A new bar has been set when it comes to video game adaptations. HBO’sThe Last of Usis not just an exciting and engaging story set decades after a viral outbreak, it’s also a faithful adaptation of Naughty Dog’s seminal classic that captures the emotion and the despair in a new medium. Yes, there are changes made to the source material, but most of them are in service of enriching the world occupied by Ellie and Joel. And where it counts,series showrunner Craig Mazinhas kept true to the source material.
From the first few minutes,The Last of Usestablishes that it won’t just be a carbon copy of the Naughty Dog game. In many respects, the series adheres to the formula and the framework of the game, but there are opportunities to highlight life before the pandemic and outside of Joel and Ellie’s adventure. Don’t worry, the writing team still understands what makes this property tick, but when the opportunity presents itself Mazin offers some detours that lead to some really affecting moments and storylines.
At its core, though,The Last of Usbrings to life post-apocalyptic America in incredible detail. Every set and landscape has a story to tell and the suggestions of how people handled the cordyceps outbreak early on are harrowing.
Adapting a PlayStation Classic
The first season truly feels like a cross-country adventure, albeit paced to fit within a 9-episode framework. Much of the cutting is made to the more action-heavy moments from the game; the series is not trying to compete withThe Walking Deadand its ultra-violent fights with “walkers.” The tension of each run-in with the “Infected” is still palpable, evoking the incredible stealth sections from the game, but human drama sets this zombie story apart from the rest.Action moments are few and far between, but rest assured that the Infected are plenty terrifying. Crucially, the suspenseful or action set pieces punctuate the threat of the Infected, especially when the game’s iconic Clickers are around. If there was one aspect to get right with the design and the world-building inThe Last of Usit was theClicker threat, and the show nails it.
At its core, though,The Last of Usis a story about people and casting becomes an essential piece of the puzzle. Pedro Pascal as Joel andBella Ramsey as Elliefit into these roles so well, but they never feel like imitations of Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s performances. They both embody these beloved characters in a way that should please fans across the board. Pascal ensures that Joel feels beaten down by his circumstances but shines a personality through when it’s necessary. Joel is a character that rarely trusts and whose violent past has clearly affected him, but he sees in Ellie an opportunity for redemption. For Pascal, that means Joel is a very layered character, but he pulls it off.
While Pascal has developed a devoted fan base thanks to roles inGame of ThronesandThe Mandalorian, Bella Ramsey was a bit of an unknown quantity. Their scene-stealing turn as Lyanna Mormont inGame of Throneswas certainly a highlight but forThe Last of Usthere is a lot of heavy lifting to be done. Luckily, Ramsey shows their incredible talent as Ellie, bringing to life a character who is vulnerable and tough but also precocious and innocent. Having grown up knowing only a life post-outbreak, Ellie hasn’t been beaten down in the same way Joel has; however, her experiences in the show do harden her. Ramsey’s performance captures all of that development in a way that feels natural and true to the character.
Pascal and Ramsey together is whenThe Last of Usis the strongest.The two actors have a chemistrythat is undeniable – an impressive feat considering the limited time a TV show offers. Perhaps more so than their individual characterizations, Joel and Ellie’s developing relationship is such a crucial part of the story that the series would have fallen apart without the right actors in the roles. Neither Pascal nor Ramsey were the obvious choice, but now it’s hard to imagine Joel and Ellie as anyone else.
Apart from finding the perfect Joel and Ellie, Mazin and Co. mix familiar with fresh faces in key roles. Some, like Merle Dandridge’s Marlene (who did the performance capture for the same character in the game) are almost carbon copies of their video game counterparts, while others preserve the spirit of the character but enrich them with more detail or layers. Gabriel Luna is perfect as Tommy - as is Anna Torv’s Tess. While Melanie Lynskey’s menacing Kathryn is a new character that puts a unique spin on the no-holds-barred militia leader. It’s best not to ruin all the surprises in the show, but what makesThe Last of Usstand apart from the game is the way it uses its omniscient viewpoint to explore these characters in greater depth.Bill (Nick Offerman), for example, is shown in a completely different light in the show and arguably the biggest deviation from the source material, but his role and storyline are a genuine highlight.
They may not all look like they do in the game, but rest assured the cast is precious with these essential characters. Much of the surprise of the show for fans will be seeing how Mazin, game co-director and writer Neil Druckmann (who also writes and directs on the series), and the rest of the creative team adapts these characters for a broader medium. Some may not be entirely sold on the tweaks made to a few characters, but personally, they made each more dynamic and engaging. Connection is a major theme ofThe Last of Usand connecting with each character is essential for preserving the emotional impact that this narrative can have. For my money, the choices made in the adaptation process are very successful.
Bringing the World of Last of Us to Life
Druckmann and Mazin have talked at lengthabout howThe Last of Usseries offers an opportunity to explore more of this world. The Ellie and Joel journey is still at its center but what is added to the show enriches the story as a whole. It makes the world feel real, explores new concepts in this post-pandemic world, and it uses matter-of-fact storytelling to theorize how something like this could really happen. The show can paint a hopeful picture of humanity, but it can also feel hauntingly real.
Fans ofThe Last of Usgame should come away from this series having been surprised in a few areas but having known the general framework. For them,The Last of Us’ success is ammunition for the continuing discussion that video games can make the jump to movies and TV. It takes the right property, the backing of the creators, and strong casting, but making sure those pieces align can lead to an exceptional product.
On the other end, those that are not familiar withThe Last of Usat all won’t be prepared for this gut punch of a story that is arguably more heartbreaking than the game. Because the series spends more time with its characters and fleshes them out, key moments are even more devastating. There are thrills and tension but it all feeds back to finding out whether these characters will survive. To the outsider,Last of Usmight be best known for its tearjerker of an opening, but the series will be talked about week after week for how emotionally moving all of it is.
The Last of Usis easily the best video game adaptation of any medium. Its strong cast, production design, and writing help bring the world of Naughty Dog’s game to life in stunning detail. It’s exciting, affecting, and compelling, all without treading familiar territory in the zombie outbreak genre. But this show doesn’t exist just to prove that video games can make for good TV; it’s a great story in its own right. Even those that have no familiarity with the IP should come away loving every minute of HBO’s latest series.
The Last of Uspremiers June 04, 2025 on HBO and HBO Max.
