The Last of Us: The Best Video Game TV Series Adaption

The video game industry is worth more than the movie and music industries combined. The potential financial upside makes adapting popular video games for the television screen perfect sense for producers and directors. Gamers love nothing more than supporting their favorite franchises and are guaranteed to tune into a game-themed show. Unfortunately, these adaptations almost always disappoint gamers, but one TV series has changed everything: The Last of Us.

As someone that thoroughly enjoyed the 2013 PlayStation hit The Last of Us, I was delighted when the game’s creative director and writer, Neil Druckmann, announced a film adaptation was on its way. However, the film entered development hell, and filming had not begun, and the movie was eventually scrapped in 2019. A year later, Craig Mazin, the director of the incredible Chernobyl series, and Druckmann approached HBO about turning The Last of Us into a television series instead of a movie. HBO loved the idea, and boy, are we glad they did because The Last of Us is not only the best video game adaption but some of the greatest television period. Here is why.

The Casting and Acting of Joel and Ellie

More than 100 actors were considered for the role of Ellie, and it was Bella Ramsey that was selected. Ramsey’s casting did not enthrall some fans of the game because she does not look like the game version of Ellie. However, Ramsey’s incredible portrayal of Ellie immediately won them over, with message boards lighting up with praise for Ramsey, with some stating they prefer the TV series Ellie more than her video game counterpart. Ramsey’s acting range is nothing short of incredible, and it will be a major surprise if she is not one of the favorites with the sites offering Vegas betting online to win several awards in 2023.

Casting Pedro Pascal as Joel, the game’s main protagonist, was another masterstroke. Pascal acted the role perfectly, blending the character’s violent past with sadness and vulnerability. Furthermore, there was obvious chemistry between Pascal and Ramsey, just as in the video game.

The casting for the other characters was also spot-on. It was a great touch to give Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson roles in the show, as Baker played a voiced Joel in the video game, while Johnson was the original Ellie. Whoever was in charge of casting deserves a pat on the back.

Staying True to the Game Yet Allowing Creative Direction

Anyone who has enjoyed The Last of Us video game knows it is packed with action and puzzles. These sections were necessary for the game, but the television series allowed for the more in-depth telling of the incredible story and the characters’ backstories, something they managed perfectly.

Fans of the game were met with waves of nostalgia at some of the settings that could have been lifted straight out of the PlayStation hit, while the deviations from the game’s story only served to bring the characters to life. The directors, producers, and writers could have gone down the action-packed route, but thankfully they did not. They stuck to their principles, used material that was already a hit, and created a masterpiece that everyone loves. The fact that non-video-game players are huge fans of the show is a testament to the fantastic work everyone linked to the series.

Will There Be a Second The Last of Us Second Season?

Thankfully, The Last of Us has been a roaring success, leading HBO to commission a second series. Naughty Dog, the game’s developers, confirmed a second series is on its way, depicting the events of The Last of Us: Part II game. As someone who has played the sequel to completion, I can only say that if the second series is on par with the first, viewers are in for a rollercoaster of a ride!