User reviews

***" 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," the highly-anticipated HBO series based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name, is a truly remarkable viewing experience that will leave you captivated from start to finish. The show expertly adapts the game's powerful storytelling and characters for the small screen, delivering a thrilling and emotionally charged journey through a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly fungus.

One of the show's greatest strengths is its commitment to character development and emotional depth. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey give outstanding performances as Joel and Ellie, respectively, and the script does a masterful job of exploring the complex bond that forms between them as they navigate the dangers of a fallen society. The series also manages to expand on the game's already rich world-building, delving deeper into the politics and power struggles of the remaining human settlements.

The direction and production design are also top-notch, with the series effectively capturing the gritty, desperate feel of a world on the brink of collapse. The cinematography and score also deserve special mention, adding to the overall atmosphere of the show and amplifying the emotional impact of key scenes. The special effects used in the series are also outstanding and adds to the cinematic feel of the show.

The series also delves into the psychological and emotional impact of the characters, and the audience can see the gradual change in the characters throughout the series. The script is well written and leaves a lasting impact on the audience. The pacing of the series is also well done and keeps the audience engaged throughout the show.

Overall, "The Last of Us" is a must-watch for fans of the game and newcomers alike. The series manages to stay true to the source material while also standing on its own as a masterful piece of storytelling. It's a thrilling and ultimately hopeful, tale of survival and humanity in the face of unimaginable horror that will leave you in awe.

It is the storytelling, powerful performances, and the intense atmosphere that will leave you captivated and sets it apart as an unforgettable watch. The series also raises some thought-provoking questions about the nature of humanity and the lengths we will go to survive. It's a series that will stay with you long after you've finished watching it."

First of all, I'd like to make it clear that I'm writing this review having only watched the episode and never having played the game or researched anything about it.

The first episode had everything we can expect from an introduction of a new series, it was intense, exciting, it held our attention at every minute creating a hostile atmosphere even in the most ordinary scenes.

The construction of the post-apocalyptic world was done perfectly, showing us the origin of the end, and leaving us looking forward to what will come after.

The next episodes have everything to be even better. Well done!

The first season of The Last of Us is a masterpiece of post-apocalyptic storytelling that will leave you wanting more. There is hardly anything to complain about, except for maybe the slight absence of the infected. However, this is a minor quibble when you consider the fantastic adaptation of the game, which seamlessly blends game elements with original ideas, stories and the history of the characters.

One of the most impressive aspects of the show for me is its stunning cinematography, which beautifully captures the desolate, haunting world of the post-apocalypse. The costumes and makeup are also noteworthy, adding a layer of realism to the show that truly immerses you in this dystopian landscape. But what truly makes The Last of Us so remarkable, in my personal opinion, is its cast of characters, brought to life by a talented ensemble of actors. In particular, the relationship between Joel and Ellie is a standout, with the two characters forming an unlikely bond that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Joel, a stubborn and gruff survivor, becomes the reluctant protector of Ellie, a young girl and he is willing to sacrifice the whole world for her.

Despite the absence of the infected, The Last of Us is a series that deserves ten stars (decided to subtract a star because of the infected). The other aspects of the show, including its exceptional writing, outstanding acting, and captivating cinematography, more than make up for any minor flaws. If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction or just great storytelling in general, The Last of Us is a must-watch. Get ready to be transported to a world unlike any other, where survival is the ultimate goal and the only thing that matters is the bond between those who are left.

I was skeptical when the show first went into developement and when gradually the cast was announced. I'm personally not a fan of Part 2 but I always somewhat had faith in HBO as HBO Originals are peak 90% of the time & they are some of my favourite shows of all time & for good reason. But I was still skeptical. But now that I got to watch the first episode at a screening, It was a lot better than I expected. A lot. Everything was on point. Like it's not a scene to scene adaptation of the game. But what it totally succeeds at is capturing the heart, lore, vibe, world of the The Last of Us. And with utter perfection. The acting is on point. I knew Pedro was going to be amazing as Ellie but I was skeptical about Nico as Sarah & Bella as Ellie. But watching this episode has removed any and all worries I had. Bella totally killed it as Ellie. I never thought I'd say this but she really did. The change from tendrils to spores is something I'm not a big fan of but it works here pretty nicely. Many scenes & dialogue are straight from the game. All that said, the production design is brilliant, the cinematography is what you'd expect from an HBO Original. And I haven't seen many other reviews praising Gustavo's work. Gustavo, the composer kills here with his incredible score same as the games.

And I never ever though I was going to say this but this is actually a pretty faithful adaptation of Bruce Straley & Neil Druckmann's work then years ago.

Sorry if this has grammatical & language errors, English is not my first language.

The Last of Us series, based on the critically acclaimed video game, offers a hauntingly beautiful and intense portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world. It follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young girl with a mysterious immunity to the deadly infection decimating humanity. The series excels in blending high-stakes action with deeply emotional character moments, capturing the complex relationship between Joel and Ellie as they journey through a shattered world.

The show's strength lies in its compelling storytelling, which maintains loyalty to the game while adding fresh perspectives. The performances by Pascal and Ramsey are raw and impactful, making the audience care deeply for their characters. Visually, the series is stunning, with meticulous set design that brings this ravaged world to life. The pacing may feel slow at times for those looking for constant action, but the story's emotional depth and tension are well worth it.

As a huge fan of The Last of Us games, I know these games through and through. I know the storyline and have immersed myself into the games. I know it all too well. So, when I heard The Last of Us series was in the works at HBO from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann in 2020, I was so excited. They worked together to write and produce this project. I was nervous because I hope they would not to fail as in another video games like Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, Doom, and more. Many video games always fail when adapted to television or movies because they don't respect the source material, and they just want to do their own thing. They just with the name for branding. That's why. But in, "The Last of Us", HBO did follow the source material well. I'm relieved! I watched the first episode of The Last of Us last night. It was the best video game adaptation I've ever seen! It was historic! It was the perfect episode! As I watched the series, I felt like I was back playing the game. The series was a wonderful balance of adding a more detailed backstory while maintaining the heart of the source material. I was impressed! Minor deviations are done very nicely. The cast is awesome and played their roles as they were in the game. To all the losers that who complained about how terrible Bella Ramsey is in the character portrayed as Ellie in the Last of Us; you are ignorant. Don't watch the series then, just go play the game and stay in the game and enjoy the character in the game all you want. It's so ridiculous! Open your mind! It's an adaptation! Bella did awesome in first episode. I can't wait to see how she does in the further episodes. Now I see All the Bella haters are very quiet today! Of course, incredible cinematography and awesome shots in the car and plane crash scenes. In my opinion those were the best scenes of the year! Lastly, it was everything I had hoped for as a The Last of Us fan. It was perfect, I am confident that this season is an already a masterpiece, I know this season isn't complete but I can tell it is an already masterpiece.

Season 1 was amazing! Like edge of your seat. I rated the show a 10.

Now season 2....how many times do I have to fast forward Elle playing the dang guitar. They are also trying so hard to make a love story but there is no spark and it's forced. Elles childish attitude as an adult is becoming annoying.

I never played the video game and I understand they had to go with the storyline of the game...but without Joel the series isn't the same. And why does there always have to be some weird cult? Like I don't want to watch this for the "human" drama, I want to see zombie mushroom men, dive into the smart zombies storyline, and be on the edge of my seat... ..

When I first heard about The Last of Us I couldn't wait to see it because I absolutely loved the video game. On top of that I'm a fan of Pedro Pascal and HBO has a long history of making the best shows on tv. Then I saw the trailers and my excitement grew even more. Well, it's pretty bad. It's not the worst thing I've ever seen but I had to force myself to finish the first season. I kept telling myself that it would get better but it never did. Like many have already said it's not like the game at all. I could've gotten past that if it was entertaining enough but it's not. Even though the first season wasn't the best I still have the second season a chance and it's been much worse. They got rid of the best part of the show and their lead. Why? I get you want to have a show where anything can happen but killing off your lead and the most talented actor on your show is not smart.

I seriously cannot fathom the low reviews on this show..

Nearly every single negative review is poorly written and all basically say the same exact thing...

"Oh this is like the walking dead"

"It's too long"

"I'm upset and projecting my feelings over casting choices"

And yet every single one of them says

The production value is great, the acting is great, the sets and music are great..

But they give it a 1 star review because it's "like the walking dead"..

Don't listen to these people, they've obviously never seen the walking dead..

They say "it's like the walking dead" about everything that is even remotely post apocalyptic..

If you want some boring arthouse movie or some foreign trash listen to the low reviewers..

This show is great..

Good acting, sets, cgi, plot, pacing..

And best of all it's just like the walking dead!! (It's not at all)

**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.

It's a beautiful show. Everything in one zombies, action and love. A beautiful innocent bond is form between a man and a girl. He sees her as his daughter. Pedro pascal does a great job portraying Joel. I am in love with the story. Me and my brother bench watch it. The action scenes are incredible and so it's the pace of the story. Not everything had to be zombies to fully enjoy this story. Love it from beginning to end. For anyone saying is boring it's because it's not only about wars and zombies it's about survival. Who to trust who not to. It's a survival adventure voyage these two characters take.

I have absolutely no idea as to why it took me this long to finally sit down and commit to watching this show. After months and months of hearing amazing reviews and clips across the internet, i finally went for it and man, what a show. Usually it takes me two or three episodes to get into a show and really start to enjoy the characters and see the plot, but episode one had me committed right off the bat. I am so happy Pedro Pascal was casted as Joel, his acting is phenomenal and he has a lot to offer for the plot and script. I genuinely enjoyed watching ellie and joel's growing relationship on screen and loved the dynamic as well.

Looking forward to the next season and cannot wait to see where the writers take it.

This series is the best adaptation of a video game or series based on a video game. Plot is great, acting is great, visually stunning and top notch cast. Anything Pedro Pascal is in is streaming gold. He's the Hollywood Golden Goose. Rest of the cast is just as good. Nick Offerman is a real surprise in his role, haven't seen him play anything like this before. Bella Ramsey is just about as perfectly cast as Pascal and the chemistry between them is near perfect. Anna Torv is great as usual as well. There is just enough environmental landscape combined with the creatures to give you that creepy feeling the video game accomplished, the clickers are just spot on. Some good comedic relief at times between Pascal and Ramsey to break up the horror of their situation. Can't praise this series enough but I'll try. It has everything an excellent tv series should have. Great plot, cast, cinematography , chemistry, pace and very entertaining.

The last of us is my favourite game of all time, so obviously i was highly anticipating this series and oh my god was it worth the wait. The way all the actors portray the characters in their own way is incredible, i'm in love with them all already. The setting, cinematography, sound design is all incredible too i was blown away; the way they created tension in the prologue was amazing and i felt myself tensing up even though i know the story inside out. I think this adaptation will be incredible and truly will break the video game adaptation curse. I cant wait to see what they change, add in and keep loyal to the game. Absolutely incredible. I love you tlou <3.

Which I have never played. He says that it is the best movie adaptation of a game he has seen (comparing it to Assassins Creed, Uncharted and Fallout).

My man says there weren't as many monster types, but he thought if there were too many more monster types it would have been too much.

There was a LOT of backstory, but that's what the movie was supposed to be about, wasn't it.

He says he can't quite remember what was in the game or not, but the things he remembered were spot on with the game.

The scenery was epic - both the nature & the city scenes. In fact he commented that the city scenes were just like in the game, as was the shopping mall.

As someone who doesn't know anything about the game, it all made sense & was a good story!

My second review Season 2 :After thoroughly enjoying Season 1and not even bothering to watch most of the last few episodes. Ep 5 was the latest in a long line of blows.

This is alike a whole different show - a bit Stephanie Myers with her vampires and romances. Two moony teenagers wondering around with a guitar...oh bless them. Ugh.

Can I ask for the record - where are all the men???? I am heterosexual woman and I would like some strong men back as heroes, please.

They've all been relegated to baddies - nasty evil baddies with all the woman now in the hotshots. Please, I implore you, I am not here to watch this . Bring back the men!!!

The gay episode in the first season was tastefully done and poignant, but this is tiresome. Ellie is vulgar and with a smart mouth. Not clever.

I don't know if I'll bother with ep6. Is there an ep 6? At this stage who cares.