Joel and Ellie’s journey has now concluded in HBO’s live-action adaptation ofThe Last of Us’ original game. Enough has been established to create firm foundations for a second season already, and of course, there is an entire sequel game for inspiration. It will be interesting to see how certain parts of its storytelling are approached differently, and as fans now know it is completely possible for HBO andThe Last of Uscreative director Neil Druckmannto change parts of the story while adapting it to television.
Much ofThe Last of Us’ show was as closely adapted as it could have been, with entire scenes and performances pulled straight from the game in one-to-one recreations. However, a lot had also been wholly changed, such as how Tess dies or how Joel’s emotions are displayed. In many ways, this makes the show a reimagining of the game since it still keeps most of its key story beats, but episode seven arguably chooses the wrong scene to keep fully faithful to the game since it means Ellie and Riley’s prequel story still lacks a bit of closure that would have been refreshing to see.
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The Last of Us is Faithful at Times and Divisive at Others
The Last of Us’ seventh episode, Left Behind, remained faithful to the DLC prequel story of the same name by having the DLC’s Halloween masks, photo booth, and second pun book represented. Its biggest departures were in the smaller moments that players share with Riley as the show, unfortunately, left behind the game’s Brick Master and water gun competitions.
Likewise,Ellie and Riley’s experience in Raja’s Arcadeis given an entirely separate and underwhelming atmosphere with the machines and cabinets actually working. This leads to the pair being able to playMortal Kombat 2instead of having Riley paint a picture of what playing the fictional arcade gameThe Turningwould be like.
Because HBO’sThe Last of Uscuts corners on combat encounters from the game, there is no sequence with Ellie traversing a mall in the present day as she carves her way through runners, clickers, and hunters while hurrying back to Joel. Still,HBO’sThe Last of Uscaptures Ellie and Riley’s quintessential beats, such as their conflicting ideologies and Ellie not wanting Riley to leave with the Fireflies.
The Last of Us’ Left Behind Story Deserves Proper Closure
The one time in episode seven when remaining faithful might have been the wrong choice is in the flashback’s final moments, when Ellie and Riley sit together in defeat after having both been bitten before awkwardly cutting back to the present day with Ellie searching for medicine. Players of the game and fans of the show alike never get to see what exactly happens here, whetherEllie kills Riley or abandons her, and it is unclear what her initial reaction to not turning was. The show would have been a great opportunity to finally depict what occurred canonically at this moment.
Rather, it seems to have taken the same approach in being obscure as to what happened. Seeing Ellie and Riley have a last touching moment together is decidedly more pleasant than having to see Ellie possibly kill her best friend and newfound lover anyhow, and queer love has a theme in HBO’sThe Last of Usof ending on a bittersweet note.Bill and Frank’s storyline inThe Last of Us’ third episodeis far different from the game, for example, with the two getting to live a relatively fulfilling and largely harmonious life before they both decide to pass away peacefully together.
The Last of Us Part 1is available now on PS5, and a PC port will be released on March 28.
