Parents' Guide to

The Last of Us

By Matt Cabral, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Stellar video game adaptation has strong violence, language.

TV Max Drama 2023
TLOU poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 17 parent reviews

Ethan X.
Ethan X. Parent of 13 and 15-year-old
March 13, 2023
age 14+

Great show, look out for episode 8

Easily one of the best shows on HBOmax. The writing and directing is phenomenal. A lot of f*cks and 1 use of c*nt. However if your child is in Middle or high school, the swearing should be fine. A lot of violence, but most of the brutal stuff is off screen until episode 8. There is no sex, however there is a little nudity. I wouldn't really condemn it though because it is only on screen twice in the entire show for a few seconds. I also believe context matters a lot, as it is all to display the horrors of the infection, and not to promote gratuitous content. There are some disturbing scenes, like the 'kiss' in episode 2, and the second half of episode 8. A character is also a cannibal and attempts to rape Ellie, but if your kid understands that this is not ok, you should be good. If your kid is mentally prepared, it should be ok, if not, then have some talks after.

This title has:

Too much swearing
3 people found this helpful.
HST
HST Parent of 12 and 14-year-old
February 4, 2023
age 14+

Terrific series for family with teens despite mature content

While the themes and violence is strong, we watch this as a family with a 12 and 14 year old. Though the citation by Commonsense editors is 3 Stars for sexual content, a nude corpse shown in the first episode is not a big deal. The context isn’t sexual, and a half or full star should be deducted. Context matters. Quality-wise: this is a terrific series that holds everyone’s interest. Parents will know with teenage kids how hard that is to do these days. Highly recommended. And reality is… teens have played this game for years. Powerful story. If you have emotionally stable and mature teens: it’s fine.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the Sony PlayStation video game of the same name, THE LAST OF US features Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a gruff, weathered smuggler and a smart, snarky teen girl attempting to cross a post-apocalyptic America. Created by writer-director Craig Mezin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmannn -- the game's creative director -- the show envisions a zombie-like outbreak brought on by a fungal virus. In addition to its monster-slaying, survival-focused action, The Last of Us heavily focuses on the evolving relationship between its pair of mismatched protagonists.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17 ):
Kids say (38 ):

You needn't know a pixel from a polygon to become totally engrossed in this gripping, post-apocalyptic tale. The Last of Us delivers the absolute best entry in the video game adaptation genre the category has ever seen. Thanks to Netflix's The Witcher and Paramount+'s Halo, these shows have come a long way toward redeeming themselves following decades of poorly received game-based films. But The Last of Us isn't just a stellar series based on a game; it's also a stunning artistic achievement that won't be forgotten come television's awards season.

The Last of Us immediately earns points for putting a fresh spin on the rotting corpse genre, offering a terrifying, scientifically plausible take on a zombie outbreak. Rather than unleashing the usual flesh-eating hordes, it sees a fungal virus infecting -- and severely altering -- the minds of its victims. But it doesn't just fuel our future nightmares with a more believable premise; it complements its gore-soaked action with a deeply emotional tale anchored by incredibly nuanced performances from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Underpinned by smart, thoughtful writing; stunning cinematography; a haunting score; and fantastic supporting characters, Joel and Ellie's layered, evolving, moving relationship will consume you as aggressively as any mutated mushroom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Joel and Ellie's relationship. Do they share a father-daughter bond? Are they family even though they're not related by blood? How does their relationship evolve over the series?

  • How does the series compare to the game it's based on? Does the TV medium bring anything new to the story? Do you prefer one to the other?

  • How has society changed in the show's world? How do people treat each other? Is there a government in place and, if so, how does it differ from our government?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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