HBO’s adaptation ofThe Last of Usturned one of gaming’s most revered titles into highly acclaimed television. While the structure of the show worked perfectly forPart 1, the series is destined for a difficult decision.The first season ofThe Last of Uscovered the entire first game, and with season 2 breaking ground onThe Last of Us Part 2, it won’t be long before there’s nothing left to adapt. This draws parallels to another HBO adaptation,Game of Thrones, which found itself forced to create an original ending to the long-running book series. WithThe Last of Us Part 3’s release date currently unknown, HBO’sThe Last of Uswill soon faceGame of Thrones' problems.
The Last of Usis considered by many to be a modern gaming masterpiece. While the overall narrative has proven divisive to some, few can debate the quality of its human interactions, gameplay, and complex themes. AsThe Last of Us' show attempts to adapt the second game, it’s currently unknown how the game’s weighty narrative will grow or change. With no current follow-up toThe Last of Us Part 2, the show will need to make some tough decisions, many of which could see it forced to depart from the material it hopes to adapt.
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The Last of Us May Follow In Game of Thrones' Footsteps
TheGame of Thronesseries was an absolute powerhouse in its earliest seasons. However, the HBO adaptation quickly ran out of source material to translate to the screen. In fact,Game of Thrones' first season aired just before the book series' fifth volume,A Dance With Dragons, was released, with the remainder of the show’s eight seasons airing before a follow-up title came out. Soon,The Last of Uswill be in the same situation, as its next season begins to cover the most recent entry with no indication whether its follow-up,The Last of Us Part 3, will release in time to be adapted.
Game of Thronesdecided to move beyondGeorge RR Martin’sA Song of Fire and Iceseries, rather than wait for the source material to catch up. This was likely the right decision, asThe Winds of Winterstill has yet to be completed, four years after the series finale. However, it will no doubt clash with the version fans witnessed on screen, creating potential division within the fanbase. ShouldThe Last of Us Part 3not release prior to HBO’s multi-season adaptation ofPart 2, it could experience the same conflict.
The Last of Us Show Can Avoid Game of Thrones' Biggest Mistakes
WhileGame of Thrones' showrunners put up a valiant effort, many fans were unimpressed with the later seasons' original storylines. HBO may be able to develop a structure for theTV adaptation ofThe Last of Us Part 2that helps it to avoid this particular pitfall. Luckily, the best structure for the TV version is likely a direct adherence to the game’s structure.The Last of Us Part 2jumped between two storylines: one in Jackson, and the other following Abby’s revenge. While the show could split these into separate seasons, doing so would rob the story of its impact, as well as limit the show’s ability to build upon its original elements.
AdaptingThe Last of Us Part 2to TV is going to be tricky, but its multi-season format could allow it to avoid makingGame of Thrones' mistakes. Adopting the game’s two-tone structure opens the door for a variety of original content. This, in turn, could provide ample time forThe Last of Us Part 3to see release while ensuring thatPart 2’s adaptation isn’t stretched too thin.
The Last of Usseason 1 is available to stream now on Max.
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