The highly anticipated video game adaptation of  2023 called ‘The Last of Us’ was released on HBO Max. The post-apocalyptic drama television show was created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The HBO series stars Bella Ramsey as ‘Ellie Williams’, Pedro Pascal as ‘Joel Miller’, Nico Parker as ‘Sarah Miller’, Anna Torv as ‘Tess’, and Gabriel Luna as ‘Tommy Miller’. This TV show is based on the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog. The TV series takes place in 2023, twenty years after the start of the global pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection,  which turns a host into a zombie-like creature.

The “last of us” game was released in the summer of 2013 and was loved by many. The game has the best storylines, characters, and details. The gameplay is engaging and challenging. You’re able to play from both characters’ perspectives and feel like an actual survivor in the game. Ashley Johnson, Troy Baker, Annie Wersching, and Jeffrey Pierce had top-notch voice acting and delivery in the game.

Joel is a survivor, hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl, Ellie, out of the military quarantine zone across the United States to help find a cure for the infection. You can now stream all nine episodes on HBO max. The first episode follows Joel and his daughter Sarah at the start of the apocalypse in 2003. Episode one, with an hour and half run time, sets a great start for the series, and it’s a great portrayal of the video game from the start. The scenes from the film could be put side to side with video games and would barely be able to put them apart. Neil Drunkman and Craig Mazin created the perfect post-apocalyptic atmosphere from the start with sound effects, cinematography, editing, and music. John Paino did an astounding job with set design, and the work they put in to create a realistic portrayal of the post-apocalyptic universe was unforgettable.

The acting is phenomenal. I couldn’t think of a better casting for each of the characters throughout the season.  The dialogue and delivery of the actors were phenomenal. Bella Ramsey is a very talented young actress and a great Ellie for this series. Pedro Pascal also has an outstanding performance in the series and I believe that he embodies Joel perfectly. Gabriel Luna played Tommy Miller, Joel’s younger brother, and did a fantastic job. Gabriel Luna had many similarities with this character, from his body language to the way he spoke.

The makeup and special effects in the series were also great. They made the clickers look very realistic and horrifying. The clickers are the infected individuals, they have incredible hearing and the name comes from the clicking sounds they make to navigate. Clickers’ heads are covered by fungal growth but they have access to their mouths to bite and infect people.

You will grow to love the characters in this series and see them develop throughout the show. I love how the creators stayed true to the game and brought the little details to life. To conclude, “The Last of Us” is a must-watch for fans of the game and any newcomers. I would rate this series 9/10 stars for powerful storytelling, performance, and captivating atmosphere. It’s an unforgettable story about the lengths humans will go to for survival and how people learned to adapt to their current situation.