Cover 'The Last of Us': the HBO series vs. the video game (Photo: HBO / Sony Pictures Television and Sony Interactive Entertainment)
'The Last of Us': the HBO series vs. the video game (Photo: HBO / Sony Pictures Television and Sony Interactive Entertainment)
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If you haven’t played ‘The Last of Us’, here’s what you’re missing out on
Many gamers tuning in to HBO’s The Last of Us are probably expecting a faithful adaptation of their favourite game. But as with all adaptations, the writers and directors are bound to take some creative liberties to expand on what they didn’t years ago.
Some differences you just can’t miss, while some may take a few playthroughs and rewatches to notice. If you went into the series blind, don’t worry. We narrowed down the five most significant differences. Did you catch them all?
Beware: Spoilers ahead!
1. Tess and Joel’s introduction to Ellie and Marlene
Above Meeting Marlene (Photo: HBO / Sony Pictures Television)
Meeting Marlene (Photo: HBO / Sony Pictures Television)
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In Episode 1, when Joel and Tess were looking for Robert, they find him already dead with an injured Marlene in the hallway. That’s when they negotiate about smuggling Ellie to the Fireflies. The game handles this slightly differently. Tess was the one that killed Robert, and then Marlene shows up to offer them a deal.
2. Lack of spores in the environment
Above Joel wearing a mask to protect against spores (Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Joel wearing a mask to protect against spores (Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
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This one’s a pretty big plot change. The game originally had spore-filled rooms that Joel and Ellie would have to traverse. Joel would need to wear a gas mask, or else he’d get infected. It’s even what convinces Joel that Ellie really is immune.
In the show, however, spores were replaced with tendrils that connect the infected with one another. Given how difficult it would be to watch a series where everyone’s wearing masks, I’d say it’s an understandable change and an interesting new danger.
3. Removed sections and regions
Above Subway level in-game (Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Above Lincoln High School (Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Subway level in-game (Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
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Any fan of the game can quickly point out the many missing places that Joel and Ellie explore throughout their adventure. Places like the subway where they fight FEDRA soldiers and infected. Bill’s booby-trapped town where they run into a horde of clickers while trapped. And the school where they meet their first bloater.
4. Tess’ last stop
Above Tess’ death (Photo: HBO / Sony Television Pictures)
Tess’ death (Photo: HBO / Sony Television Pictures)
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If you played the game, I bet you are thinking, “Hey, it was the military chasing them in that scene. Why’d they change it to infected?” To answer your question, the writers simply didn’t have the same flow to sustain that plot point. So instead, we are given a grotesque death scene and a little bit of an understanding as to how the infection could spread.
5. Bill and Frank
Above Bill and Frank (Photo: HBO / Sony Television Pictures)
Above Frank’s Letter to Bill (Photo: HBO / Sony Television Pictures)
Bill and Frank (Photo: HBO / Sony Television Pictures)
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The biggest change yet. Frank originally steals Bill’s car battery and hides out. But after getting bitten, he ends up hanging himself so he wouldn’t turn. The game gave us very little information into Frank’s character through a collectable letter that conveys his anger towards Bill, but the TV series reworks this masterfully by giving them a whole new story rooted in love and care for one another with a tearjerker of an ending.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
