HBO’s live-action adaptation of the award-winning Naughty Dog video game, The Last of Us, went home from the main ceremony of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards empty handed, but not before making its mark.
Ahead of the main ceremony, HBO’s The Last of Us was already recognized at the Creative Art Emmys on January 7 after receiving 24 nominations, making it one of the most nominated series of the year, second only to Succession. In total, The Last of Us secured a total of eight awards, which include:
- Outstanding Main Title Design – Recognizing the show’s captivating opening sequence.
- Outstanding Special Visual Effects in A Season or Movie – Acknowledging the high-quality visual effects that brought the post-apocalyptic world to life.
- Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for “Infected” – Celebrating the show’s makeup artistry, particularly in the “Infected” episode.
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Awarded to Nick Offerman for his portrayal of Bill in the episode “Long, Long Time.”
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Won by Storm Reid for her role as Riley in “Left Behind.”
- Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series for the episode “Endure and Survive.”
- Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series for the episode “When You’re Lost in the Darkness.”
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series for the same episode, “When You’re Lost in the Darkness.”
While naysayers may call out The Last of Us’ “failure” to win an award from the main ceremony, it’s important to note that it had already made an impact by simply being mentioned alongside the likes of The Bear, Beef, and Succession, among others. This paves the way for future seasons of the show as well as other video game adaptations to be a part of this elite club – a fact that no one would’ve ever predicted just a year ago.
Since its premiere, The Last of Us has become a significant addition to HBO’s roster and the overall legitimacy of video game adaptations. It has received plenty of praise for its storytelling and production quality, raising the bar for others to follow.
The Last of Us follows the journey of Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie Williams, portrayed by Bella Ramsey. Its compelling narrative and high production values drew considerable viewership, with the finale attracting 8.2 million viewers, beating out even the most successful seasons of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Both Pascal and Ramsey received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series as well, and the show itself was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series among other categories.
The success of The Last of Us at the Emmys highlights the show’s technical excellence and the strength of performances from its guest actors and main leads. Its achievements are particularly notable given the competitive landscape of the awards and the high caliber of its fellow nominees. The series’ recognition at the Emmys underscores the growing prominence and acceptance of video game adaptations in mainstream media.
Furthermore, it’s confirmation that, while HBO’s The Last of Us is a faithful video game adaptation, the show-exclusive deviations that the showrunners, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, made, are just as important to its identity. This is a particularly noteworthy perspective considering the divisive casting of a less-physically-imposing actress in Kaitlyn Dever to play the role of Abby in future seasons of The Last of Us.
With Season 2 of The Last of Us expected to start filming soon ahead of its premiere in early 2025, it’s safe to say the future of HBO’s lineage of award-winning shows is in good hands with House of the Dragon also waiting on the wings.
