Many viewers who watched The Last of Us show feel that it did a terrible job, and it actually ruined the legacy of the franchise. Let us see if this is true and how….
-Robin Bhuyan
The Last of Us show on HBO turned the popular gaming franchise into a television blockbuster, earning Emmys along with millions of viewers. But not every fan of The Last of Us was cheering. Some believe the show, particularly The Last of Us season 2, actually ruined the franchise’s reputation. Some blame it on The Last of Us season 2 casting, while some feel that the series was not scary enough! From casting controversies to changes that frustrated gamers, here we shall look at five ways the show may have harmed The Last of Us game’s legacy.
Bella Ramsey’s Casting
Whether you are a fan of the franchise or not, it is quite obvious that Bella Ramsey doesn’t fit the image of Ellie at all. The Last of Us show chose to cast Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the sarcastic, tough teen we knew from The Last of Us game. Fans expected a near-identical match to the game’s Ellie, voiced and modeled by Ashley Johnson, but Ramsey’s look—darker hair, different build—didn’t align. On social media, fans slammed The Last of Us season 2 cast choice, with some calling it “a total miscast.” The backlash, peaking after The Last of Us season 2 which debuted in April 2025, was full of review bombing, with one-star ratings focusing on Ramsey’s look rather than their performance. Despite Ramsey’s acting which received a lot of praise as well, the casting controversy divided fans, suggesting The Last of Us show strayed from the game’s iconic character design, hurting its legacy to a large extent.
Missing the Game’s Gritty Details
The Last of Us game is renowned for its obsessive detail—muddy clothes, worn boots, and a post-apocalyptic world that feels real. The Last of Us show, however, sometimes skips these touches. In The Last of Us season 2, Ellie’s outfit stays pristine after trudging through rain, and Dina’s hair looks fresh as if she just returned from a stylist. Fans of The Last of Us noticed, how they all have “spotless jeans in a zombie apocalypse.” These oversights contrast with the commitments to environmental realism, we saw in the game, where characters’ appearances reflect their struggles. This gap made The Last of Us show feel less authentic to some, and we can say that it chipped away the franchise’s legacy of immersive storytelling.
Dialing Down the Horror Elements
The Last of Us game thrives on intense horror—clickers stalking, scarce resources, and constant tension. The Last of Us show, especially The Last of Us season 2, shifts toward drama over survival thrills. Infected encounters, frequent in The Last of Us, are rarer in the show, with episodes focusing more on emotional conflicts than zombie fights. Fans on X called The Last of Us show “a drama with occasional clickers,” arguing it lost The Last of Us game’s heart-pounding edge. This change disappointed gamers who cherished the franchise’s survival-horror roots, suggesting The Last of Us show diluted a key part of its legacy.
Fans’ Love for Joel
The Last of Us show closely follows a major plot point from The Last of Us game, specifically The Last of Us Part II—Joel’s death early in The Last of Us season 2. This moment, controversial since the game’s 2020 release, sparked massive fan backlash, with review bombing over killing a beloved character. The Last of Us season 2 cast, including Pedro Pascal as Joel, faced renewed criticism such as, “No Joel, no show.” Some fans hoped The Last of Us show would alter the story, but creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin kept it faithful. This decision was not accepted by fans of Joel, and it reflected in Rotten Tomatoes’ 39% audience score in 2025.
Amplifying LGBTQ+ Themes
The Last of Us game subtly included Ellie’s lesbian identity and Bill’s queerness. The Last of Us show, however, makes these themes more prominent, notably in The Last of Us season 2 with Ellie and Dina’s romance and Season 1’s Bill-Frank episode. Some of these choices drew backlash from some fans who felt that they show was leaning heavily into “woke” themes. Review bombing hit IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, with comments calling The Last of Us show “too political.” This reaction, often toxic, echoed the 2020 backlash against The Last of Us game. So, we can say that leaning into such themes is another way how the show ended up destroying the game’s legacy.
Wrapping Up
The Last of Us show introduced the franchise to new audiences, but it left some scars on the game’s legacy. Thankfully, many popular magazines and blogs have criticized the Last of Us show and pointed out its flaws.
Still, with its strong performances and visuals, it’s not all doom and gloom. Maybe the next season will improve, and opinions of fans will change!
We will conclude by saying that adapting games into movies and shows is never a good idea. Take a look at the seven worst movies adapted from video games.
If you are a PC gamer, take a look at our article on why the DPS gaming chair might be the best for you.
Author Bio:
Robin Bhuyan is the Editor-in-Chief of Enigmatic Horizon. He’s a passionate gamer who loves getting lost in immersive stories and open worlds. When he’s not playing or writing about games, he’s working toward his dream of becoming a filmmaker. For him, Enigmatic Horizon is a space to share his passion and connect with others who love gaming and storytelling just as much.
Connect with him at: enigmatichorizon2023@gmail.com
