The last of us achieved what seemed impossible until about a month ago. The adaptation of video game from Naughty Dog and PlayStation on television by the hand of HBO managed to dethrone the audience (consumption of minutes) at the same time Game of Thrones and the House of the Dragon. However, every self-respecting success has a B-side. And this was not going to be a different case.
In recent weeks, the series has had to deal with several controversies that have arisen with the premiere of its various episodes. From homophobia to body-shaming to the inexplicable criticism of a screenwriter from the Elite series broadcast on the competition: Netflix.
Homophobia towards The Last of Us
It didn’t surprise many players what happened after the premiere of chapter 3 in which we discover the relationship between Bill and Frank. A beautiful and wonderful homosexual relationship that was glimpsed in the video game and developed in the HBO series in what has already become one of the best episodes of 2023 according to audiences and critics.
However, homophobic comments towards the show were quick to arrive, ensuring no one wanted to see this and similar atrocities. As we said, it did not take Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (creator of the game) by surprise because in the video game they have already had to live similar embarrassing chapters.
And we won’t have to wait too long to relive them. Because in episode 7 which will be released this Sunday, February 26 (at dawn on Monday, February 27), The Last of Us will experience a flashback that will take us to Ellie’s youth and her relationship with Riley. The beginning of a lesbian relationship that we were able to enjoy in The Last of Us The Left Behind.
El body shaming hacia Melanie Lynskey
Those willing to spread hate on social media weren’t going to settle for the show’s more obvious aspects, but any character, actor, or plot from the adaptation was going to serve as an excuse for it. This was the case with the appearance of actress Melanie Lynskey in the role of the leader of the raiders: Kathleen.
Joel and Ellie’s stint in Kansas City led them to reunite with Henry and his brother Sam who were being persecuted by this relentless character capable of executing his fellow inmates amid an outbreak caused by the Cordyceps fungus. But beyond enjoying a new character in the plot (he was not in the video game) The haters took the opportunity to make noise and criticize the physical appearance of the actress.
The performer had to endure all sorts of insults and allusions to his weight and figure that we won’t replicate here because we’re embarrassed just to have to read them to have to write them. Melanie’s response couldn’t have been more elegant: “First of all, this is a photo of my cover for InStyle magazine, not a ‘The last of us’ from HBO. And I’m playing someone who meticulously planned and executed a Phedre knockdown. I’m supposed to be SMART, ma’am. I don’t need to be muscular. That’s what henchmen are for.”
Jaime Vaca, screenwriter of Elite, and his review of The Last of Us
“The title ‘The Last of Us’ refers to those of you who endure watching it.” 13 words with which Jaime Vaca, screenwriter of Elite, one of the most successful series on Netflix portrayed itself. Because it’s one thing to say you don’t like something and it’s another thing to do so when you’re responsible for a product whose public and press reviews are worse than those of the first episodes of TLOU.
The thing is, people jumped on the writer’s jugular, not just because of his opinion, but going further. Indeed, there are hundreds of comments that remind him via social networks of his past arrest for alleged drug trafficking.
Although there are always those who prefer not to scramble and go down in the mud and respond with a reasoned review: “It’s not a constant orgy and drugs with zero plot but The Last of Us is not not bad. I prefer Elite and its memorable performances” or “I can be very loud, and sometimes very stupid, but I can assure you of one thing: if I were the showrunner of a series like Elite, it would not come to me mind underestimating The Last of Us on the networks. You have to be dumb. Or want a house. One out of two.”
We have 6 episodes of The Last of Us and the success of the series is on everyone’s lips, so it doesn’t seem like the controversies are going to stop in the short or long term.