We all love video games, and we all love TV shows. But more often than not, when the two come together, we don’t love the results.
The vast majority of TV adaptations of video games don’t go according to plan, and receive both commercial failure and a panning by the critics.
There have been some successes, like The Witcher which scored 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. But the recent Netflix adaptation of Resident Evil floundered, with just a 54% fresh rating. And the TV show version of Mortal Combat fared even worse!
But The Last Of Us looks set to break the so-called video game curse.
The official description reads: “The series takes place twenty years after modern civilisation has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.
“What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.”
The show was released on HBO this week, and so far, the reviews have been nothing short of rave.
The game itself was already a smash hit, but the incredible ratings of the TV adaptation have surprised some. In fact, the show currently has a rare and coveted rating of 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!
One of the reasons for the success of the show has to be the people behind it.
Chernobyl showrunner Craig Mazin has collaborated with with game creator Neil Druckmann on the HBO show. The shows stars Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), Anna Torv (Tess), Merle Dandridge (Marlene), Nico Parker (Sarah), and more.
And early reviews suggest they were the exact right people for the job.
One rave review from Dextero reads: “This is the show you’ve been waiting for: The Last of Us promises a video game adaptation experience like no other from its exceptional, emotional opener.”
IGN echoes: “HBO’s The Last of Us is a breathtaking adaptation of one of the most impactful stories told in video games and brilliantly brings Joel and Ellie’s journey to a whole new audience. Taking the essence of what made the original tale so enduring, it builds out the world of the game while also switching up some aspects to almost entirely stunning effect.
“Anchored by two outstanding lead performances from Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, it delivers an enriching show for fans of the PlayStation hit, while also managing to stay welcomingly thrilling to newcomers.”
While The Hollywood Reporter simply says: “HBO’s The Last of Us is by far the best video game adaptation ever made for the big or small screen.”
Will you be tuning in?
