Given the inclination of modern Western entertainment to come laden down with woke, social messaging, I came to The Last of Us, prepared to be disappointed. Thankfully, the work nonsense, has at least for the first two episodes, been dial-ed back. The result is a series that's quite watchable.

Obviously, the inevitable point of comparison for The Last of Us is going to be the dominant, contemporary survivalist series, The Walking Dead. Frankly, its not of the same calibre and probably never will be. That's alright, TWD was and remains, a very hard act to follow.

What does work, is this series get on with the main story, without loading it down with excessive psychological navel gazing or irritating side stories, that go nowhere interesting. That, in itself, is refreshing and sensible.

The acting is reasonable too. The main characters are inherently believable, if not especially likeable. That's fine, there's no obligation for them to be stereotypical "good guys". Its people's flaws that make them interesting and relatable.

Perhaps, my only real criticism is the monster effects. They are not overly frightening or particularly convincing. I really wish a little more thought had gone into how to make them more horrifyingly real.

In summary, a solid survivalist series, adapted competently from a video game, that is, thus far, a worthwhile watch.