The TV adaptation of the hit video game “The Last of Us” has been met with universal acclaim from critics, with many praising it as the best adaptation of a video game ever made. The series, which is available on Sky Atlantic and can also be streamed on Now, has broken the curse on gaming-TV crossovers, with many praising its ability to capture the essence of the original game while also adding new elements to the narrative.
Set in post-apocalyptic America, the series follows the characters of Joel and Ellie as they embark on a journey to escape the dangers of the world. The script for the series has been praised for sticking close to the original material, but also for developing characters in new ways that add to the overall narrative. Critics have noted that fans of the game will likely be able to recite lines from the show as they are spoken, but that the series also stands on its own as a great story.
The design of the show has also received high praise, with critics noting the stunning vistas of deserted, bombed out metropolises, as well as the Western-inflected shots of rural America. The series is able to capture the sense of a world that has been destroyed and the struggles that come with it, while also showcasing the beauty of the world that remains.
Empire Magazine’s John Nugent gave the series five stars, claiming that “it never feels like you’re watching a video game.” He noted that it is a “sometimes surreal experience to see its most iconic moments (the collapsed skyscraper, the giraffes) handsomely rendered in live action.” The Washington Post’s Gene Park agreed that the script sticks close to the original material, but also praised the development of some characters as adding to the narrative. He wrote: “People who know the game by heart will likely be able to recite some lines right as they’re being spoken in the show.”
The Independent’s critic Nick Hilton also gave the series four stars, saying that it is “undoubtedly a new landmark in the seemingly impossible task of adapting video games.” He praised the series for shrugging off the episodic nature of linear gameplay, and noted that the design is stunning, with vistas of deserted, bombed out metropolises matched by sprawling, Western-inflected shots of rural America.
Overall, the TV adaptation of “The Last of Us” has been met with universal praise from critics, with many calling it the best adaptation of a video game ever made. The series has been able to capture the essence of the original game while also adding new elements to the narrative, and the design of the show has been praised for its stunning vistas and ability to capture the sense of a world that has been destroyed. The series is available on Sky Atlantic and can also be streamed on Now.
