The series adaptation of The Last of Usavailable on HBO and on HBO Max, premiered and surprised. Especially, for being a careful and well thought out tour of the famous video game plot. Several of his best sequences are flawless recreations of the source material. Which provide an emotional air to the story, which is based on an unthinkable tragedy. With its adult and sober tone, it is a consistent commitment to telling a story that constitutes a fundamental part of pop culture.
However, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann incorporated some changes in the plot. From a broad context that adds information that is not included in the original plot, to small nuances to its characters. The adaptation of The Last of Us it’s a careful tour through an expanding universe. At the same time, one that links the best moments of the well-known game with a new television experience.
Some of the additions are intended to add information about what happened on the fateful night of the outbreak of the infection. Others, provide greater depth to the characters. We leave you the most notable differences between the game and the HBO Max version from the iconic plot of The Last of Us.
The way the virus spreads
The Last of Us It is the premiere of the year and you can only see it on HBO Max
One of the most notorious changes in the series The Last of Us It is the way in which the mycosis is spread. In Naughty Dog’s game, the Cordyceps virus becomes a risk that quickly spreads through bites and spores. Which means that the danger is in the air, but also comes through the frontal attack of the infected.
However, in the series fungal infection is only spread through bites. The first chapter shows how the rings that externalize the progress of the fungus inside the host body become visible in the mouth.
As the duo of creators commented, it is a decision that is related to creating the sensation of a physical bond between the patients. A hive effect that, through the plot, will become increasingly important and, of course, dangerous.
Sarah Miller is much more than a memory
In the original story, the daughter of Joel, the main character, barely appears in the prologue that explains how subsequent events unfolded. But in the version of The Last of Us of HBO the argument gives the figure the opportunity to be much more than the reason for his father’s suffering.
Played by Nico Parker, Sarah is part of almost the entire first hour of the opening chapter. In addition to star in the iconic clock scene that he gives to Joel (Pedro Pascal), also has its own entity. His close relationship with his small family and his neighbors is shown.
In fact, Sarah becomes a witness to a larger event that takes place on the periphery. By the time the infection breaks out in all the terrifying power of it, it is through the eyes of the character that the plot describes, for the first time, the horror of an infected.
Another timeline for The Last of Us on HBO
The opening chapter of the series shows three main time points. The first is a television program that airs in 1968 and in which the possibility of a fungal infection is contextualized.
The second is the one that involves the night of the outbreak of the apocalypse, which takes place on September 26, 2003. The third, the chronological jump that leads to 2023, when the well-known plot involving Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) begins.
As will be remembered, the history of the game The Last of Us takes place in 2033, which makes the scenario of the argument takes place in our time. A significant change that could even be interpreted as a tragic vision of a possible future.
The relationship between Tess and Joel
In the plot of the Naughty Dog game, the relationship between Tess and Joel, partners in underground smuggling activities, is highly ambiguous. So much so that the link that unites them is not entirely clear. Is it a couple? Are they casual lovers? The argument of The Last of Us it does not indicate it, nor does it go into depth.
But in the HBO series, what unites both characters seems to be more obvious. at least it has an emotional and intimate sense not shown in the source material. Tess, played by Anna Torv, is much more physical in showing her feelings for Joel. At one point, she lies down next to him and hugs him while he sleeps. At the moment, the version of the platform does not fully clarify the issue either, although it leaves some clues of interest for future chapters.
Other characters that are part of the adaptation of The Last of Us on HBO
Tommy, Joel’s brother in the Naughty Dog game, is also part of the television adaptation of the story. Performed by Gabriel Luna, has a more active participation than in his version in the original material. Not only does it deepen the relationship she has with her family. Also in what happened to the character during the fateful night of the outbreak of the infection.
version of The Last of Us HBO also modified what happened after the long two decades that separate the start of the apocalypse from the world that survived the events. In the series, it is hinted that Tommy and Joel maintain some kind of contact. In fact, the latter thinks of going in search of him after what seems like a surprising disappearance. In the game, the brothers only meet in the middle of Joel and Ellie’s trip to Salt Lake City.
Sign up for HBO Max and you will have access to the best series and exclusive movies What The Wire, the sopranos either Game of Thrones. Includes the entire Warner catalogue, Cartoon Network classics and major releases.
There are also some changes in the environment of the Millers before the tragedy that devastated the world. In the game, your neighbor is a man named Jimmy Cooper. In the adaptation, the protagonists share a neighborhood with the Adlers. Connie (Marcia Bennett) and Danny (Brad Leland) live with the latter’s elderly mother, Nana (Wendy Gorling). In fact, she is the frail woman who is the first infected that Sarah (and the audience) get to see in a hair-raising scene that demonstrates the effects of the contagion.