The Last Of Us series has just aired its season 1 finale on HBO and HBO Max. Here is how The Last Of Us series differs from the games.
How The Last Of Us Series Differs From The Games
The Last Of Us is an extremely popular video game franchise, so from the moment that the HBO series was announced, fans were excited — but cautiously optimistic as well. How can you take something so perfect and adapt it for the screen in a way that will do it justice? Is it possible to not completely ruin it for long time fans while still making it enticing and entertaining for newcomers?
Luckily the answer to that question is yes. So much of the HBO show features scenes that are ripped right out of the game and brought to life by a group of extremely talented actors. Still, there are some things that were changed. Let’s breakdown all the ways that The Last Of Us series differs from the games.
The Show Features The Outbreak
Probably the biggest difference is that the series touches on the fungi outbreak. Sure, it is mentioned in the game, but there are more than just discussions and speculations in the TV series — we actually see how it all starts in a flour factory, the perfect breeding ground of course.
The Last Of Us episode one even gave us a fun conversation between “experts” that hinted this could happen should the world warm up a few degrees. The scary thing about this all is it feels totally realistic, and like it could actually happen.
Frank Loves Bill
Frank and Bill’s story is probably the most changed in the entire television series. In the game, Bill finds Frank’s dead body. He had killed himself after becoming bit and left behind a note telling Bill that he never loved him at all.
In the show, however, the two fall in love and have a whole life together. It is very clear that Frank loves Bill. He does die by suicide (sort of) but it is not because he is infected, it is because he has another deadly disease. Although what exactly it is, is never specified.
Bill Dies
Another change in the show that revolves around Bill is that he is alive and well in the games. We never see him die. He is even mentioned, briefly, in Part II. As far as players know, he is still out there somewhere.
In the show, Bill cannot fathom living without Frank, the love of his life, so he kills himself alongside Frank when the time comes.
Sarah Is Biracial
This is a very small, minor change, and it does not effect the story in any way. However, it is wonderful to include representation in the show, and allow everyone the chance to get to see themselves as a part of the story.
Kathleen Is A New Character
Kathleen does not exist in the The Last Of Us video games, at least not really. Her group of people exist and Joel and Ellie do have a showdown with them. The creators clearly took this moment of the game and added a little bit more of a plot to it so that it would work better on the screen.
Not As Many Infected
In the game there are a lot of infected. They are around nearly every corner. However, there are only a handful found wandering the halls of the buildings that Joel and Ellie find themselves exploring.
Of course this makes a lot of sense because how repetitive would the series get if it is just infected fight after infected fight. Plus, they look pretty incredible and we are sure it costs a pretty penny to bring them to life.
Very Loyal To The Source Material
Other than these few things, most of them very minor, The Last Of Us series is very loyal to the source material, the video games. Right down to the set design, the lines characters use, and the story itself. The Last Of Us season one more or less plays out exactly like The Last Of Us Part 1.
Fans can expect the second season to follow suit with bringing Part II to life. We already know there is a Part III in the works, which hopefully means a Season 3 will be in the cards as well.
It is hard to adapt such a well loved franchise, but Naughty Dog and HBO put their heads together and came up with something incredible.
NEXT: The Last Of Us Season 1 Review
About The Last Of Us
THE LAST OF US story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The Last Of Us season 1 is streaming now on HBO Max.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.