The Last of Us | Episode 1: "When You're Lost In The Darkness" - Spoiler Review 

I was literally screaming at the tv during the truck scene. Like the trip to memory lane when I played the game and the anxiety was relived. This whole episode was perfection for me MY GOD

That was phenomenal. Had a watch party at college with fans of the game and a few who'd never played it. Everyone was hooked.

Literally just finished episode one and... it was one of the best starts to a show I've ever watched

I was not expecting this premiere to be THIS GOOD. Enjoyed almost all of it and love how they ended it. So excited for the next episode!

Just finished episode 1 and all I can say is THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD ASS SERIES. I love how they expanded the start of the outbreak and we really got to sit with the weight of everything collapsing in the world. I love Perdo's version as Joel and Bella as Ellie. Like I said this is gonna be a good ass series.

That scene where that woman can't handle a child's corpse, so Joel is forced to. And he just numbs himself to it. That's some powerful stuff man.

You know it’s good when you sit there and think wow that did not feel like an hour and 20 minutes

Go figure, another KILLER review. Man oh man, from someone who has played both games multiple times, I agree with everything you said. What a phenomenal start, and I am beyond excited to not only tune in every Sunday night for the show, but for your reviews as well. I am so damn happy right now, they did it!

Great opening episode. Really felt like the first hour of the game with some subtle changes. Really digging what their doing. All my worries and skepticism went straight out the window. Awesome review Cody. Looking forward to the rest.

The first half hour felt like the game. They did a fantastic job. So far I’m hooked.

I really liked the episode. There wasn’t anything that I thought was wrong with it but for some reason I think the game just hits harder. The scene where Joel gets PTSD and beats the soldier to death was really great and I loved the addition of the talk show at the beginning. Bella Ramsey really surprised me and from her very first scene I thought she was awesome as Ellie. I’m stuck between a 9 and 10/10 Edit: watched the episode a second time and I’m definitely giving it a 10/10. Enjoyed it even more the second time than the first

It was so perfect 😭. We finally have a GREAT faithful adaptation of a video game. Can’t wait for the 2nd episode! I was very iffy about Bella Ramsay as Ellie since Ellie is my favorite character in gaming but she did amazing. Can’t wait to see her in the role more.

I’m a huge fan of the games and I absolutely loved watching this first episode. They finally did it!! One of the coolest moments for me was when Joel and Sara were trying to escape from the runner in the restaurant. It was a nice touch that the fungus just completely eliminates the hosts’ sense of self preservation and just throws itself at whatever its pursuing. Can’t wait to see the clickers!

I really liked the opening with that 60s talk show where the epidemiologist predicts the corticepts fungus and explains how it could happen. Everything he says and then when the opening credits and music start, I just got the chills. It was an amazing way to begin the show

the first episode was everything i wanted this show to be. i loved this premier. I can't wait to see the rest of this show. best video game adaptation to date and can't wait to see Lauren in the stream tomorrow. i'll be there for that stream for sure.

I am honestly so happy that my favorite video game of all time is getting a worthy adaptation. I loved the first episode and I can’t wait to see more. Everyone’s just perfect, I’m so excited. Sarah’s death choke me up, it was wonderful to see that unforgettable video game opening on screen.

I cried I’ll be honest I loved it so damn much

You've had some legendary rants that I either spent the entire video nodding my head emphatically in agreement at or laughed my ass off because some shows/movies have taken me to that place too. But boy do I love when you get to talk about something you truly loved because your joy is nearly tangible each time. It always makes a fun watch. As someone who couldn't play the series because I get really bad motion sickness with a lot of modern games now. I thought this episode was fantastic and had me fully engrossed within ten minutes. I thought they did an awesome job at setting the tone and environment for someone with such little knowledge (outside of passing spoilers)/no personal experience. Sarah's death absolutely kicked my ass even though I knew that bit of the story. It says a lot how well executed that scene was because I definitely was ugly faced through my tears during it lmao All in all, really happy for fans who loved this series receiving an adaption full of care. Cant wait for more!

Bella Ramsey nailed it as Ellie she was the standout for me as well as how well they translated the feeling of the game to tv

I came into ep1 thinking there was no way they would be able to get this right both for the new viewers and also the fans/gamers but I was wrong...they totally nailed it. Huge respect to all involved - and you're right (at least from what I've seen so far!) they casting is perfect!

Just watched it twice and listened to the HBO podcast. I can't believe how well this was adapted to the small screen. This makes me want to replay the game once more too.

One small change I love is how Joel and Tess aren’t looking for “Weapons” that Robert took, it’s a car battery to find/get to tommy . A nice way to change Joel for the audiences and make him more like able as a character rather then just some dude looking for more guns.

I loved it. I love some of the stuff they changed. Like how the accident happens, and how they go into Joel and Sarah's relationship was before when shit goes sideways. It was cool to see and it made when Sarah dies, it felt like an even bigger kick to the nuts. Especially as someone who loves the game, and knew it was coming, it was, like, shit. Like, who else besides me also really loved the idea of Joel basically having PTSD when the Fedra guy aims the gun at him and stuff at the end of the episode and Joel straight up attacks him, cuz he thinks of what happened with Sarah. It was such a good idea to do. I also don't mind the change of the time when the apocalypse starts. The title sequence was great. This was just a great episode. It's a perfect start. I loved the callbacks to the game where they do recreations of shots from the game to the show.

It's filmed in Calgary. The fact that they made Calgary look so much like Boston is a testament to the outstanding set production. I was amazed at how awesome it looked.

It was phenomenally good!!! as a hardcore fan of the game itself I could not be more fulfilled with what they have accomplished with this adaptation! I laughed, I cried, I was even taken by surprise with some of the subtle changes made to the story telling. I cannot wait for next Sunday!

Actually getting to meet the neighbors, seeing a kid that gets put down cause he was infected, ration card trading, smuggling drugs. We heard about these things in the game but we never saw them. We get to see it here and it feels like we are peeking behind the curtain of the game. It’s magical. Amazing.

Just finished watching the first episode, was hooked within ten seconds - so happy HBO helmed this. That theme music at the beginning - I got such chills I felt it in my balls! Also, shame on anybody who had bones to pick with both the young actors of Sarah and Ellie! Both absolutely killed it in my opinion

I love their take on the infected design with the fungus peeking out of their mouth, it adds detail on why clickers have huge fungal growth that breaks the upper part of their mouth.

Every gamer fell in love w Ellie and Joel and man I feel like this show will make you love these characters even more, can’t wait for episode 2!

As a father the Sarah death definitely broke me hard I couldn't hold back my tears imagining being in that position

As someone who has never played the games and didn’t know any of the twists or turns that happen in the games, I adored this first episode. I think you’re right. This show will change video game adaptations forever. This show puts the Resident Evil movies to shame.

I’m so glad I’ve played the game a dozen times so I don’t have to worry about the spoiler videos before I watch the episode. Have to wait to watch until tomorrow night

That was Lost pilot levels of great. They really really knocked this out of the park, so excited to retake this journey with non gaming family :)

LOVED IT!! It’s doing so good at sticking true to the game but also adding nice additions in the right places to just flesh things out a bit

What a phenomenal premiere episode!! I can’t wait to see what’s next

I really enjoyed the pilot. They really did stay true to the source material, and the cast absolutely killed it! Anyone else catch the nod to the game title screen with the window drapes? I was waiting for the title screen music to show up somewhere, it was perfection. I'm excited for the rest of the show!

I'm with you about her death lost it again. I can't wait to see a Bloater!!!!

Sara's death will always make me cry😭😭

Man cody I got chills when that intro music hit, I already watched the first episode twice I loved what they did so much.

@Cody I am so glad they are doing this with the love and care it deserves. Thank you for the confirmation of it being done so well.

CODY! Im just watching them now! I just watched the first one. Holy shit so good and you talking with Lauren Lavera I'm jealous. Cheers bro

My only complaint was the placement of the title sequence, in the game you sit there processing everything that happened and you just sit there in tears. Here not much time is given to procces that as it gets straight to the time jump

loved how episode 1 ended with the 80’s song during the credits scene. Just shows there is much MUCH more trouble to come.

I cryed when Sarah died.. It mad me sad but happy at that point I could just breath. The ps3 corny Ness off the back drops playing out in real life to the set pice of the clicker in the wall to the hole show pilot was amazing hopefully more clickers and blowters to come

I haven’t played the game but I checked out the episode and I’m fully invested in the show. This premiere was so good that I bought The Last of Us and I started playing it. I’m going to continue playing the game and I can’t wait to see the parallels between the game and the show. Can’t wait for more.

Oh man I just got done watching it I loved every bit FANTASTIC

Great review Cody and a great first episode. I’m really glad They nailed the tone here. As soon as I saw John Hanna in a small role(the one that speaks on tv in the first scene) then I knew it’s going to rock! Love him! All the smaller characters are amazing, specially Gabriel Luna that Sean Chandler have interviewed before. As for Pedro and Bella, I never enjoyed any of their previous roles that I seen, but so far they’re really good and I hope this show will make see them in another light like what happened to me with Adam Driver in The Last Duel!

Love this show. Awesome review! Thank you for covering this so pumped for next episode. I just played both games b4 Christmas for the first time love them both.

Now that’s how to adapt a game into another medium, stay faithful to the source material while adding things here & there to flesh out the characters & world… On a side note, this is why we got the remake, I haven’t seen anybody playing the game on my friends list since September, I logged in right after the episode & there were over 10 friends playing it at once.

One of my favorite games of all time. I was excited while also nervous at the same time. I am curious, however......I, unfortunately haven't played TLOU 2 yet and I'm hoping (and assuming) this season will only be covering the first video game. Great review brother.

I had no idea this was a video game until somebody told me after I watched the first episode. I’m hooked.

I'm just excited you actually like something I've been following for 6 months now and you seem to have a very critical opinion of the things that we watch some happy to hear that you like something

I just watched it and it was AMAZING. Been a huge fan of TLOU since 2013.Thank you Cody for your review! I love your channel.

When the plane came down at them, I was like 'holy fuck!' That genuinely scared me

Jaw dropped, couldn't be happier with Ep. 1 Edit: Also, holy shit, congrats on some awesome guests for the spoiler discussion!

As a game player, I loved the kid in school twitching his hand. For non players, a rewatch will add to it

Dude I never got into this game, it felt like it played the game FOR ME. But I feel your enthusiasm for the game and the show. I don't know how you keep this authenticy. Easily the best movie review out.

Phenomenal first episode. Nice surprise that we got a premiere the length of a short film. Other series would've taken that half hour, added some filler and made another episode. I thought it was smart to add that opening 1968 talk show scene as a brief set up to the plausibility of the outbreak. Wish I could binge them all right now.

Dude you were right about this show I was completely impressed how good this episode was the cast is great and watching Sarah death in live action form was more heartbreaking to watch than the game especially since I’m a father of 2 kids I cried man 😢I cannot wait for episode 2

As a huge fan of the game I was starting to get a bit concerned with some of the choices made a couple weeks before the premier until I saw your Spoiler Free season 1 review. Watching this on Sunday night, you were spot on and all of my concerns went away. I thought they absolutely nailed it by keeping it close to the source material but making enough changes that fans don't always know what to expect. I can't wait to see how they handle the rest of the season. Also bonus points for having Good Batiatus (John Hannah) in the intro.

This may be the best video game adaptation

This pilot episode was phenomenal from start to finish & I'm so excited to watch the rest of the show.

I absolutely loved episode 1 I give it a 10 out of 10 I am excited for episode 2 on Sunday.

This was everything i could have wanted for a first episode!!! And i really was puzzled about the actor who played the doctor in the beginning. And i realized thats the same actor from the brendan fraser movie movies.

Out of curiosity did anyone else hear the clicker in the background at the end of the episode. I thought I heard one but it may also just be me going mad. Either what this episode really was amazing and I can't wait to see what follows

Phenomenal first show! I love how they took scenes from the game and put them in the show exactly like they are in the game,but also,telling their own story,Bella Ramsey IS Ellie! Love the casting,it's perfect! I'm so excited to see more,and hope they get a couple more seasons to go into the second game!

I’m from South America( Spanish speaking ) so I can literally watch the show with the dub all of the voices are the same as the video game what makes this even a greater experience

It’s awesome to see that the show adds to the story of the game while being faithful to it unlike most video game adaptions that think they have to be different just cause people know the story already

Loved all that 'emotion!' Happy the writers were able to 'extract' from a (critical!) reviewer, the satisfaction/joy, by keeping true to what the heartbeat of the narrative began with - it's respectful😂

It’s cool seeing the reactions of my girlfriend who’s never played the game. I told her she’s in for a hell of a ride. She enjoyed every second of episode 1. Can’t wait for the next episode !

I love how the show, though Joel killing the infected neighbor without hesitation, establishes his deep-seeded instinct to go into survival mode protect his own at all costs, even before losing his daughter and becoming the ruthless person we know him as.

I agree, that shot with the old woman twitching in the background had me in CHILLS

Screams of joy from North Carolina

Did anyone else miss “the infected” on the roof when they showed the wide shot of the two buildings at the vend? I missed it twice and heard a reviewer mention it and I was like huh?? Lol. But yeah he’s there

I just watched the first episode.. WOW.. great review

That opening sequence basically explains how Druckman came up with the idea for the game. Excellent stuff

Great review as always Cody! Absolutely loved the premier episode of TLOU. In regards to Joel's wife, I've always assumed that she had died at some point because there are no pictures of her in his house at the start of the game and when Ellie asks about her he doesn't want to talk about it just like how he didn't want to talk about Tess dying.

How he was holding Sarah in death gave me pet sematary vibes.

This was legit everything i asked for in a live action The Last of Us movie/show. But yes, the show works better. Still, all of it was there from the game to the show. The theme song was there from the opening sequence, EVERYONE from Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Nico Parker and MERLE DANDRIDGE REPRISING AS MARLENE NAILED THEIR ROLES, and while staying true to the story but expanding it for the show and from the game IS ABSOLUTELY GENIUS... That opening of the show and game 💔💔😭😭 And that 60s talk show intro? Oh. My. Goodness. This show will be the one of the greatest adaptations of ALL TIME

The lead up to the plane crash was insane. What a great change

I was already holding back tears once we met Sarah, knowing what's coming. Phenomenal adaptation can't wait for every Sunday

Joel is dead inside. The death of Sara initiated a cascade effect for him, in which a world where survival is paramount.

Huge fan since it was on PS3. Played Ps5’s Part 1 a couple of weeks ago (with Left Behind) in preparation. So much dialogue from the game in that first episode. I was grinning from ear to ear! Until Sarah……🥺 Absolutely knocked it outta the park! Can’t wait for the rest of them!

I’ve played TLOU twice but somehow seeing the Sarah tragedy play out on screen, I wasnt ready. Heartbreaking!

I may be overexposed to the zombie apocalypse genre because I was not nearly as excited by this as many other people. I have not played the game, so the connections to that won't have any meaning to me. The rest is well done - I certainly liked it a good deal - but I didn't find anything particularly new either. It felt much more like obligatory table setting; I am more interested in seeing what happens now that they are moving out into the world.

THIS is a video game adaptation done right and also a great introduction for people who've never played the game, excited for the next 8 episodes. 10/10

They shot the whole show in Canada. Alberta mainly.

I'm a fan of the game and I absolutely loved it they got everything right I really do think this will be the best video game movie/show oat

I really enjoyed your review Who do you think would be good to play the role of Abby?

I wish they had kept the scene where Joel and Tess interrogate Robert, because Robert is played by my favorite actor, Brendan Fletcher, and I wanted to see more of him.

Last of us 1 and 2 are tied for my favorite game of all time and this show did not let me down. I loved the minor changes they made in the beginning and can’t wait to see what they do the rest of the season. The Sarah scene still got me even though I knew it was coming that scene gets me everytine I replay the game. This is gonna show people that a tv show is the proper way to adapt video games

Another great video. Makes me want to do videos as well. Please tell me we get the torture scene.

I thought this was a child’s play 3 spoiler review for a second

I’ll be buying the show when/if we get a blu-ray release. It was really good 😅

Cody I've seen people loving this show, people who love the games and people who've never played them. It's piqued my interest to maybe watching it but I'm worried about doing the games a disservice because once I experience the story this way it won't be the same if I just play the game after yknow. Should I just watch the show or wait until I eventually get to the games?

I just finished the first episode and I loved it.

Loved it! Can't wait for the next episode!😁

Ive never played the game, I actually dont play video games period, and I loved it, I love the fungi premise its a much more believable way of a zombie apocalypse in reality, super excited for episode 2!

the moment in the game that gut punched me just did it again. WTH how is this so good???

Bruh, I'm so amped for you that you get to do that live with Lauren. I'm sooo jelly bro 😆🤟😎🔥💖