The Last Of Us: Season One Review
Apr. 19th, 2023 01:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452This took much longer to write out than I anticipated, but here are my thoughts on the first season of The Last Of Us.
HBO's The Last Of Us: Season One Review
I think it's safe to say that, not only did I love it, I think this is perhaps the best adaptation of a video game I've seen.
When they were thinking about making a live-action adaptation of The Last Of Us, I was nervous, since video game adaptations don't often do well. First there were rumors about it being made into a movie, but then that was scrapped and abandoned, and then rumors resurfaced again about it being made into a television series instead, and when that became a reality, and more news and announcements came out from it, my apprehension gradually loosened and turned more and more optimistic. And then the show premiered, and immediately right from the first episode I knew that this was going to be good. It probably helped that I knew the story already, which was an advantage from those unfamiliar with the game, but even with knowing the story the show still managed to keep me engaged nonetheless.
Something I appreciated about the show was how well-balanced it was, not just structurally but also knowing what to keep in, what to omit, and what to expand upon from the source material. It's a very delicate line to tread and I thought that they handled it wonderfully, which is very difficult to do with adaptations in general. Again, I know the story, but while watching I didn't feel like anything they brought in from the game verbatim was gimmicky. It didn't feel like they were just lifting certain scenes and slapping them in for something cool or quippy. It was done with extreme care, you could tell everyone involved was very, very passionate about the story and wanted to do it justice. And, in my opinion, they did. Even the changes and additions made actually enhanced the story, especially the levels of foreshadowing they did.
For example, the Kansas City arc with Kathleen was an extension of a section within the game, Kathleen was an original character created for the show which gave more insight as to why these hunters were going after Henry and Sam, but also they cleverly weaved certain prominent elements from the second game into that arc. Everything with Jackson which had quite a bit of TLOU2 hints. Ellie's feral rage, as well.
I don't want to spoil anything for people who don't know anything about the second game, so I'll just say that watching the show and seeing little bits and pieces foreshadowing and planting the seeds of what's to come made me so excited while watching. Even if there hadn't been more seasons after this it's still great seeing that they were staying true to the story in its entirety, to who these characters are and where their journeys would lead, adding more depth to it all.
Things I Absolutely Loved About The Season One:
** The changes. I already mentioned this, but the changes they did actually made sense with the narrative being told and it gave a further expansion upon the story and characters. The prime example of this is the story of Bill and Frank, where they took something very bitter and cynical in the game and turned it around and made it so beautiful and tender and hopeful. While I would have loved to have seen Bill meet and and snark with Ellie as they do in the game, I actually prefer the show's version. Another example is the time shift, since in the game the outbreak happens in 2013 (when the game was released), whereas in the show they made it 2003 so the twenty years later mark would coincide with the year it would be released. I thought that was interesting, and I liked that they didn't just have it be that, either, but rather they paid attention to that era, as well. Those details is something I really appreciated because it shows they really thought this through instead if just slapping on a random year/date and calling it a day. So yeah, those are just a couple of examples of the many changes I liked and approved of in the show.
** The way they kind of altered how the infection is, which is different from the game and yet somehow they made it scarier and more unsettling. The way the fungus moves, the way it evolves on the person, which isn't far off from the game version but seeing it more realistically is even more disturbing. I liked the additional changes of them being more of a hivemind, that the cordyceps is infecting things underground too so if you step on a patch of it, it awakes all the nearby hive and they know precisely where you are. That's so terrifying, it makes up for the fact that they removed the spores aspect of the infection.
** I already mentioned this in my review of the first episode, but those first twenty minutes? *chefs kiss*
** I deeply appreciated the show adding in disabilities and health issues, which makes sense in the world they live in but it's not something that you see often in these kinds of stories, and it's not something that is seen in the first game, either. Joel being partially deaf on his right side, having joint issues, having panic attacks due to his PTSD, all of that was invented for the show. Sam being deaf and using sign language was also done specifically for the show, as well, along with him having been sick which is what prompted Henry to do what he needed to do causing the ripple effect for the Kansas City arc. Frank having a debilitating illness, too. It demonstrates that these things don't stop just because society collapsed, and it becomes harder to treat. Never mind you have characters like Joel who have been protectors and they are physically incapable of doing so, because they're older now and have disabilities, it makes these characters grounded more to reality than them simply being characters from a video game where you're supposed to be controlling them to get to Point A to Point B. Joel is not an action star, he's a regular human being who is middle-aged, and shows it.
** In addendum to that, the show making note about certain necessities such as toilet paper, deodorant, and menstruation products. Again, not something you see a lot in these kinds of stories even though it's the most practical thing to be concerned about. I mean, if you're worried about the shortage of food supplies why not the shortage of personal hygiene care?
** The nice balance of special and practical effects usage, particularly in regards to the infected. The prosthetics for the Clickers and the Bloater in particular were stunning, it looked exactly like in the game and seeing it come to life was so cool. Beyond that, I liked that even when you knew they were using special effects for a backdrop you couldn't tell because it blended so seamlessly. Hell, in the season finale during the giraffe scene, the giraffe was actually real while everything else surrounding them wasn't. I liked that they tried to get as much practical effects and shooting on actual locations as possible, and even if they were to build a set they took the time to make it as it should be in such a world like this. The attention to detail on the show was fantastic in that regard, not just for little easter eggs for people who played the game/know the story, but also just in general.
** Having Gustavo Santaolalla return to composing music for the show was an excellent decision. It wouldn't be The Last Of Us without the heartbreaking beauty of his music done for the story. I really loved that the opening credits remains the same, which you can compare the game version to the HBO version and the only difference is the visuals as the show got a colorful upgrade. As one of the YouTube commenters pointed out, you cannot improve on perfection of the music.
** The fact that they brought in the OG voice actors from the game to make cameos, including getting the same voice actor to reprise her role as Marlene, was absolutely wonderful to see. From OG!Tommy getting his head ripped off by the Bloater to OG!Joel getting killed by show!Ellie, and even catching a glimpse of Laura Bailey as the nurse in the finale (which is also a reprise since she did voice the nurse in the game), which is even more funny because Laura plays an important character in the second game. My favorite, of course, would have to be Ashley Johnson because she played Ellie's mom in the flashback. She brought Ellie to life in the game, and she gave life to Ellie in the show. So beautifully poetic and fitting. And I know many game players knew instantly that it was her when she appeared, you cannot mistake those grunts and her cursing because, well, that's Ellie!
** I haven't listened to the podcast yet, but I've read excerpts of what was said on the HBO The Last Of Us podcast with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and other guests from the show where they talk about each episode after it aired, and they give a lot of great insight on the things they did with each episode, the things that were changed, added in, the acting and direction decisions, etc.
** And lastly, because it needs to be said: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were absolutely amazing as Joel and Ellie. Hell, the entire casting of this show was perfect, but major props to Pedro and Bella for bringing these beloved characters alive on the small screen. And really, you can't really compare the performances between Pedro and Bella and Troy and Ashley, because all four of them brought these characters to life in their own ways. Watching Pedro and Bella together, that dynamic, they were those characters, even if a little different by adding their own flavor to them you cannot deny that they were Joel and Ellie. Amazing, phenomenal, spectacular, etc.
My One Nitpick:
Just a small one, but I kind of wish that the season had been a bit longer. Like, ten to thirteen episodes instead of just nine. I already mentioned that I liked how the season was structured, and it really was along with how well-paced it all was, but having an extended four episodes would've been nice to at least stretch certain things out, allowing us a bit more time with the characters, observing the world around them, facing certain obstacles that aren't life-threatening (still wished we could've seen Ellie on a pallet, dammit), and just overall more bonding moments, more than there already were, anyway.
(I do like that it was released weekly, though, it gave us breathers in between each episode.)
I also wished we could have seen them throwing a rock or a brick as they do in the game, but I can understand why they didn't, same with how neither Joel or Ellie were using a bow and arrow or any of the other weapons you could craft as you do in the game since not all game mechanics work for an adaptation like this.
Overall: The Last Of Us is among my favorite video game stories, and I think the HBO show did a fantastic job with bringing the first game to life. From the writing and the pacing, the way everything looked from the sets and the locations, and the performances from everyone involved, it was all phenomenal. While perfection doesn't exist, this might be near close to a perfect video game adaptation I've seen.
Obviously, the show was renewed for another season. Without going into spoilers for TLOU2, I will say that I'm relieved that they announced that there will be multiple seasons adapting the second game. This isn't a story that is meant to be rushed, especially if they are going to keep with the nine episode order per season. Considering that the first game runtime is around 22 hours worth and they had to condense that into nine hours of television, and the second game is roughly over 40 hours of runtime, having multiple seasons is a good call. It'll give them time to structure it out properly just as they did with this season.
Furthermore, being pleased with the way the first season handled the changes and expanding of the first game, if they keep that momentum up with the rest of the story then I have faith that they'll handle it just fine. Unlike the first game, the second game is told non-linearly so it should be interesting to see how they will adapt it to fit for a television format. It's already been said that there's going to be some major changes on how they do that, so we'll have to wait and see what that means.
I do, however, want to see Laura Bailey as a cameo in the second season, more than the very brief moment we see her in the S1 finale. Also perhaps some of the other Critical Role peeps as well, considering a few of them did voice work for the games, along with some of the other OG voice actors too.
HBO's The Last Of Us: Season One Review
I think it's safe to say that, not only did I love it, I think this is perhaps the best adaptation of a video game I've seen.
When they were thinking about making a live-action adaptation of The Last Of Us, I was nervous, since video game adaptations don't often do well. First there were rumors about it being made into a movie, but then that was scrapped and abandoned, and then rumors resurfaced again about it being made into a television series instead, and when that became a reality, and more news and announcements came out from it, my apprehension gradually loosened and turned more and more optimistic. And then the show premiered, and immediately right from the first episode I knew that this was going to be good. It probably helped that I knew the story already, which was an advantage from those unfamiliar with the game, but even with knowing the story the show still managed to keep me engaged nonetheless.
Something I appreciated about the show was how well-balanced it was, not just structurally but also knowing what to keep in, what to omit, and what to expand upon from the source material. It's a very delicate line to tread and I thought that they handled it wonderfully, which is very difficult to do with adaptations in general. Again, I know the story, but while watching I didn't feel like anything they brought in from the game verbatim was gimmicky. It didn't feel like they were just lifting certain scenes and slapping them in for something cool or quippy. It was done with extreme care, you could tell everyone involved was very, very passionate about the story and wanted to do it justice. And, in my opinion, they did. Even the changes and additions made actually enhanced the story, especially the levels of foreshadowing they did.
For example, the Kansas City arc with Kathleen was an extension of a section within the game, Kathleen was an original character created for the show which gave more insight as to why these hunters were going after Henry and Sam, but also they cleverly weaved certain prominent elements from the second game into that arc. Everything with Jackson which had quite a bit of TLOU2 hints. Ellie's feral rage, as well.
I don't want to spoil anything for people who don't know anything about the second game, so I'll just say that watching the show and seeing little bits and pieces foreshadowing and planting the seeds of what's to come made me so excited while watching. Even if there hadn't been more seasons after this it's still great seeing that they were staying true to the story in its entirety, to who these characters are and where their journeys would lead, adding more depth to it all.
Things I Absolutely Loved About The Season One:
** The changes. I already mentioned this, but the changes they did actually made sense with the narrative being told and it gave a further expansion upon the story and characters. The prime example of this is the story of Bill and Frank, where they took something very bitter and cynical in the game and turned it around and made it so beautiful and tender and hopeful. While I would have loved to have seen Bill meet and and snark with Ellie as they do in the game, I actually prefer the show's version. Another example is the time shift, since in the game the outbreak happens in 2013 (when the game was released), whereas in the show they made it 2003 so the twenty years later mark would coincide with the year it would be released. I thought that was interesting, and I liked that they didn't just have it be that, either, but rather they paid attention to that era, as well. Those details is something I really appreciated because it shows they really thought this through instead if just slapping on a random year/date and calling it a day. So yeah, those are just a couple of examples of the many changes I liked and approved of in the show.
** The way they kind of altered how the infection is, which is different from the game and yet somehow they made it scarier and more unsettling. The way the fungus moves, the way it evolves on the person, which isn't far off from the game version but seeing it more realistically is even more disturbing. I liked the additional changes of them being more of a hivemind, that the cordyceps is infecting things underground too so if you step on a patch of it, it awakes all the nearby hive and they know precisely where you are. That's so terrifying, it makes up for the fact that they removed the spores aspect of the infection.
** I already mentioned this in my review of the first episode, but those first twenty minutes? *chefs kiss*
** I deeply appreciated the show adding in disabilities and health issues, which makes sense in the world they live in but it's not something that you see often in these kinds of stories, and it's not something that is seen in the first game, either. Joel being partially deaf on his right side, having joint issues, having panic attacks due to his PTSD, all of that was invented for the show. Sam being deaf and using sign language was also done specifically for the show, as well, along with him having been sick which is what prompted Henry to do what he needed to do causing the ripple effect for the Kansas City arc. Frank having a debilitating illness, too. It demonstrates that these things don't stop just because society collapsed, and it becomes harder to treat. Never mind you have characters like Joel who have been protectors and they are physically incapable of doing so, because they're older now and have disabilities, it makes these characters grounded more to reality than them simply being characters from a video game where you're supposed to be controlling them to get to Point A to Point B. Joel is not an action star, he's a regular human being who is middle-aged, and shows it.
** In addendum to that, the show making note about certain necessities such as toilet paper, deodorant, and menstruation products. Again, not something you see a lot in these kinds of stories even though it's the most practical thing to be concerned about. I mean, if you're worried about the shortage of food supplies why not the shortage of personal hygiene care?
** The nice balance of special and practical effects usage, particularly in regards to the infected. The prosthetics for the Clickers and the Bloater in particular were stunning, it looked exactly like in the game and seeing it come to life was so cool. Beyond that, I liked that even when you knew they were using special effects for a backdrop you couldn't tell because it blended so seamlessly. Hell, in the season finale during the giraffe scene, the giraffe was actually real while everything else surrounding them wasn't. I liked that they tried to get as much practical effects and shooting on actual locations as possible, and even if they were to build a set they took the time to make it as it should be in such a world like this. The attention to detail on the show was fantastic in that regard, not just for little easter eggs for people who played the game/know the story, but also just in general.
** Having Gustavo Santaolalla return to composing music for the show was an excellent decision. It wouldn't be The Last Of Us without the heartbreaking beauty of his music done for the story. I really loved that the opening credits remains the same, which you can compare the game version to the HBO version and the only difference is the visuals as the show got a colorful upgrade. As one of the YouTube commenters pointed out, you cannot improve on perfection of the music.
** The fact that they brought in the OG voice actors from the game to make cameos, including getting the same voice actor to reprise her role as Marlene, was absolutely wonderful to see. From OG!Tommy getting his head ripped off by the Bloater to OG!Joel getting killed by show!Ellie, and even catching a glimpse of Laura Bailey as the nurse in the finale (which is also a reprise since she did voice the nurse in the game), which is even more funny because Laura plays an important character in the second game. My favorite, of course, would have to be Ashley Johnson because she played Ellie's mom in the flashback. She brought Ellie to life in the game, and she gave life to Ellie in the show. So beautifully poetic and fitting. And I know many game players knew instantly that it was her when she appeared, you cannot mistake those grunts and her cursing because, well, that's Ellie!
** I haven't listened to the podcast yet, but I've read excerpts of what was said on the HBO The Last Of Us podcast with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and other guests from the show where they talk about each episode after it aired, and they give a lot of great insight on the things they did with each episode, the things that were changed, added in, the acting and direction decisions, etc.
** And lastly, because it needs to be said: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were absolutely amazing as Joel and Ellie. Hell, the entire casting of this show was perfect, but major props to Pedro and Bella for bringing these beloved characters alive on the small screen. And really, you can't really compare the performances between Pedro and Bella and Troy and Ashley, because all four of them brought these characters to life in their own ways. Watching Pedro and Bella together, that dynamic, they were those characters, even if a little different by adding their own flavor to them you cannot deny that they were Joel and Ellie. Amazing, phenomenal, spectacular, etc.
My One Nitpick:
Just a small one, but I kind of wish that the season had been a bit longer. Like, ten to thirteen episodes instead of just nine. I already mentioned that I liked how the season was structured, and it really was along with how well-paced it all was, but having an extended four episodes would've been nice to at least stretch certain things out, allowing us a bit more time with the characters, observing the world around them, facing certain obstacles that aren't life-threatening (still wished we could've seen Ellie on a pallet, dammit), and just overall more bonding moments, more than there already were, anyway.
(I do like that it was released weekly, though, it gave us breathers in between each episode.)
I also wished we could have seen them throwing a rock or a brick as they do in the game, but I can understand why they didn't, same with how neither Joel or Ellie were using a bow and arrow or any of the other weapons you could craft as you do in the game since not all game mechanics work for an adaptation like this.
Overall: The Last Of Us is among my favorite video game stories, and I think the HBO show did a fantastic job with bringing the first game to life. From the writing and the pacing, the way everything looked from the sets and the locations, and the performances from everyone involved, it was all phenomenal. While perfection doesn't exist, this might be near close to a perfect video game adaptation I've seen.
Obviously, the show was renewed for another season. Without going into spoilers for TLOU2, I will say that I'm relieved that they announced that there will be multiple seasons adapting the second game. This isn't a story that is meant to be rushed, especially if they are going to keep with the nine episode order per season. Considering that the first game runtime is around 22 hours worth and they had to condense that into nine hours of television, and the second game is roughly over 40 hours of runtime, having multiple seasons is a good call. It'll give them time to structure it out properly just as they did with this season.
Furthermore, being pleased with the way the first season handled the changes and expanding of the first game, if they keep that momentum up with the rest of the story then I have faith that they'll handle it just fine. Unlike the first game, the second game is told non-linearly so it should be interesting to see how they will adapt it to fit for a television format. It's already been said that there's going to be some major changes on how they do that, so we'll have to wait and see what that means.
I do, however, want to see Laura Bailey as a cameo in the second season, more than the very brief moment we see her in the S1 finale. Also perhaps some of the other Critical Role peeps as well, considering a few of them did voice work for the games, along with some of the other OG voice actors too.
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Date: 2023-04-19 01:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2023-04-29 06:05 pm (UTC)I learned so much from your post, about the behind-the-scenes stuff (like the giraffe being real!) and about the adaptation differences (like Kathleen being an original character, and the show being set in the present vs in the future which I really like). I already knew about Joel's panic attacks being a new addition, but it is possibly my favorite one. ♡ I'm also very glad that they didn't end up going with the movie format because I'd probably never end up watching it, just because I so rarely watch movies in general. Thanks for sharing the game opening credits too, I especially love the voice-overs!
And I really liked that it aired weekly too, and yep, "I love it, can it be longer?" is my reaction too. :D (And I didn't even know other scenes that could be included, it would just be awesome for it to be longer.)
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