"The Last of Us" is an American post-apocalyptic TV series for HBO based on the 2013 video game by Naughty Dog. The series takes place 20 years after a global fungal infection turned people into cannibalistic creatures. It follows Joel and Ellie on a journey across post-apocalyptic US and features guest stars like Gabriel Luna, Nico Parker, and Merle Dandridge. It was filmed in Alberta and is the largest Canadian TV production ever. The first season consists of 9 episodes written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and has a score composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming. The series premiered on Jan 15, 2023, to critical acclaim and high viewership, leading to a renewal for a second season.

The main characters of the TV series "The Last of Us" are Joel and Ellie, portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, respectively. Joel is a hardened middle-aged man tormented by past trauma, while Ellie is a 14-year-old girl who is immune to the Cordyceps infection. Other characters include Sarah, Joel's daughter, Dr. Neuman, Marlene, the head of the resistance movement, and a host of a talk show from 1968. The actors had to portray the characters in their own way, avoiding too close an imitation of the video games. Some actors, like Merle Dandridge, reprised their roles from the video games.

The casting of the TV show based on the video games "The Last of Us" took place virtually due to COVID-19. For International Women's Day in 2020, it was confirmed that several characters from the games would appear in the show. Pascal and Ramsey were cast as Joel and Ellie. Mahershala Ali was offered the role of Joel but a deal was never formed. The producers sought actors who could embody Joel and Ellie and their relationship. Luna was cast as Tommy, Dandridge as Marlene, and Parker as Sarah. Pierce, Bartlett, and O'Neill as Perry, Frank, and Bill and Torv as Tess. Bartlett claimed Offerman would appear on the show, and he was later announced as Bill. Žbanić revealed the casting of Greene, Miles, and Wesley. Reid was cast as Riley Abel, and Baker and Ashley Johnson were later announced. Lamar Johnson and Woodard were cast as Henry and Sam, and Lynskey as Kathleen and Shepherd. Wesley's role was revealed as Maria. A casting call was distributed for a boy who was deaf and proficient in sign language for the character of Sam.

The TV show "The Last of Us" has received widespread critical acclaim, with a 97% approval rating and average rating of 8.75/10 on Rotten Tomatoes and an average of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics praised the performances of the cast, particularly Pascal and Ramsey, with some considering it the best video game adaptation. The differences from the original game's narrative and the production design were also highly praised, though some reviewers had issues with pacing. The third episode was considered the best of the season, while the first was seen as too familiar. The score by Santaolalla was also well received.

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