HBO’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Last of Us video game series premiered this past weekend, and as we expected, it’s already a hit. The first episode, titled “When You’re Lost in the Darkness,” is the second highest-grossing HBO premiere in the last 13 years, right behind House of the Dragon. That’s pretty impressive, and we get the hype. The first episode is amazing and it only gets better from here!
The Last of Us takes place 20 years after a zombie apocalypse. Exhausted after losing his daughter in the outbreak, Joel (Pedro Pascal) lives in a quarantine zone and works as a smuggler alongside a woman named Tess (Anna Torv). When the pair are tasked with protecting a young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey), they have no choice but to go through with it. Throughout the season, Joel and Ellie form a bond that fans of the best-selling video game love.
Fans of the game had been looking forward to seeing who would be cast in the iconic duo, and while most were excited to see Pascal play Joel, there were some negative reactions. And Pascal wasn’t the only one to suffer a setback.
‘The Last of Us’ star Bella Ramsey (Ellie) has been unfairly attacked online
In a recent interview with The New York Times, 19-year-old Ramsey spoke about how online criticism of her casting as Ellie has affected her. Ever since her casting was announced, toxic fans of the game have complained that she doesn’t look like the fictional character, which honestly shouldn’t matter at all. Ramsey says she’s gotten into the bad habit of reviewing online conversations about her, noting, “It’s the first time I’ve ever reacted negatively to something.”
There would be times when I would find it funny. Then I got to the end of a 10-minute scrolling session, put my phone down and realized, maybe that was a bad idea.
Show creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin thought Ramsey was perfect for the role of Ellie. Druckmann also developed the game, so I think he knows a thing or two about the characters. “We were looking for a certain combination of contradictions: someone who could be funny and quirky, but also violent and rough. I haven’t seen Bella act like Ellie — I’ve seen Ellie,” he recalled watching Ramsey’s audition.
Understandably, the negative reactions have hurt Ramsey’s confidence. “It’s only recently that I’ve accepted that I’m Ellie and I can do it and I’m a good actress,” she said. “But that’s going to be a couple of weeks, and then I think I’ll be awful again. That’s just the process.”
Ramsey has been a fantastic part of the HBO adaptation so far, and I can’t wait to see her and Pascal co-star more in future episodes. Hopefully the show’s success so far and the positive reactions to its performance will help. But it can’t be easy.
The Last of Us releases new episodes every Sunday night on HBO and HBO Max.
To stay up to date on all things fantasy, science fiction and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE FREE with a risk-free 7-day free trial from Amazon Channels