“The Last of Us” is a critically acclaimed video game that tells the story of Joel Miller and Ellie Williams traveling across the U.S. during a zombie apocalypse. It is one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game and soon people will be able to enjoy it as a TV show. 

Fans of “The Last of Us” and “The Last of Us Part Two” likely already know of the show and are excited for its launch, but even those unfamiliar with the series should be excited as well. “The Last of Us” TV show is scheduled to start streaming on HBO Max on January 15th, 2023. It’s being led by Graig Mazin, one of the creators for the show “Chernobyl,” and Neil Druckmann, one of the creators of the video game. 

Based on the teaser trailer, it seems that the show will focus on the first game, “The Last of Us.” This makes sense, as it will introduce the viewers to the world and characters just as they were introduced in the games. Just like the game, the show will have a variety of influential and important characters, but it will focus on the main two, Joel and Ellie. 

Joel is played by Pedro Pascal, known for his role in “Game of Thrones” as well as his role as the Mandalorian. Ellie is being played by Bella Ramsey, also known for her role in “Game of Thrones.” Many fans have been upset by the casting, largely due to the fact that the show was announced long before the cast was announced so the fans had plenty of time to pick their dream castings, such as Hugh Jackman as Joel and Kaitlyn Dever as Ellie for their resemblance to the characters and acting experience according to the gaming bible.  

One of the major reasons to be excited about “The Last of Us” is the music. “The Last of Us” game has an incredible soundtrack composed by Gustavo Santoalalla and he is returning to compose the score for the show as well. 

Gustavo Santaolalla’s music creates the somber tone of “The Last of Us.” The games and show are set in the post-apocalyptic United States, twenty years after the outbreak. Due to the vast amount of time that has passed, the world is crumbling and nature has reclaimed the cities creating an eerie atmosphere. Although the vine covered skyscrapers and tree filled streets can appear beautiful, there is danger hiding in them.

The zombies in “The Last of Us” are not normal zombies. The zombies are infected with a parasitic fungus called cordyceps that takes over the body. This allows for creative and interesting zombie designs compared to the standard shambling undead, and it also allows for more deadly variations. One of these variations called a clicker can be seen towards the end of the teaser. This variation has fungal plates covering its eyes blinding it, forcing it to click and use echolocation to find its prey. Although it sounds far-fetched, the noise of four or five clickers roaming an abandoned building while Joel and Ellie try to silently slip past creates a very tense atmosphere.

Although there is not a rating for the show yet, it is likely to be for older audiences due to the source material. It is almost impossible to tell a story in the zombie apocalypse without gore and violence. The show will probably include violence, swearing, and gore. “The Last of Us” game is known for its intense and brutal portrayal of the zombie apocalypse and the show will likely do the same.