Well, to start …how are we doing?

If you’re like me and felt extremely skeptical about The Last of Us turning into a massive HBO production, I hope you’ve been able to take a breath after last Sunday night. I was right there with you—scared, unsure, and honestly, a bit entitled. I didn’t want this somewhat niche story told to the outside world and have it ruined by the video game adaptation curse. And I’m so glad I was wrong.

Even through the hordes of homophobic review bombing, constant shaming and harassment of lead actor Bella Ramsey, and overt, ugly fan entitlement, The Last of Us turned out to be one of the best TV adaptations ever made. Love or hate the changes these creatives made, each and every one had a significant impact on how we, as fans, consumed this smash hit. Some folks dislike changes because they think they detract too much from the original storyline. Others because it was “too gay” for them (spoiler alert: the main character of The Last of Us IS VERY GAY. We’ve all known this since Left Behind was released in 2014).

But what about our favorite changes from game to TV? Here are just a few that deserve to be recognized.

Bill and Frank

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? This is the best (queer) love story told on screen in years. I feel so thankful to be on Earth at the same time as this television episode. Gorgeous, messy, and heartbreaking, “Long, Long Time” gave more purpose to Bill’s tragic character, and it gave Frank a true voice: “Paying attention to things — it’s how we show love.”

Joel is Softer, Not Superhuman

Wait, so Pedro Pascal can’t take a couple bullets on hard mode, then wrap up his arm in an old bandage and go about his day slaying hundreds of clickers?

But aside from the obvious differences between game Joel and show Joel, the character we all love is a warmer, more human version of the man we played as for the last ten years. This version of real-life Joel is still tough to crack but more in touch with his emotions. We also learn that Joel attempted suicide after losing Sarah, and him explaining to Ellie that it wasn’t “just time” that helped him heal was one of the most beautiful moments of the entire show.

Sam Being Younger and Deaf

Besides the Bill and Frank episode, the story of Sam and Henry hit me the hardest. Sam being deaf and much younger (in the game he’s Ellie’s age) made his dependency on his older brother Henry even more prominent and, eventually, more heartbreaking. It also gave Ellie a sense of what having a sibling could look like, which resulted in me breaking down in tears when she tried to cure him of infection and left the magic slate “I’m Sorry” note on his tiny grave.

Kathleen

One of the many new characters introduced this season, Kathleen was a perfect taste of what’s to come in season two. Melanie Lynskey put so much care into this role, and the themes of needing revenge and stopping at nothing to get it were heavily sprinkled throughout episodes four and five. I think we all know why.

Daddy Tommy

Tommy and Maria are having a baby! This is arguably one of the biggest modifications to the story, and I’m ridiculously excited to see how character and plot dynamics change in season two because of it. There must be a lot going on behind the scenes to implement such a massive twist, and a new addition to the Miller family can only lead to one thing: more pain.

Joel Not Saving Ellie from David

It’s subtle, but vital. While the creators attribute it to logistics, they also note in the companion podcast that Ellie saving herself from David gives her agency. She doesn’t have Joel to pull her away and tell her to stop hacking at what’s left of David. She’s able to take out all of her rage and pain on her attacker, who I think was written even more disturbing than in the game.

Anna’s Backstory

“You fuckin’ tell ‘em, Ellie.”

Cue immediate tears. Ashley Johnson, our OG Ellie, playing mother Anna was the cherry on top of the trauma cake. We see where Ellie gets her iconic switchblade and green jacket, the short moments of bonding that the mother and daughter had together, and Anna’s relationship with her best friend Marlene. There’s even an explanation for Ellie’s immunity.

Naturally, there are many beats and pieces of gameplay that we missed seeing. Those are the main complaints: no spores! Not enough infected fight scenes! Joel and Ellie stop in completely different cities! I could go on and on, but fortunately, there’s an answer to these concerns. If you aren’t a fan of the changes, that’s totally okay: it’s a good thing you can always go back to play the original.

Neil Druckmann, writer and executive producer of the HBO show and creator of the video game, knows best for these characters. And it’s clear that Craig Mazin, co-writer and co-executive producer, is a huge fan just like all of us, and helped add so much depth to this story and its characters. It’s important to remember that television is not reusing source material that already exists—and still, there are shot-for-shot moments portrayed beautifully and truthfully.

Some of us have been fans of The Last of Us franchise for ten years—when it first came out in 2013, it revolutionized the video gaming world forever. No matter the differences between game and TV, big or small, what we love about this story remains. The heart is there. Love (good and bad) permeates. The Last of Us on HBO is a love letter to the fans of this complicated, powerful, life-changing adventure. It’s safe to say our hopes are high for season two and beyond.