A different kind of apocalypse...

Well, I'll be a mushroom's uncle, so far "The Last of Us" is a solid show. Good story, good acting, and good visuals. It's still too early in the series to tell how it's going to go, but much like the "Game of Thrones" Spinoff "House of the Dragon" it showed up and demolished the competition. It seems that all the good writers and actors went and got jobs for HBO. 

First off, there might be some spoilers ahead... so if that's not your thing, stop right here. Prepare to get infected, but this time it's not a virus or a bacteria, it's a fungus! A gross one too. 

Unlike "The Walking Dead", this show has roots, or mycelium as they are called in the world of molds and spores. The Walking Dead was one of the best post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak shows ever made, but one thing about it always bothered me. The audience never learns what happened, how it happened, and the mistakes that were made. I was okay with this through the first six seasons (where the show should have ended) because the story was good and paced so that the audience never asked the question. It got old, however. The Last of Us is a little different, it takes some of the show's run time to explain the backstory and how things went to crap. The showrunners do this through various short clips and newsreels starting from the 1960s and moving onward. Little hints lead us slowly down the path to infection. And soon the whole world is shitty and there are "cordies" (as they are called in the show) roaming around sucking faces with the living.

The last of us is clever about the controlled explosions and disasters within the canon of the show, the build slow and steady. since the story was based on a video game, there is a lot of the world already built. Much like the game which won awards for its writing and story, the show follows the same trend. The writing is well thought out, conveys the messages perfectly, and is to the point. Surprisingly, as of yet, I haven't seen weak dialogue in the show. 

Another thing the show does well is context through the use of flashbacks and newsreels. They really put this point home before the outbreak ever happens, especially when the military brings in the top mycologist to assess the situation in episode 2. I have never seen the situation in these movies play out quite like it does for her in this show. It makes use of something not many pieces of dialogue do, it makes use of silence and pauses and it does so with excruciating placement.

As the show progresses and the world falls apart, there is some skipping around in time and place. It feels natural to the story's continuity in The Last of Us. The writers cleverly placed the jumps at the end or at the beginning of the show leaving the "meat" of the story alone. The cut scenes are quite natural, and they are well placed within the episodes, not only that, the content of each one informs the direction of the episode as it supports the growth of the story. This is hard to achieve. In most shows, the flashbacks either take us away from the story or don't make any sense as to where they are placed in the timeline. They are seamless in this show. 

I mentioned this earlier, but I think it is true. I think most of the really serious and talented actors went to HBO, where the writing will support their talent. HBO has some of the best shows currently running. I don't think this one is an exception to that rule, at least so far. The dialogue and writing support the acting. And the actors give it their all in this show. It is executed very well. Nothing is said by the actors that is stand out to the character and what they would say or do. This leaves the audience with a very clear vision of what each character looks like. There is no inappropriate slang, and there are no catchy catchphrases, and no misplaced reactions. Everything fits as it is supposed to. And most of all, the only explaining being done is done through the aforementioned flashbacks, newsreels, and dialogue. The audience only gets to know what they need for the story to move forward.

Another important thing this show does well is that it creates atmosphere, specifically doom. Nothing in the story's world is "cheerful", everything is about survival, and survival alone, which is realistic and authentic. Everything from the cutaways to the backdrops are designed to convey a sense of dread. The colors are dull and gray smeared with dingy light, and the textures are rough and broken.  Nothing in this show screams safe, happy, or hopeful. The cities are falling apart and the backdrops, although horrifying, are also stunning in their own way and kind of beautiful, they portray emptiness and loneliness.

All in all, and so far, I would have to say that the people who brought to life "Naughty Dog's" most beloved hit have done a bang-up job of making this thing another one of HBO's best. I am only three episodes in, and I feel this one has some staying power. I recommend it to anyone looking for a well-thought-out and unique spin on the walking dead style of entertainment. 

Cheers!