Shroom with a view.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I did not realise it for a while.
My dog, however, knew straight away.
He would not leave my side, and I did not understand why.
Soon enough, it all became clear.
I was having a baby.
Needless to say, I was surprised.
But my dog was not.
He had always known.
Animals have a sense for these things.
kindly NOTE: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE SHOW AND THE GAME IT IS BASED ON.
The TV adaptation of The Last of Us begins with a step back fromNaughty Dog’s 2013 game release.
Here, two epidemiologists are taking part in an almost all-too-relatable discussion on viral and biological pandemics.
However, it is still going to give those who do know the story plenty of sustenance.
Think of this as bonus content, rather than a hard steer away from its source material.
Parker brings a warmth to Sarah, with the viewers seeing the world through her eyes.
Joel needs Sarah as she needs him.
But while Sarah goes about her day, small hints show something is not right in the wider world.
Soon, these small hints become an all-too-real outbreak.
It evoked all the same feelings I had when I played the game for the first time.
We are immediately presented with the harshness of this post-outbreak reality.
The QZ is succumbing to both the force of nature and the oppression of the militaristic FEDRA.
The once-colourful scenes from Texas have been replaced with muted greens and browns.
A tonal shift in both colour and society’s general outlook: bleak.
It is in the QZ we meet Anna Torv’s Tess.
She can fight, she can take a punch, she can negotiate, she can manipulate.
This was something hinted at in the game, but never expressly shown.
Torv’s portrayal of a steely and pragmatic Tess is both comforting and a little bit frightening.
Finally, we meet Ellie and the Fireflies.
As in the game, the show has been building to this moment, even without specifically telling us.
We know Joel and Tess are going to get their revenge on Robert.
The Fireflies are holding Ellie in a room, chained to a radiator against her will.
Ellie’s introduction here is, in my opinion, perfect.
The second point worth highlighting is the mention of Riley.
This scene adds more gravitas to Ellie and Marlene’s characters, and the relationship the two share.
An offscreen shootout between the Fireflies and Robert has ensued, with Marlene injured in the process.
And it is here where Joel and Ellie finally meet.
Their first introduction to each other is as laden with doubt and mistrust as you would hope.
Ellie may be a child, but that does not stop Joel pointing a gun at her.
Joel proceeds to fall asleep on the sofa, while Ellie is left to amuse herself in the apartment.
She shows a certain level of fear about leaving the QZ.
Despite a facade of bravado, Ellie is scared.
The chemistry between Pascal and Ramsey here is incredible.
At this point, Ellie lashes out with her knife, stabbing the soldier in the leg.
Evading any further attacks from Ellie, the soldier holds them at gunpoint.
Joel seems apologetic of his actions in front of a young girl.
Tess sees her result and immediately puts the defences up.
Ellie begs for them to understand that while she is infected, she is immune.
This moment may well have one of the finest needle drops that I can remember in a show.
All in all, this first episode is a confident start for The Last of Us' TV debut.
Its cast already has me believing and investing in every character.
While I know this will leave me open to heartbreak once again, I want to watch more.
