HBO’s The Last of Us is a masterclass in adaptation

The Last of Us HBO connects to the game

HBO and HBO Max’s The Last of Us also managed to connect a lot of the show to the video game. Of course, the fungi pandemic is a major thing. It’s the driving force behind what’s happened to the world. There’s also the Fireflies and the infected. There are smaller things that make a huge difference, too. They may have gone overlooked, but the creative team should be acknowledged for their attention to detail.

So much of the premiere’s opening act pays tribute to the source material. Of course, Sarah fixing Joel’s watch was an important part of the entire game. That had to be done right, and it was. But, there are smaller nods, like the dinosaur birthday card – something that this writer didn’t catch right away. Then, while Joel, Tommy, and Sarah are driving from the house, the camerawork is heavily influenced by the game. They even included the house on fire and the conversation about only cities being infected.

Now, let’s fast forward to Joel, Ellie, and Tess trying to get out of the quarantine zone. Something as simple as the rain made a big difference. As a fan of the game, this writer appreciated that. It added to the feeling of the scene. It felt darker. It could have been a regular night, but anyone who’s played the game knows that the rain made the moment better.