TV The Last Of Us bit.ly/praisepascal
Yes, HBO’s series is probably the best game adap to date. But this wasn’t the most complicated ask: the original was, after all, defined mostly by its unusually well scripted, directed and acted cutscenes – several of which have been transposed almost verbatim (albeit lent extra emotional heft by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s spellbinding performances). As such, it’s the rare prestige TV show that feels rushed, lacking the game’s sense of journey, its many incidental exchanges notable by their absence. The show’s diversions fare rather better: the expansion of Bill and Frank’s relationship may be a calculated Emmy tilt (‘On The Nature Of Daylight’ is a cheat code that no longer works) but it’s still undeniably moving. And Ramsey’s award-worthy work ensures DLC episode Left Behind breaks our hearts anew.