Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the creators of The Last of Us TV series, have brought to life the post-apocalyptic world of the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog. The American drama television series, which aired on HBO in January 2023, is set in 2023, two decades after a mass fungal infection caused a pandemic that turned its hosts into zombie-like creatures and collapsed society. The plot follows Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, a teenage girl, across the post-apocalyptic United States.
The Last of Us is the first HBO series based on a video game and is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, the Mighty Mint, and Word Games. Filming took place from July 2021 to June 2022 throughout Alberta, Canada. The score of the series was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming, while Druckmann assisted Mazin with scriptwriting for the nine episodes of the first season.
The series has received critical acclaim, with praise for its performances, writing, production design, and score. The series premiere was watched by 4.7 million viewers on its first day, making it the second-biggest debut for HBO since 2010. Within twelve days, it had been viewed by over 22 million people, with an average of almost 30 million viewers for the first five episodes by March. In January 2023, the show was renewed for a second season, cementing its place as one of the most highly anticipated and successful TV adaptations of a video game.
The finale of the hit series, “The Last of Us”, left audiences reeling as they witnessed Joel make the heart-wrenching decision to save Ellie at the expense of potentially saving the world. The episode began with a flashback to Ellie’s birth and the tragic fate of her mother. It was established that Marlene, now a member of the Fireflies, had known about Ellie since those events, deepening her history with the character.
As the episode progressed, Joel and Ellie finally reached the facility that they had been searching for, only to learn that the potential cure for the virus that has decimated the world was buried deep within Ellie’s brain. The doctors explained that they could harvest it and produce a cure, but Ellie would have to die as a consequence. While Ellie seemed to be ready for this possibility, it was too much for Joel to bear. Despite Marlene’s argument that sparing Ellie would only prolong the inevitable at the expense of everyone else, Joel refused to let her die.
Joel’s decision to save Ellie at all costs resulted in him escaping his captors, freeing Ellie, and killing anyone who got in their way. He then lied to her, telling her that the scientists had “stopped looking for a cure.” Joel’s decision was not rational and invited a debate around the morality of “the needs of the many” versus any one person. Nevertheless, it was a decision that was executed with a whole lot of heart.
The impact of those closing moments left audiences in a state of shock and sadness as they realized the bleakness of a future that Joel had seemingly deprived of its one ray of hope. As the show moves into a second season and likely beyond, the impact of Joel’s decision will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences.
Throughout the season, Joel struggled to find a reason to live in a world that was seemingly devoid of hope. However, in the end, he found something to fight for in Ellie, choosing a renewed purpose over the promise of a better world. While his decision was not the right one, it was one that he believed was necessary to save the one person who had become his reason for living.
In conclusion, the finale of “The Last of Us” left audiences grappling with the morality of Joel’s decision and the impact it will have on the future of the series. The execution of the decision was done with a lot of heart, leaving viewers with a powerful emotional impact. As the series progresses, it will be interesting to see how the decision will continue to shape the story and the characters.
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