Hello, My Movievaures! I hope you had a great week. I’m back to write about one of the most expected TV shows of the year: The Last of Us. Gamers and non-gamers were expecting this adaptation with some fear of disappointment. We all have had bad experiences with video game adaptations and despite that, we all hope for something better. Have we finally found it? Well, before answering that, let’s get to the non-spoilers part:

In a post-apocalyptic world caused by a mass fungal infection, Joel (Pedro Pascal) a smuggler is forced to escort a young teenager across the United States. Hiding a secret that could change the world, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) will need to trust this man with her life and a complicated relationship will grow, between them, as they face the dangers of the infected and the horrors of a collapsed Human society.

I watched this show with someone who played the first game, and I haven’t, so it was nice to have both experiences. And to be honest, we were both happy with the result. I’ve read everywhere that it was very faithful to the game and you could see that it was inspired by a game: the setting, the camera angles, and of course the storyline. I bet some people criticized the lack of “originality” as the show’s creators recreated most of the game. But, I believe most people were completely satisfied by this reliability.

By saying this, I’m not forgetting some of the liberties the creators took which in my opinion were great. Episode 3 for instance, was a marvelous ad, without changing the core of the plot but adding so much to the emotional strength of the show. The flashback was also quite interesting and helped the viewers understand the origins and expansion of the pandemic.

I was quite surprised not to see more stressful scenes with the infected, especially because I had in mind that there were quite a few in the game, and also because it is a post-apocalyptic story. However, even if I think they could add maybe one or two additional sequences, mainly in the tunnels, I also don’t regret that choice too much, because the focus here is Joel and Ellie’s relationship. It would have been a trap to fall into the typical stereotype of the common Zombie/infected show to center too much on them.

It goes without saying that Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s duo works perfectly. The casting director deserves a gold medal in every way. I discussed this a lot with my partner and friends that played the game and even though there are of course some differences, especially in the appearance, the whole vibe from each character was kept. From a non-gamer point of view, every character was great, not only in terms of casting, but also in their backstory, development, and interpretation.

In short, The Last of Us is a complete success. For those who have never played the game, you’ll be astonished by a great story and shocked by the ending. For those who played it, I bet you’ll be surprised by how accurate the show is to the game and you’ll relieve all the tension that characterized the gaming experience. It is obvious that there will be a second season, and I’m excited about it, but this first one works well on its own, which is a game changer from what we are getting used to now in the industry.

This is all for today My Movievaures! Let me know in the comments down below your thoughts on the show and the game. I think I’ll give the game a try now! In the meantime, follow me on Instagram (@the_movievaures) for more updates and quick reactions to the news. I’ll see you next week for more!