Early thoughts on The Last of Us (HBO)
It’s only been three episodes but I have to throw my opinion into the ring of worthless opinions on The Last of Us (HBO TV). I’ve played the video games and was looking forward to this show for a long time. I am not disappointed! However, I’ve seen a variety of opinions in the wild that have surprised me.
For the most part, the reviews have been positive with many writers remarking that this is how a video game should be made into a show. Of course, those reviewers likely had early access to the entire series. So far, there are some notable changes in the show but I have fully supported what I’ve seen. The story is compelling and interesting, absolutely capturing my attention through three episodes.
Some of the negative reviews I have seen remarked that this is just another “apocalyptic zombie show” in a genre that should have burned out by now. I can understand that people who have watched “The Walking Dead” and it’s spinoffs have grown tired of the same stories playing out in a world full of zombies. I had! However, I feel like The Last of Us offers something a little different.
This story follows a couple of main characters as they venture through the apocalypse, on a mission that we don’t fully understand yet (as of episode 3). Other characters come and go, and their stories are important to framing the world this takes place in, but this will go on a new path. We have the usual antagonists: the infected, the lawless, and the government (FEDRA) and they all seem to be on a collision course with our main characters.
The story however continues to focus on Joel and Ellie, two very different people stuck together in a mission that seems to keep growing longer and further away. They seem like two people that couldn’t possibly get along for long, Joel living in the pain of his past life, and Ellie who is just beginning a life of adventure in a maddingly dangerous world. This is the story to watch. Things take on so many twists and turns that shape the relationship between thest two that you won’t believe how it ends. If you’ve played the video games, you may have a good idea. However, they way the show has been tweaked for TV may throw us all some great surprises!