#57

The Last of Us

Ellie and Joel. HBO Max’s hugely successful video game adaptation would have been higher on my list if I were doing this right after season one came to an end. However, season two, while still engaging and entertaining, did feel like a bit of a step down.

Big reason? Joel was murdered brutally in front of Ellie. While I am not opposed to major twists like that, one of the biggest part of the show was the relationship between Ellie and Joel. I do not think it was a coincidence that one of the best episodes of seoasn two was the flashback episode where we see Joel and Ellie on her birthday.

Still, there have been some amazing episodes of The Last of Us. Season one, episode 3, “Long, Long Time” is one of the best episodes of TV you could ever ask for. The episode focused on Bill and Frank, played by Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett. It was a beautiful tale of love, loss and togetherness that earned Offerman an Emmy.

The show certainly knows how to pull the heartstrings, presenting the tragedies of life while still celebrating the small joys.

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are wonderful as the iconic video game characters. It was the absence of Joel in season that made things tougher.

I’m not sure how the idea of starting season three off by following Joel’s killer will go, but I’ll be there for it.