How HBO’s The Last of Us Season 1 Stacks Up Against the Game
Video game adaptations require big changes to fit the needs of a more passive medium. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann handled this move quite well in HBO’s and were able to graft the game’s strengths to the show while also adding to the world to make it more than a simple retelling. Not all changes are created equal, though, as some made the show excel where the game didn’t and vice versa. And while both are fantastic in their own right, here’s how each episode stacks up to its counterpart in the game.
has an unforgettable intro, yet the show comes out on top because of its ability to flesh out that world before the outbreak. This gives viewers more time to bond with Sarah and care for her more dearly. Naughty Dog did something similar by letting players control her in the beginning, which took advantage of the medium’s interactivity, but that shortcut obviously can’t be used the same in television. The scene of the neighbor’s infection is also significantly creepier, as an old woman unnaturally slinking around is a bit scarier than Mr. Cooper crashing through the glass door.
The post-Outbreak Day sections are also more thoughtfully introduced. Viewers get to see how Robert screwed Tess over instead of just being told about it. The battery Joel wants as payment also has more story significance than just the nebulous weapons he was promised in the game since he wants the battery to go see Tommy. All of this cuts down on chasing Robert and the tutorial sections, too, which are the weakest parts of that game. Setting everything up takes time in video games, and that’s not always beneficial in an interactive medium. However, taking more time for initial worldbuilding can work better in the realm of TV and this debut, from
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