Many people think The Last of Us is among the greatest video games ever created. It would develop into a game that would win many awards based solely on presentation and story because of its survival horror fusion and emotionally compelling plot. Therefore, some people were unsure about The Last of Us finally getting its chance to shine as an actual television show on HBO. With this project, the creators would not only have to surpass the game itself, but they would also need to give game fans a reason to rewatch something they have already intimately experienced on their own.
Recently, The Last of Us' premiere episode has received a lot of positive feedback. Not just for its dedication to the game's origins but also for its audacity in stepping outside those story beats to create a more potent television experience: not just for new viewers but also to give devoted followers who are revisiting the lore a different kind of experience. But how much has it actually changed?
The Cordyceps Virus
One of the biggest differences between the two experiences seems to be how the virus spreads in the first episode. In The Last of Us, the Cordyceps Virus can infect people through airborne contact or by being bitten. One of The Last of Us' most shocking revelations is Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) immunity to the virus; she avoided contact with the infection, yet she was bitten. However, the story of the virus appears to take a different turn in the show. The virus is spread by long tendrils that grow from the mouths of the hosts.
The Close and Intimate Bond With Joel and Sarah
Another distinction that viewers will appreciate is the closeness and intimacy that develop between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Sarah (Nico Parker) before Sarah's tragic demise. Players in The Last of Us only see a small portion of Sarah's life before the incident takes her life and permanently alters Joel. By focusing on a teen girl whose life was tragically cut short, the episode takes a more in-depth stance. Her passing in her father's arms seems more plausible despite the scenes' briefness because of the way they are intertwined. Her going to school, getting Joel's watch fixed, and studying at the neighbors' house, creates a more impactful effect when she does die.
Questionable Timeline
The timeline of the show is now 2023, not 2033, as it was previously in the game. Although it's not a big deal, this required the outbreak to have occurred in 2003 rather than close to the year the show's source material was produced. Compared to the original game, Joel is now older when he first meets Ellie. Before the outbreak, Joel is 36, according to the timeline of the show; he is 56 by that point.
Joel and Tess's Connection Is More Established
In contrast to what The Last of Us implied, Tess and Joel appear to have a more established connection than was previously noted. Tess Servopuolos (Anna Torv) is Joel's partner in a smuggling operation for in-demand goods at the Boston Quarantine Zone. Other than this, there is no romantic tension between the two in the actual game. However, it appears in this episode that the two have a closer bond than the show might suggest.
Tommy's Deeper Connection to the Characters:
Tommy's (Gabriel Luna) portion in the show's television adaptation has also developed into a more interesting character role. Viewers can see him spending time with Joel and Sarah in the first episode, which demonstrates a stronger bond between the characters. Tommy is also imprisoned for a bar fight that may have involved an infected person at the start of the outbreak.
Joel is still in touch with Tommy now that the incident has passed, but he hasn't heard from him. As a result, Joel decides to visit him and fulfill his promise to Ellie by taking her to the Fireflies. This is handled very differently in the game because Joel and Tommy's relationship is largely estranged. Their relationship develops more during Joel and Ellie's journey.
The Episode's Ending
In episode one, viewers can see that Joel keeps in touch with a few different people outside of Tommy. Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) also keep in contact with him to keep him informed of what's going on around them. They do this with different top Billboard radio songs from different eras. Songs from the 1960s mean "Nothing new." Songs from the 1970s mean "New products." Songs from the 1980s have giant red X's meaning, "Trouble's brewing." By the end of the show, Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again," an 80's song, is playing. This can only mean nothing good can come for Joel, Ellie or Tess moving forward, because Bill and Frank are now in danger.
In the game, Bill is skilled at repairing vehicles and building things, they are old friends. While Frank is Bill's partner, he has already committed suicide at this point.
New Characters:
While also making room for additional new characters, the first episode introduces the audience to the game's main characters. The episode opens with two epidemiologists (John Hannah and Christopher Heyerdahl) conducting a cryptic interview with the TV host, setting the tone for the episode's grim content. We also get to spend a few fleeting moments with Connie and Danny Adler and their grandmother (Marcia Bennett, Brad Leland, and Wendy Goring), who were Joel and Sarah's neighbors before the outbreak. Along with the addition of new characters Kim (Natasha Mamba), Abe (Jerry Wasserman), and Lee (Max Montesi), the show also features Fireflies commander Marlene (Merle Dandridge).
While it is too soon to say what other changes they will make to the show, so far it has done a phenomenal job integrating the game's source material while including new information to tell the story in a new and exciting way.