In 2013, video game The Last of Us was released by Naughty Dog developers and Sony, an adventure-style game that sent players through post-apocalyptic America. In 2023, HBO Max released the first episode of the new series, episodes releasing every Sunday at 9. With the show becoming an instant Internet hit, it has been renewed for another season.

In 2003, a mutated fungal disease (Cordyceps) took over the world in a global pandemic; a poignant story considering the recent consequences of Covid-19 in 2020. Joel, a carpenter, fled with his daughter and brother Tommy, hoping to access the highway in order to leave the country. As they moved, they were met by several soldiers, the military attempting to control the situation. The “Infected” became extremely violent, with their minds and bodies being taken over by the disease and acting in extremely aggressive ways. 20 years following the Infection day, Joel is living in a quarantine zone, and tasked with moving a girl named Ellie through the country, needing to meet several infected communities and escape the tight grip of the federal government. This show follows these travels, as Joel and Ellie further bond and try to save the remaining communities from future devastation.

TLOU has received millions of viewers, with mostly positive reviews. It is beloved to many, and especially enjoyed by those who have played the video game. The video game is available on PlayStation for $60, and the show is on HBO Max (first episode free, subscription of $15.99/month).