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The last of us The ending of Episode 1 might have looked very different without the intervention of HBO CEO Casey Bloys, series co-showrunner Craig Mazin revealed.
Speak against Variety (opens in new tab), Mazin revealed that it was Bloys’ suggestion that the premiere of the HBO Max show end the way he does. According to Bloys, it was a much more emotional ending to the first episode of the post-apocalyptic series, and one that would captivate audiences and keep them returning for future installments.
Major spoilers for The Last of Us follow. Read no further than the image below if you haven’t seen it yet.
During the premiere, we learn that Joel has a daughter – Sarah – who dies during the first Cordyceps outbreak in 2003. Sarah is killed when a panicked soldier shoots at the couple, believing them to be infected, killing one of his shots fatally wound Sarah. .
In the last sequence of the first episode we see a similar scenario play out. When Joel, Tess and Ellie try to escape the Boston quarantine zone, a guard catches them, and after checking them for the Cordyceps infection, realizes that Ellie is infected (Ellie is immune, but the guard knows that not) . Law enforcement rules state that infected personnel must be killed immediately, but Joel – reminded of Sarah’s death and how he failed to protect 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 for a gripping yet shocking viewing experience. However, if Mazin and co-showrunner Neil Druckmann had their way, that scene would have taken place in The last of us episode 2. Instead, it was Bloys’ idea to merge the first and second episodes of the show, to form a longer premiere with a touchingly effective ending that would leave a lasting impression on viewers.
“Casey said, ‘Hey, look, I’ve seen the first two episodes. And the feeling of my audience tells me we should make it one big episode,'” Mazin explains. “[Bloys added] “The ending of what was going to be the second episode is such a great ending, it will move people forward.
“This was sincere. It was ‘I think this will be better for the audience.’ And he was right. It was a really smart observation. He and I are cut from the same vaudevillian cloth. We want the audience to feel things.”
Analysis: a change for the better
As Mazin revealed, it’s a creative change that turned out to be masterful.
Viewers – both those who played The last of us video games and newcomers to the franchise – were instantly hooked on the TV adaptation. The last of us was an overnight hit, with 4.7 million people tuning into HBO and HBO Max on its premiere night. That made it the second most-watched premiere in HBO history, with Game of Thrones spin off series House of the Dragon the only show premiere to perform better.
The show’s viewership has also increased week-over-week since its January 15 debut: the first episode has been streamed 22 million times in the US alone. In the meantime, Variety (opens in new tab) reported that Episode 4, which aired on February 5, drew 7.5 million viewers on HBO and HBO Max. Ratings for episodes 5 and 6 are expected to be released soon.
It is not surprising that the success of The last of us in the US and abroad meant that the show’s renewal was always on the line. HBO has confirmed that The last of us would get a second season, which is expected to adapt most (if not all). The Last of Us Part II game, less than two weeks after the show’s premiere. It may be a while before the show’s second season gets to us, so we’d better enjoy the last three episodes of The last of us season 1 when they air for the next three Sundays.
Center around for more coverage The last of us, find out which TV shows belong in our guide to the best HBO Max shows. If you haven’t seen it yet, read our review of it The last of us to get our spoiler-free thoughts on the entire season 1, or find out why HBO’s The last of us makes his own way away from the video game series.
The Last of Us is available to watch on HBO/HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK.