The most anticipated series of the year was actually an incredibly successful Playstation game: The Last of Us. For the HBO series, Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, creative director and author of the game template, send the two Game of Thrones stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal on an emotional trip through the post-apocalypse.
The 9-episode first season of The Last of Us starts on January 16th on Sky/WOW. Every Monday there is a new episode that is between 45 and 80 (!) minutes long. Whether the series lives up to the huge expectations and can inspire or is just another misguided video game adaptation, you will find out in our short and above all spoiler-free first impression of The Last of Us, for which we were able to preview all episodes of the first season.
This is what you can expect in The Last of Us with Pedro Pascal
In the world of The Last of Us in 2003, a fungus called Cordyceps spreads, the infected in zombie-like beings transformed and eventually wiped out a large part of humanity. 20 years later, society has largely collapsed and the infection only appears to be under control.
The day laborer and black market trader Joel (Pedro Pascal) enters this world a dangerous mission: He is supposed to smuggle the teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of a military-controlled quarantine zone in Boston and bring her to the base of the rebel group Fireflies. To do this, he has to cross several US states.
Check out the trailer for Season 1 of The Last of Us here:
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For Joel, the mission is just a means to an end in order to be able to track down his missing brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna). For humanity, on the other hand, it is the chance for a cure. Because Ellie seems to be immune to the infection of the Cordyceps fungus. While she is not immune to attacks from lightning-fast infected, marauders, and other dangerous factionswhom the duo encounters on their journey across the USA.
Why The Last of Us is so different from other zombie series like The Walking Dead
The special thing about The Last of Us is the structure of the series itself. Instead of a large ensemble of characters whose stories are continued from episode to episode, The Last of Us is largely based on one Case of the week structure, which introduces us to new locations and characters with each additional episode, who fight for survival in this dystopian world in different ways. The common adventure of Joel and Ellie serves as a common thread that connects everything.
The Last of Us trumps as Film adaptation of the first of two games so far with an unexpected closeness to the game template. This is rather unusual for video game adaptations. The series also works perfectly for people who don’t know the games – and will surprise anyone who was expecting a new The Walking Dead here.
Because The Last of Us is not a classic zombie apocalypse story and For the most part, it even dispenses with horror and zombie action. The sparingly placed appearances of the absolutely terrifying mushroom zombies, whose grotesque design is both horrific and fascinating at the same time, are all the more striking.
The horror series is more interested in people than zombies – and breaks your heart several times
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Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us
Almost melancholic and calm, the series roams through beautiful and breathtaking scenery in post-apocalyptic America – from decaying cities to the snowy mountains of Wyoming. In contrast to The Walking Dead, there is much more to see here than just the same boring forest floors.
The biggest difference to comparable genre representatives, however, is the strong focus on human fates. The Last of Us sheds light on being human in a decayed world, in which most of the survivors have long since lost their humanity and empathy. And that using different story vignettes of different tonalities, moods and even genres.
The Last of Us is much more than just another zombie series. It’s heartbreaking. And she will break your heart more than once. Anyone who can get involved can expect an absolutely recommendable series highlight with fantastic pictures and strong actors.
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Are you looking forward to The Last of Us?