“The Last of Us” is a show produced by HBO Max based on the hit PlayStation game, and early reviews have it on track to becoming one of the best shows ever made, as IMDb has it at an astounding rating of 9.4/10, just a tenth behind the highest rated fiction show on the website, “Breaking Bad.” The showrunners are Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, and it stars talented actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. 

“The Last of Us” is about a single father losing his daughter, Sarah, at the start of a deadly fungal outbreak that turns people into zombie-like creatures. About 20 years later, Joel Miller is tasked with getting Ellie Williams, a 14-year-old girl with extreme value to humanity, to a quarantine zone with doctors to develop a cure. An infected zombie bit Ellie, which would usually also infect any ordinary human within 24 hours, however, Ellie has resisted any symptoms and is perfectly fine weeks after getting bit. As Joel continues on his journey with Ellie, he develops a fatherly love for her and gets very attached to her emotionally. With the limited airing of the show so far, it’s easy to tell HBO won’t stray away from this narrative.

As for the accuracy of the show so far compared to the video game, the cast and producers of the show are fond of the video game and want to make it as authentic as possible. The show has feet of its own, with different but important storytelling elements than that of the video game, that add value whether it means giving more background, building more affection towards a character, or tying up any loose ends left out of the 2013 production. The show immediately hooks you in by indirectly teasing how the virus spreads and survives, something not shown in detail in the game. Sarah, Joel’s daughter, gets significantly more screen time in the show, as she comes off as a likable and witty character. 

I think this show has extreme potential, with the title of best video game adaptation ever already in its grasp. I would definitely recommend it.

The show airs every Sunday from now to March 12th on HBO Max at 9 PM EST.