Random TV Season Review - The Last of Us (Season 1)

 

So we have a TV series adaptation of a video game now. Of course not the first ever time this has happened, if you've ever seen an old Saturday morning cartoon in your life, but it's certainly one I'm not too surprised that it was being made. Naughty Dog have done quite a few cinematic looking video games since they started the Uncharted series. Many of us got so hyped on the idea of that series getting a film, and sure we did get one. But sadly not one that people liked. Particularly with the questionable casting of Tom Holland and Mark Whalberg and how underwhelming it was compared to the games themselves. Fortunately, it would not be the first and only time a Naughty Dog franchise would get a screen adaptation as HBO saw potential in a TV series based on the company's most recently critically acclaimed series which follows the cinematic quality that Uncharted left behind, but with a focus on a zombie apocalypse type of story. But not a typical generic one as most tend to be, as it has a focus on the human aspect, and it's mainly about two characters surviving and trying not to turn into these clicker like monsters that have wiped out most of the humanity. So let's take a look and see if this adaptation of a video game is worthy of being great:

Set in an alternate 2023, it's been twenty years since a pandemic started which caused humanity to be infected by a fungal infection. Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl called Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) across the USA, battling infected humans, forging alliances, finding old friends and learning that not everything is as it's all cracked up to be.

Yeah, anyone wanting to see the story of the first game rather than play it, yeah you'll get that here. It faithfully adapts the first game well, while delving deeper into the mythos of the franchise and allowing for some bits that didn't quite make the cut in the game. It feels very much like the game minus the actual elements that make it a game and also the cast from the first game. I will admit, it did come out not long after The Walking Dead finished, and you know what, it's probably a good reason to watch it if you are missing your zombie fix. It's very emotional, has great set designs and action pieces and further demonstrates Pedro Pascal's acting ability as well as Bella Ramsey who despite appearing in many pop culture shows, this would no doubt be her breakout role. At least, I hope people see it as that. 9/10

Oh, and it also adapts the first game's DLC Left Behind too as if it was part of the main story, which is nice.