The Last of Us, which was originally released in 2013, takes place in the post-apocalyptic US 20 years after the majority of the population has been transformed into mindless monsters by a parasitic fungus called Cordyceps. It centers on Joel, a seasoned smuggler played by Pedro Pascal in the program, who is charged with transporting Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young woman with an apparent uncommon immunity to the affliction, across the nation.
The show finds a story of love and tenderness among the chaos and carnage, weaving a standalone storyline into the bigger picture of this dystopian, zombie-infested society, and makes excessively effective use of Linda Ronstadt’s eerie song “Long, Long Time” merely to underline things.
Mike Flanagan hailed The Last of Us Episode #3 as the best episode ever
Tonight saw the release of the third episode of HBO’s The Last of Us, and while the first two episodes garnered positive reviews, it now seems like a higher standard has been established. Although the episode significantly deviated from the source material, it seems that most viewers weren’t bothered. Social media users voiced their amazement at how the episode was handled, with many describing it as the finest episode of the series while some claim that it is also among the best works of television ever produced. Although it is a really big claim, it is obvious that the show is truly connecting with its audience.
Among the fans is Mike Flanagan who created The Midnight Mass, and is now working on Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. He took to Twitter to express his appreciation for the third episode of The Last of Us.
Thank you Mike ❤️🍻
— Eben Bolter BSC (@ebenbolter) January 30, 2023
YEP.
— Mason Alexander Park (@MasonAPark) January 30, 2023
Agreed, agreed!!!!
— anna miller (@itsaimmedia) January 30, 2023
It blew me away. Felt the exact same way. Oh, I just finished Midnight Club tonight too so there were a lot of tears shed this evening.
— Tim B. (@turnondafun) January 30, 2023
AGREED!!! i saw it hours ago but you bringing it up made me start sobbing again 😭
— eryn 🕯🕸 (@froghaunt) January 30, 2023
Many agreed to him and contributed to the discourse, claiming how the third episode had them in tears too. However, the early success of the show has prompted HBO to greenlight another season of The Last Of Us.
What will The Last Of Us season 2 be like?
The showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have been kind enough to open up about season and enlighten the audience about the major plots it will cover. The showrunners also expressed their gratitude towards the opportunity for another season so that they can tell their story the way they wanted to.
“I’m humbled, honored, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations. Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!”
The decision to renew the series is not shocking because both reviewers and viewers have praised it. Episode two this past Sunday attracted 5.7 million people on HBO and HBO Max in the US in addition to receiving favorable reviews, including a 97% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The greatest week two viewership boost for any drama series on HBO in the network’s history, it reflects a 22% increase over the 4.7 million viewers who watched the first episode.
“I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey. The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.”
he continued,
“takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.”
HBO has nevertheless stated that the first episode of the show is now accessible to watch online for free while you wait for season two. For once, this does, at least partially, apply outside of the United States, which is excellent news for Pedro Pascal supporters.
The Last of Us is streaming on HBO weekly and is also available on Disney+
Source: Twitter
