When Naughty Dog in 2013 The Last of Us Although it was labelled a "world hit" relatively quickly after its release, no one at the time knew what the series would eventually become. Numerous awards followed (including Game of the Year) and a second part, which never reached the popularity of the first part, but was nevertheless a fantastic sequel.
In the age of Netflix and the like, it's hardly surprising that streaming services eventually approached Naughty Dog about a film adaptation. Now they are the first episodes is The Last of UsThe series is out and HBO is receiving widespread praise for the supposedly "Best video game adaptation of all time"But how good is the first episode really, and does it actually deliver on its promises?
Doers know their craft
The Last of Us has an incredible amount of The Last of Us It sounds crazy, but it makes sense. Rarely has a video game adaptation so quickly given the feeling that you can recognize the soul of the series in every fiber of this first episode. Some scenes, complete with dialogue, have been reshot from the game, the original composer Gustavo Santaoalla works his magic again in the series, and the visuals are perfectly captured. Theoretically, such a preview is relatively easy to create, because I, for one, already know the whole story and therefore know that we should be in for something fantastic.
This is also due to the fact that it's already known that Season One will tell the story of the first game, and therefore there shouldn't be too many deviations. If you also consider that the cast (I also had some initial concerns about thatSince it fits extremely well and works perfectly, the question arises: Why shouldn't this really become the best video game adaptation of all time?
Firstly, there are the deviations, of course. If you change even a single element of the content, the whole house of cards could collapse, and public opinion could shift faster than you'd like. Naturally, you can also change details that benefit the series. That the creators have a knack for such improvements is evident right from the first episode.
Warning: Spoilers for the first episode! Anyone who hasn't seen these yet should simply skip the next paragraph.
In one scene of the episode, Joel stands before Ellie, protecting her from the soldier he had previously dealt with. At that moment, he felt transported back to the moment of his daughter's death. (illustrated by a flashback)) and beats the soldier completely uncontrollably, as if he were taking out his pain and sorrow on him, and perhaps also as if he already harbors faint paternal feelings for Ellie. In the game, the whole thing is just a short fight that ends in a headshot and doesn't rely on any emotional backstory. This decision is more than clever, because it not only allows the viewer to develop an understanding of Joel more quickly, but it also immediately establishes a bond between him and Ellie. That's simply smart screenwriting. Another example is that the series finally clarifies, where the outbreak originated and thus confirms a fan theory.
Small decisions like this, and the overall feel of the episode, certainly give reason to believe that the people working on this series are passionate about what makes the franchise so successful, and they possess a real understanding of their craft. So, not much should go wrong, but anything can happen, and I might end up sitting here after the season finale writing a completely indignant review of a video game adaptation that really could have been something special.
What still bothers me
One thing did bother me, though. The set design, or rather the overall visuals of the series, leave something to be desired here and there. Scenes in the "city," as well as outside the walls, look like typical film sets, and Pedro Pascal's (Joel) mask is just the gray hairspray you use for Halloween. So it remains to be seen how the landscapes will be captured, and especially what the terrifying creatures and infected that await our heroes will look like.
That's just a minor negative point, though, and so I can summarize by saying that the first episode is more than convincing and certainly whets the appetite for more. It's not quite a masterpiece yet, but a first episode shouldn't really aspire to that. Clearly, the right people are working both in front of and behind the camera, and so we can be optimistic that the successful saga of the series will continue in 2023 with what will be called "the best video game adaptation of all time." See you after the season finale... hopefully in a good mood.
The second episode of [the series] is now available. The Last of Us available, which can be seen in this country on WOW.
