When The Last of Us series on HBO was announced, we all had our prejudgments caused by the horrifically executed game adaptations of the past. Such announcement raised rightful concerns as The Last of Us fan base is already full of controversy and a possibly unfaithful and lamely constructed show could have been another disastrous blow to the videogaming world as of presence in live action media. From the get-go I tried to keep a hopeful attitude towards the upcoming show. One of my major reasons to my positive mindset was that The Last of Us was a game that had an extraordinary story, vibe, style, pacing and presence, such that is convenient for a live action adaptation. If you asked me The Last of Us is the definitive game that is suited for a show. It is a blessing to get this compelling story woven in a remarkable video game in this format, making it more accessible and appealing to a broader set of audience.

With the task of fixing the dreadful reputation of videogame adaptations, does The Last of Us show on HBO deliver? Judging exclusively and strictly over the first episode, as it is the only episode released as of today, it does. Despite the burden of expectations, the first episode delivers them all in an acceptably faithful and loyal style, with minor additions, inevitable in an adaptation, that expand and improve upon the early stages of the game. The prelude to the story is as heart pumping, tension packed and heartbreaking as it was in the game with dramatic acting that would leave an impactful effect on those who haven't played the game and going for a spoiler free adventure. If you are someone who played the game, you may not feel as fascinated as you were playing the game's opening hours. I think it is only natural considering it is your second time experiencing the portion of the story. The episode ends on a nice note with the addition and introduction of a new and exciting aspect of the show that wasn't as apparent as it was in the game. It can be considered a method of storytelling, so it doesn't influence the story much but rather the emotions you feel during your experience. I strongly believe that this element, if used more, will make the story a lot more intensely and visibly impactful.

Another component of this show that was discussed a lot prior to the release of the pilot episode was the casting. It may be one of the most important aspects of any adaptation as people are very sensitive over the characters involved. Pedro Pascal is exceptional in the role of Joel. I have been grateful over the casting of Pedro from the start. As there couldn't be a better actor for Joel in my opinion. Pedro Pascal is very experienced specifically for the role of Joel's character as Joel shows deep similarities with the character of the Mandalorian from the Star Wars show he stars in called The Mandalorian. I don't see this brought up a lot, but I strongly believe that this is a significant part of his casting. In The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal is a grumpy, broken man who is taking on missions to earn money, he gets tasked with the assignment of delivering a high value cargo to somewhere, the cargo being an important and gifted child which he considers as a cargo but later, forms a mighty bond with it. As you can see it is almost the exact story of Joel in The Last of Us which allows me to confidently say that Pedro is the perfect casting and will keep on impressing us in the role of Joel. Pedro Pascal also has the presence of Joel which I value more over the looks, yet he looks sufficiently similar to Joel from the game. Let's talk about Bella Ramsey who probably has been one of the most criticized members of the cast. Yes, she doesn't quite resemble Ellie in the looks but she, just like Pedro Pascal, has the presence and vibe of Ellie. Also Bella Ramsey is a very successful actress, she is very good in the first episode as Ellie. I was very happy with her performance. I believe that more and more people will realize how good of a choice she was.

To end this review, I can gladly say that I was satisfied with the first episode of the show. The game of The Last of Us posses the potential to produce an excellent show. I believe that it won't only end up as a delight for the fans of the games, but rather a major hit for the general audience. A major portion of people that don't play videogames will now get to experience this story. I can proudly say that I am currently satisfied with the first and excited to see the rest of the episodes. If done correctly, the rest of the show and its presentation may change the narrative and future of game adaptations.