The Last Of Us season 1 is extremely loyal to the source material, but not a fault. Only making changes when it is necessary for the to screen adaptation.
The Last Of Us Season 1 Review
The Last Of Us season 1 does a great job of following the complete story of Part 1 of the video game. Longtime fans will be thrilled with how the series turned out as it is extremely loyal to the source material, while newcomers will be calling this the next The Walking Dead. The season itself is really close to perfect, however it does have a couple of issues. Still, with a stellar cast, a high stakes feel, and some truly stunning visuals, The Last Of Us fans will be over the moon with this one.
The Last Of Us season 1 follows Joel and Ellie on their journey through a post apocalyptic world. Ellie is a young girl who just so happens to be hope for all of humanity and Joel is tasked with bringing her to the people that can deliver that hope. In a world where a fungus has grown and adapted to take over humans, controlling them to kill one another and allow the fungi to spread and survive, more dangers arise. Specifically the people that have become raiders, killers, or worse.
Very True To The Source Material
There are many video game adaptations to the screen, whether it be television shows or movies, and they don’t always turn out in the way fans want them to. The Last Of Us season 1 does a wonderful job of delivering the same story, with the same plot points and major beats, while also adapting a few things that need to be altered in order to tell a better story.
There are not a lot of changes, but there are some. They are never to main characters and they always, always, always enhance the overall story. In an effort to remain spoiler free we will not get into details, but we will say that viewers will likely be all in on what is different.
The set design, the way the infected look and move, it all feels exactly like the games. That is what makes this series so special. It is hard to pull off an adaptation of something that is so beloved, but the team behind The Last Of Us has done it.
Because it is so incredibly similar to the gameplay, there are times where those who know the games inside and out might find the pacing to be a bit slow. This is because it really does play out like the game, which could cause a repetitive feel.
Incredible Cast
The Last Of Us season 1 is as good as it is because of the phenomenal cast. Pedro Pascal perfectly embodies Joel, and Bella Ramsey is the right choice for Ellie. They both deliver their lines exactly like their characters do in the games, and their bond by the end of the season is easily felt through the screen. They have great chemistry, as well.
The lines between the game characters and the series characters blur and blend so well that by the end of the season, those who played the game will feel like they were just watching the cut scenes. These characters, and the story, come to life in a way that was never expected.
Even the new characters are woven into the story in a way that just makes sense. Those characters that have changed from the games, it is clear the actors fully embraced that and made them fit into the overall plot as well. It is rare a show has so many stellar performances, but this one does. With not one standing out as subpar.
Feels Like High Stakes
The Last Of Us is an extremely popular video game series, so those that have played know it inside and out. There is a massive fanbase, which can be detrimental to a show like this. The Last Of Us is set in a post apocalyptic world, so there should be high stakes. However, if viewers know what the ending is, can the stakes ever feel high? Will it ever seem like characters that we know survive are in actual peril? The answer is yes.
This show does such a great job of ensuring that the intense and suspenseful moments are just that. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as they hold their breath hoping their favorite character survives, or their least favorite dies.
Smart Pacing
The layout of The Last Of Us season 1 is brilliant. The creators made the smart decision to have each episode tackle a key point in the games, rather than dragging the series out. This choice makes the season move a lot quicker than expected, with the finale covering the plot points of the ending of The Last Of Us Part I video game.
It might seem shocking at first, especially with something so wildly popular. But when you think about it, it is best to do it right, rather than try to make it last longer than it needs to.
The episodes flow well. In the game, a lot of time is spent sneaking around and fighting infected. This might look cool in the series, but it would certainly drag things down, and would make that rare appearance of an infected not nearly as exciting.
Great Visuals…But Not Enough Infected
Which brings us to the nitpick we have of the show. The infected look amazing. They feel like the video game come to life and they are straight up terrifying at times. However, there are barely any. We get some at the beginning, and we even get the different versions — clickers, bloaters, etc. However, they come few and far between, especially in the later episodes.
Luckily there are some moments with hordes that become — well, straight up crazy if we are being honest. The point of this series, and the game, is that the people are the real scary part about this world. Forcing the infected to take a backseat allows this message to truly come across. It also gives us the time with Joel and Ellie that we need in order to really care about them, and their relationship, so we can let it slide.
They do look really freaking cool though, so would have loved to see more.
Overall Thoughts
The Last Of Us season 1 is going to have fans over the moon with how it turned out. While there are some slight changes, nothing affects the overall story that is being told. It is easy to fall in love with these characters, as well as find some that you will love to hate. The episodes range from 43 minutes long to 82 minutes, giving each one the time it needs to tell that plot point. The cast is amazing and the visuals are incredible.
We get a little bit more of the background than we do in the game, which is much appreciated. The creators and writers were sure to only change things that actually gave us a better story, and a good reason to make them different. Still, there are many set pieces and exchanges that are literally ripped right from the game.
The second season will focus heavily on Part II of the video game, and with a third game in production, we can keep our fingers crossed for a season 3 to the series as well. Viewers will be waiting on the edge of their seats to see what is next for Joel and Ellie.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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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 starts streaming January 15th on HBO Max.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.