Creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have partnered to make a labor of love that we all thought would be overhyped. Yet, through some miracle, they’ve created one of the best TV shows of 2023 and the best video game adaptation of all time. And yes, I’m calling it after watching only one episode – it’s that good.
Before I delve into the premiere episode of THE LAST OF US, I want to let readers know that I’ve played both games and the DLC. THE LAST OF US series is on my shortlist of top ten video games. It takes UNCHARTED gameplay, RESIDENT EVIL horror, and creates an emotional story that is jam-packed with empathy. If that wasn’t enough, it also twists your emotions throughout in a way that I haven’t experienced since the OG BIOSHOCK. If you aren’t a gamer, that’s okay. But you owe it to yourself to watch a walkthrough of the game on YouTube.
Back to the TV adaptation – somehow, the show captures everything that made the game great while adding another layer to the story. Despite not looking “36,” it’s good to see Pedro Pascal’s face not covered with the Mandalorian armor. He is Joe and embodies him the moment he appears. And Bella Ramsey slays it as Ellie. She’s tough, yet she is still a fourteen-year-old girl in a dangerous apocalyptic world. Pascal and Ramsey don’t have much screen time together in E1, but that’s okay. As a gamer, we know what’s to come of their bittersweet relationship, and I can’t wait to see how each gifted actor pulls it off.
Look no further than THE LAST OF US to fill the void that THE WHITE LOTUS and GAME OF THRONES left behind on HBO. This is the definition of “must-see TV.”
It’s available on HBO.
