The Last of Us Ep 1, “When You're Lost in the Dark” Review

There have been a number of video game adaptions into shows. The most successful have generally been animated since it can fit the format better. But once in a while, you will get a live-action one. Resident Evil on Netflix was okay, the old Maniac Mansion was weird (appropriate), Halo was a blast just like Halo: Forward Unto Dawn, and I cannot praise the game shows Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego or Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego enough. Those were just good fun and fit perfect. It's this last category, of an excellent fit that we come to The Last of Us. Based on the 2013 breakout hit from Naughty Dog, it's a fresh take on the journey that Joel and Ellie will be taking to bring Ellie to the Fireflies through the zombie hordes of the

Something I immediately loved about this episode was the start of it. Everything begins in 1968, with a talk show. You have Dr. Schoenheiss (Christopher Heyerdahl) talking about the dangerous of an infectious disease being able to travel across the whole of the world in a matter of weeks. Dr. Neuman (John Hannah) is talking about the changes that global warming could bring about. Just the way he is talking about the Cordyceps fungus. With just a few minutes, he establishes what changes it would take for Cordyceps to cross the species barrier and infect humans. Plus he establishes just how little there is humans can do to fight a fungal infection like Cordyceps.

This was something I loved in the game and it came through very clearly here in the show. The first 3 minutes are this talk show and it does all the work we'd need to understand how the Cordyceps could become a threat to humans and what it would do to them (looking at how Cordyceps infect and puppeteer Bullet Ants). I remember all of this from the game even through I haven't played through it since 2013.

Joel (Pedro Pascal) is introduced as a somewhat overworked, busy single father. He works construction with his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna). His daughter, Sarah (Nico Parker), is amazing. Sarah does her best to help her father where she can, but does very distinctly have a life of her own. They do share plenty of love for cheesy movies. Later, we keep with Joel 20 years on with the Infected having overrun the world itself. He's now a smuggler doing his best to survive (and working a few jobs for the government to keep a roof over his head and food on the table).

There's so much I want to say about this first 30 minutes, as the infection is spreading. We get to see just the day to day albeit, Joel's birthday. They have good neighbors that Joel tends to have Sarah spend time with. Sarah grabbing a broken watch that Joel hasn't fixed and brings it to get fixed after school. This is where she first witnesses the beginnings of the outbreak reaching where they are. The watchmaker is very quickly done with the work and a good thing since his wife (?) hurries him elsewhere and almost shoves Sarah out the door. We see how the infection gets to their cul-de-sac neighborhood. Also just how everything goes wrong.

When it comes to things going wrong, it was impressive. This is largely seen from Sarah's perspective. Just how the town gets lost more and more to chaos as the government tries to keep control over anything. Unforgivable orders are issued and they take their price on all involved.

There was a lot from the game that make its way here. The recreated shots are just as impactful. Knowing the game gives you some more insight into what's going on, but it's quite clear that the show is taking things in its own direction. The game is providing a very strong base for them to work from. But it does plenty on its own without solely relying on the narrative. It's got a good pace.

Let's talk music quick. Gustavo Santaolalla was involved in the music David Fleming.

When we jump forward to 2023, we see a child coming in from the wilds. The soldiers from FEDRA bring him in, and promise to take care of him. They check him for something vague, but a device shows red. We see Joel again, he has to put the kid's body into a pyre. We get an idea of Joel's new day to day and the low key position he's made for himself. He's got some good connections to key soldiers, knows at least a few of the right people, and has some notoriety for himself. All that said, he's still a middle-aged man. He has some knee problems and gun usage has damaged his hearing.

Ellie is kept simple this episode. Likely we'll start to get more about her in the next episode. Bella Ramsey does an amazing job with the screen time they are afforded. They make it clear Ellie's keen to protect those she trusts. She attacks Joel from ambush when he threatens Marlene (Marle Dandridge).

There is a big mystery though... what Marlene told Ellie. One has to assume something about how she could have a potential cure of humanity inside her.

I do wonder how much of the DLC, Left Behind is going to be explored. When we get to Ellie and Riley in a Mall, that is from Left Behind. This is where Ellie got bit and found out she is immune. But she and Riley were both bit. So, there is the fact she is the survivor. I just wonder when we get to see this.

The Last of Us so far has been a great show. We've got episode 2, “Infected” out now. The Show's embracing the slower pace that the stealth survivor horror game took. The game was memorable from start to finish. It doesn't take much to remember my time with Joel and Ellie on their long trek. It's my genuine hope that this show can make the same mark. Just, hopefully without me needing 10 years to get back to it.