Despite the strong creative team behind HBO's 'The Last of Us' and the network's unparalleled production values, I went into the show with a bit of trepidation. After having watched the first episode 'When You're Lost in the Darkness', I happily report that not only the show calmed my fears, but it also made me want to play the game once again. And this is not what one usually expects to say after having gone through a TV show or a movie based on a video game. Video game adaptations have a bad rap, and not without reason. But the superlative team behind the show, led by 'Chernobyl' creator Craig Mazin and the game's creative director Neil Druckmann, have fashioned an experience that both complements and enhances the story that we know from the game. It is an exhilarating opening act to what may well be a pre-eminent video game adaptation.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uLtkt8BonwM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The 81-minute episode is directed by Mazin and co-written by him and Druckmann. This piece is spoiler-y. If you wish to go totally unaware of the show, and did not play the game or watched the show's promos, you might wish to watch the episode and come back.

In 2003, a global pandemic, arising out of a fungus called Cordyceps, strikes the world. Unlike other pandemics, this one causes its victims to turn into mindless flesh-eating cannibals. Joel (Pedro Pascal) is running from the ensuing chaos with his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) and friend Tommy (Gabriel Luna). Joel and Sarah are confronted by a soldier who opens fire after his superior asks him to shoot them over the mere possibility of the two being infected. As she dies in his arms, a tearful Joel is forced to abandon her to escape the army.&nbsp;

Cut to 20 years later, the world has changed radically. The surviving citizens, at least in the US, have divided themselves into highly-militarised quarantine zones that are hostile to each other. This is a more hostile world where things like trust and loyalty are in short supply. Everybody is looking out for themselves. Joel and his partner Tess (Anna Torv) are smugglers who sell contraband material to soldiers and inhabitants of the QZ. Joel has been searching for Tommy, with whom he has not been in contact for weeks, and does not even know if he is alive. They come across the rebel group Fireflies, whose wounded leader Marlene (Merle Dandridge) urges them to take a young girl Ellie (Bella Ramsey) when Joel goes on to find Tommy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/top-video-game-adaptations-ever-made-werewolves-within-mortal-kombat-and-more-553522">Top video game adaptations ever made: 'Werewolves Within', 'Mortal Kombat', and more</a>

Joel and Anna learn that Ellie was infected for three weeks and still has not turned.&nbsp;

Every complaint the fans of the franchise had will be satiated in this superbly written, acted, and shot series. Pascal does not look like Joel from the games. Always watchable, the actor embodies the character in his own way, wisely avoiding aping the game's Joel. He skillfully depicts the complexities of Joel's character in a nuanced way — the ruthlessness, the cynicism, the distrust, and beneath all that a damaged, apathetic man still mourning the death of his daughter. Bella Ramsey's Ellie has been a bone of contention among fans ever since her casting was announced. And no, in terms of appearance, she is not at all like Ellie from the game. But the actor ably channels the bravado and the vulnerability of a child with nobody to call her own in the world.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5tSO9aR2Ds" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

So this is the thing. If you want the show to be exactly the game, only in live-action, you are going to be severely disappointed. There are callbacks to the game (some of them very specific) and the general feel of the world is similarly bleak and hopeless. But the show is its own thing, and while the larger story beats remain pretty much the same, there are variations. If you can get past that, you will fall in love with 'The Last of Us'. I cannot vouch for the rest of the episodes, but so far it is off to a sublime start.

'When You're Lost in the Darkness' is both gripping and emotional. It is also a spectacular, tense introduction to this world. Zombie shows (and movies) are dime a dozen in this day and age. But this is the first time in a long while that a zombie show has managed to hook me so completely. And to think, the episode was as long as a feature film. Those 81 minutes pass quickly. HBO's 'The Last of Us' is wonderful. 
&nbsp;

Despite the strong creative team behind HBO's 'The Last of Us' and the network's unparalleled production values, I went into the show with a bit of trepidation. After having watched the first episode 'When You're Lost in the Darkness', I happily report that not only the show calmed my fears, but it also made me want to play the game once again.

Despite the strong creative team behind HBO's 'The Last of Us' and the network's unparalleled production values, I went into the show with a bit of trepidation. After having watched the first episode 'When You're Lost in the Darkness', I happily report that not only the show calmed my fears, but it also made me want to play the game once again. And this is not what one usually expects to say after having gone through a TV show or a movie based on a video game. Video game adaptations have a bad rap, and not without reason. But the superlative team behind the show, led by 'Chernobyl' creator Craig Mazin and the game's creative director Neil Druckmann, have fashioned an experience that both complements and enhances the story that we know from the game. It is an exhilarating opening act to what may well be a pre-eminent video game adaptation. The 81-minute episode is directed by Mazin and co-written by him and Druckmann. This piece is spoiler-y. If you wish to go totally unaware of the show, and did not play the game or watched the show's promos, you might wish to watch the episode and come back. In 2003, a global pandemic, arising out of a fungus called Cordyceps, strikes the world. Unlike other pandemics, this one causes its victims to turn into mindless flesh-eating cannibals. Joel (Pedro Pascal) is running from the ensuing chaos with his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) and friend Tommy (Gabriel Luna). Joel and Sarah are confronted by a soldier who opens fire after his superior asks him to shoot them over the mere possibility of the two being infected. As she dies in his arms, a tearful Joel is forced to abandon her to escape the army. Cut to 20 years later, the world has changed radically. The surviving citizens, at least in the US, have divided themselves into highly-militarised quarantine zones that are hostile to each other. This is a more hostile world where things like trust and loyalty are in short supply. Everybody is looking out for themselves. Joel and his partner Tess (Anna Torv) are smugglers who sell contraband material to soldiers and inhabitants of the QZ. Joel has been searching for Tommy, with whom he has not been in contact for weeks, and does not even know if he is alive. They come across the rebel group Fireflies, whose wounded leader Marlene (Merle Dandridge) urges them to take a young girl Ellie (Bella Ramsey) when Joel goes on to find Tommy. Also Read: Top video game adaptations ever made: 'Werewolves Within', 'Mortal Kombat', and more Joel and Anna learn that Ellie was infected for three weeks and still has not turned. Every complaint the fans of the franchise had will be satiated in this superbly written, acted, and shot series. Pascal does not look like Joel from the games. Always watchable, the actor embodies the character in his own way, wisely avoiding aping the game's Joel. He skillfully depicts the complexities of Joel's character in a nuanced way — the ruthlessness, the cynicism, the distrust, and beneath all that a damaged, apathetic man still mourning the death of his daughter. Bella Ramsey's Ellie has been a bone of contention among fans ever since her casting was announced. And no, in terms of appearance, she is not at all like Ellie from the game. But the actor ably channels the bravado and the vulnerability of a child with nobody to call her own in the world. So this is the thing. If you want the show to be exactly the game, only in live-action, you are going to be severely disappointed. There are callbacks to the game (some of them very specific) and the general feel of the world is similarly bleak and hopeless. But the show is its own thing, and while the larger story beats remain pretty much the same, there are variations. If you can get past that, you will fall in love with 'The Last of Us'. I cannot vouch for the rest of the episodes, but so far it is off to a sublime start. 'When You're Lost in the Darkness' is both gripping and emotional. It is also a spectacular, tense introduction to this world. Zombie shows (and movies) are dime a dozen in this day and age. But this is the first time in a long while that a zombie show has managed to hook me so completely. And to think, the episode was as long as a feature film. Those 81 minutes pass quickly. HBO's 'The Last of Us' is wonderful.

'The Last of Us' early review: HBO series is off to a tense, gripping start

Top video game adaptations ever made: 'Werewolves Within', 'Mortal Kombat', and more

The first trailer for HBO's adaptation of the popular 2013 video game 'The Last of Us' is here. The series comes from Craig Mazin, the Emmy-winning creator of 'Chernobyl', and Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the game. The game follows Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting a young girl Ellie across a United States overrun by zombies. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey play the role of Joel and Ellie, respectively. 'The Last of Us' video game is considered one of the best games of all time, which won a number of Game of the Year awards. Thus, there are a lot of expectations from the show.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rBRRDpQ0yc0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

You can see the teaser above. The clip is set to 'Alone and Forsaken' by country artist Hank Williams, and features visuals of Joel, Ellie and others evading zombies. We also see hints of the real enemy -- other humans -- in the promo. The game created a zombie-infested world in which greedy, unconscientious humans were still the bigger threat than the undead. Ellie is seemingly immune to the fungus that leads to her being potentially the most important person on the planet as whatever is behind her immunity may lead to a cure. The series looks quite different in terms of aesthetic and other aspects. But at the same time, there are things and even plot points that fans of the games will recognise.&nbsp;

Having its home at HBO has ensured that the production values are high quality. Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Pierce, and Anna Torv also star.

'The Last of Us' is expected to premiere sometime next year.

The first trailer for HBO's adaptation of the popular 2013 video game 'The Last of Us' is here. The series comes from Craig Mazin, the Emmy-winning creator of 'Chernobyl', and Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the game.

The first trailer for HBO's adaptation of the popular 2013 video game 'The Last of Us' is here. The series comes from Craig Mazin, the Emmy-winning creator of 'Chernobyl', and Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the game. The game follows Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting a young girl Ellie across a United States overrun by zombies. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey play the role of Joel and Ellie, respectively. 'The Last of Us' video game is considered one of the best games of all time, which won a number of Game of the Year awards. Thus, there are a lot of expectations from the show. You can see the teaser above. The clip is set to 'Alone and Forsaken' by country artist Hank Williams, and features visuals of Joel, Ellie and others evading zombies. We also see hints of the real enemy -- other humans -- in the promo. The game created a zombie-infested world in which greedy, unconscientious humans were still the bigger threat than the undead. Ellie is seemingly immune to the fungus that leads to her being potentially the most important person on the planet as whatever is behind her immunity may lead to a cure. The series looks quite different in terms of aesthetic and other aspects. But at the same time, there are things and even plot points that fans of the games will recognise. Having its home at HBO has ensured that the production values are high quality. Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Pierce, and Anna Torv also star. 'The Last of Us' is expected to premiere sometime next year.

'The Last of Us' teaser: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey face zombies in HBO's video game adaptation

The first look from HBO's upcoming video game adaptation 'The Last of Us' is here. The footage debuted along with&nbsp;a teaser for all the upcoming content that is coming to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery's streaming service.

The story of 'The Last of Us' is set in a world overrun by zombies thanks to a fungus. The world has turned into mostly zombie-infested wilderness dotted here and there with quarantine zones ruled by totalitarian regimes.&nbsp;

You can see the teaser below.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWsY3DlLdIA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The focus of the tale is the duo of Joel, a man with a dark past, and a young girl Ellie as they traverse the length and breadth of the United States and evade and often kill enemies, undead or otherwise. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey play the roles of Joel and Ellie.

Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Pierce, and Anna Torv also star.

The Last of Us' is considered one of the best video games ever made. Back when it released, it scored multiple game of the year awards and received countless other awards. A remastered version, called simply 'The Last of Us Remastered', was released in 2014. The writing was one of the aspects that were singled out for praise by critics. So the story of the game was rife for an adaptation. A miniseries treatment should give the story and the characters more breathing room than a film would have done.

The HBO series is created by Craig Mazin, the screenwriter behind the multiple Emmy-winning TV miniseries 'Chernobyl', also an HBO product, and Neil Druckmann. It is based on the landmark third-person action-adventure video game of the same time developed by Naughty Dog. Druckmann was a director on the video game and is also a co-president of Naughty Dog.

'The Last of Us' does not have a release date yet. It is expected to arrive sometime next year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The first look from HBO's upcoming video game adaptation 'The Last of Us' is here. The footage debuted along with a teaser for all the upcoming content that is coming to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery's streaming service.

The first look from HBO's upcoming video game adaptation 'The Last of Us' is here. The footage debuted along with a teaser for all the upcoming content that is coming to HBO Max, Warner Bros Discovery's streaming service. The story of 'The Last of Us' is set in a world overrun by zombies thanks to a fungus. The world has turned into mostly zombie-infested wilderness dotted here and there with quarantine zones ruled by totalitarian regimes. You can see the teaser below. The focus of the tale is the duo of Joel, a man with a dark past, and a young girl Ellie as they traverse the length and breadth of the United States and evade and often kill enemies, undead or otherwise. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey play the roles of Joel and Ellie. Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Pierce, and Anna Torv also star. The Last of Us' is considered one of the best video games ever made. Back when it released, it scored multiple game of the year awards and received countless other awards. A remastered version, called simply 'The Last of Us Remastered', was released in 2014. The writing was one of the aspects that were singled out for praise by critics. So the story of the game was rife for an adaptation. A miniseries treatment should give the story and the characters more breathing room than a film would have done. The HBO series is created by Craig Mazin, the screenwriter behind the multiple Emmy-winning TV miniseries 'Chernobyl', also an HBO product, and Neil Druckmann. It is based on the landmark third-person action-adventure video game of the same time developed by Naughty Dog. Druckmann was a director on the video game and is also a co-president of Naughty Dog. 'The Last of Us' does not have a release date yet. It is expected to arrive sometime next year.

HBO Max debuts first footage from 'The Last of Us'. Watch

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'The Last of Us' early review: HBO series is off to a tense, gripping start

Top video game adaptations ever made: 'Werewolves Within', 'Mortal Kombat', and more

'The Last of Us' teaser: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey face zombies in HBO's video game adaptation

HBO Max debuts first footage from 'The Last of Us'. Watch