Although it is early days forThe Last of Us,with only one episode having aired, the survival horror series has currently overtaken the all-time greatest TV showBreaking BadonIMDb’s rating chart. The first episode of the Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey-led show logged a hugely impressive 95% rating among users of the movie database website. While there are still many ratings to come, andBreaking Badobviously has a lot more aggregated numbers throughout its five seasons, it is worth noting that the Bryan Cranston series didn’t get off to a perfect start and built its rating up over time.
The Last of Ushas landed with a bang, and all it has to do is keep up the momentum it started with to maintain its position asone of the greatest TV shows of all time. As a video game adaptation, that is a feat even more impressive thanks to the almost universal disappointment that has followed the vast majority of popular game-to-movie/series attempts there has been in the last 30 years. With notable exceptions such asSonic the Hedgehog, there has been a curse attached to any attempt at bringing games to life in a way that satisfies both fans and newcomers equally.
The buzz aroundThe Last of Ushas resulted in the series debuting with one of the highest viewing volumes since 2010 on HBO Max, an all-but-perfect critic consensus, and some of the most positive reviews seen for anything by audiences. However, with expectations now set for the rest of the season, the real debate is whether the remaining episodes can live up to ever-increasing hype.
Related:The Last of Us Premiere Review: A Faithful & Visceral Adaptation of the Blockbuster Video Game
Why Has The Last of Us Been So Highly Rated?
When it comes to video game adaptions, the greatest misfire among those that have failed is the constant need to change the game into something that it never was. This can include creating a whole new story around the characters, changing the characters, moving the story to a modern, real-world setting, and so on.The Last of Usdoes not do that. Although the narrative has needed some expansion anda few minor changesto remove the “game-play” elements and tell a straightforward story, the main aspects of the show are clearly derived from the game’s cutscenes.
Pedro Pascal perfectly portrays Joel, and while Bella Ramsey’s appearance has been noted as slightly different from that of Ellie, there is no doubt that she will continue to become the perfect on-screen embodiment of the character as the show progresses. The one thing that the series must do is continue in the same vein as its opening episode. With the creative team behind it, including Neil Druckmann, having made it clear that this is a direct representation of the video game, there is no reason to think it won’t continue to hold its ratings throughout the rest of the season.
