On Jan. 15, HBO Max premiered the first of what will be nine episodes of the new original, “The Last of Us.” The show stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the show is based off a video game made by Naughty Dog, which came out in 2013.
The show explores a world being taken over by a zombie apocalypse, caused by a mutated strain of a fungus. It portrays the journey of characters Joel and Ellie after Joel is instructed to bring Ellie, who is immune to the fungus, to safety while he is on the search for his brother, Tommy.
With the apocalypse starting in 2003, it fast forwards two decades to the year 2023 in which viewers see a torn-up world, where everyone is either dead, infected by the fungus, or struggling to stay alive, and viewers can’t get enough of it.
“I would have to say this is currently my favorite show to watch right now,” said sophomore Carolyn Doherty.
The series has received a lot of popularity with over 20 million viewers just through its first few episodes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“I look forward to every Sunday night to watch the newest episode,” said Doherty. “It’s one of those shows that keeps you on your toes and excited to see what comes next.”
“The Last of Us” has an overall rating of four and a half stars according to Google. Viewers only have good things to say about the show, with little to no bad reviews.
“The show does a really good job depicting the video game it is based off of,” said Doherty. “I really have nothing to criticize about it.”
Source: Instagram, @thelastofus
The official announcement for the HBO Max original, based off the popular video game of the same name.
Source: Instagram, @thelastofus
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay star as Joel and Ellie in 2023’s new hit show, “The Last of Us.”
Sophomore Matthew Kling also had some things to say about the show, “I wasn’t expecting the show to be so similar to the video game, and the fact that it is made it a lot more enjoyable to watch.”
Kling isn’t the only person who feels this way, as many online reviews agree.
The show is a deconstruction of the video game, and mostly leans on character and storytelling, unlike the game itself which is mostly action.
“Having played the game and watched the show, I can easily say that I feel more of a connection to the characters watching the show than I would playing the video game,” said Kling.
With the genres of “The Last of Us” being apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction and drama, the show is recommended to viewers who enjoy things involving a drama-full storyline and a gory addition to it.
“What I like the most about this show is how it has an equal part of everything, it can make you laugh, cry, scream, it’s the best of every world,” said Doherty.
It isn’t the gore that catches the eye of viewers, but the connection that people feel to the characters that makes it so entertaining to watch.
“Normally I wouldn’t watch shows like this, since I get scared really easily, but this show catches my attention like no other,” said Doherty.
Doherty said, “I would recommend this show to really anyone, it has all amazing qualities and the suspension each week of waiting to see what happens will make a person want to watch it even more.”
