The Underrated Significance of The Last of Us TV Series That Fans May Overlook
The Last of Us' TV show not only pays homage to the source material but also has the potential to shape the future of the games, showcasing the narrative prowess of HBO's Season Two and beyond (207 characters)
Article Key Points
HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us has been successful in attracting a wider audience, with its first season staying true to the original game.
The future seasons of the show could foreshadow the third game by exploring new characters, leaving fans intrigued about the game's trajectory. The narrative choices and season finale of the show may give indications about the plot and character participation in The Last of Us 3.
HBO's direct TV adaptation of The Last of Us franchise greatly strengthened the franchise earlier this year. The show received critical acclaim and successfully introduced the franchise to a broader audience. The first season of the show centered around the narrative of the franchise's original video game release in 2013.
Dedicated fans of the franchise were pleased with the show's faithfulness to the original game, as it made great efforts to recreate important scenes and dialogues. However, as the show progresses to adapt the story of The Last of Us 2 in future seasons, it has the potential to establish the direction for the third game by choosing which characters to prioritize. Therefore, fans should closely follow the show as it could become a defining factor in the future of the games.
The Narrative Power of HBO's The Last of Us: Season Two and Beyond
The Last of Us' TV series is often praised as a prime example of what video game adaptations can achieve, as it overcomes many prejudices associated with such projects. The show attracted a large audience from the extensive player base of The Last of Us, and the casting of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey also brought in newcomers to the franchise.
During its first season, The Last of Us dominated TV viewership, accumulating 837 million minutes of viewing from American audiences in just one week, surpassing even House of the Dragon. This notable initial success does come with a caveat, as it is highly likely that season two and potentially future seasons will follow the general storyline of The Last of Us Part 2.
The Last of Us' Show Might Dictate the Games' Future
Given the faithfulness of the show's first season to the source material, it is highly probable that the subsequent seasons will largely maintain consistency with the game's storyline. However, this poses a dilemma for the show as it approaches the narrative climax of TLoU 2, considering that the plot for The Last of Us 3, which remains unknown to fans, may significantly impact how the show concludes. Therefore, HBO's choice regarding the ending of the upcoming seasons could potentially provide valuable insights into what lies ahead in TLoU 3, particularly in relation to the ongoing debate surrounding Ellie's role in the game among fans.
Naughty Dog is likely to collaborate closely with HBO regarding the narrative direction of the franchise, particularly for the future seasons of The Last of Us. It is anticipated that season 2 onwards will align with the plot of a potential third game, hence fans should closely observe how the storyline of Ellie concludes in these upcoming seasons, as it may offer substantial clues about her involvement in the future game. Despite HBO's reputation for staying true to the source material, subsequent seasons may deviate from the games in order to better suit the demands and preferences of television audiences and production schedules.
As it currently stands, the release of The Last of Us 3 is not expected until 2027/28 at the earliest. This means that the show runs the risk of surpassing the games in terms of how much of the story it tells. Consequently, the way the show decides to conclude its TLoU 2-inspired seasons holds even greater importance. These upcoming steps have the potential to settle some of the most passionate debates regarding the future of The Last of Us video games.
The Last Of Us
Release Date January 15, 2023Main Genre HorrorGenres Drama, Action, AdventureRating 8.8/10Creator Craig Mazin, Neil DruckmannNetwork HBO Max
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the potential for the TV series to shape the future of the games. I think it's a great opportunity for the franchise to reach a wider audience and for new fans to experience the story in a different way. I'm also curious to see how the show will handle the more controversial aspects of the game, such as the violence and the LGBTQ+ themes. I think it's important for the show to stay true to the source material, but I also think it's important for it to be accessible to a wider audience.
Overall, I think the TV series is a great addition to the franchise and I'm excited to see where it goes in the future. I think it has the potential to be a really groundbreaking show and I'm glad that it's getting the attention it deserves.
