The Last of Us

The infectious HBO Max Original series, “The Last of Us”, spread onto the platform on January 15th this year. “The Last of Us” is a series adapted from a PlayStation, post- apocalyptic video game that was released in 2013. Ever since creators announced the adaptation in November 2020, fans could not be more excited. Fans and reviewers describe the show as the best video game inspired content ever created, and it feels just how it did when they played the game. The show undoubtedly recreates the heartwarming relationships between characters just as it did in the video game.

The story begins when a global epidemic destroys civilization, Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and many others have to learn to survive on their own. The virus originated from fungi that evolved from global warming and is able to survive in humans, using them as hosts. Hosts start out as runners (the first type of infected), they all evolve into clickers, bloaters, shamblers, rat kings, and then they die. Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey) is special, and Joel discovers she is immune to the virus. Joel takes a job from the Fireflies, a militia group against the U.S. military’s government, to bring Ellie to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Fireflies believe she could be the cure to the virus. As Joel and Ellie travel together (despite their bickering), they eventually begin to develop amity within each other.

Receiving a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the post-apocalyptic TV series appeals to people who are not fans of video games. The series successfully explores loss, love, action, and horror.

Pedro Pascal has starred in the show The Mandalorian and appeared in Game of Thrones with Bella Ramsey. Before the release of the show many fans were upset following the announcement of the cast for “The Last of Us”. Fans were specifically upset that Bella Ramsey was cast as Ellie. Many fans believed that Bella was not attractive enough to play Ellie, but Bella did not let that affect how well she believed she did in her performance. For good reason, Bella and Pedro’s connection on screen played a significant role in the show’s success.

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the creators of the show, recently confirmed there will be a season two. The television series will follow the same storyline as the video game and will take place five years after season one. Fans who are aware of the storyline from the video game are not only excited but also nervous for what is to come.