HBO’s latest prestige drama, The Last of Us, has been an absolute sensation amongst fans of the game and newcomers alike. The hotly anticipated game adaptation featured beloved actor Pedro Pascal and now-beloved actor Bella Ramsey in the lead roles. There is so much passion for the show on the internet right now, and it’s not hard to see why. Amongst most game fans, the show has been often described as a dream come true, with its mostly faithful adaptation, incredible technical aspects, and noteworthy performances. Meanwhile, the show’s themes of love, loss, vengeance, parental ties, and survival have resonated deeply with most newfound fans. However, as someone almost entirely unfamiliar with the game, I found The Last of Us to be a merely decent show with solid technical elements and good performances that falters narratively. It certainly features exceptional moments, but it fails somewhat as a complete story.

The biggest issue this series has is its pacing. I understand wanting to adapt the entire first game in one season so the entire second game can be the second season, but I wish this had been done in a more seamless way. The entire story hinges on the relationship formed between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), but despite the actors having convincing chemistry as a reluctant father figure and a reluctant daughter figure, the writing is too rushed for it to be believable. In one episode, Joel and Ellie go from barely tolerating one another to being the most important people in each other’s lives. The episode where this shift happens is certainly significant, but the show needed to take more time to flesh out their dynamic. As much as I desperately wanted to believe their connection, the emotional moments Joel and Ellie shared often fell flat when I remembered the context of the rest of the show.

There are two episodes that are completely distanced from the main story, and they are by far the best ones in the show. This is because The Last of Us has an incredible cast and crew onboard. “Long Long Time” and “Left Behind” both work incredibly well because they are self-contained stories that can be told in one hour, so the writing can be impactful without being rushed. Thus, the excellent actors can really sink their teeth into moving dialogue with emotions that feel earned, and the talented directors can craft a beautifully devastating episode with technical flair that isn’t cheapened by the actual events occurring ringing somewhat hollow. If the entire show was as well-paced and emotionally impactful as these two episodes, I would probably adore it. The only real issue I had with this show was its pacing, but it unfortunately is such a major problem that it personally seeped its way into the show’s emotional core. Because the pacing falters, few of the emotional events of the main storyline resonated with me. I really wish the main plot had more screentime to ensure each story beat was expanded upon well. So despite my two favorite episodes by a long shot being “Long Long Time” and “Left Behind”, I do think the show would have been better if the stories of each episode were merely cold opens. 

All in all, I still think The Last of Us is a solid enough show. However, it only really shined for me in segments, and I can’t entirely recommend it as an overall narrative. There is no denying its technical merits or its well-acted ensemble, but I just wish these qualities didn’t have to carry a story this rushed. It’s clear that there is a phenomenal show trying to blossom in The Last of Us, but alas, the pacing just isn’t polished enough.

6.5/10