When You're Lost in the Darkness: Difference between revisions
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"'''When You're Lost in the Darkness'''" is the [[series premiere]] of the American [[post-apocalyptic]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series ''[[The Last of Us (TV series)|The Last of Us]]''. Written by series creators [[Craig Mazin]] and [[Neil Druckmann]] and directed by Mazin, the episode aired on [[HBO]] on January 15, 2023. It introduced the character [[Joel (The Last of Us)|Joel]] ([[Pedro Pascal]]), whose daughter [[Sarah (The Last of Us)|Sarah]] ([[Nico Parker]]) is killed during the chaos of a global [[pandemic]] outbreak caused by a mutated form of the ''[[Cordyceps]]'' fungus that turns its victims into bloodthirsty attackers. Twenty years later, Joel and his partner [[Tess (The Last of Us)|Tess]] ([[Anna Torv]]) set out to find Joel's brother [[Tommy (The Last of Us)|Tommy]] ([[Gabriel Luna]]) and are tasked with smuggling the young [[Ellie (The Last of Us)|Ellie]] ([[Bella Ramsey]]) in exchange for supplies. |
"'''When You're Lost in the Darkness'''" is the [[series premiere]] of the American [[post-apocalyptic]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series ''[[The Last of Us (TV series)|The Last of Us]]''. Written by series creators [[Craig Mazin]] and [[Neil Druckmann]] and directed by Mazin, the episode aired on [[HBO]] on January 15, 2023. It introduced the character [[Joel (The Last of Us)|Joel]] ([[Pedro Pascal]]), whose daughter [[Sarah (The Last of Us)|Sarah]] ([[Nico Parker]]) is killed during the chaos of a global [[pandemic]] outbreak caused by a mutated form of the ''[[Cordyceps]]'' fungus that turns its victims into bloodthirsty attackers. Twenty years later, Joel and his partner [[Tess (The Last of Us)|Tess]] ([[Anna Torv]]) set out to find Joel's brother [[Tommy (The Last of Us)|Tommy]] ([[Gabriel Luna]]) and are tasked with smuggling the young [[Ellie (The Last of Us)|Ellie]] ([[Bella Ramsey]]) in exchange for supplies. |
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The episode's original director, [[Johan Renck]], dropped out due to scheduling conflicts of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. His successor, [[Kantemir Balagov]], left the project due to creative differences and was replaced by Mazin. "When You're Lost in the Darkness" was originally written as two episodes, which were combined as HBO executives felt the original first episode would not compel viewers to return the following week. Mazin and Druckmann wrote additional scenes to expand the world and allow viewers to empathize with its characters. Filming for the series began in [[Calgary]], Alberta, in July 2021. The episode received critical acclaim, with praise for writing, direction, and performances of Pascal, Ramsey, Parker, and Torv. It was watched by 4.7 million viewers on the first day. |
The episode's original director, [[Johan Renck]], dropped out due to scheduling conflicts of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. His successor, [[Kantemir Balagov]], left the project due to creative differences and was replaced by Mazin. "When You're Lost in the Darkness" was originally written as two episodes, which were combined as HBO executives felt the original first episode would not compel viewers to return the following week. Mazin and Druckmann wrote additional scenes to expand the world and allow viewers to empathize with its characters. Filming for the series began in [[Calgary]], Alberta, in July 2021. The episode received critical acclaim, with praise for writing, direction, and performances of Pascal, Ramsey, Parker, and Torv. It was watched by 4.7 million viewers on the first day, and over 10 million within two days. |
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== Plot == |
== Plot == |
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== Reception == |
== Reception == |
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=== Broadcast and ratings === |
=== Broadcast and ratings === |
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While the series was originally indicated to begin airing in 2022,<ref name="GamesRadar 2022"/><ref name="THR Torv"/> HBO and [[HBO Max]] chief content officer Casey Bloys denied this in February 2022 and clarified it would begin in 2023.<ref name="Deadline Bloys"/><ref name="THR Bloys"/> Following leaks from [[Sky Group|Sky]] and HBO Max,<ref name="Eurogamer Date"/> on November 2, HBO announced the series would premiere in the United States on January 15, 2023.<ref name="Variety Date"/> The first episode received its [[red carpet]] world premiere in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]] on January 9,<ref name="TheGamer Premiere"/> followed by theater screenings in [[Budapest]] and [[Sydney]] on January 11,<ref name="IGN Hungary"/><ref name="Mediaweek Sydney"/> and New York City on January 12.<ref name="Screen Rant Premiere"/> The episode had 4.7 million viewers in the United States on its first night of availability, including [[Linear television|linear viewers]] and streams on HBO Max, making it the second-largest debut for HBO since 2010 behind ''[[House of the Dragon]]''.<ref name="THR Viewers"/> |
While the series was originally indicated to begin airing in 2022,<ref name="GamesRadar 2022"/><ref name="THR Torv"/> HBO and [[HBO Max]] chief content officer Casey Bloys denied this in February 2022 and clarified it would begin in 2023.<ref name="Deadline Bloys"/><ref name="THR Bloys"/> Following leaks from [[Sky Group|Sky]] and HBO Max,<ref name="Eurogamer Date"/> on November 2, HBO announced the series would premiere in the United States on January 15, 2023.<ref name="Variety Date"/> The first episode received its [[red carpet]] world premiere in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]] on January 9,<ref name="TheGamer Premiere"/> followed by theater screenings in [[Budapest]] and [[Sydney]] on January 11,<ref name="IGN Hungary"/><ref name="Mediaweek Sydney"/> and New York City on January 12.<ref name="Screen Rant Premiere"/> The episode had 4.7 million viewers in the United States on its first night of availability, including [[Linear television|linear viewers]] and streams on HBO Max, making it the second-largest debut for HBO since 2010 behind ''[[House of the Dragon]]''.<ref name="THR Viewers"/> After two days, that figure increased to over 10 million viewers.<ref name="GameSpot Viewers"/> On linear television, it had 588,000 viewers on its first night, with a 0.17 [[ratings share]].<ref name="ShowBuzzDaily Viewers"/> |
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=== Critical response === |
=== Critical response === |
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<ref name="Eurogamer Date">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-hbos-the-last-of-us-adaptation-debuts-in-january |title=Looks like HBO's The Last of Us adaptation debuts in January |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |date=November 1, 2022 |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145826/https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-hbos-the-last-of-us-adaptation-debuts-in-january |archivedate=November 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
<ref name="Eurogamer Date">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-hbos-the-last-of-us-adaptation-debuts-in-january |title=Looks like HBO's The Last of Us adaptation debuts in January |last=Kennedy |first=Victoria |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |date=November 1, 2022 |accessdate=November 2, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145826/https://www.eurogamer.net/looks-like-hbos-the-last-of-us-adaptation-debuts-in-january |archivedate=November 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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<ref name="GameSpot Viewers">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-season-1-premiere-hits-huge-viewership-numbers-thanks-to-hbo-max/1100-6510592/ |title=The Last Of Us Season 1 Premiere Hits Huge Viewership Numbers Thanks To HBO Max |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |work=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]] |date=January 18, 2023 |access-date=January 18, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118213144/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-of-us-season-1-premiere-hits-huge-viewership-numbers-thanks-to-hbo-max/1100-6510592/ |archivedate=January 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
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<ref name="GamesRadar 2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-tv-show-director-hints-at-potential-release-date/ |title=The Last of Us TV show director hints at potential release date |last=Garbutt |first=Emily |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=July 12, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713005010/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-tv-show-director-hints-at-potential-release-date/ |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
<ref name="GamesRadar 2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-tv-show-director-hints-at-potential-release-date/ |title=The Last of Us TV show director hints at potential release date |last=Garbutt |first=Emily |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=July 12, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713005010/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-last-of-us-tv-show-director-hints-at-potential-release-date/ |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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<ref name="Screen Rant Premiere">{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/last-of-us-premiere-episode-theater-screenings-details/ |title=The Last Of Us To Have 3 Days Early Cinema Screenings |last=Rangel |first=Felipe |work=[[Screen Rant]] |publisher=Valnet |date=January 5, 2023 |accessdate=January 7, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106041215/https://screenrant.com/last-of-us-premiere-episode-theater-screenings-details/ |archivedate=January 6, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
<ref name="Screen Rant Premiere">{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/last-of-us-premiere-episode-theater-screenings-details/ |title=The Last Of Us To Have 3 Days Early Cinema Screenings |last=Rangel |first=Felipe |work=[[Screen Rant]] |publisher=Valnet |date=January 5, 2023 |accessdate=January 7, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106041215/https://screenrant.com/last-of-us-premiere-episode-theater-screenings-details/ |archivedate=January 6, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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<ref name="ShowBuzzDaily Viewers">{{cite web |url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-1-15-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |title=ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 1.15.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated |last=Salem |first=Mitch |work=ShowBuzzDaily |date=January 18, 2023 |accessdate=January 18, 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118164746/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-1-15-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html |archivedate=January 18, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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<ref name="TheGamer Premiere">{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/the-last-of-us-red-carpet-january-9-2023/ |title=HBO's The Last Of Us Red Carpet Event Will Take Place January 9, 2023 |last=Reeve |first=Justin |work=TheGamer |publisher=Valnet |date=December 24, 2022 |accessdate=December 26, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225001924/https://www.thegamer.com/the-last-of-us-red-carpet-january-9-2023/ |archivedate=December 25, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
<ref name="TheGamer Premiere">{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/the-last-of-us-red-carpet-january-9-2023/ |title=HBO's The Last Of Us Red Carpet Event Will Take Place January 9, 2023 |last=Reeve |first=Justin |work=TheGamer |publisher=Valnet |date=December 24, 2022 |accessdate=December 26, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225001924/https://www.thegamer.com/the-last-of-us-red-carpet-january-9-2023/ |archivedate=December 25, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
Revision as of 00:55, 19 January 2023
"When You're Lost in the Darkness" | |
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The Last of Us episode | |
![]() Joel, Tommy, and Sarah flee through a large crowd. The driving sequence was filmed over four weeks with hundreds of extras, and its camerawork was compared to the video game. | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Craig Mazin |
Written by |
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Featured music | Full list
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Cinematography by | Ksenia Sereda |
Editing by | Timothy A. Good |
Original air date | January 15, 2023 |
Running time | 81 minutes[1] |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"When You're Lost in the Darkness" is the series premiere of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. Written by series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and directed by Mazin, the episode aired on HBO on January 15, 2023. It introduced the character Joel (Pedro Pascal), whose daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) is killed during the chaos of a global pandemic outbreak caused by a mutated form of the Cordyceps fungus that turns its victims into bloodthirsty attackers. Twenty years later, Joel and his partner Tess (Anna Torv) set out to find Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and are tasked with smuggling the young Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in exchange for supplies.
The episode's original director, Johan Renck, dropped out due to scheduling conflicts of the COVID-19 pandemic. His successor, Kantemir Balagov, left the project due to creative differences and was replaced by Mazin. "When You're Lost in the Darkness" was originally written as two episodes, which were combined as HBO executives felt the original first episode would not compel viewers to return the following week. Mazin and Druckmann wrote additional scenes to expand the world and allow viewers to empathize with its characters. Filming for the series began in Calgary, Alberta, in July 2021. The episode received critical acclaim, with praise for writing, direction, and performances of Pascal, Ramsey, Parker, and Torv. It was watched by 4.7 million viewers on the first day, and over 10 million within two days.
Plot
On a television talk show in 1968, epidemiologists Dr. Neuman (John Hannah) and Dr. Schoenheiss (Christopher Heyerdahl) discuss the possible causes of a potential mass global pandemic. Neuman suggests fungi, such as Cordyceps, are a much graver threat than any bacteria or virus given the lack of any preventative treatment or cure for a fungal infection. Schoenheiss points out the impossibility of fungal infection in humans due to fungi's inability to survive high body heat. Neuman agrees but notes fungi could evolve to overcome this weakness as the world gets warmer, at which point humanity would not survive.
In 2003, Joel (Pedro Pascal) lives with his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) and his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) in Austin, Texas, working in construction. Sarah pays to repair Joel's watch for his birthday. She falls asleep while watching a movie and Joel leaves to bail Tommy out of jail. Sarah awakens some hours later and discovers her neighbors dead, one of them a cannibalistic creature. Joel returns home with Tommy and kills the creature. As Joel, Tommy, and Sarah flee through crowds of terrified people, debris from a crashed airplane strikes and overturns Tommy's truck. Joel tries to run for the river with Sarah but is cornered by an armed soldier, who shoots at them. Tommy kills the soldier, but Sarah is fatally wounded and dies in Joel's arms.
Twenty years later, in 2023, after the global pandemic of the Cordyceps fungi has devastated human civilization, Joel lives in a military quarantine zone based in the ruins of Boston, Massachusetts, managed by the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA). He and his partner Tess (Anna Torv) support themselves by smuggling and selling contraband to civilians and soldiers. Joel plans to leave the zone for Wyoming in search of Tommy, with whom he lost contact several weeks ago. Joel and Tess purchase a car battery from Robert (Brendan Fletcher), a local trader, but get double-crossed when the battery is instead sold to the Fireflies, a resistance group fighting against FEDRA. Attempting to retrieve it, they find the deal has gone awry and the Fireflies' wounded leader Marlene (Merle Dandridge) begs Joel and Tess to take young Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to the Old State House and hand her off to the Fireflies in exchange for supplies, including a truck to help Joel find Tommy.
Joel and Tess accept the job. As curfew begins, the trio wait until nightfall to leave the quarantine zone. They are caught by a soldier and forced to comply with an infection check. While Joel and Tess try to bargain with the soldier, Ellie stabs him in the leg. The soldier threatens to shoot Ellie, reminding Joel of Sarah's death; he loses his temper and beats the soldier to death. The scanner reveals Ellie is infected, but she promises she has not turned since she was infected three weeks earlier. Joel, Tess, and Ellie enter a biological contamination area in Boston's commercial district to flee the pursuing FEDRA soldiers.
Production
Conception and writing
The Last of Us was created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, based on the 2013 video game; Druckmann wrote and creative directed the video game. A television adaptation was announced in the planning stages at HBO in March 2020,[2] and the series was greenlit in November.[3] Johan Renck, Mazin's collaborator on Chernobyl, was announced as executive producer and director of the pilot episode in June 2020;[4] he dropped out by November due to scheduling conflicts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] He was replaced as director in January 2021 by Kantemir Balagov,[7] who had been interested in adapting the game for years and was set to direct several the first few episodes.[8][9] In October 2022, Balagov said he left the project a year prior due to creative differences[10] and his work would not be featured in the show;[11][12] after it aired, he said around 40 percent of the first 40 minutes was his work.[13] The Directors Guild of Canada revealed Mazin was assigned to direct an episode in August 2021,[14] later revealed to be the pilot.[15] Mazin and Druckmann wrote the episode.[16] Rotten Tomatoes revealed its title in December 2022.[17]
"When You're Lost in the Darkness" was originally written as two episodes; the first would have ended shortly after the 20-year time jump. Executives at HBO felt the original first episode would not compel viewers to return the following week, particularly due to the limited usage of Ellie.[18]: 22:27 Mazin pitched the episode's cold open to Druckmann twice. Their original idea was to create their own version of an educational clip from the documentary series Planet Earth, which had inspired the game, but they found it boring. The concept of the television talk show was inspired by The Dick Cavett Show; Mazin wrote the script as if he had encountered a transcript from a 1969 episode. Druckmann was initially hesitant but became open to the idea as main production was nearing its end. He found it effective both as an educational introduction and a contextualization of future events, particularly to fans of the game to which the open is a deviation.[18]: 8:43 Mazin considered it a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating to viewers that similar viruses have occurred before and likely will again.[18]: 10:54 He borrowed this approach from his work in writing Chernobyl, implying humanity knew of the potential risk for some time.[19]
Mazin and Druckmann wrote additional scenes with Sarah to allow viewers to empathize with her, imitating the game's opening gameplay sequence wherein players briefly assume control of Sarah. Brief scenes were written to imply her personality and make viewers question her future had she survived. Druckmann found the demonstration of an outbreak from a child's perspective unique. The writers experimented with different reasons for Joel to leave Sarah in their house; they found Tommy being in jail allowed them to build the world and characters simultaneously.[20] Mazin blocked Sarah's death similar to the game to remind players of the scene; Luna similarly drew inspiration from the "physical geometry" of Jeffrey Pierce's in-game portrayal of Tommy.[21] The episode's early scenes use the songs "Tomorrow" by Avril Lavigne and "White Flag" by Dido.[22] Its final scene and credits feature the song "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode;[23] Mazin chose the song due to its blend of upbeat sounds and dark lyrics. He felt its title referred to the relationship between Joel and Ellie, and noted it would recur later in the season in a different manner.[18]: 40:25
Casting and characters
Casting took place virtually through Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were cast as Joel and Ellie, respectively, on February 10, 2021.[25][26] The producers primarily sought actors who could embody Joel and Ellie individually as well as imitate their relationship.[27]: 14:42 Pascal and Ramsey did not meet before filming began but found they had instant chemistry which developed over the course of production.[28] Pascal was cast as Joel due to his ability to portray a tough, tortured, and vulnerable character who suppresses his emotions until necessary.[24] A non-gamer, Pascal watched his nephew play the beginning of the first game because he lacked the skill to play it himself; he found Joel to be "so impressive" but was concerned about imitating the games too closely, instead choosing to "create a healthy distance" and allow the showrunners to decide the characterization.[29] More than 100 actors had been considered for Ellie;[30] the producer's sought a performer who could portray a resourceful, quirky, and potentially violent character.[24] Ramsey was encouraged not to play the game after her audition to avoid replicating the original performance, instead watching some gameplay on YouTube to "get a sense of it".[31] Ramsey, who is English, learned an American accent for the role.[32]
Parker's casting as Sarah was announced on June 30, 2021.[33] Parker watched videos of the game years before getting the role.[34] She wanted to "stay away from the game version" and provide her own interpretation of the character;[35] she felt intimidated at the prospect of portraying Sarah's death due to its impact in the game.[36] Parker and Pascal did little rehearsal of Sarah's death as they wanted to "savor" the feeling.[37]: 2:02 Pascal felt an instant bond with Parker, with whom he filmed scenes first.[38] Luna's casting as Tommy was announced on April 15, 2021.[39] He was enthusiastic for the role, having lived in Austin, Texas around the same time as the show's setting.[40]: 2:20 Luna approached the role similar to a biopic, reasoning Tommy had a ten-year history for fans of the game, and elected to translate elements of Pierce's original performance he considered important to himself and fans.[21] Dandridge was confirmed to reprise her role of Marlene from the video games on May 27.[41] Torv's casting as Tess was announced on July 22.[42]
Filming
Ksenia Sereda was the episode's cinematographer.[20] Filming began in Calgary, Alberta, on July 12, 2021,[43][44] a week later than originally scheduled.[45] Filming in High River took place in the evenings of July 13–19,[46] before moving to Fort Macleod from July 19–24, following months of rehearsals and preparations including polling businesses and residents;[47][48][49] storefronts were changed to fit the show.[50] The driving sequences were filmed at night over four weeks in Fort Macleod,[21][20] using hundreds of extras; several background actors crafted their own brief stories and moments.[21] Filming required a mount in which a stunt driver controls movement from a dune buggy atop the vehicle, allowing Sereda full movement in the back. The sequence was written in the script as a long take.[51] Mazin considered the sequence difficult to film, partly due to the limited hours of darkness in Fort Macleod; the cast and crew would rehearse from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and film until around 4:30 a.m.[20] Mazin and Druckmann continued adding minor elements to set dressing until minutes before filming. The plane crash was achieved by flashing powerful lights at the camera to mimic the effect of an explosion. The actors and crew were instructed not to look directly at the lights to avoid damaging their eyes.[20] Parker found filming the chase scene immersive and frightening due to the use of practical effects, allowing her to react in real-time.[37]: 1:22 Production returned to High River in the evening of July 29,[52] before moving to Calgary in August.[53] Three blocks near Stampede Park were transformed over several months into a destroyed city for use in production,[54][55] recreating a quarantine zone in Boston.[56][57] Balagov's work on the show had completed production by August 30;[58] he later left the project entirely due to creative differences.[10]
Reception
Broadcast and ratings
While the series was originally indicated to begin airing in 2022,[59][60] HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys denied this in February 2022 and clarified it would begin in 2023.[61][62] Following leaks from Sky and HBO Max,[63] on November 2, HBO announced the series would premiere in the United States on January 15, 2023.[64] The first episode received its red carpet world premiere in Westwood, Los Angeles on January 9,[65] followed by theater screenings in Budapest and Sydney on January 11,[66][67] and New York City on January 12.[68] The episode had 4.7 million viewers in the United States on its first night of availability, including linear viewers and streams on HBO Max, making it the second-largest debut for HBO since 2010 behind House of the Dragon.[69] After two days, that figure increased to over 10 million viewers.[70] On linear television, it had 588,000 viewers on its first night, with a 0.17 ratings share.[71]
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, "When You're Lost in the Darkness" has an approval rating of 100 percent based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 8.9/10. The website's critical consensus called the episode "a haunting premiere that benefits immeasurably from Nico Parker's endearing contribution".[72] Critics praised the performances of the cast, particularly Pascal, Ramsey, Torv, and Parker.[73][74][75] GameSpot's Mark Delaney said Pascal's performance in the episode made him cry twice and lauded his ability to portray different sides of Joel.[76] Push Square's Aaron Bayne found Pascal's performance reflected Joel's torment without speaking,[77] and Den of Geek's Bernard Boo felt Torv matched the nuance of Pascal's performance.[73] Kotaku Australia's David Smith called Ramsey "perhaps the pilot's greatest triumph", especially in her scenes with Pascal.[78] Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall lauded Parker's performance for "holding the screen" and establishing Sarah as likeable, and wrote that Hannah's performance "sells the innate fear" of the infection.[79] Den of Geek's Boo felt each actor "brought their own take on the material".[73]
MovieWeb's Julian Roman praised Mazin and Druckmann's writing in the episode's opening act, particularly due to the intensity granted through Sarah's perspective.[80] Den of Geek's Boo found the cold open contextualized the narrative in a meaningful manner;[73] IndieWire's Steve Greene called it "a deft bit of TV framing" to make the viewer both confident and anxious, though thought some of the rushed worldbuilding was awkward.[81] IGN's Simon Cardy similarly considered some introductions rushed but otherwise enjoyed the episode's pacing.[74] GamesRadar+'s Bradley Russell wrote the second half "feels like a safer pilot" in comparison to its relentless first half.[82] Variety's Daniel D'Addario compared the episode to Mazin's Chernobyl and wrote it demonstrated his gift "for demonstrating the breakdown of processes".[83] Push Square's Bayne found the episode immersive and emotional despite his familiarity with the story.[77] Inverse's Dais Johnston felt expanding the game's prologue allowed viewers to more closely empathize with Sarah.[84]
Several critics praised Mazin's direction and Sereda's cinematography;[85][86] GamesRadar+'s Russell found the camera work from Sarah's perspective emphasized the narrative's "suffocating tone".[82] Several journalists compared the camerawork to the video game;[87][88][89] IGN's Cardy applauded its usage to frame Sarah's viewpoint.[74] Conversely, /Film's Valerie Ettenhofer felt the shaky handheld footage lessened the impact of the world's introduction and considered the episode the season's weakest.[90] IndieWire's Greene noted Mazin's technique of telling stories in the background effectively added tension.[81] The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg called the episode "proficiently made" but found it "too familiar for [its] running time to sustain", noting it failed to reflect the video game's importance to new audiences.[1] Rolling Stone's Sepinwall, who did not play the game, echoed this sentiment, but said the episode improved when Mazin stopped attempting to imitate the game's visual language.[16] Den of Geek's Boo praised the production design for its authenticity to the game.[73] GamesRadar+'s Russell wrote the score was used to "intensify, but never overpower, the ... emotional beats".[82]
References
- ^ a b Fienberg, Daniel (January 10, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Review: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in HBO's Powerful Video Game Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
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