neil Drunkman, the duo did an extraordinary job at adapting the beloved video game into a live action format. The two were able to retell the story appealing to those who played the game, all while drawing in new fans.
The Last of Us is HBO’s newest series and latest hit. All episodes are now streaming on HBO and HBO Max.
The show is 9 episodes in length, with each episode ranging from 50 to 80 minutes. Not a single one of these minutes is put to waste, entrancing viewers and leaving them with wanting more until the next would air the following Sunday
One of the series’ many strengths lies in its storytelling. Over the course of the show, viewers see many different characters, each portraying a different form of love. Whether it’s through finding love in this new world shown in the infamous episode 3, or the love between siblings, each episode dives into another form of unconditional love all while giving viewers action and drama.
The show’s casting only further supports the ratings it has received. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey do an exemplary job at bringing the found father-daughter duo to life. Both known for their roles in ‘Game of Thrones’, the two showcase their tremendous talent in this series. The two were made for their roles, embodying their character and giving them even more depth with such ease.
With how outstanding the show is, it’s quite hard to pick our imperfections. However, the pacing in the 9th and final episode is a little rushed, not giving viewers enough time to fully process the intense action and aftermath of what they watched on screen.
The Last of Us is a new TV show adaptation of a popular video game. The show has set multiple records since its release in January.
The finale’s pacing aside, the show has rightfully received wonderful feedback from its audiences. The show broke viewership records with only its second episode with a 22% surge in audience growth. This record was only to be broken again with the release of the eighth episode, doubling the second episode’s percent surge.
The show’s clear impact on the streaming service and audiences as a whole has taken the world by storm. The second season, which will cover the events of the second game is said to already be in production, and will hopefully air sometime in 2024 or 2025.
‘The Last of Us’ is a remarkable show, which is sure to hold great influence for many years to come.
‘The Last of Us’ is available for streaming on HBO and HBOMax.
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