The ending of The Last of Us episode 1 could have been very, very different without the intervention of HBO CEO Casey Bloys, the series' co-showrunner Craig Mazin has discovered.
Speaking with Variety (opens in a new tab), Mazin found out that it was Bloys' suggestion that the HBO Max show's premiere end the way it does. In Bloys' opinion, it was a considerably more emotionally surprising ending to the first episode of the post-apocalyptic series, and one that would captivate audiences and ensure they return for future episodes.
Major spoilers continue for The Last of Us. Don't read the picture now if you haven't seen it yet.
In the premiere, we learn that Joel has a daughter, Sarah, who dies during the first Cordyceps outbreak in XNUMX. Sarah dies at the moment when a terrified soldier shoots at the couple, thinking that they are infected, one of her blows fatally wounds Sarah. .
In the final sequence of the first episode, we see a related scenario unfold. As Joel, Tess and Ellie attempt to leave the Boston Quarantine Zone, a guard captures them and, after checking for a Cordyceps infection, realizes that Ellie is infected (Ellie is immune, but the guard doesn't). knows). Law enforcement rules state that infected personnel are to be killed immediately, but Joel, remembering Sarah's death and how he failed to save her, attacks the guard and beats him to death in a fit of rage to save Ellie's life.
It's an ending that makes heartwarming viewing all the more amazing. If Mazin and co-showrunner Neil Druckmann had hit it off, this scene would have taken place in episode two of The Last of Us. Instead, it was Bloys's idea to consolidate the first and second episodes of the series, to form a longer series. premiere with a moving and effective finale that would leave a lasting impression on viewers.
"Casey said, 'Hey, I watched the first two episodes. And my audience tells me we should make it big,'" Mazin explained. motion.
“He was honest. It was 'I think it's going to be better for the public.' And she was right. It was truly an intelligent observation. He and we are cut from the exact same vaudeville pattern. We want to make people feel things.
Analysis: A change for the better
(*two*)
Audiences were immediately hooked on The Last of Us (Image credit: HBO)As Mazin discovered, it was a creative shift that turned out to be masterful.
Viewers, both those who have played The Last of Us console games and newcomers to the franchise, were immediately hooked on the television adaptation. The Last of Us was an overnight success, with 7 million people tuning in to HBO and HBO Max on its first night. That made it the second most-watched premiere in HBO history, with the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon the show's only best-performing premiere.
The show's viewership has also grown week by week since its debut on January XNUMX: in the US alone, the first episode has been viewed twenty-two million times. Meanwhile, Variety (opens in a new tab) reported that Episode Four, which aired on February XNUMX, drew XNUMX million viewers on HBO and HBO Max. Viewership numbers for episodes five and six should be released soon.
Unsurprisingly, the success of The Last of Us in the US and abroad meant that a revamp for the show was always on the cards. HBO has confirmed that The Last of Us is getting a second season, which is expected to adapt most (if not all) of The Last of Us Part II game, less than a couple of weeks after the show's premiere. It may be a while before the second season of the show is here, so we better enjoy the last 3 episodes of The Last of Us Season 1 when they air over the next 3 Sundays.
For more coverage focused on The Last of Us, find out which TV series are joining it in our best HBO Max shows guide. If you haven't seen it yet, read our The Last of Us review to get our spoiler-free thoughts on all of Season 1, or find out why HBO's The Last of Us charts its path away from the video game series.
The Last of Us is free to watch on HBO/HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK.
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