If you're not already watching The Last of Us, you're missing out.

If you're anything like me, the words 'video game adaptation' are an instant turnoff.

From 1993's disastrous Super Mario Bros film to the three Lara Croft Tomb Raider films, movies and TV shows based on video games have a penchant for being... awful.

But I need you to forget about all of that for a moment. Because one of the best TV shows of the year is here. And yes, it may have broken the video game adaptation curse. 

Fresh off the heels of the fiery House of the Dragon and rich people sipping cocktails in Sicily in The White Lotus, The Last of Us is the latest offering from HBO's production line of prestige television.

Watch the trailer for The Last of Us below. Post continues after video.

Based on the popular 2013 action-adventure game of the same name, the series kicks off in Austin, Texas, in 2003.

In the first episode, it seems like any ordinary day. Sarah (played by Nico Parker) wakes up early to make pancakes for her father Joel (Pedro Pascal) on his birthday, before travelling to a local repair shop to get Joel's watch fixed. But as the episode progresses, it's clear that something isn't quite right.

Across town, sirens are blaring, military jets are overhead, and people are acting odd. And as night falls, all hell breaks loose.

A fungal virus, the cordyceps brain infection, has infected the brains of humans, transforming their bodies and pushing them to bite others to transmit the fungus. (In the series, the zombies are known as Clickers.)

What follows is a 20-minute edge-of-your-seat sequence of events as Joel, Sarah, and Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) desperately try to escape town and evade infected residents, all while dodging soldiers who are seemingly shooting anyone they come across - infected or not.

After a series of heart-wrenching moments, reminiscent to the opening sequences of popular post-apocalyptic series like The Walking Dead or The 100, the series jumps 20 years forward in time to 2023, where we see the true extent of the havoc the virus has caused.

Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in The Last of Us. Image: HBO.

Joel, now in his 50s, is working a series of grim maintenance jobs in the Boston quarantine zone, where people not infected with the fungus reside.

It's here where he meets Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a teenager who has been captured by the rebellion group the Fireflies.

After Ellie strangely survives being bitten by a Clicker, Joel and his partner Tess (Anna Torv) are tasked with transporting the teen west across the United States in a mission that could save the human race. 

Adapted by the game’s creator, Neil Druckmann, and Chernobyl’s showrunner, Craig Mazin, The Last of Us doesn't veer far from the storyline set by the 2013 game. But you shouldn't let that fact turn you off.

Cited as one of the greatest video games ever made, The Last of Us has received critical acclaim for its narrative and character development, with clips from the game's storyline viewed millions of times online.

The new adaptation feels incredibly faithful to the game, with several scenes from the first episode directly mirroring the source material, immersing viewers into a radically changed world just like the game did.

This #TheLastOfUsHBO clip is wild. @IamGabrielLuna sounds remarkable as Tommy and Nico Parker also seems phenomenal as Sarah. Had to watch twice to realize the audio wasn’t from the game. Whaaaaat!? #TLOU pic.twitter.com/iyV3NWukMn

— Kazden Risk (@kazrisk) January 12, 2023

While other post-apocalyptic series like The Walking Dead are ensemble affairs, The Last of Us largely focuses on the budding relationship between Joel and Ellie, as they're forced to team up despite their differences. 

Game of Thrones alum Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey both shine in their roles, and their chemistry as characters Joel and Ellie is indisputable.

As co-creator Craig Mazin said, the amazing chemistry between the two actors is the heart of The Last of Us.

With the duo's strong acting performances coupled with the immersive nature of the series, The Last of Us is an edge-of-your-seat drama worth watching.

New episodes of The Last Of Us premiere on Mondays at 1pm AEDT on Binge.

Feature Image: HBO.

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