Netizens describe first episode of The Last of Us as a sublime start to one of the best stories ever told

The number one spot on the most anticipated new series of 2023 list has been given by IMDb to The Last of Us, a nine-episode series that premiered on HBO Max on January 15. You can watch it on Disney Hotstar in India.
The series is set in post-pandemic America and is based on a wildly popular playstation video game of the same name. It stars a hardened smuggler played by Pedro Pascal of Game of Thrones fame, who has been given the responsibility of escorting a 14-year-old teenager played by Bella Ramsey across a zombie-filled, post-apocalyptic America in which everyone has been affected by a strange fungal disease.

Audiences who are still in the midst of a three-year-old pandemic can relate to this scenario and while what the series shows may be in the realm of sci-fi, everyone can identify with the havoc the corona virus unleashed on the world in December 2019. Perhaps that is reason why the one episode already up has garnered a stupendous 9.5 rating by 29000 users on IMDb. The tomatometer is way ahead with a 99% rating.
Critics have praised it to the skies, with one of them capturing its essence in the following words: “Like the 2013 game on which it’s based, the television adaptation is such a gripping tale of survival because it makes ample room for savagery and love, desperation and selflessness.”
Another writes that “It's a hopeful show about the end of humanity — one that manages to find, and nurture, moments of grace amid the ruins.”

Amidst the hype and the innumerable 90 to 100 per cent scores, lurked a handful of naysayers. Ironically, Eric D who rates it a dismal one-star however says, “overly formulaic and predictable, down to the brilliant well-spoken children and evil cops.” Do note the use of the word, ‘brilliant’ in his review!
Dan F was ecstatic. Here’s what he had to say: “An absolute breath of fresh air after the past year of dud after dud. I highly recommend checking it out.”
There has been praise for almost every element of the screenplay, characterisation and storyline, and for its “creative edge”. The show remains loyal to the video game, with a few minor tweaks in the year and in some of the visual depictions. Mac S couldn’t find a single fault as he exulted, “A sublime start to one of the best stories ever told.”
Kevin Paul, a diehard fan of the video game tweets, “The Last of Us is my favourite game of all time. I had goosebumps for 85 straight minutes tonight and I am so thankful for this finally happening. Now one of my favourite stories ever told is more accessible for those who don’t play games. Damn, that was great.
Reiss said “They’ve absolutely nailed the first episode of The Last of Us TV show. Genuinely one of the best hour and half of television I’ve watched in ages. Everyone has been casted perfectly, the writing is fantastic and they’ve seamlessly translated the look of the game to TV."
A new episode airs every Monday. Clearly, it seems to be a series everyone must watch.