After decades of consistent mediocrity, live-action adaptations of video games are finally seeing a surge in quality. With the debut of HBO’s latest drama, based on the PlayStation game The Last of Us, it seems like they are starting to hit their stride.
The Last of Us video game cover art (Credit: Naughty Dog)
This thrilling post-apocalyptic drama follows fatherly Joel and his young companion Ellie as they travel across a ravaged America decades after a violent infection nearly decimates the human population.
The Last of Us: A Masterclass in Adaptation
Only three of the scheduled nine episodes have been released, but The Last of Us has already cemented itself as an exemplary adaptation. Whether it’s the small differences between the game and the show, the amazing attention to detail, or the fantastic cast of The Last of Us, this is undoubtedly set to be one of the most popular shows of the year.
Promotional art for The Last of Us featuring Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams and Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller (Credit: HBO)
Breaking New Ground With The Last of Us
The original version of The Last of Us game was released in 2013, but it’s such a celebrated title that it has been updated and re-released on numerous occasions.
Neil Druckmann (the game’s creative director) and Craig Mazin (the creator of HBO’s hit show Chernobyl) co-created the live-action adaptation, which has solid creative backing.
Standing as one of the most popular modern games and with a narrative beloved by millions, it’s easy to see why The Last of Us is one of the most anticipated shows of 2023.
Despite the level of talent working behind the scenes, fans of the game have been hesitant about The Last of Us on HBO. While some adaptations like Netflix’s The Witcher have managed to be popular with both critics and fans, others like Resident Evil, Hitman, and Rampage failed to impress.
However, HBO’s The Last of Us exceeds expectations by simply doing what fans have been asking for: sticking to the source material and accurately portraying key events and characters.
Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams and Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
The stellar set design provides nearly identical recreations of memorable locations, while most of the script is drawn directly from the game.
It also helps that The Last of Us is stacked with brilliant actors and actresses, including a breakout lead, a particularly bright up-and-coming star, and a tremendous secondary cast.
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
The Dynamic Duo: Pascal and Ramsey Take the Lead
A lot of the credit for the success of HBO’s The Last of Us can be directly attributed to the talent of the cast.
Pedro Pascal is absolutely phenomenal in the lead role of Joel Miller, portraying a gruff and stoic protagonist who’s secretly pained by a traumatic past.
The 47-year-old actor has had a hell of a run lately, with acclaimed roles in shows like Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, and Narcos. Pedro Pascal continues his trend of excellence, offering a layered performance that’s on par with the original game.
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Bella Ramsey is also a treat to watch in the role of Ellie, a gutsy teen, who may hold the key to humanity’s survival. Before The Last of Us, she is widely recognized for portraying Lady Mormont on the hit series Game of Thrones. With her remarkable performance, she captivated audiences and endeared herself as the fearless and brave Lady Mormont, despite her youthful age.
Calling Ellie a sidekick would be a massive disservice, as she can hold her own and is as foul-mouthed as a sailor. Funnily enough, the 19-year-old English actress reportedly honed her American accent by practicing curse words as she prepared for the role.
In just three episodes, Bella Ramsey has won us over as Ellie, working effortlessly off of co-star Pedro Pascal.
Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams and Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
A Supporting Cast That Captivates
Luckily, the casting quality for The Last of Us extends past the two leads, with a powerful cast of secondary characters. We greatly enjoyed seeing Australian actress Anna Torv in the role of Tess, a fellow smuggler and romantic partner for Joel.
Interestingly, this isn’t Anna Torv’s first rodeo in the realm of video games, as she previously voice-acted and performed motion capture for the role of Nariko in the 2007 game Heavenly Sword.
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Anna Torv as Tess in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Nico Parker steals the show in the pilot episode, playing Joel’s young daughter, Sarah.
She just recently made her film debut in 2019, appearing in the live-action Disney adaptation of Dumbo. While most of her projects have been box-office bombs, it’s a pleasure to see Nico Parker excel in The Last of Us.
Nico Parker as Sarah in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
While many of the characters are freshly cast, some of the game’s original talent have reprised their roles for The Last of Us on HBO.
Broadway actress Merle Dandridge returns as Marlene, a local rebellion leader and associate of Joel’s.
The original voice and motion actors for Joel and Ellie, Troy Baker, and Ashley Johnson, will also appear in the show as completely new characters. It’s a nice nod to fans of the games, and it should be interesting to see these actors in a new light.
Merle Dandridge as Marlene in the post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Storm Reid, known from “Euphoria” and “A Wrinkle in Time,” has been cast as Riley, a key figure in Ellie’s childhood.
A close friend, trusted confidant, and potential love interest, she is generally portrayed as a little bit wiser and more proactive than Ellie — she gets involved with the activists known as the Fireflies while Ellie does not.
Storm Reid as Riley Abel, an orphaned girl growing up in post-apocalyptic Boston, in the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Although Riley did not appear in the original 2013 game, this character has become a fan favorite through spin-off material.
She was introduced in the comic book series The Last of Us: American Dreams before appearing on screen in the 2014 expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind (where she was played by Yaani King).
Acclaim and Audience: The Last of Us Wins Big
We’re more than excited to see how the rest of The Last of Us show works out, as many surprises await and more fantastic actors are set to appear.
Season 2 has already been greenlit, and several have already declared The Last of Us as the best live-action adaptation of a video game with just three episodes released.
A shot from the pilot of The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Aside from the acclaim it received from critics, the show also garnered impressive numbers on its first day, with the series premiere having 4.7 million viewers. It’s the second biggest for HBO since 2010, which justifies the early announcement of a second season renewal.
Only time will tell if The Last of Us will be as successful as the video game, but at the very least, it’s doing the game justice and entrancing new viewers at the same time.