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The Last of Us is a 2023 show based on a video game of the same title from 2013 I'm quite fond of. As a fan of the game, I was nervous when news broke that this series was going into production. Video game adaptations rarely go well, so when you adapt a beloved game known for its story, people will be resistant.
But how does this adaptation fair? If the first episode is anything to judge the future by; very well. The show does a lot to join itself with the game but also separate itself. First, there are many sequences in this episode that are pulled straight from the game. The dialogue is near identical in moments and the framing/direction of some of the shots are harrowingly homogeneous with the cut-scenes presented in the first few minutes of the game. The understated but recognizable outfits of the characters are all on point, the costume department truly did their homework and gave these characters the costume that truly makes them feel like Joe (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). The story is also near interchangeable... but only near. The show adds in textures that are not present in the source material. Moments that are new add layers to characters which were merely implied before. They add these scenes, particularly with Sarah's character (Nico Parker), to not only expand the world but also build on the foundations of the original character. With the change of format comes a lot more theatrics. Some of the set design is brilliant and there are moments of practical effects which are truly magnificent, especially for a TV show budget. There is one piece in particular that is quite remarkable and almost Raimi-esque. There is very little wrong with this first episode and even though it is nearly feature length, it truly does breeze by without a chance of letting up. The 1 hour 20-minute runtime truly feels like a good, hearty, 40 minutes. The worst aspect of the episode is by far how they glide past certain important plot points, but it happens very rarely and is just a bit disappointing with everything else so perfectly executed. The casting is brilliant, the attention to detail in the sets and costumes is splendid, and the faithfulness whilst also attempting to adapt to the format with additions and reductions is breathtakingly superlative. It never treats the audience like they've played the game and tries to be widely accessible to all, not just fans of the source material. So before getting to a quick spoiler talk on the episode below, I'd give this an... 8 out of 10 **SPOILER WARNING** I mentioned above how the show chooses ways to separate itself from the source material to work with the new format. One of these choices is the opening segment with a talk show set in the 60s where it's explained how fungus can control a subject and may evolve to control humans given the right circumstances. This is a marvelous addition to the story. Not only does it instantly intrigue viewers, but it changes how the virus spawns compared to the game. There are other changes including Sarah's movements and whereabouts as the outbreak happens but one of the minor changes which makes total sense is Ellie's personality. It's slight but evident. Ellie in the game is much kinder and less an independent 'fuck everybody' kind of girl. Here she is very outspoken, aggressive, and well, everything you'd expect from a girl raised in the apocalypse. A conscious effort is made in the beginning to play most of the first half of the episode from Sarah's perspective, almost setting her up as the protagonist of the show. So, if you were unfamiliar with the source material and hadn't seen much of the promotional material, you could be tricked into thinking so. This is genius because that makes her death scene even more impactful when it arrives.
However, beyond all the scuffs and marks around some of the details, the show runs pretty smooth and as far as a quality adaptation goes, this first episode could do a whole lot worse. If you're a fan of the game, I'd suggest giving this episode a chance and if you're a fan of great apocalyptic stories, give this a chance. I'm thoroughly anticipating the next episode!
AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical).
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