The Last of Us

Video game adaptations tend to miss the mark when translating the source material to the big screen. It’s fitting, then, that the adaptation of one of the most cherished video games of the past decade not only captures the heart of what made the world and characters so enthralling, but showrunners Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and game director Neil Druckman have succeeded in expanding on the original story in substantial ways. By allowing for further exploration of familiar plot points and themes, alongside taking those already acquainted with the source material on interesting new diversions, The Last Of Us isn’t just fantastic television, it’s a phenomenal adaptation.

After an extended and heart-wrenching prologue, the show picks up 20 years later in a world that’s been ravaged by a parasitic virus which turns people into violent monsters. Joel (Pedro Pascal) has made a new life for himself as a smuggler after his life was ripped apart at the start of the outbreak. But everything is about to change for him once again when he’s tasked with escorting 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the country and into the hands of a rebellion faction. The teenager is immune to the virus, and therefore may hold the answers to a cure.

Like the game, what follows is an intimate and thoughtful tale of violence, love and loss, as the pair make their way across beautiful and bleak landscapes containing dangers of both the monster and human variety. At the heart of the story lies the burgeoning relationship between the two leads: Pascal’s gruff demeanour and dry wit bounce wonderfully off Ramsey’s fiery teenage temperament. There’s instant chemistry between both actors, and watching their onscreen back-and-forth is a constant delight.

However, the world of The Last Of Us was never a pleasant one. Violence lurks around every corner, be it the grizzly reality that comes with living in a post-apocalyptic society or the omnipresent threat of encountering the infected, which are effectively disgusting in their design. Sound design plays a key factor in creating the show’s atmosphere: it’s when the silence of the deserted environments is broken by distant screams or the tell-tale clicking of the infected that the tension begins to climb.

The Last Of Us takes what made the source material special and expands upon it greatly. In short: it’s terrific.

Andrew Murray

The Last of Us airs on Sky Atlantic and is available to stream on NOW TV in the UK on 16^th January 2023.

Watch the trailer for The Last of Us here: