US TV series The Last of Us has generated plenty of buzz in the past few months. Our resident pop culture aficionados Tom Parry and Stefan Bradley sat down to have a chat about it.
TP: Usually when we have these discussions, they’re centred on the latest blockbuster that’s playing at Sale Cinema. But we thought, given its worldwide popularity, we should talk about the HBO series The Last of Us.
SB: This TV show is based on the PlayStation video game of the same name, which I played sometime after its initial release in 2013. That’s quite a long time ago, and while I haven’t revisited it, all its incredible moments have stayed with me throughout the years. It has since been remastered for the PlayStation 4 and remade for the PlayStation 5, and is frequently acclaimed as one of the best games ever made. It’s a survival-horror action-adventure title that is well-known for its story and characters. What is your history with The Last of Us, Tom?
TP: I have zero history with The Last of Us – I’ve never played the games and only seen bits and pieces of gameplay footage.
SB: You would be aware of some of the spoilers though, right? There’s scenes and key moments that are more or less universally known by gamers – even by those who haven’t played the series. It’s the video game equivalent of Darth Vader revealing he’s Luke Skywalker’s father, although the game has many famous moments, not just one.
TP: Spoilers! Well, yes – a couple of the plot points I did know about, particularly the revelation about a certain character’s daughter. But other than that, I had only the barest idea as to what the story was about.
SB: The plot takes place twenty years after a fungal pandemic wiped-out most of world’s population. It follows middle-aged Joel (Pedro Pascal) as he escorts teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) through a dystopian United States to a medical research facility, where it’s believed that scientists are working on a cure to the fungal infection. It’s a brutal world where a lot of heart-wrenching situations occur, but at its core, it’s a story about the love that parents have for their child, and what they’re willing to do to protect them.
TP: The fungal infection turns its host into zombie-like creatures, but that’s not really what the show is about; its focus is on Joel and Ellie’s journey together across America. A constant question this show asks is, how do we find our humanity in a world where humanity has been lost? I haven’t played the game, but I was fixated right through this show – there was never a moment where I was bored or confused by what was happening. The production values and practical effects are exceptional. What I didn’t appreciate as much was the editing, and the way the teleplays were structured – for instance, the third episode jumps between the past and the present, but does so in a way that doesn’t connect well with the central narrative.
SB: I disagree there – I actually appreciated the use of the flashbacks and how they gelled with the main story. Elsewhere, I loved all the supporting characters that only appear in an episode or two, particularly Tess (Anna Torv); the medium of TV allowed these characters to be expanded beyond what we saw in the game. After the finale aired, I found myself wanting to spend more time with Joel and Ellie – they could have extended the last two episodes in particular to allow that.
TP: That’s especially the case for the finale – I felt that episode ended rather abruptly, and it was a somewhat underwhelming finish to the season. In terms of your criticism regarding wanting more of Joel and Ellie, I think we spend the perfect amount of time with them and all of the other characters. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (who is the co-creator of the original game) have done an exceptional job of condensing a large, expansive game into this tight, consumable package. Nothing was missed here – they introduced every character well, developed them, and in the short time we spend with them, we felt as though we not only knew them, but had empathy and sympathy for them, to the point where when they leave the narrative – however that may happen – you feel a sense of condolence.
SB: On another note, it’s astonishing how closely aligned the show matches the source material. Anyone who has played the game will see any shot from this post-apocalyptic world and recognise it as The Last of Us instantly. Not just the visuals, but how it sounds too – original composer Gustavo Santaolalla returns. And with regard to the two leads, casting such beloved characters like Joel and Ellie is a tough task, but Pascal as Joel and Ramsey as Ellie are perfect.
TP: It’s important to note that the TV show isn’t a carbon copy of the game – it forges its own identity, which is evident in the casting. Even so, there were scenes in the series that I could tell were lifted straight from the games – particularly the shootout sequences. Other than that, I believe the show can exist on its own – it doesn’t need the game to justify its existence. It’s a well-written, well-acted piece of entertainment.
SB: And that speaks to the quality of the original game as much as it does the writers and producers. With George R. R. Martin being heavily involved with Game of Thrones, Shigeru Miyamoto with the upcoming Super Mario movie and Neil Druckmann with this show, it demonstrates that it’s a great idea to stick to the original creator’s vision when adapting a property. The first season of The Last of Us sets the standard for every video game adaptation that follows from here, be it a TV program, film or otherwise.
TP: I agree. If you forgive the abrupt ending to the season, it is a fantastic series. Not only has it set the benchmark for future game adaptations, but it has set that benchmark extremely high. We’re talking top-tier entertainment here – this will probably win an Emmy Award, if not multiple.
SB: I absolutely love this show and will probably revisit it at some point. It has actually made me want to replay the original game, and try the sequel for the first time. Do you think you’ll give the series a go after this?
TP: No. I feel like I’ve lived through it, and that’s not a slight on the show or the game – now that I’ve experienced this narrative, I don’t know what more I’d have to gain from sitting down and playing the game itself.
The Last of Us is currently streaming on Binge.
