Summary
HBO’sThe Last of Uswas praised for several reasons. It’s considered a very effective series adaptation of Naughty Dog’s video game thanks to its sharp writing, Emmy-nominated performances from its stars, and its high production value, but an often overlooked secret weapon ofThe Last of UsSeason 1 was its music.
The first season ofThe Last of Uswas released with nine episodes on HBO in early 2023. The series was a close adaptation of Naughty Dog’s firstThe Last of Usgame, featuring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the roles of Joel and Ellie, an unlikely pair who travel across the post-apocalyptic USA to find a cure for the virus that has ravaged humanity. Following the series’ immense success, it wasn’t long before a second season ofThe Last of Uswas put into production by HBO, with the intention that it would adapt the second game,The Last of Us Part 2, a title that leans heavier on the impact of music in its story.
Music in The Last of Us Season 1
With Neil Druckmann, the creative director ofThe Last of Usat Naughty Dog, also serving as a writer, producer, and director on the TV adaptation, it wasn’t surprising that he drew on many of the elements that made the game great when adapting it for TV. This included thesoundtrack was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, who was brought on to also compose music for the TV series. WhileThe Last of Usfeatured reprises of many of the game’s familiar themes, the HBO series also made use of licensed music tracks in ways that hadn’t been seen in the source material before.
One notable instance of this was the use of music to send signals. In Episode 1 ofThe Last of Us, Bella notes that Joel and Bill play songs from different decades over the radio to notify each other of certain things. A 60s song means nothing new, a 70s song means Bill and Frank have new items, and an 80s song means some kind of trouble. Later, after Ellie, Joel, and Tess have left the Boston Quarantine Zone, a song starts playing on the radio in Joel’s apartment. It’sDepeche Mode’s “Never Let Me Go”, which indicates trouble is ahead. The song is not just utilized cleverly within the meaning of the show, but it also serves as an excellent needle drop in the final moments of the episode, which plays over the imagery of the trio heading into the stormy and lawless wilds of Boston.
Another notable moment of music inThe Last of UsEpisode 3, which is aptly titled “Long Long Time” in reference to Linda Ronstadt’s song which features heavily in the episode. The episode is a large deviation from the video game, filling in thebackstory of characters Bill and Frank, who only have a small role in the source material. Episode 3 reveals Bill and Frank’s love story, which begins after Bill (Nick Offerman) sings a heartfelt acoustic rendition of Ronstadt’s tune in the presence of Frank (Murray Bartlett). The song becomes a metaphor throughout the episode, symbolizing how enduring Bill and Frank’s love is for each other.The Last of Us’use of Ronstadt’s song had a notable real-world impact as the series drew attention to the song and saw plays of the song spike on music streaming platforms.
The Last of Us Season 2 Has The Opportunity For Even More Meaningful Music
Any players ofThe Last of Us Part 2will know that the second game uses music as a metaphor even more so than the first. Throughout the game,Ellie’s relationship with musicand her skill at playing the guitar is something that bonds her to Joel. It is often used to link whatever Ellie is going through at the present moment in the game with a memory between her and Joel. One persistent tune throughout the game is Pearl Jam’s “Future Days”, particularly its line “If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself.” This line somewhat encapsulates the theme that the story ofThe Last of Us Part 2explores, making it a crucial musical cue forThe Last of UsSeason 2.
If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself.
It already seems that “Future Days’” importance will continue inThe Last of UsSeason 2 as the first trailerfor the series utilizes a rendition of the song. Whether the HBO series incorporates the Pearl Jam song into the story in the same way the game does remains to be seen.
Another important song inThe Last of Us Part 2is A-ha’s “Take on Me”, which Ellie sings to her girlfriend, Dina, when they find a guitar in an abandoned music shop in Seattle. This song has already beenused inThe Last of UsSeason 1 Episode 7, during a flashback sequence between Ellie and her friend Riley. This gives “Take on Me” even more meaning inThe Last of UsSeason 2 as when it does play it will be linked to Ellie’s bittersweet memories of her love for Riley, which can be paralleled with her new love for Dina. Another song inThe Last of Us Part 2that links Ellie and Dina is Crooked Still’s “Little Sadie” which plays during the moment the couple have their first kiss.
The Last of Us Part 2also featured the release of analbum titledCovers and Raritieswhich includes covers of five songs sung by thegame’s actors Troy Bakerand Ashley Johnson. The songs included renditions of “Future Days” and “Take on Me” performed by Baker and Johnson as their characters, as well as versions of Shawn James’ “Through the Valley (performed by Johnson), New Order’s “True Faith (performed by Johnson), and Johnny Cash’s “Wayfaring Stranger” (performed by Baker and Johnson). This providesThe Last of UsSeason 2 with ample opportunity to include and evolve these songs, providing meaning for them in the context of Season 2 that may not have been possible in the games while also providing the series with even more iconic musical moments.
The Last of UsSeason 2 will be released on HBO in 2025.
The Last Of Us
Based on Naughty Dog’s popular PlayStation game, HBO’s The Last of Us takes place decades after a fungal infection eradicated most of humanity. When a teenage girl named Ellie is found to be immune to the disease, Joel agrees to smuggle her across the United States.
