Spoiler-free: This contains no spoiler about the game or the new HBO show “The Last of Us.”

After more than two years of waiting, we’re finally going to see the first episode of “The Last of Us” next month. The console-to-small-screen adaptation of this monster-filled post-apocalyptic drama will star Game of Thrones alums Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal as the leads.

What is the show about?

The show’s logline reads

THE LAST OF US takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. 

Based on the trailer that HBO Max dropped yesterday, Ellie is immune from the virus that destroyed modern civilization and Joel has to accompany her to the west of the United States where people are working on a cure. For Joel, Ellie is nothing but a cargo, but we’d be dumb not to expect that is going to change as the season progresses.

The show is based on the homonymous 2013 game and its 2020 sequel. After two failed attempts to develop movies—one live action film that was supposed to involve another Game of Thrones alum Maisie Williams and one animated film that was supposed to connect the stories in the first and second games—the HBO series was born.

“The Last of Us” and “The Last of Us Part II” both received many accolades not just in storytelling but also in voice acting, art and animation, and musical scoring.

Who’s showrunning?

Originally, Johan Renck, the director of all episodes in the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” was slated to be the show’s executive producer and director for the pilot episode. Craig Mazin, “Chernobyl” creator, is instead showrunnning together with the game’s creative director and writer Neil Druckmann.

Due to conflicts in schedule and the pandemic, Renck is out of the show. So instead of him directing the pilot, Kantemir Balagov will be directing the pilot. Balagov’s films “Closeness” and “Beanpole” have competed in Un Certain Regard in Cannes. “Beanpole” has earned him best director in the section.

Jasmila Žbanić, director of “Quo vadis, Aida?” and Ali Abbasi, director of “Holy Spider,” will also be directing episodes. 

When is the show premiering?

The series will be available on HBO GO the same time as its release on HBO MAX. Here in the Philippines, the show will be premiering on January 16th, Monday, Manila time.

Who else are in the show as actors?

“Parks and Recreation” fans will be excited to know that Nick Offerman as Bill in “The Last of Us.” I know I was. Bill is a survivalist who Joel and Ellie will rely on to get somewhere.

For the regular HBO viewers, some names and faces will be familiar. “True Detective” alum Gabriel Luna will star as Tommy in the show. Tommy is Joel’s brother. “The Pacific” alum Anna Torv is in the show as Tess, also a smuggler. Merle Dandrige, who starred as Kim Hammond in the first season of “The Flight Attendant,” will in this show star as the resistance fighter Marlene. Dandrige, as far as I know, is the only actor who reprised her role from the game.

How many episodes are there?

Initially, “The Last of Us” was planned to have ten episodes released every week, like most HBO shows. The last episode will air on the 20th of May 2023. However, there were reports that it will only be nine episodes long. Let’s start an early petition that season 2 is 11 episodes long.

What else do we know?

I mentioned earlier that “The Last of the Us” game also earned awards and nominations in musical scoring. It’s all thanks to Gustavo Santaolalla, who’s also lending his talents to the television show adaptation.

Most of the show’s scenes were shot in Canada, but some pick-ups, or additional photography, were taken in the United States.

What don’t we know about the show so far?

A lot. For starters, not even the gameplayers know what’s up with some of the characters. The television show will introduce original characters. A revolutionary leader named Kathleen (played by “Over the Garden Wall” voice actress Melanie Lynskey) and a couple named Marlon and Florence have not appeared in any of the games.

Episode titles and episode count has not been officially revealed but I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get ten episodes of more than an hour each.

I will be posting a same-day breakdown of each episode starting January 16, 2023 evening (Manila time) in this blog. See you here!