‘The Last of Us’ Episodes 1 & 2 Review: A Faithful and Emotional Beginning

The Last of Us on HBO
HBO

Spoilers for The Last of Us Episodes 1 & 2, “When You’re Lost in the Darkness” and “Infected”

As COVID is still a concern here in the real world, imagine for a moment something far worse. A parasitic fungus that can jump from host to host while mutating and evolving at a frightening rate. No medicine will help stave off the infection; no cure can be found. Welcome to the world in The Last of Us, a video game adapted for TV via HBO. The series shows off that horrifying presence in a bleak, violent, heart-wrenching fashion, and we are only two episodes into this nine-episode season.

Adapting video games has been hit or miss and even downright unwatchable at times. However, The Last of Us has the right pieces and people at the helm. Video game creator and Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin lead the series. The latter was also the showrunner on the outstanding HBO series Chernobyl. Putting the video game adaptation curse to rest is no easy feat, especially with such a beloved game. However, if the first two episodes are any indication, this will be one hell of a TV series.

The story follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), who must escort Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out west, across what’s left of the US. She may be the person who can save the human race. To reach their destination, they must cross uninviting terrain filled with infected, mutated humans and humans just trying to survive. As with other apocalyptic series, it remains to be seen who is the more significant threat. This new world is bleak and not a time when you expect to live to a ripe old age.

RELATED: ‘Becky’ Blu-ray Review: A Worthy Special Edition Release

Both episodes have flashback openings, which are both terrifying in different ways. In the premiere, we are taken back to 1968 when a doctor explains how fungi are the real threat on a talk show. The way he describes a very believable scenario in which the human race could face mass infection is brilliant but in a frightening way. Episode two leads off with a flashback to Jakarta in 2003, where a professor is brought in to examine a corpse. Realizing the infection is living in a human host and spreading, she realizes all is lost already. The silence between the lines is brilliant and terrifying. When her solution is to bomb the city immediately, you feel her resignation to her fate.

The series starts with Joel and his family in Texas in 2003, as the outbreak begins and everything quickly goes to hell. As Joel, his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) try to flee, she is killed. Joel is set on a new path and is a changed man. Move ahead twenty years, and we find Joel in a FEDRA (Federal Disaster Response Agency) controlled quarantine zone outside the bombed-out ruins of Boston. FEDRA is the judge, jury, and executioner, trying to keep people alive but, in doing so, giving birth to those who wish to fight back.

The Fireflies push back against FEDRA while Joel steers clear, teaming with Tess (Anna Torv) to pull some very suspect jobs to stay alive. A deal is struck between the Fireflies and Joel and Tess to transport Ellie out of the QZ. They will travel west to see if the fate of the human race can be changed for the good.

The second episode focuses on the beginning of this journey, and the devastated remains of Boston take center stage. The detail here is incredible, not just in comparison to the game, but simply outstanding set pieces. It feels like an abandoned, run-down city, except for those infected and residing here. We meet the game-accurate Clickers, and the encounter is done so that the tension is formidable. However, once they arrive at the designated meeting place, they discover everyone is dead and Tess has been infected. As Tess dies, she takes many infected with her, and Joel and Ellie begin their journey together.

RELATED: Why ‘Rambo’ (2008) Is Modern Exploitation Done Right

The final moments between Tess and Joel were silent before Joel grabbed Ellie and ran. It was surprising to see how much emotion could be drawn out in such little time. Joel has made it this long for a reason. While we will probably question some things he did later, he knows how to survive and is just what Ellie needs. Conversely, Ellie, who was at first just cargo, has already begun to awaken the protective fatherly instinct in Joel, something he thought was long since dead. The back and forth between these two will be very interesting to watch.

Before talking about Pascal and Ramsey, let’s tip our hats to Anna Torv, who, as Tess, made a huge impact in such a short amount of time. I would have liked to have seen more of her interactions with Joel and Ellie (she was the first to try and show Ellie some guidance, as Joel wanted to keep her at arm’s length). But this is Joel and Ellie’s journey, and as these two episodes have shown us, Pascal and Ramsey are up to the task. While Pascal captures the brooding father figure of Joel well, it’s Ramsey who took the show over in episode two. The young actress is an awkward teen who is smart, tough, and funny as she steals scenes.

For those of us who have played the game, we know more or less what is coming. The showrunners have made a few changes already, but the core of the series so far is very faithful to the game. For those who haven’t played the game, prepare for more heartache, action, adventure, and joy. Perhaps the video game adaptation curse has finally been lifted, but with seven more episodes left, that remains to be seen.

With two excellent episodes in the books, the anticipation is high to continue watching Joel and Ellie as they march west toward the unknown. The Last of Us episode 3, “Long Long Time,” will premiere on HBO on January 29, 2023.


LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.