Starting with a box of pancake mix, the world as we know it became completely unrecognizable. Spores haunted every corner and people became monsters, plagued with a cordyceps brain infection. This idea of an apocalyptic universe came from the mind of Neil Druckmann, enchanting audiences with his take on how the world would function after the spread of a disastrous infection. The Last of Us became a globally recognized video game, and now an Emmy-winning TV show, which will be coming back for its second season this April.
In 2013, the video game developer, Naughty Dog, released The Last of Us after their previous highly successful game, “Uncharted.” This story-based game follows the two main characters, Joel and Ellie, as they navigate this danger-filled world. Players are able to fight off the infected while being immersed in the storyline, connecting to these characters deeply.
In January 2023, the game was adapted into an HBO Max series. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star as Joel and Ellie. They were highly praised for their performances in season 1, winning several awards and becoming HBO’s most-watched debut season.
The Last of Us takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, 20 years after the initial spread of the infection. When a person becomes infected, a cordyceps fungus takes over their brain and fills their body with spores. They become zombie-like, not functioning as a human anymore and having no control over their body.
Joel is a middle-aged man who lost his daughter during the initial outbreak due to a gunshot wound. He spent decades merely surviving, constantly thinking about his late daughter. Ellie, on the other hand, is a 14-year-old girl who was born after the outbreak had already occurred. She discovers that she has immunity to the infection, making her extremely valuable.
The two go on a journey across the country, bringing Ellie to scientists who would attempt to create a cure using her immunity and bring the world back to normal. However, along the way, Joel and Ellie create a father-daughter-like bond, connecting with each other in ways they’ve never experienced before. They would go to any means to protect each other, even if it meant murder.
One of the main reasons this game and the show became so popular was because of the unique themes it portrays, unlike anything we’ve seen from zombie media in the past. Even in a post-apocalyptic world where the infected are roaming around, they are still not the biggest threat. Humans hold the most danger, showing the stakes people are willing to go to survive, and to get revenge.
Less than two weeks after the premiere in 2023, The Last of Us was renewed for season 2 After a two year wait, the show is finally coming back to HBO Max on April 13th.
This season will be based on the game, “The Last of Us Part 2,” which was released in 2020. It takes place five years after season 1 ends, so there will be a significant time jump for audiences to prepare for.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey return as Joel and Ellie this season, however some new characters will be introduced as well. Kaitlyn Dever is playing Abby, Isabela Merced is playing Dina, and Young Mazino is playing Jesse.
For those who have played the game, these characters and this storyline is not new, and many viewers already know what to expect. However, a new character was added to the show that was not featured in the game, allowing even the players to have an element of surprise. Catherine O’Hara is playing Gail, Joel’s therapist in the upcoming season. Her character was never shown in the game.
Despite the success the show has had, it also experienced lots of backlash, specifically from the video game players because of the casting.
In season 1, people publicly aired their opinion of Bella Ramsey being cast as Ellie, arguing that they don’t look like the character from the game. Despite the backlash, Ramsey persisted and was praised for their performance.
A similar situation is occurring with Kaitlyn Dever’s casting as Abby in season 2. She is receiving backlash from fans of the game because they don’t believe that she matches the character physically.
However, both fans of the game and the show can agree that they have been highly anticipating this second season. You can stream The Last of Us season 2 starting April 13th. But in the meantime, you can catch up on season 1 now on HBO Max.
