Typically, the news that a video game is receiving a movie or television adaptation is met, by video game fans, with a groan and a resigned “well, I guess I’ll see it anyway.” This is because, nine times out of ten, that adaptation is awful. And it’s hard to fault a screenwriter when one of these adaptations is bad, because inherently, video games are a medium so far removed from other types of media that it’s difficult to capture the same feeling playing a video game gives you when you aren’t playing it. Books work well for adaptation because in both novel and movie, you’re a spectator. Video games don’t work well, because the typical video game story has been structured with the idea that you’re not passive in its movement.
All this to say that I was skeptical when it was announced that HBO was putting together a TV show adaptation of video game developer Naughty Dog’s smash-hit “The Last of Us”, a game that received countless praise for its gorgeous storytelling and gameplay, a sequel, and not one, but two remasters since its launch back in 2013. If there was a game that could ever see a faithful jump to the silver screen, “The Last of Us” was a worthy contender, but I just wasn’t sure how it would go.
As of this review, seven of the nine episodes for the show’s first season have been released, and I’m happy to report that, so far, the show has managed to keep me engaged. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star as main characters Joel and Ellie, two survivors of a fungus-based zombie apocalypse that has left the world in ruin. If that sounds like a trope you’re tired of, you’re not alone, but “The Last of Us” keeps its focus not on action, but instead on characters, creating a (well-casted) cast that pushes the story forward rather than the other way around. Of course, that alone might sound played-out, but “The Last of Us’s” strong suit is simply in its writing, which, while not always faithful to the source material, understands what makes for good, thoughtful television.
This isn’t to say that it’s a perfect show. Though it’s been a while since I’ve played it, I remember the video game’s pacing being much stronger than the show’s, which I think is due in part to the video game’s limited perspective; as you spend the game looking only through the eyes of Joel or Ellie, the game manages to put you through its action and its lulls with almost perfect precision, something that the show can struggle with at times. While episodes three and seven are interesting looks into the strong gallery of side characters that line “The Last of Us,” and it’s clear a lot of time and thought went into fleshing them out, their inclusion can at times destroy the direction of the main story, breaking the tension and forcing the scenes to build up all over again.
That being said, when compared to its adaptation contemporaries, “The Last of Us” is in a league of its own, able to identify as both a retelling of a classic for fans of the game, as well as a gateway for those just looking for something fun to watch. “The Last of Us” is available on HBO Max, and new episodes premiere Sundays at 9p.m.
