RATING: 4.5 out of 5
“The Last of Us” is the latest hit show distributed by HBO Max. Based on the video game of the same name, it tells the story of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey) as they learn to heal as people and survive the zombie apocalypse together. The show takes place 20 years after a pandemic caused by fungi that turns people into zombie-like creatures, simply known as “The Infected.”
Zombie media isn’t typically for me, but I have to say I was impressed with the breakout hit. The conceit of the show isn’t original, as the story of a begrudging older man adopting a young child and escorting them across a dangerous world has been told countless times before. It’s even been told with Pascal in his role in “The Mandalorian.” However, “The Last of Us” finds a way to keep the familiar trope fresh and interesting to watch largely due to the masterclass in acting that Pascal and Ramsey demonstrate. They have an undeniable chemistry on screen as they grow to learn to care for each other. Since the show relies so heavily on the pair, Pascal and Ramsey are really allowed to shine in their roles. Though I have never played the video game, I felt the appreciation the show holds for its source material, even having some of the voice actors from the games make brief cameos throughout.
The show’s screenplay is excellent. While some could argue the plot took its time, I prefer to see it as a character study. It was able to dedicate episodes to side characters — most notably, its third episode “Long, Long Time” proving to be one of the shows strongest — and tell beautiful stories that helped tell the overall narrative. By taking the focus away from the two leads, the show allows the audience to see an entirely new perspective of the world. It makes the world feel more lived in and real. “The Last of Us” is a story about love and finding hope in a world that seems devoid of it. I appreciated that the show didn’t dive into a horror angle and focused more so on the characters and their relationships. However,, that isn’t to say the show doesn’t employ a few jumpscares to frighten the audience. A majority of the horror of the show comes from seeing how the world has changed in response to the apocalypse and from how plausible it all is.
Without a doubt, the most impressive part of the show was its technical effects. The show built gorgeous sets to give the world its run-down apocalyptic feeling. The overgrown plants and decimated buildings immediately shows viewers the ruin the world has undergone. The makeup used for the show was a standout. The Infected were all done using makeup, prosthetics, and other technical effects. Their appearance is so startling and life-like, I couldn’t help but be in awe at what was created.
My only complaint is that some of the pacing towards the end felt rushed. The final episode shouldn’t have been the shortest episode. Though the episode is ultimately satisfying, I was left wanting more. At times I disagreed with the politics of the show, with some episodes seeming to imply rebellion is pointless. But, other dystopian stories often make the same mistakes, so it is likely just a fault of the genre.
I can safely say that I’ll be patiently awaiting the second season, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.