Video games can be difficult to translate to television, and The Last of Us is one of my favorite game franchises—ever. So, I was nervous, but cautiously optimistic, when HBO announced the Craig Mazin and Niel Druckmann series.
My fears were unfounded, and I was in tears only a few minutes into the first episode.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey brought Joel and Ellie to life, and the HBO adaptation went all-in on production and design. I couldn’t stop watching, and I’m not the only one. The Season 1 finale scored 8.2 million viewers the night it aired, and the first six episodes averaged 30.4 million by the finale in March.
The Last of Us broke out into mainstream conversation in a way we rarely see in this era of Peak TV, and Season 2 promises to be bigger, bolder and will infect even more fans. — MC
Honorable mentions:
The Golden Bachelor, ABC/Hulu
I’m a Virgo, Prime Video
Shrinking, Apple TV+
Yellowjackets Season 2, Showtime
Gen V, Prime Video
The Diplomat, Netflix
Ted Lasso Season 3, Apple TV+
Loki Season 2, Disney+
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Netflix
The Great Season 3, Hulu
