Pedro Pascal just kicked The Last of Us fans while they were down.
HBO Max brought the heralded post-apocalyptic video game to life with a new series adaptation starring the Game of Thrones alum alongside Bella Ramsey. Though only just airing January 15, the first episode follows the original scenes closely, setting up the backstories for Pedro’s character Joel Miller, his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) as a zombie pandemic unfolds.
To celebrate the release, The Mandalorian star shared a bittersweet polaroid photo on Instagram. He posed with his face scrunched as his on-screen daughter kissed him on the cheek. The caption read, “Get your homework done? @nicoparker @thelastofus ep 1 streaming now on @hbomax.”
*Spoilers ahead for episode 1*
Knowing its devastating connotation to the first episode, many Last of Us fans replied to the Instagram post in absolute shambles. “You two broke my heart 😭💔,” one person wrote in the comments section. “Too soon,” another added. “It’s SO good!” a different user chimed in.
What’s more, actress Nico Parker shared her own response to the photo she took with Pedro. “I love you so much ❤️,” she said.
ICYMI: season 1’s premiere included the tragic death of Nico’s Sarah. The moment felt even rawer since the HBO Max adaptation closely followed the Dumbo actress in the first episode to flesh out a sincere attachment with viewers. That all inevitably crumbled when Pedro’s character cradled his daughter as she lied dying, refusing to let go. Brutal, we know.
Now, Joel is left to smuggle Bella’s character, Ellie, who the series hints at being the only hope at ending the plague, out of a military-grade quarantine zone. The two then embark on a “brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival,” according to the streamer’s description.
There’s much more to come as The Last of Us returns every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET — it’s regularly slotted for new episodes exclusively on HBO Max. But it’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon before the hype builds. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up for a subscription starting at $9.99 per month or $69.99 for the first year, then head over to the official series page on HBO Max’s website or download it on the HBO Max app.
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Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She’s a graduate of the University of Florida’s School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.