The following review contains spoilers for Episode 1 of The Last of Us.
After a long wait, the television adaptation of The Last of Us has finally arrived on HBO Max, and it is a treat for fans. Based on the extremely popular game franchise of the same name, the series premiered amid much fanfare and high expectations, and set up the inevitable journey that Joel and Ellie will go on together. When the series was first announced, fans of the franchise were a little skeptical, but based on the premiere episode, it seems like they should not be worried about what’s to come.
The first episode of The Last of Us promises a relatively faithful adaptation that will both please fans of the franchise and be different enough to attract the non-gamers. Similar to the first game, the episode covers the prologue that offers a look at the world prior to the spread of the infection and Joel’s world 20 years before he first comes in contact with Ellie. But, before fans meet any of the main characters, the episode’s first scene establishes that The Last of Us will not be an exact adaptation of the games, and will have its own take on the mind-bending virus.
The first scene in The Last of Us premiere episode features a talk-show setting in the 60s where two epidemiologists are seen discussing the possibility of a viral pandemic. The entire sequence seems a bit jarring considering the ongoing pandemic that viewers are experiencing. The scene also seems straight out of Craig Mazin's Chernobyl, with equally serious undertones and some very dark predictions for the future. One of the epidemiologists, John Hannah’s Dr. Newman seems to believe that fungus could be the cause of a mind-altering pandemic, with the disease spreading until every living being is infected. His explanation is frighteningly believable.
This sequence establishes the key difference between The Last of Us adaptation and games. This detailed explanation was missing in the games, but it seems like the series will focus on particular intricacies of the mutated strain of the Cordyceps fungus. It is also the perfect way to provide context to the non-gamers. Another difference between the game and adaptation comes when the prologue is set in 2003. In The Last of Us game the prologue, or Outbreak Day, takes place in 2013, and the rest of the story continues 20 years later in 2033. However, it seems like the HBO Max adaptation will take place in 2023, the year the series has premiered. Apart from that, the infamous prologue is almost a perfect recreation of the one in the game.
Joel and Sarah
Nico Parker does a great job at portraying the role of Joel’s daughter Sarah, with her father being wonderfully played by Pedro Pascal. Parker brings just the right amount of emotion and curiosity to the teenager who is trying to understand the approaching pandemic. Viewers are given the opportunity to connect with the character at a slightly deeper level than the games before that link snaps at the end of the prologue.
Once the infection begins to spread, and arrives in Joel and Sarah’s neighborhood, the father-daughter duo have to escape to safety. Along with Joel’s brother Tommy, played by Gabriel Luna, the family tries to head out of the city. However, before they can even make it to the highway, tragedy strikes. That entire getaway sequence is phenomenal. The shots in the car are filmed from Sarah’s perspective, which are identical to the scenes in The Last of Us game. The remainder of the scenes with Joel and Sarah trying to escape on foot are equally striking. The tension in the sequence is palpable and while fans of the games already know of Sarah’s fate, the moment she gets shot by a soldier is a tearjerker nonetheless. Pascal and Parker put on a great performance, and similar to the game, viewers know at this point that Joel’s life is about to change forever.
The post-pandemic world
The post-pandemic world is what viewers are introduced to next with the scenery changing from the colors of nature to an unsaturated reality in Boston. Joel is now a cold, seemingly heartless man who works alongside Anna Torv’s Tess to smuggle items in and out of the quarantine zone. It is quickly established that both Tess and Joel will go to any lengths to secure a battery for a vehicle. Joel needs this vehicle to visit his brother Tommy, who has been “brainwashed” by the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group that stands for democracy. The familiar and popular slogan of the group, “When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light,” is visibly painted on several walls.
In this post-pandemic world, viewers also meet Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, a young girl who is being held by the Fireflies. Every day, they walk into her room, ask her a few questions, provide food, and leave. It is initially unclear what their motives are, but fans of the game will already know that she is an individual who holds the key to ending the pandemic. Ramsey’s performance is notable as she embodies Ellie’s temper and foul mouth from the game, with hints of Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones coming through at times.
Merle Dandridge’s Marlene, who is the leader of the Fireflies’ Boston HQ, plans to transport Ellie outside the quarantine zone. However, when a deal with Robert, the black-market dealer who double-crossed Tess and Joel over the battery, goes wrong, Marlene puts Joel in charge of transporting Ellie. The smugglers are initially shocked, as they do not expect a human-sized package to come along. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Tess and Joel agree.
The journey begins
At first, Tess and Joel do not understand why Ellie is so important to the Fireflies. However, as they sneak her out of the settlement at night and come across a soldier who tests them for infections, they both realize that Ellie was bitten by an infected, but somehow seems to be alright three weeks later. It isn’t the time for asking questions, and so they carry on with their journey. But, as fans already know, this is just the beginning and things are about to get a lot more dangerous.
The premiere episode of The Last of Us does a great job at providing fan service, especially by including the game's theme music in the opening credits, and adding extra ingredients for the non-gamers. Judging by the first episode, it will do justice to the game and its story line. But, as any good adaptation works, it will not be an exact replica of the game, and have its own creative standpoint. Pascal’s Joel and Ramsey’s Ellie possess a striking resemblance to the characters from the game. Joel’s scrubby outfit, salt-and-pepper hair, and broody look are reminiscent of the character from the game. Ellie’s sneakers, hoodie, and iconic ponytail have also been beautifully adapted. More importantly, both actors bring the same energy to the characters as the voice artists for The Last of Us, and will not disappoint hardcore fans of the franchise. Based on just the first episode, this series is going to be an interesting journey for Joel, Ellie, and the fans.
The Last of Us is streaming on HBO Max.