In January 2023, the television adaptation of the hit video game “The Last of Us” came out. Since the original game premiered in 2013, the fanbase has constantly grown, and the game itself was an immense success, paving the way for story-driven games in the industry. This is why it came as a surprise to no one that the game was eventually adapted, especially given that the game it’s based on is known for cinematic cutscenes and powerful acting.
At the time it was released, the most popular game genres were action-adventure and shooter games. When “The Last of Us” came on the scene, it was a refreshing take on video games, as the game still contained traditional elements like shooting and climbing, but one thing set it apart. On the surface, the game seemed like any other post-apocalyptic game, including predictable plot points, such as a fungal virus that can infect people and turn them into zombies. But under that lies a perfectly crafted story.
The story of “The Last of Us” is one that explores themes of love and loss, but also deeper subjects such as depression and the cost of humanity. Ellie and Joel’s story captivated gamers across the world. These heavy topics and the spectacular writing made it stand out from games that focused more on action rather than plot.
It wasn’t just the story that lured in audiences while playing. The two lead actors in the game, Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, blended into their characters, and their performances would go down in gaming history as some of the best acting in the industry.
Ashley Johnson made her game acting debut as the female protagonist Ellie, and despite this new form of media for her, she expresses so much emotion in both her voice and body language. Players saw this in some of her stand-out scenes, such as one particular scene in the winter arc.
As for Troy Baker, he had prior experience in the industry, but his role as the protagonist, Joel, would later be recognized as his breakout role. Baker became known for his amazing physical acting but even more so for his vocal control and expression.
The game soon caught the attention of larger audiences with the New York Times praising it. This game changed the way the public viewed gaming; no longer did people think of games as something only for the geeks of the world, but now it became something with more substance. Following the release of “The Last of Us,” narrative-driven games started to pop up more and more, changing the landscape of the gaming world.
With the game leaving such a big legacy, fans worried that the adaptation would not live up to its name. Though the adaptation did change some things, it was still true to the original characters and plot. The success of the adaptation is in part due to the involvement of Neil Druckmann, the creative director of the game. His involvement in the project allowed a lot of the qualities the fans love about the game to transfer smoothly to the adaptation.
In addition, the changes they did make were made with good reason. For example, in the game the virus wasn’t only transferred through a bite but also airborne spores, forcing characters to wear gas masks in certain parts of the game. This aspect was changed due to one of the director’s prior experience. Craig Mazin, who had worked on the show “Chernobyl,” knew that emotional scenes with gas masks were extremely difficult to film, so the change allowed for the cast’s acting skills to shine.
Speaking of the cast, Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal had big shoes to fill when it came to this show. Bella Ramsey, best known for their previous work in “Game of Thrones,” shaped the character of Ellie and created their own version of her without losing her original spunk and emotion. They handled Ellie’s emotions perfectly, whether it was an expression of pure pain and anger or the lighthearted scenes in which she bonded with Joel, thus establishing him as her father figure.
As for Pedro Pascal, he was also a part of “Game of Thrones,” with that being his breakout role, however, he and Ramsey never shared a scene. He had become a reliable and well-known actor after his role in “The Mandalorian.” In “The Last of Us,” he perfectly teetered on the line between stubbornness and kind as his character explored the idea of being seen as a father again. He did an excellent job at portraying the complex nature of Joel’s character while still putting his own spin on some of the most iconic scenes from the game.
In the 2023 award season, there were many fearsome competitors for “The Last of Us” to face, including the hit show “White Lotus.” Despite this, the show was nominated for 24 Emmys and won eight of them. Once again, a show has raised the bar for video game adaptations across the industry. Additionally, the show has brought a large number of people to the fandom, causing the game’s sales to increase by 238% following the release of the show.
At the time of writing this, the trailer for the second season has just come out and is set to release in April 13, 2025. For fans of the game, they likely know what to expect — this season will be based on the second game — and can’t wait to see how the creators will tackle the new storyline. As for fans of the show, they are excited to see what’s next for the characters they have grown to love.
So far the promotional material for the second season has been an extreme success with its trailer being HBO’s most watched trailer. It is clear that fans are excited to see Joel and Ellie’s story on their screens on April 13.
