HBO’s The Last of Us is probably going essentially the most trustworthy online game adaptation we have ever seen in TV or movie – which is an excellent factor that additionally comes with some notable downsides. Quality-wise, The Last of Us is excellent. It options nice performances from its leads, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, together with the remainder of the members of its expansive solid. And whereas it is clear that HBO spared no expense to convey this critically acclaimed sport to life, I believe a few of what made The Last of Us particular within the first place has been misplaced via this retelling.
Throughout the course of its 9 episodes, HBO’s tv iteration of The Last of Us adapts the identical story discovered within the 2013 PlayStation sport from starting to finish. The narrative itself facilities round the primary protagonists Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey), who’re on a cross-country journey to fulfill up with a bunch of rebels that hope to reverse the destiny of this post-apocalyptic world. Joel, who’s initially towards occurring this mission, is positioned answerable for defending and delivering the younger Ellie to this group, as she could possibly be the important thing to undoing this outbreak. Along the best way, the 2 develop a deeper bond and are available into battle with the monsters – each contaminated and human – that inhabit the previous United States.
For essentially the most half, The Last of Us sticks extremely near the story that’s discovered within the sport. While there are some slight modifications to acquainted areas and characters, the HBO sequence faithfully adapts the identical throughline narrative from begin to end. When The Last of Us is at its finest, although, is when it opts to briefly shake unfastened from this mildew and additional flesh out this world in distinctive methods.
In a few of the earliest episodes of The Last of Us, specifically, the sequence provides much more context to the Infected that now plague its fallen world. Beyond merely presenting the Infected as former people that are actually out to assault the residing, HBO’s The Last of Us really finally ends up displaying the origins of the virus and the way it got here to be. Not solely does the present present perception on this regard that’s by no means explored within the sport, but it surely additionally sheds mild on various different refined character particulars and motivations as effectively.
Although the broad strokes of The Last of Us stay the identical, co-writers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann discover methods to subvert the expectations of even those that have already skilled this story. None of those modifications ever show to make a drastic influence on the result of the story, however they have been the moments that I discovered myself essentially the most captivated by.
When HBO’s The Last of Us is not including new wrinkles to its characters or world, although, it is sticking so near the supply materials that it nearly turns into off-putting. Personally, I’ve performed The Last of Us numerous occasions in my life, so it is exhausting for me to separate my very own views on this present from what I’ve skilled in online game kind – your individual mileage could range. With this in thoughts, seeing so most of the scenes from the sport recreated with nearly the identical photographs, the identical strains of dialogue, and the identical outcomes felt considerably hole to me, at occasions.
Again, that is to not say The Last of Us is dangerous, but it surely simply felt like new actors have been stepping in to play out similar scenes with only a few variations. The performances inside these scenes stay largely stellar, but it surely was a bit exhausting for me to get pulled in as a result of I nearly at all times knew what can be occurring subsequent. With this in thoughts, I really feel like these with contemporary eyes who’ve by no means seen or heard of The Last of Us are going to get essentially the most out of this present, however my very own emotions could show to be an outlier.
If there’s one side of The Last of Us that I used to be thrilled to see left untouched on this HBO adaptation, it could be the music. Gustavo Santaolalla’s highly effective and resonating rating from The Last of Us (and partially from The Last of Us Part II) has been lifted and positioned immediately into this TV sequence. Even although a part of me wonders what it could have been prefer to see a very new or remixed soundtrack recreated for the present, holding the music largely left in its authentic kind is one resolution that I’m fairly pleased with.
I believe the place The Last of Us struggles essentially the most is that it feels extremely condensed at occasions and does not have sufficient room to breathe. Although the present lasts for the aforementioned 9 episodes, most of the characters that run into Joel and Ellie over the course of their journey come and go rapidly. It should not be a shock that since The Last of Us is about inside a extremely harmful world, not each character finally ends up making it via to the top. And whereas that is nonetheless in keeping with the sport, the unique model of The Last of Us discovered a option to flesh out and make you take care of sure characters earlier than they reached their eventual demise. In comparability, the present’s most tragic, emotional moments (outdoors of the massive one seen within the pilot) do not carry the identical weight, as a result of it looks like we nonetheless barely know these characters.
One of the massive issues about The Last of Us that I have to additional commend is HBO’s general dedication to high quality. All of the present’s numerous units, the cinematography, and the eye to element throughout the board are outstanding. Specifically, I used to be tremendously impressed by the Clickers on this present, as they’re extra horrifying than ever earlier than. HBO has pumped some huge cash into The Last of Us, and it completely comes throughout through the present’s largest moments.
The Last of Us is to be praised for serving to break the online game adaptation “curse” that has permeated for many years, however I can also’t say that this TV sequence does sufficient to outshine the supply materials. As such, I think about that many, like myself, who’re extremely conversant in the sport may not discover as a lot enjoyment with this retelling as they might initially anticipate. For new audiences, nonetheless, The Last of Us may be very a lot value viewing as its story continues to be gripping, even when advised via a brand new medium.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Last of Us is about to premiere on HBO and HBO Max later this week on January fifteenth. Advance screeners of the sequence have been offered by HBO for the aim of this evaluation.
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