The Last of Us is a television show based on the video game of the same name. The show and game take place in a post apocalyptic world where a fungal virus has decimated the population. A middle aged man named Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, escorts a young girl named Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, across the country in an attempt to save everyone from the apocalypse. Along the way, Joel and Ellie face different challenges and hardships that cause them to become closer. 

Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal portray their characters fantastically. Both Ramsey and Pascal tell a story where you feel for both characters very strongly. They make the video game characters come to life. Personally, I have never played the video game, but when speaking to people who have played the games and reading articles about the show, I understand that the plot and certain scenes are extremely similar. 

What I loved about the show was how it was able to make you feel many different emotions, without the plot coming off as forced. I laughed, cried, and smiled all within one episode, without the story becoming boring or repetitive. My favorite episode was episode 5 “Endure and Survive”. No spoilers here, but I’ll just say that the story that was told during that episode was beautifully portrayed and written. 

I recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of horror and thrillers or fans of the video game. I would rate this show a 9/10 due to the compelling plot, the strong acting, and the excellent character development. You can watch this show on HBO Max or any streaming service that provides an HBO Max subscription.