10 reasons why you must watch HBO original drama series 'The Last Of Us'

Here's a fact I often bring up in conversations, even if no one asks: I’m a huge fan of Pedro Pascal, the actor who plays Maxwell Lord in "Wonder Woman 1984" and Oberyn Martell in "Game of Thrones".

Well, I say "huge fan", but my family and friends call it "an obsession".

We agree to disagree.

I mean, it’s perfectly normal to have a fully-dedicated folder of him in my phone gallery, right?

Anyway, because of my love for this man who has no idea I even exist, I was introduced to the 2013 video game "The Last Of Us" in February 2021, when it was announced that Pascal was cast as one of the leads in HBO's adaptation of it.

Watch "The Last Of Us" on HBO (Channel 601 on StarHub TV) or HBO GO

The show premiered on Jan. 16, 2023 in Singapore.

There are a total of nine episodes in Season 1.

Watch episodes of "The Last Of Us" on HBO GO and HBO (Channel 601 on StarHub TV) and catch the finale on Mar. 13.

HBO GO is the TV network’s on-demand streaming service that allows you to enjoy a variety of TV shows and movies over multiple devices at any time and place.

As an avid HBO GO user myself, I highly recommend it.

Alternatively, you can sign up for HBO Pak with StarHub at just S$14.12 per month and get complimentary access to HBO GO.

If you’re an existing StarHub HBO Pak customer, you can activate your HBO GO access easily.

Why HBO’s "The Last Of Us" is so good

I’ve watched episodes one to eight of the HBO Original drama series "The Last Of Us" thus far, some more than once.

My love for Pedro Pascal aside, it is one of the best, if not the best, TV shows I’ve ever watched in my entire life.

In fact, Pascal was barely in my favourite episode (episode three) as the storyline was focused on other characters.

I’ve recommended this show to everyone I know, and I will continue doing so till the day I die.

And I don’t make recommendations without proper justifications.

So here are 10 reasons— without spoilers— why you should watch HBO’s "The Last Of Us":

1. Not your typical post-apocalyptic show

The premise of the show is pretty straightforward.

In 2003, after a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity’s last hope.

A mass infection took the world by storm, turning humans into the “Infected”.

There are various types of “Infected”, depending on how long the infection has been in a person’s body.

Basically, it gradually gets worse.

Within the first half of episode one, you’ll see how the entire world collapsed due to this global pandemic.

It might sound like any other post-apocalyptic show, but in this series, you don’t see people running away from monsters in every scene.

That can get repetitive and boring. This show is much more than that.

What makes “The Last Of Us” unique is its focus on two characters 20 years after outbreak day.

Joel (played by Pedro Pascal), a hardened smuggler haunted by his own past, is tasked with escorting Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey), out of an oppressive quarantine zone across what remains of the U.S.

Throughout the series, these two characters must rely on each other and attempt to survive brutal circumstances to complete their mission.

Now that's interesting.

2. Compelling characters

With a clear and focused storyline, it was easier for me to follow the story and care about the characters.

Joel and Ellie are well fleshed out characters, each with their own personal histories.

Without giving anything away, the Joel you see at the start of episode one is vastly different from the Joel at the end of the same episode.

As the season progresses, you’ll see him continue to change.

It’s the same with Ellie.

When Ellie first appears on screen, the character seems like any other rebellious teenager.

But as you continue watching the show, you’ll realise that there’s more to Ellie than meets the eye.

Besides the two lead characters, there are other side characters that take centre stage at different points of the story.

Similarly, these characters, while they may only appear for one episode, are well-developed.

What I particularly like is how real the characters are. No one is wholly good and no one is wholly bad.

They’re all just human, which makes the show all the more compelling.

3. Interesting relationships and dynamics

Compelling characters naturally produce honest and interesting relationships.

The dynamic between Joel and Ellie is intricately explored in each episode.

You’ll get to see them slowly open up to each other and veer towards an endearing father-daughter relationship.

As the duo gets closer, you’ll get to see how they each help the other deal with their own trauma.

It’s a relationship I personally became invested in without even realising, and I’m sure other viewers felt the same.

4. Relatable and powerfully evocative themes

"The Last Of Us" deals with a lot of real and heavy issues.

The series evoked strong emotions in me, and this is because of the relatable themes it explored.

Within the first episode, I experienced shock, loss, grief, numbness, anger, and to a certain extent, excitement.

The show also eloquently depicts vignettes of humanity.

For instance, in episode three, you’ll see a closed-off character with strong principles who refuses to abide by authoritative rules and prefers to live all alone.

But halfway into the episode, this lone wolf unexpectedly meets the love of his life.

I found this episode particularly interesting because it was essentially a fairytale love story in a post-apocalyptic world— something so human happening in an inhumane world.

5. Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty funny too

While I cried a lot while watching the show, I found myself laughing at a number of scenes too.

In episode four, for example, you’ll see Ellie annoy the heck out of Joel with extremely bad puns.

Here’s one of it: “Did you know diarrhoea is hereditary? It runs in your jeans.”

This is the show’s biggest appeal to me. One second I’m crying like a baby, and the next I’m laughing like a maniac.

If a show can do that, then it’s ticking all the right boxes.

6. I mean, it’s HBO

The show’s content aside, the fact that this show is being helmed by HBO is a win in my books.

If you’re unfamiliar with HBO, here are a few other award-winning hit shows the TV Network has produced:

• "House Of The Dragon"
• "Game Of Thrones"
• "Succession"
• "Euphoria"
• "The White Lotus"

The list goes on.

If HBO is behind a new TV show, rest assured that it’ll be a hit.

In fact, “The Last Of Us” was renewed for a second season after only two episodes.

And if you search the show’s title online, you’ll immediately notice rave reviews given by both critics and regular viewers, as well as each episode’s high ratings.

7. The geniuses behind the show

Besides HBO’s magical prowess, “The Last Of Us” is created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.

Mazin was the series creator, writer and executive producer of the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” and Druckmann is one of the creators of the original “The Last Of Us” video game.

“The Last Of Us” is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and while they stayed true to the source material, they also incorporated creative show elements which felt to me, like it elevated the story.

This makes it fresh for both fans of the game and people who have never played the game before.

Throughout the show, those familiar with the story will be able to identify many references to the original game.

But once again, this show doesn’t alienate its new viewers.

If you’ve never played the game, you’ll still catch some references to past episodes.

I found myself rewatching some episodes to catch the various Easter eggs.

For example, in episode three, Joel explains to Ellie that the pandemic could have spread through flour.

And if you rewatch the first episode, you’ll notice how Joel and his family managed to avoid getting infected after avoiding flour purely by luck.

These easter eggs make the viewing experience all the more engaging and fun.

9. 10/10 casting

Of course, I can’t write this article without mentioning the cast.

Both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey (Joel and Ellie) were in HBO’s “Game Of Thrones” so it’s no surprise that they can handle a big TV production.

Pascal delivers a powerful performance in “The Last Of Us”.

He’s subtle and nuanced in his acting, but it’s effective in portraying Joel’s true character.

He’s also extremely dashing in this show, but let’s not talk about that.

Ramsey, on the other hand, expertly shows Ellie’s playful and quirky side whilst still allowing the character’s vulnerability and innocence to shine through in crucial moments.

Honestly, I’m betting on these two for the Emmy Awards.

Here are the other actors in the show:

10. The aesthetics…*chef’s kiss*

If you’re still not convinced enough to watch the show, I won’t say another word.

Just take a look at how beautiful the show’s cinematography and production design are:

Watch episodes of "The Last Of Us" on HBO GO and HBO (Channel 601 on StarHub TV), and catch the finale on Mar. 13.

All images courtesy of HBO Asia/HBO GO.

This sponsored article by StarHub made the writer rewatch the HBO Original drama series "The Last Of Us" on HBO and HBO GO (and needless to say, it's so worth it).