HBO’s 2-Part Post Apocalyptic Series Rewrites The Rules Of Zombie Shows

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When The Last of Us TV series debuted, it felt like a welcome change for shows set after the end of the world. Although The Walking Dead is famous for bringing zombies back into the spotlight, many viewers consider The Last of Us to be a stronger show. Its terrifying zombies, based on the cordyceps fungus, are genuinely frightening, and the series focuses on a small, core group of characters.

What truly makes The Last of Us special is its incredible character development. The strongest episodes are deeply moving, and the writers quickly create characters you genuinely care about and see as fully realized people. Surprisingly, the zombies themselves take a backseat – and it works brilliantly.

Zombies Are Not The Priority For The Last Of Us

Liane Hentscher/HBO

The different kinds of zombies in The Last of Us – like the incredibly tough Bloaters and the terrifying Clickers who find their prey by listening – were definitely highlights. However, the show didn’t center its story around them. It prioritized the relationships between people, building characters we cared about through their unique personalities and senses of humor.

Some episodes, such as “Long, Long Time” from season one, focused more on characters than zombies and were exceptionally well-written. Even though these episodes could be enjoyed on their own, they didn’t feel like unnecessary detours from the main story. This was thanks to the show’s consistent focus on human behavior and its willingness to portray people as flawed and sometimes terrifying, as seen with the character of David in “When We Are In Need.”

The Last Of Us Season 2 Ramped Up The Zombie Action

Season 2 of The Last of Us featured a significant increase in zombie-related action and violence. Compared to Season 1, which often built tension through suspenseful chases and sudden scares, Season 2 presented more constant and intense zombie attacks. The episode “Through The Valley” was particularly strong, delivering both thrilling action and emotional depth, though the season as a whole has received mixed reactions from viewers.

While critics generally loved The Last of Us (with a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes), viewer reactions tell a different story. The first season had an 86% audience approval rating, but that dropped dramatically to 37% for season 2. Many felt that a particularly emotional death from the original game wasn’t handled well, and that fast-paced action and uneven timing distracted from the strong story that made season 1 so successful.

The Character Moments Are The Last Of Us’ Real Strength

While many zombie TV shows are excellent, simply having great monsters doesn’t ensure a hit. The Last of Us succeeded by focusing less on the zombies themselves, and it’s a stronger show because of that choice. The series smartly adapted the original story, emphasizing compelling human relationships and even reimagining storylines, like the one featuring Bill and Frank.

What made The Last of Us so powerful was its focus on characters and building connections with the audience. Even though Sarah was only in the show briefly, her death felt deeply impactful. Similarly, when Joel faced the same fate as he did in the original game, it was a particularly shocking and emotional moment, and fans are eagerly awaiting the development of season 3.

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2026-02-25 19:28