TV Series Review: The Last of Us Episode 1 - A hauntingly brilliant first step

The Last of Us is not only one of the most anticipated video game adaptations in recent times, but it has also been crowned one of the most anticipated TV shows to release on HBO.

The game holds a very special place in many of our hearts being one of the most popular and best cinematic video games ever made. When the show was first announced, the fanbase was divided to say the least. Many fans were excited to see a silver screen adaptation of the masterpiece, letting even more people experience this masterfully crafted narrative. Others were worried it would potentially taint the game's legacy. Could the actors live up to their pixelated counterparts? Could the show recapture that uniquely harrowing world of The Last of Us? Yes, it most certainly has.

Spoilers for episode 1

The show takes a chance to expand on the opening narrative of the story beginning with a flashback to a 1968 talk show with an epidemiologist, expertly portrayed by John Hannah. He delivers a very factually accurate monologue about the dangers of fungus. He explains if the world were to get a little warmer (which scarily enough it is) there is a real danger of the zombie-fungal infection to bridge the species gap from infecting insects to humans.

Skipping ahead to 2003, we get an extended look at the first day of the cordyceps outbreak. We are introduced to the character of Sarah Miller (Nico Parker). Parallel to the game, we spend a significant amount of time following her around on her normal day-to-day activities, making her death at the end of the prologue debatably even more heart breaking than in the game.

It will come as no surprise to fans that the Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal is able to embody the grumpy and gruff nature of Joel with ease. His portrayal is a close match to Troy Baker’s original and at some points is almost uncanny. Pascal expertly conveys the image of a broken man hardened by the loss of his daughter and surviving this dystopian nightmare.

Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Merle Dandridge, and Gabriel Luna at a panel for The Last of Us at CCXP 2022. Picture source: Dany Stocchi

After the twenty-year time skip, it is very clear that the creative teams behind the show stayed very true to the source material. The overgrown plant life retaking the concrete remains of a fallen civilisation, and the washed-out moody tone of the world further convey the toll the outbreak has had.

As far as the supporting cast goes, Tess (Anna Torv) and the leader of the tenacious Fireflies, Marlene (Merle Dandridge, who reprises her role from the game) are excellent in bringing the characters to life while adding a fresh spin on them. Every character feels like they have lived through hell for the last twenty years.

Bella Ramsey does a fantastic job of bringing the character of Ellie to life, capturing Ellie’s wise-ass and snarky nature as well as a more hopeful side, which is surprising for a character born into the post-outbreak world.

Though we have only seen Pascal and Ramsey on screen together for a brief amount of time so far, it is clear that they are going to be an unstoppable duo who will give the original portrayals of Joel and Ellie a hell of a run for their money.

The episode culminates in an exciting sequence of events setting up the story and journey to take place throughout the show's 9-episode run. Through the acting, adaptation, and expansion of the original story, as well as the use of music straight from the game with its signature theme song, The Last of Us is shaping up to, not only be one of the best video game adaptations, but also one of HBO’s finest releases.

★★★★★