Premiered: January 15, 2023

On: HBO

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Nico Parker, John Hannah, Merle Dandridge, Josh Brener, Christopher Heyerdahl, Brendan Fletcher, Anna Torv, Gabriel Luna, Christine Hakim, Nick Offerman, Murray Bartlett, Lamar Johnson, Melanie Lynskey, Keivonn Montreal Woodard, Jeffrey Pierce, John Getz, Rutina Wesley, Graham Greene, Elaine Miles, Storm Reid, Scott Shepherd, Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson

Though another post-apocalyptic zombie show, the video game-adapted The Last of Us proves to be more about compassion at the end of the world than brain-eating zombies.

Joel (Pedro Pascal) is tasked to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey) – the only known survivor after being infected with Cordyceps – across the United States to a hospital that can study her.

Pascal and Ramsey are an incredibly dynamic duo who play well off each other. Watching Ramsey switch between the defiant Ellie to the Ellie that is discovering old parts of the world is a gift.

What this show does different than other apocalypse-driven media is that it’s character-focused rather than action-driven. Each episode you meet new characters – some of whom bring heartbreaking stories and others that show the evil still in the world.

Final say: The last is just the start. ★★★★★