HBO Max’s “The Last of Us” has taken the world by storm. Adapted from the hit Playstation game, the show takes on an engaging zombie apocalypse storyline while simultaneously shattering audiences’ hearts with powerful performances, week after week. 

The show is set in 2023 where, due to rising temperatures, a fungus called Cordyceps is able to evolve and become capable of entering humans’ brains. The fungus takes over their body and turns them into zombie-like creatures. This is one of the more realistic explanations for zombies on TV, as it sounds like it could actually happen in our world, making the creatures a bit scarier. 

The audience follows Joel, a man who tragically lost his daughter at the start of the apocalypse, and Ellie, a young girl who seems to be immune to the infection. 

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey do a fantastic job in the respective roles of Joel and Ellie, who get off to a rocky start, but begin to develop a sort of father-daughter relationship as the show goes on. Both actors know how to pull on fans’ heartstrings, as they deliver deeply emotional performances. 

One might expect a zombie-ridden America to be considerably more ugly than it is portrayed in “The Last of Us.” Life inside the Quarantine Zones that people are forced to live in looks dull, but the world beyond is beautiful. The creators of this show nailed the visuals, and it’s hard to take your eyes off of the ruined cities that are covered in beautiful overgrown plants and full of animals who seem to have taken over the land due to lack of humans. 

Most of the show is action-packed and intense, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. But don’t let this fool you––if you plan on watching this show, make sure you have a box of tissues within reach. From queer love with devastating endings to watching characters mourn their loved ones, at least one episode is bound to make you shed a tear.

While “The Last of Us” can be extremely sad and, at times, depressing, there are still a few scenes where viewers can’t help but laugh. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal’s witty banter sprinkled throughout the episodes makes for great comic relief and lightens the tone of the show. 

With each episode, “The Last of Us” continues to impress viewers with stunning visuals and break their hearts with breathtaking performances by fantastic actors. The final episode provides both new and old fans of the story with a satisfying ending, but also leaves them wanting more. Thankfully, “The Last of Us” will return for a second season.