Grading the Biggest Differences Between HBO’s 'The Last of Us' and the Game

Rest assured, The Last of Us fans: An adaptation of even the most beloved source material need not be faithful to be extraordinary. Still, when that source material is The Last of Us, one of the most applauded, expertly executed stories in the entirety of video game canon? It gets real tough to justify any deviations from the original masterwork.

There's undeniably an art to lifting the essence of a story, scrapping what's unnecessary, elevating what is, and fusing new material to the old, all without disappointing the impossibly high standards of fans. But if you need a blueprint, it might as well be what Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and game co-developer Neil Druckmann are doing with The Last of Us live-action series on HBO. Rarely has a show toed the line between creative invention and fan appreciation with such grace, retaining what made the 2013 PlayStation game so irresistible while understanding what the bold new landscape of modern television requires. Even when the series deviates from the game's foundation, Mazin, Druckmann, and a pitch-perfect cast do so with such skill and confidence that it's rarely compelling to doubt them.

Still—as any good game loyalist will tell you, myself included—The Last of Us à la HBO is not perfect.

View in Browser  Grading the Biggest Differences Between HBO's 'The Last of Us' and the Game Rest assured, The Last of Us fans: An adaptation of even the most beloved source material need not be faithful to be extraordinary. Still, when that source material is The Last of Us, one of the most applauded, expertly executed stories in the entirety of video game canon? It gets real tough to justify any deviations from the original masterwork. There's undeniably an art to lifting the essence of a story, scrapping what's unnecessary, elevating what is, and fusing new material to the old, all without disappointing the impossibly high standards of fans. But if you need a blueprint, it might as well be what Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and game co-developer Neil Druckmann are doing with The Last of Us live-action series on HBO. Rarely has a show toed the line between creative invention and fan appreciation with such grace, retaining what made the 2013 PlayStation game so irresistible while understanding what the bold new landscape of modern television requires. Even when the series deviates from the game's foundation, Mazin, Druckmann, and a pitch-perfect cast do so with such skill and confidence that it's rarely compelling to doubt them. Still—as any good game loyalist will tell you, myself included—The Last of Us à la HBO is not perfect. READ MORE   Zendaya Debuts Her New Trendy Blonde Bob This is already the cut of 2023. READ MORE   In "Church Girl," Beyoncé Reminds Black Women That Our Bodily Autonomy Is Divine Ahead of the Grammy Awards and a just-announced world tour, the standout track from the megastar's album, Renaissance, continues to resonate. READ MORE Shania Twain Is Completely Unrecognizable with Blonde Hair Truly did a double take! READ MORE   Rihanna Is Reportedly Gearing Up To Announce A Global Tour This Year The Super Bowl is just the beginning. READ MORE   Kit Harington and Rose Leslie Announce They're Expecting Their Second Child And he's "terrified." READ MORE Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection ELLE.com ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019