The Last of Us EP Vows to ‘Do Better’ in Season 2 Re: a Specific Viewer Gripe
The Last of Us co-creators have heard your — and Stephen King’s — geographically informed concerns.
HBO‘s post-apocalyptic drama, which aired its Season 1 finale Sunday (read a full recap), chronicled Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie as they made a long and eventful journey from downtown Boston to snowy Colorado. Sometimes, however, the show’s outdoor visuals and vistas — though striking — didn’t quite match the states in which the pair was supposed to be traveling.
The discrepancy caught the eye of a bunch of fans on social media, including horror novelist Stephen King, who in January tweeted about Ellie and Joel’s trek to see Frank and Bill. “THE LAST OF US. Episode 3:” he wrote. “Do you really want to tell me that’s 10 miles west of Boston?”
THE LAST OF US. Episode 3: Do you really want to tell me that’s 10 miles west of Boston?
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 31, 2023
In a recent press conference with reporters, series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said that shooting the show in Alberta, Canada, matched up well for the mountainous back half of the season. “The best part was when we were shooting in the second part of the season, when we’re out of our urban environments and we’re into the Rockies and Wyoming and Colorado and snow,” Mazin said. “Good news: The Rockies went right through there, and it’s one of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll ever find.”
However, he added, “The other stuff” — such as the central duo’s walk through the Massachusetts woods — “was difficult” given that area of Canada’s wildly different topography and foliage. “What it came down to was a lot of anxiety and planning and building, and then some terrific extension work by our visual effects team, led by Alex Wang.” Mazin cited the infected attack near the end of Episode 5 (the one where we first met a bloater) as a success. “We built that entire place. We built that whole cul-de-sac and designed it. So, it was a hell of a production.”
He continued: “It was massive. But I’m trying to stop saying ‘It’s massive’ to myself, because I know that next season’s going to be more massive, and I don’t want to freak out. But man, it wasn’t easy.”
The executive producer said he’d give the production team “honestly, a solid B+” on Season 1. “But my goal is to do better next season, now that we’ve learned some lessons.” Top of the list? “Every now and then [in Season 1] you get a little bit of an ‘Oh, it’s Canada,’ when we don’t want it to be Canada.”
While you’re mulling the show’s Season 1 finale, make sure to check out what Mazin and Druckmann had to say about that ending, and then read game voice artist Ashley Johnson’s thoughts about bringing Ellie into the world in more ways than one.
Did The Last of Us‘ location shoots grab your attention for the wrong reasons? What did you think of the season overall? Are you looking forward to Season 2? Sound off in the comments!
Biggest gripe would be the lack of zombies.
If you played the game, dealing with the zombies are the most fun part..
I agree dealing with the zombies is the most fun part while playing the game. But I think it would get boring watching if it was just one zombie fight after the other. As a show, I’m glad they’re having way more depth with the human stories, which would be boring for game play. For me, having the zombies not there constantly makes the scenes where they are there that much more impactful.
@paula I don’t think there needs to be excessive zombies or constant zombie battles. That being said the zombies are very cool. The second episode was filled with them and it was fantastic. There was only one and a half in the third episode (Bill and Frank). None to my recollection in the first Kansas City episode. Then there was the pit at the end of Henry and Sam’s episode and that scene was phenomenal. Since then there has been one in a flashback over three episodes. I would’ve liked to see the mall crawling with them at the very least.
Came here to say the same thing. I really don’t like zombie shows at all but this show has some of the coolest zombies and the fungus infected sets are just incredible. The pit of zombies scene may have been one of the best visuals in the season. I know it’s “not a show about zombies” as they’ve started over and over but one zombie in a flashback over the last 3 episodes is simply not enough. I think the game did the whole David/Ellie sequence so much better and that would have been an excellent scene with zombies. I haven’t played the game but I did see how it plays out and it would have been better.
I…don’t think this is something they need to apologize for? Hundreds if not thousands of people put in tireless work to make this show what it is, especially considering its massive budget. If people have an issue with something as inconsequential as location selection, that’s their problem.
Completly agree with you. I swear, sometimes people just want to complain about something…
I actually get a kick out of it. I was watching x files and in one of the episodes they film a scene in front of Henry’s house from Psych. I did wonder why they didn’t change the mileage for Bill and Frank’s but it’s something that’s pretty easy to brush off.
It’s a job. Stop making it out to be as if they’re doing it for free.
There’s really no need for a more realistic environment, real life limitations are a valid excuse, they film in one area that has to stand in for others and it’s fine if it doesn’t always match up.
Yeah, as someone who grew up in a suburb literally 10 miles west of Boston, I did a bit of a double-take at those majestic Canadian woods.
Their version of Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall was pretty good, though.
Yeah, their in city sets were great. And I don’t think I would have had any thoughts about the woods. It was the mountain views 10 miles west of Boston that got my attention. But if I weren’t from the area, it’s not something I would know. Overall, I thought their locations were great.
I mean it’s not as bad as Yellowstone imo and I rarely see people complaining about that
No show has worse location issues than “The Blacklist”. Supposedly set in DC, the show is clearly shot in NYC and its suburbs. Whenever the team goes “abroad”, it’s obviously Yonkers or Long Island.
um… they have the story around NY a lot including this past week.. The Good Wife and Fight both shot in NYC but supposed to be Chicago… If the new Carrie Preston followup show is picked up, Elsbeth moves to NY to be near the real home of the actress..
Hi Doug. The NY storyline is new to the current season. The prior 9 seasons were supposedly DC-based, but as someone who was born and raised in NYC (and who’s been to DC a number of times), I know when DC is not DC. Especially when it’s NYC.
These location quibbles did not even blip my radar! Come on, people!
Maybe I’m too easy-going, but it didn’t bother me. It reminds me of folks who watch a show that is set in 1969, and the only thing they can even mention is that they play a song that didn’t come out until 1970.
At least there aren’t any palm trees in the distance LOL
I honestly did not think about those cities and whether they matched up. Some people just like to complain about any little thing.
They should worry about not adapting the bs that is part 2, not this lol.
Ha, yes, when I saw the header on the main page, I thought that’s what this would be about. Should have looked closer at “viewers.” But some mountains in the distance is the least of their problems for season 2.
I won’t watch season 2 if they go that route. I just cannot fathom how that will look.
I keep hearing that it was Salt Lake City, not Boston
Much adieu about nothing. I don’t have exact numbers but I imagine a lot of shows are not filmed in the location where the show is supposedly set. For me it is a non-issue. And plus, during the season the characters traveled halfway across the US which is tough to really do.
Wait! Are you guys telling me that when Charlton Heston parted the Red Sea in the Ten Commandments that it really wasn’t the Red Sea? If so I am crushed.
Can’t wait for Season 2 . It appears that both Joel and Ellie both came of age and perspective throughout their journey together. They both learned from each other and bonded closer as they made their way through the landscapes .