As video game adaptations turn 30 in 2023, it’s been a long, frustrating journey from mediocre to downright awful. From the first live-action adaptation, 1993’s Super Mario Bros., to the bottom of the barrel of the sub-genre, 2008’s Max Payne, the hype never fully matches the anticipation. So it was hard to imagine a world where after numerous disappointments, an adaptation would reach greatness.
In 2013, Naughty Dog & Sony released The Last of Us, a video game that would break records with awards and critical acclaim. Its acclaim is warranted as its narrative and gameplay have stood as one of the most emotional 40 hours of gameplay I and many have ever experienced.
With such popularity, a film or TV adaptation was sure to be in the works. A feature film written by Druckmann and produced by Sam Raimi starring Maisie Williams/Kaitlyn Dever was long rumored but ultimately scrapped. Fast forward to 2023, as the game is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary and an HBO series has arrived created by Druckmann and Craig Mazin.
It’s apropos that The Last Of Us arrives on the 30th anniversary of the first video game adaptation and the game’s 10th anniversary because, after 30 years, the gold standard of video game adaptations has arrived.
The Last of Us is a masterclass of transformative storytelling. Joel and Ellie’s multilayered journey through love, loss, mortality, hope, and critters is set to bruise, break and elevate your emotional core.
For folks unfamiliar with the game’s narrative, The Last of Us follows Joel and Ellie on their cross-country journey through post-apocalyptic America to reach the Fireflies. The Fireflies are known to many as a rebel group, so one might wonder why Joel is tasked to take Ellie to them. Well, in a world of those that are infected, Ellie is the only immune human to the Cordyceps fungus. Throughout their journey, the two form a bond that is a recipe for laughs and tears.
Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann craft a series that concentrates more on the development of Joel, Ellie, and the supporting players then on those infected. Do we see runners, stalkers, clickers, shamblers, and bloaters? Absolutely, but not in excess. The series’ most significant strength is its characters, and Mazin and Druckmann are fully aware of that.
Mazin, who many may be familiar with for his brilliant Chernobyl, brings the same level of unforgiving viciousness to The Last of Us. But, again, it’s a series that beautifully captures the game’s themes. The brutality of survival at any cost rival the damage an infected person can cause to someone.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s chemistry is as infectious as a clicker. Both slide perfectly into the roles of Joel and Ellie. Pascal captures the morally grey compass Joel evokes throughout the game. At the same time, Ramsey embodies all the essential qualities that have made Ellie one of the past ten years’ most popular video game characters. Ramsey oozes the charisma, wittiness, and bravery needed to capture Ellie fully. Many rightfully stated if Pascal and Ramsey don’t work, the show fails, and it’s safe to say the duo not only succeeds but they have the makings of one of the best dynamic duos on 2023’s television radar.
While the Emmys are months away, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress in a Drama Series is not rich with actors/actresses from The Last of Us. From Melanie Lynskey showing the depths individuals would go to survive to Lamar Johnson’s Henry on the run protecting his family.
Each episode sprinkles new faces to keep the series fresh, none more than Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett in one of the season’s most impactful episodes (“Long, Long Time”). Offerman’s Bill and Bartlett’s Frank are the emotional crutches of the series. Their episode shines a light on the doom and gloom world those who are surviving live in. But it’s an episode that shows the strength of happiness, love, and companionship during this time. The duo’s performances left me in a puddle of tears.
As season one faded to black, it’s not without leaving me in awe of Druckmann and Mazin’s accomplishments. The series offers a shining light into the possibilities of video game adaptations and one that I am confident will stand amongst the best in the television and film landscape of 2023.
