HBO’s TV series The Last of Us has been getting rave reviews since its launch three weeks ago – but until today it’s only been accessible to those with a NOW subscription or access to Sky.
However, that’s about to change: at 1pm on Friday January 27, Sky and NOW release the entire first episode on Sky UK’s YouTube channel for everybody to watch for free.
As a result, curious viewers will have the chance to see what all the excitement is about for themselves. However all remaining episodes will still be broadcast only on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Episode three (titled Long Long Time, and already being hailed as one of the best standalone hours of television ever made, which is impressive) is due to air at 2am on Monday January 30 in the UK.
The Last Of Us is an adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name, which takes place in a dystopian alternative reality. In this world, society has been overrun with a malevolent fungus called cordyceps that turns humans into zombies desperate to infect others.
Surviving uninfected humans live in walled towns protected from the outbreak – however, construction worker-turned-smuggler Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) finds himself with more on his hands than he bargained for when he agrees to transport a young girl, Ellie (Bella Ramsey, last seen in Lena Dunham’s big screen adaptation of Catherine, Called Birdy), across the US. Ellie happens to be immune to the cordyceps virus, making her very likely humanity’s salvation – and naturally, the journey does not go as planned.
Reviews for The Last of Us have so far been very positive. In the Standard’s four-star review, it said that the show “expertly tugs on both heartstrings and nerves”, while the BBC has called it “the best video game adaptation ever”. The Guardian has also praised the show for its “perfect” casting, saying “Pascal is great, but Ramsey is phenomenal. She is funny, sullen and sharp, retaining a slightly awkward teenage physicality. Her performance is so authentic and believable that it doesn’t feel like a performance at all.”
Viewing figures have remained consistently high for The Last Of Us since its launch on Monday January 16. The first episode was the second-biggest drama debut ever on Sky Atlantic, with one million fans staying up until 2am to watch it, and overnight viewing figures have consistently clocked in at around three times the level of previous Sky hit House of the Dragon.
