I want to get this off my chest right away. I am not a video gamer. I have never played THE LAST OF US before, nor have I ever really heard of it. I know…I know. It is one of the best horror games out there, but I am not a horror fan, as my son, Aaron, and colleague, Ricky, can agree. Having said all this, THE LAST OF US is one of the best, most exciting series on television today.
The fifth episode, ENDURE AND SURVIVE, was amazing. Heartfelt and heart-wrenching. The creators and writers packed so many spectacular moments in less than an hour. There was tension, fear, bits of pure innocence, childlike laughter, death, and a battle scene within a cul-de-sac of total gore and destruction. The attention to minute, specific details was mind-boggling. My heart rate never calmed down. It was sheer brilliance and spectacular production.
Wait that is not all. Underneath this death-defying night of lawlessness and evil, there was also the dazzling intensity of love. A love of family. A love of brotherhood. And with it goes all the messiness of being responsible and staying safe. Feeling love for another human in this upside world is overwhelming and can lead to disastrous results. But what is humanity’s choice? Should these characters be gifted this feeling, and at what cost to their own well-being in the end? Big rhetorical questions in so little time. There is a long road ahead, I fear.
THE LAST OF US is must-see tv. You don’t have to be a game player to recognize greatness when you witness it. “I’m sorry” I wasn’t a part of this world sooner. It is worth every minute of your time and is available to stream on HBO MAX.
