We start the second half of the first season of The Last of Us with an action-packed episode, but not in the traditional format with physical sequences. If not here the people of HBO He chose to faithfully adapt one of the most intense moments in the entire game, leaving aside the infected, the chases and the shots.
Even so, with Kin, the title of this sixth episode, Pedro Pascal and company managed to bring to the screen moments of powerful dramatic force and many emotions that even took those of us who already experienced the plot through the game by surprise.
By now it has become more than clear that the script work is exceptional and particularly astute, taking a few detours and altering a few passages to keep everyone surprised while proactively tying the dots together for what will be the story of season two. .
This week’s episode is a perfect example of the complex balance they have achieved with this series. Where the crucial scenes are transferred identically to the small screen, to be surpassed many times, and altering some parts to improve the experience.
The main differences between the video game and episode 6 of The Last of Us
The episode is a very faithful adaptation to some scenes and moments from the video game, but the chronology and way in which it is presented are not exact, which makes everything much more interesting.
We never know Jackson’s commune in the original title, that happens until part 2 of the game, but the town we see in the chapter is a faithful reproduction, identical to that of TLOU Part II.
Maria’s character, from her appearance to her behavior, is very different. The meeting between Tommy, Joel, Ellie and her takes place on the outskirts of town, so some things coincide and others don’t.
Maria in the series is much more welcoming to strangers, is now expecting a child with Tommy, and has a conversation with Ellie during the haircut scene that just doesn’t happen in the game. That talk happens offscreen.
The talks between Joel and Tommy are still very different. In the series everything is focused on building the moment of drama and exposing Joel’s vulnerability and his panic attacks because he is already more emotionally involved. When in the game all that is in the background due to the action.
That legendary scene of the confrontation between Joel and Ellie when he tries to leave her is kept almost line for line here. But the series version is slightly superior in terms of drama and acting.
The move to the university campus is pretty much the same, complete with the chimpanzee scene. Although Joel’s injury happens in a much simpler way than seen in the original sequence of the game.
Perhaps the most interesting point is that during all of Jackson’s scenes and some of the subsequent chatter they took it upon themselves to throw off threads that will tie in subtly with season two.
But that is the subject of another future analysis.
