The Last of Us Premiere Review: Does the show live up to the game?

The Last of Us has been often called one of the best video games of all time, winning several awards and critics acclaim alike. Now, HBO has created a TV show adaptation of the same. 

There’s always a huge hullabaloo when video games/books get adapted, often because their on-screen counterparts are rarely able to capture the magic. Can The Last of Us break this dry spell? What’s the verdict — Is it as good as the video game?

The Last of Us premiere episode definitely lives up to the video game as it does not change the core plot, but instead adds extra scenes to give viewers a more well-rounded story. 

The way I’d describe it is that at this point, the video game’s first arc almost seems like only a skeleton, while TLOU Ep 1 is the flavorful meat around it. I’m super excited to talk about why The Last of Us has a near-perfect premiere episode that definitely exceeded the video game. Let’s dig in! 

1. The Prologue

The episode very carefully prepares its viewers for all the core concepts that will be integral to understanding the show. The first scene, while not technically a prologue, acts exactly like one, wherein two scientists explain what a parasitic fungus is in an interview.

The whole scene is rendered using dark humor and familiarizes the audience with zombie fungus, how it is born, how it functions and how it spreads. Like many scenes that were specially added for the show (and were never included in the video game), this one too stands out as super meaningful! 

2. Joel’s Backstory

In the video game, Joel’s backstory with his daughter Sarah is all but 15 minutes long. The show expands on that and gives us a very clear, sorrowful picture of how Joel’s world turned upside down. 

It starts off with highlighting Sarah’s deep bond with her father and depicting how she is ever so bright, sharp and helpful. The more we stay with Sarah, the more her inevitable death hurts us — which in my opinion, leaves even more of an impact that what one would experience through the video game. 

Another reason I thoroughly enjoyed this part was because of how non “sci-fi” it was. These 30 minutes felt like any other realist drama, which in a scary way shows how a “normal” world like ours can turn dystopian very easily. 

You don’t get to see this before and after in many shows/films and it was truly remarkable to see the transition.  

3. Setting Up the Main Arc and TLOU Universe

By the time we reach the second half, we have established many of the key settings of the show. Northern America has now fallen under the military rule of FEDRA, with people working odd shifts to earn a new-type of currency. 

While most people have adjusted to this lifestyle, anti-militia groups like Fireflies are actively rebelling to bring democracy back into the game. 

The change of scenery brings on new characters who will be very crucial to the show. This is also where we meet the much-anticipated Ellie, and she is every bit of the snarky hero we imagined her to be. Ellie being “special” is driven home in several ways, right from the fact that she’s being locked and evaluated to her being “precious cargo.” 

In this way, the premiere welcomes the audience into this new-age zombie world, getting them supremely interested in whether or not there is hope of saving humanity. 

4. The Ending

The ending was great for two reasons. One was the very obvious punchline of Ellie being infected but very much immune to the zombie fungus. This reveal was very rewarding, especially once you start noticing how Joel is reeling from the information — and the possibility that she may be the cure everyone’s been looking for. 

The second reason is the ending slate itself. The show very cheekily builds on Joel’s radio code to play a song from the 80s to signify that there’s a lot of trouble to come. Both of these elements gave the episode a brilliant ending! 

Overall, the premiere episode, all with being 90 minutes long, was very rewarding and leaves viewers wanting for more. Moreover, it is will complementary to the video game and adds deeper layers to the story. 

5. About The Last Of Us

The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.

It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.

The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.