Summary
BothThe Last of UsandHalo’s franchises have received major TV adaptations with the popularity of these two properties birthing live-action adaptations for streaming services.The Last of Usmaking a home at Max while theHaloseries has found its place at Paramount+ has offered gamers two interesting versions of some beloved titles. However, when it comes to the teams behind these shows, they have been approached in vastly different ways.
The Last of UsandHaloaren’t the first games to receive a live-action adaptation, but they are two of the most recent properties to get the television treatment. Aslive-action takes on video gamescontinue to grow in popularity,The Last of UsandHalohave been two of the most talked about on the list. That said, they have been received very differently.
The Last of Us and Halo’s Different Approaches To The Source Material
The biggest difference between these two adaptations is how they handle the source material. Choosing how to handle the source material when adapting a video game is probably one of the most important choices studios have to make before going ahead with these projects. On the one hand, studios don’t want to drift too far away from the source and alienate longtime fans, while on the other hand, the show’s writers want to provide something new to audiences as well. It’s a delicate balancing act thatThe Last of Usachieved better thantheHaloseries, at least at first.
The Last of Us Staying True To The Games
One of the main aspects ofThe Last of Usthat has given it such praise from critics and viewers is how true it stays to the games. The show is tremendously faithful to the first game, probably thanks to Neil Druckmann being a major part of the production. TheLast of Usseries does make changes here and there, like the tear-jerking change toBill and Frank’s story, but the overall essence of the show is nearly identical to the game.
From the set design to character portrayal, the show stayed pretty spot on with its adaptation, which has drummed up a lot of hype for future games and the show’s upcoming second season.
The Halo Series Takes Chances
Rather, theHaloseries takes liberties with its source material. Thesechanges toHalo’s lorehave been divisive, and whether these changes work well or not is subjective. Although it’s a bold move for the Paramount+ series to steer away from such long-established lore, it does give a fresh take on the franchise. But these changes may have ultimately kept theHaloseries from igniting excitement for future games and seasons the wayThe Last of Ushas. Despite a rocky first season, the second one has been an improvement, so there may be room for theHaloseries to walk in the footsteps ofThe Last of Useventually.
Streaming Services Are Beginning to Fully Embrace Video Games
Creating live-action versions of popular gaming franchises seems to be the new trend in film and television. With Amazon Prime set to add its own addition to the list with itsFalloutadaptation, it’s clear that there’s a market for these revamped takes. However, it seems that the key to a successful adaptation is honoring the source material while only making changes that seem necessary or serve the story even better.
The main fault of theHaloseries is that it seems to have steered too far away from the games it’s based on and too early.TheHalofranchise is over 20 years old, so it can be risky to play with such longstanding story elements. AlthoughHalomay have taken some bold risks compared toThe Last of Us, both shows seem to have found invested audiences.
