The Cast of Us: HBO's "The Last Of Us" Recapped

It’s been ten years since we first had this debate, and now that the non-gaming public can also experience the end of The Last of Us, we get to have this debate again. Long time listener first time caller John Siracusa is our very special guest for the final episode of The Cast of Us Season 1.

Thank you all for your support these last nine weeks, and we’ll see you when Season 2 comes out.

We finish what we started.

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment with John Siracusa

For more The Last of Us content from The Incomparable:

The Good People Are Dead Already - The Incomparable Mothership #208 - The Incomparable

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It’s a meaty one this week, folks. Is David actually religious? How have on-screen creeps evolved? Is that really how penicillin works? Is the horse okay? Ben, Tiff, and Brian tuck into a heaping helping of analysis and… Venison. We promise it’s venison.

A Burrito of Horror

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

Rationalizing Brutality: The Cultural Legacy of the Headshot - YouTube

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Listen, if you’ve played The Last of Us, then the title “Left Behind” emotionally prepared you for what would happen on Sunday’s episode, but HBO did some narrative and structural magic tricks to heighten the tension. Grab your tissue boxes and a book of puns, because you’ll need them both.

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

❤️ on Twitter: “Never thought I’d see an apocalyptic Cambridgeside Galleria and never thought I’d be so emotional about it. Perfectly done. #TheLastOfUs https://t.co/G941IGu7Ei” / Twitter

Bisexual lighting - Wikipedia

Mooshroom - Minecraft Wiki

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Ben, Tiff, and Brian celebrate President’s Day by celebrating communism! Jackson, Wyoming is a thriving post-apocalyptic community, but Joel resents how it makes him feel about the people around him. We get a scene lovingly recreated from the video game, some hilarious jokes about contractors, and lots of implications for what a second season of the HBO show would look like. Finally, after the Spoiler Horn at the end of the episode, we address an audience member during a heated debate about The Last of Us Part II.

Everybody loved contractors

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

Reconcilable Differences #202: Running Clear - Relay FM

Can You Pet the Dog? (@CanYouPetTheDog) / Twitter

Faking It: The Obviously Dubbed Telephone Ring - YouTube

Someone Asked Me to Make Mushroom Sleeves, so I did - Rachel Maksy - YouTube

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We all knew it was coming, but Henry and Sam’s story is just as heartbreaking in the HBO show as it was when we originally played The Last of Us in 2013. Along the way, Kathleen and Perry’s original story gets woven in, and it all leads to an explosive climax. A lot happens this week, but it’s impossible to call this episode bloated. Plus, are you a wimp for using aim assist?

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

Mob — Crispy Mushroom Pancakes

Aether - Ben Rice McCarthy

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Special guest Merlin Mann, who is outstanding in his field, joins Ben, Tiff, and Brian in their recap this week. Pedro Pascal was great on SNL, Melanie Lynskey is great in everything, and we don’t know how syphoning works, but we know it works. Plus, a new way of looking at popcorn.

Ellie's Got a Gun

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment with Merlin Mann

HBO Mario Kart Trailer - SNL - YouTube

Grouch (Joker Parody) - SNL - YouTube

Vanity Fair on Instagram: “Yes, Pedro Pascal does consider himself to be a heartthrob—as do we. Watch #TheLastOfUs star take a lie detector test at the link in bio.”

The World Without Us - Wikipedia

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Remember when Tiff, Ben, and Brian speculated that each episode of The Last of Us would have a flashback to 2003? Well, this episode has one of those. What happens in that flashback may or may not make all three of us cry on the podcast; you’ll have to listen to find out. Break out your Linda Ronstadt songbook and pour yourself a glass of wine.

To whomever, but probably Joel

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

The Last of Us Pedro Pascal Jacket | Huckberry

Kate Leth on Twitter: “Finally… a San Junipero for men ✨” / Twitter

zach silberberg on Twitter: “the last of us writers were like “hey joel needs a car. what if we write the most touching and heartbreaking hour of television in the world”” / Twitter

Google’s The Last of Us Easter egg is parasitic fungus | PC Gamer

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Ben has some incredible follow up about flour, which leads us right into our Jakarta interlude before jumping right back to Boston. Tiff, Ben, and Brian learn more about the cordyceps than the video game ever taught us, while Joel learns even more about himself and his relationship to Ellie than he ever knew. Plus, prepare your appetite for the Mushroom of the Week!

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

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It’s 1968, and two epidemiologists discuss viral infections on ABC. It’s 2003, and just two years after 9/11, a zombie outbreak stops the world in its tracks. It’s 2023, and three friends that love video games, TV dramas, and podcasting started a new show recapping HBO’s The Last of Us TV series. Whether you’re here for creepy zombie chase scenes or arguments about a car battery, this TV show is for people who love guns and emotions.

For people who love guns and emotions.

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife - YouTube

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In advance of the debut of The Last of Us on HBO, Ben and Brian discuss their histories with the video game and their excitement at the cast and crew of the show before analyzing the first teaser trailer. Finally a Mushroom of the Week is crowned. See you all next week!

Recorded December 12, 2022

Trailer Analysis and Expectations

Ben Rice McCarthy, Brian Hamilton and Tiff Arment

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