Perfect video and audio scores given to this post-apocalyptic thriller from creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin.
One of HBO’s most popular original series that’s well known to both sci-fi fans and gamers alike, The Last of Us: The Complete First Season released on 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 18, 2023. The series was already available to stream in 4k from HBO Max (now Max) and with Dolby Vision and Atmos. But the physical media presentation delivers an almost perfect image with a consistent grain that looks good even at 100-inch and bigger screens. A dialogue-heavy story drives this slow-burner with satisfying results when more active scenes immerse viewers in surround sound, underscored by the music compositions by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming.
Video
Episodes of The Last of Us are presented in 2160p at 1.78:1 aspect ratio. High Dynamic Range (expanding color depth to 10-bits on screens that support HDR) is delivered via Dolby Vision and HDR10. The sharp video image is just perfect in all ways, boosted by the HDR (reviewed in Dolby Vision) that enhances the earthy color palette which pops even in nighttime and indoor settings. Shadow areas and bright skies reveal every detail. The beautiful cinematography captures the seemingly natural light in a way that makes every shot look realistic. You can really get immersed in this post-apocalyptic setting (just like the video game). The HEVC 4k video played on average at bitrates ranging from mid-40Mbps to mid-60Mbps.
Audio
The soundtrack to The Last of Us is provided in Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1 channels. The audio played at around 2-3Mbps on average. As mentioned, this is a dialogue-driven series that builds up to more climactic moments, such as the zombie attacks and fights with other unturned humans. If you listen close though, even the most quiet scenes add some immersive effects that travel through the 3-dimensional space in Atmos. When Ellie and Joel crawl through a pipe during the rain, you can hear the drips of water falling as if with them.
Bonus Features
Bonus features are reason enough to buy this Ultra HD edition from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. That’s because some extras are not available on Max (although there’s a plethora of Inside the Episodes and podcasts to dive into).
On the fourth 4k disc, the exclusive bonus features take viewers deeper into the series creation. Controllers Down: Adapting The Last of Us [11:44m] compares The Last of Us episodes to the video game. From Levels to Live Action [11:51m] goes into the special effects and creatures adapted from the video game. And, The Last of Us: Stranger Than Fiction [23.44m] talks about how fungai are at the center of the fictional (although not impossible) pandemic with expert discussions and how the show creators integrated fungus threads into the story.
Each episode on the 4k Blu-ray also has an “Inside the Episode” short featurette that provides insight into the plot, characters, and production of the series.
Extras Breakdown
- Controllers Down: Adapting The Last of Us [11:44m] *
- Controllers Down: Adapting The Last of Us [11:44m] *
- From Levels to Live Action [11:51m] *
- The Last of Us: Stranger Than Fiction [23.44m] *
- Ashley Johnson Spotlight
- Get to Know Me
- Gabriel Luna
- Merle Dandridge
- Nick Offerman & Murray Bartlett
- Pedro Pescal & Bella Ramsey
- Is This a Last of Us Line?
- Pedro Pescal & Bella Ramsey
- Merle Dandridge & Gabriel Luna
- The Last Debrief with Troy Baker 1-5
* Exclusive on the 4k Blu-ray discs
Scores
Series
4/5
Video
5/5
Audio
5/5
Bonus Features
5/5
