User reviews

When you try to depict a game as beloved (and hated) as The Last of Us, you're in for a challenge. In a world where everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinion, it's hard to deliver. However, for me, this show delivered on every level. It's thrilling, emotional, and offers compact storytelling with enough nods to the game while standing completely on its own.

The most important aspect is the chemistry between the two main characters, and for me, this hit the mark perfectly. The supporting characters are great as well, and even the smallest details, like the spoken dialogue, have been given careful thought and attention. There's no moment where you think, "Hmm, maybe not."

I've watched the episodes three times now, and with each viewing, I notice more details, especially in the dialogue. This is why I love watching television that shows true craftsmanship and passion in every aspect of the production!

I don't even know where to begin in describing how much I loved this show. I've played The Last of Us video games a few times so I'm familiar with the story and even though the show doesn't exactly stick to the same script as the game I couldn't care less. As long as a show is good, I don't care that's it's not exactly like a book or video game or whatever. I don't get why anyone would. It's very hard to adapt a book or game into a tv show or movie. They have to change things up that don't translate well or don't have the time to get as detailed as a book or game. My only complaint is that we have to wait 2 years between seasons. I want season 2 now!

I continued watching beyond my wife giving up 20 minutes in and, boy, am I glad that I did!

This is and excellent series, blessed with 2 leading actors who make us believe in their relationship and in the difficulties that they face. You care about them and so you are gripped by their story.

But the series takes its time to give us many other characters. Every one of them is "real", even those whose role is to stand in the way of our heroes.

Also, the production standards are very high. This is especially noticeable when blighted urban landscapes fill the screen.

Now - I am not a fan of zombie movies, but that element of the story pales into insignificance amidst so much excellence.

Good show. THE LAST OF US was indeed a great series. After hearing many raves and good things from people that I know, I finally decided to give it a chance. Like the game, it is definitely worth your time. Well made, compelling and great characters with real chemistry made this series a fun watch, a slower build to some pretty intense scenes. While it did have periods of time that it moved more slowly, it certainly never felt boring. Pedro Pascal as Joe Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams made this a great show, and the chemistry they develop feels natural and heart warming, Very Good show.

**The Last of Us** (2023), based on the acclaimed video game, is a post-apocalyptic drama series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. Set in a world ravaged by a fungal infection that turns humans into violent creatures, the story follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young girl immune to the infection. Their journey across a devastated America explores themes of survival, loss, and the bonds that form under the harshest conditions.

The series excels in its emotional depth, focusing heavily on the complex relationship between Joel and Ellie. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey deliver powerful performances, bringing nuance and vulnerability to their characters. Their chemistry forms the emotional core of the show, making it more than just a survival story.

Visually, the series captures the desolate beauty of a post-apocalyptic world, with haunting landscapes and unsettling scenes of infected creatures. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for moments of reflection and character development, but the show also features intense, gripping action scenes that stay true to the spirit of the game.

**Rating: 9/10** - *The Last of Us* stands out as a gripping, character-driven series that balances emotional storytelling with thrilling post-apocalyptic action. It's a faithful adaptation that elevates the source material with powerful performances and cinematic visuals.

Good show. THE LAST OF US was indeed a great series. After hearing many raves and good things from people that I know, I finally decided to give it a chance. Like the game, it is definitely worth your time. Well made, compelling and great characters with real chemistry made this series a fun watch, a slower build to some pretty intense scenes. While it did have periods of time that it moved more slowly, it certainly never felt boring. Pedro Pascal as Joe Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams made this a great show, and the chemistry they develop feels natural and heart warming.

I give the entire series a solid 7.

"You come at the king, you best not miss", a line from HBO's "The Wire" was what's repeating in my head while I watched this.

As a TV show in itself, It's not exactly bad. It's probably quite a bit better than usual gruel we get from streaming platforms.

But it went after a bar that's way too high for it. It follows the story of the game pretty closely, even re-enacting memorable scenes down to camera angles, such as when protagonists first saw the overtaken city and such. It changes story here and there, but often it works quite well. I don't mind Sarah being... different. I don't mind re-imagining how things went here or there. I actually quite like little flashbacks/whatever scenes about stuff that builds the story or explains the lore, but wasn't in the game. It's all good.

As long as the core premise holds. But it doesn't. I do buy Pedro Pascal, he looks like Joel, pretty much walks and talks like Joel, and feels right. But Bella Ramsey can't deliver Ellie. And it's not even her fault. Sure, she looks quite... off... and doesn't really come off or feel like a 14-year old (because she's not), but main problem is the aggressive, clueless script she's given.

Story of "Last of Us", the game that won uncountable awards, was about a strong man coping with extreme loss, and a scared girl trying to get close to him, while slowly opening up and showing she's pretty capable on her own.

Story of "Last of US", the HBO show, I'm not sure. Ellie in this one isn't a scared, suspicious, lonely girl trying to survive. Her very first scenes are full of cursing and gritting of teeth, she's a total badass with zero explanation to this, and goes more aggressive by every episode. The main theme just never comes through. Rather than someone Joel grows to love and care for as his own child, I keep wondering when he's going to dump her in the wilderness.

Or to put it simply, they tried to add girl power where none was needed (because game had more than enough), and totally overdid it, killing the main premise.

Which makes this entire show waste of time, because highly superior medium, telling that story times better, already exists.

Play the game. Skip this show.

Hmm yea it is such a great series. In fact this one was the second best series I've watched this year. First takes Jeffery Dahmer. Hmm yea it has good emotions in it, it was a combo with both bonds and monster 👾. And the way the actors acted was also good. This series man it stays in head for some daysss. The way their bond stays mann it's soo perfect series. I am waiting for the next season to come, it's probably gonna come on 2025 i guess. Yeah thts all it's a good one, you can watch it. It hits more if you are a teenager. One on one apocalypse typa series. At end you would love it and hate it at the same time. GO GIVE IT A WATCH IF YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR A WEEKEND CHILL TIME.

I have never played the game and watched the hbo series because I enjoy the acting of pedro pascal so was a bit curious with low expectations

The first few episodes hooked me and the fungi concept was a unique idea that was secondary to the realism of life in zombie land and the strange characters but the best part is the writing and the acting.

I'm not a big fan of Bella Ramsey but she really has a manner or grit that was borderline annoying and cool that was a perfect contrast to pedro pascal mellow Clint Eastwood demeanor.

I only wish there was more than 8 episodes yet it ended on a high note and I thought the ending was appropriate and consistent with the characters way of life and thinking so kudos to the writers for staying consistent and making a stellar series.

Looking forward to next season

9 stars.

This series cleared the way for more great storytelling by adapting videogame-storys.

There's been a little history with videogame to movie adaptations. This history is mainly driven by moneyhungry producers who just wanted to earn money by using names of beloved videogames like Mortal Combat, Far Cry & more. While the new Halo-series shows this is still a thing, The last of us brings some fresh air into the business. Not only by truly sticking to the source material, but also by using the starpower of Pedro Pascal ( I mean, this man owns the Daddy-Meme now.)

Altough i love the game, and maybe i'm nitpicking here, i expected a little more from the series. This was ( at most parts ) a 1 on 1 adaptation. And i guess thats what most of the fans wanted, but for me this could've been a great opportunity to give the whole story even more depth. This whole series felt a little rushed in some way ( making sense, if you think about it: If you cut the gameplay out of the whole experience, of course it feels kinda short.)

Nevertheless, the story is still a great one, and i can't wait for the next season ( Hoping they add some new storyparts here and there).

This is my review on The Last Of Us; First of all, I love the show. It gets confusing at first if you're coming from a game, but cast is amazing.

Pedro Pascal is the best Joel for the show. Also, acting of Bella Ramsey stunned me, she went from badass to soft like clicks.

Cast and crew for me is top tier. Plot is amazing. Whole setup and CGI is amazing.

I haven't completed the show yet, I'm 50% in (watch full 4 and half 5th episode) but so far the show is doing a great job.

As i said it gets confusing if you're coming from a game, but so far this is by far the best show ever coming off of a game.

Honestly, I was not planning on watching this series because I'm stubborn and thought that nothing could get even close to what the game is because The Last of Us is certainly one of the most memorable games I have ever played, and it's so well done that I thought the series could ruin that.

Truth is I was wrong. They took the original plot but portrayed it in a way that it seemed like an original one and it felt really refreshing. As I supposed, it's not at the level of the game but it's pretty damn close, the only reason I gave 9 and not 10 stars is because I feel like the answers to every question were given on a silver platter and that took away a bit of the mystery part of discovering what is going on as you go on with the story.

Makeup, scenography and photography team, I kneel before you. They made an exceptional job and I think it just couldn't be better. The scenery is as flawless as in the game, and the FX work is sublime. I watched a few backstage content clips and all the effort that was put into this project was definitely worth it and appreciated.

Acting is also something that deeply influenced the score. I was a bit concerned because of the casting but they just shut my mouth completely because it was a match made in heaven. I was pretty excited to see Pedro Pascal because I'm also Chilean, but his acting is just so on point that it made me difficult not to empathize with him. Joel's character development has always been one of my favourites and he just made an incredible job!

Ellie left me speechless as well. Bella Ramsey is an absolute genius and I couldn't believe she is British! I was reluctant at first because I felt that the physical resemblance was a big deal, but I genuinely forgot about it like two minutes in because she did an impeccable job.

In conclusion, I got humbled so bad I cringed at myself. Also, I really loved that Merle Dandridge got to play Marlene again! I would definitely recommend this series to anyone, including people who are familiar with the game and people who are not.

First of all, I would like to say that I have never played the games and therefore cannot make any comparisons.

But that was not a problem at all. You can understand the series completely even if you have not played the games.

The first thing that caught my eye were the incredibly beautiful and detailed sets. Even though you can clearly see here and there that some things were done with a the computer, that does not take away from the atmosphere of the series at all.

The other thing that struck me as very positive was how natural the relationships and dialogues felt.

The relationship between Elli and Joel in particular felt more real than I have rarely seen in a series.

The acting was also good. I already knew Pedro Pascal and therefore expected him to do well, which he did without question.

I had not heard of Bella Ramsey before, so I did not know what to expect, but her performance really blew me away. She did her role damn well and I am convinced that she has a successful future in acting ahead of her.

I actually understand why some people love the show and some people don't like it. For me...I thought The Last of Us was one of the best new shows of the year. I never played the game so I wasn't really sure what to expect going in. I then saw the trailer and read all the great reviews so my expectations rose even more. Well, it not only met those expectations but surpassed them in every way. Pedro Pascal has to be one of the most underrated actors on the planet. He's terrific in everything he's ever done and this is no different. He carries the show again. The rest of the cast is great as well, Bella Ramsey, who play the girl Ellie, has a bright future ahead of her. I hope they make of bunch of seasons (as long as the quality stays the same).

I'm sorry to say, but this show isn't good. I held off on judgement until I finished the first season, but now I can personally say that this show is only popular because of the legacy of the game and because of Pedro Pascal's popularity. The story is completely rudderless, most of the episodes don't drive the story or progress the main characters at all. The heavily praised third episode with gay Ron Swanson isn't applicable to the rest of the story at all and it's the longest episode! Well-made or not, it contributes nothing to the overarching story of the show and has zero repercussions for our protagonists. The character development, chemistry, and dialogue is extremely clunky; the story is all over the place, with no apparent direction; and overall, most of the episodes are boring. It feels like a live-action remake of all of the cut-scenes in the game, but without the engaging gameplay that makes the cutscenes in the game make sense.

If the game hadn't preceded this show and we weren't so depraved for good cinema and TV, this show never would have received the attention it has. It's entertaining enough to watch, but giving it anymore than an average review is being too generous.

***" Update after watching the full series ****

Well I think overall Id give this a 7 or 8, the opening episode was definitely a 9 the rest of the show would be getting either 7 or 8s depending on how appealing they were to me.

Everything was well made, well acted, well shot etc. The brutality of it all was maintained throughout. I watched some of the game footage on you tube and there is a lot here that is identical to the game so thats a plus for fans of the game plus it works for a TV show so kudos to the game makers.

The story and overlying themes are very simple and relate to parenting and how we protect our children or the young.

It could have had more Cordyceps and more action in places but this was more of a drama surrounding the struggles of a broken world.

Overall ill give it an 8 out of 10 a very good Tv Show that stays loyal to its source and was very well produced.

**** Update *******

Ill start by saying I've never played the games, I've no idea how true to the source it is.

The first episode was very impressive, they told hold back here and emotionally you are involved quite early on.

The prologue was informative but understated, The opening was brilliant and as good as anything you would see in a movie.

The middle section is good and paced well to provide enough information going forward as to the objective the players and whats happened to the world outside.

The episode ends at the start of an adventure.... I hope this quality remains throughout the show so the adventure is as good as the opening ( a hard act to follow ).

Ive enjoyed the characters so far, not all likeable but our lead Pedro Pascal is familiar and trustworthy and does a good job. Bella Ramsey of Game of Thrones fame plays the female lead, I really hated her in Game of Thrones, her acting is a bit less wooden here so I hope I don't end up hating her in this. So far she has been fine.

Its only 1 episode but its probably a 9 out of 10. I would be shocked if they can keep up this sort of standard and narrative throughout the series. Having said that there is plenty of scope for some interesting scenes. Im not a big fan of Zombie films or shows but can find them entertaining. ( I found Black Summer S2 brilliant )

I hope this doesn't turn out to be just another zombie show.

9/10 ( Ep1)

"The Last of Us" is not just a show; it's an emotional rollercoaster that grips you from the very first frame and never lets go. Set in a world ravaged by a mysterious infection, this series delves deep into the human condition, exploring themes of loss, hope, and resilience.

Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie deliver performances that are nothing short of extraordinary. Their chemistry is palpable, bringing to life the complex relationship that is the heart of this story. Pascal's portrayal of Joel's hardened exterior, slowly melting away to reveal a deeply scarred yet fiercely protective father figure, is nothing less than mesmerizing. Meanwhile, Ramsey's Ellie is a force of nature-courageous, vulnerable, and utterly compelling.

Visually, "The Last of Us" is a feast for the eyes. The post-apocalyptic landscapes are rendered with stunning detail, creating a world that is both eerily beautiful and terrifyingly desolate. The cinematography captures every nuance of this shattered world, from the haunting ruins of once-bustling cities to the fragile remnants of human civilization.

The writing is sharp and poignant, faithfully adapting the beloved video game while weaving in new elements that enrich the narrative. The dialogue is laden with emotion, every word carrying weight and meaning. The series doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of its story, offering a raw and unflinching look at the lengths people will go to survive.

But what truly sets "The Last of Us" apart is its ability to make you care deeply for its characters. As you follow Joel and Ellie on their perilous journey, you become invested in their struggles, their triumphs, and their heartbreaks. The show masterfully balances intense action with quiet, reflective moments, creating a narrative that is as thrilling as it is deeply moving.

The hauntingly beautiful score by Gustavo Santaolalla adds another layer of depth to the series, enhancing the emotional impact of every scene. Each note lingers, echoing the show's themes of loss and longing.

In a sea of post-apocalyptic tales, "The Last of Us" stands out as a truly exceptional piece of storytelling. It's a testament to the power of video game adaptations when done right-respecting the source material while forging its own path. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the game or new to this world, "The Last of Us" is an unforgettable journey that will leave you breathless, heartbroken, and yearning for more.

Just going off of season 1, this is easily one of the best TV series of all time. On top of that, I'd say there's one episode (you will know it when you watch it) that is like in the top 5 hours of television ever. This show is just outstanding in every respect... writing, acting, directing, cinematography, art/set design, you name it. I wasnt sure whether to rate it 9 or 10, since I think there's always room for improvement. Then again, I really cant think of how it could be better and 9.5 isnt an option, so I had to give TLoU a 10. I'd put this up there with Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones before the last few seasons.

The Last of Us delivers an amazing adaptation of the beloved video game, earning it a solid 8 out of 10. The show immerses viewers in a post-apocalyptic world filled with danger, heartbreak, and the unbreakable human spirit. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey shine as Joel and Ellie, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. Their chemistry anchors the series, making every moment between them feel genuine and impactful.

Episode 3, "Long, Long Time," stands out as a near-perfect piece of television. It masterfully tells a poignant love story amid the chaos, offering a beautiful, self-contained narrative that resonates deeply. This episode alone is worth the praise the show has received, blending emotional weight with flawless storytelling.

On the flip side, Episode 7, "Left Behind," felt like a throwaway episode. It struggled to maintain the momentum and intensity that had been building up, serving as a distraction from the main plot. While it aimed to delve into Ellie's backstory, it didn't quite hit the mark, making it feel like a filler episode that could have been better integrated into the overall narrative.

The most significant drawback, however, is the excruciating two-year wait between seasons. This extended hiatus disrupts the story's flow and saps my enthusiasm. By the time the next season rolls around, it's hard to maintain the same level of excitement and connection to the characters. It's frustrating to invest so deeply in a show only to be left hanging for such a long period.

Despite these issues, The Last of Us is a standout series that excels in bringing the game's world to life. If it weren't for the long wait and the misstep with Episode 7, it might have earned a perfect score. For now, it's a gripping, emotional journey that leaves me eagerly anticipating more, even if it means waiting far too long to see what happens next.