The Last of Us viewers are traumatised by the series constantly killing off much-loved characters

Spoiler alert: people die in apocalyptic series about deadly infection

Viewers of The Last of Us are being left traumatised by the show's ability to introduce a character that they rapidly grow attached to, only to then kill them off in the very same episode. In case you hadn't guessed, we're entering spoiler territory here. The HBO adaptation of the best-selling videogame of the same name has had millions gripped across the globe since it launched this year. The show has received acclaim from viewers and critics alike, and has struck a perfect balance between catering for both fans of the game and those who have never played it before. Unsurprisingly, a series about a deadly fungus infecting the human race has featured a whole lot of death. With just two episodes of the first series left, a total of 12 characters have died. Some of these deaths have taken place in flashbacks, whilst others have taken place in present day events. Of course, those familiar with the game will have seen some of these deaths coming, and it doesn't take a genius to work out that a character appearing in a flashback who we haven't seen in the present probably hasn't got a lot going for them. [caption id="attachment_380305" align="alignnone" width="1362"] Nick Offerman as Bill in The Last of Us (HBO)[/caption] But by no means does this mean the deaths don't still pack one hell of an emotional punch. In the first episode, viewers witness one of the most traumatic moments from the game, with the death of Joel's daughter, Sara. Then, his best friend Tess is killed off by the infected in episode two. But it's perhaps in episodes three and four that we get the most emotional deaths, with that of star-crossed couple Bill and Frank, and then brothers Henry and Sam. And in the most recent episode, we got a flashback to Ellie's past and the fate of her friend Riley. It's all got a bit too much for some, who have taken to Twitter to share their trauma and upset. https://twitter.com/Targ_Nation/status/1624360475482882048 https://twitter.com/sxarlights/status/1630035876779806720 https://twitter.com/KxllxngEve2/status/1630188314224361473 https://twitter.com/bisexualcrises/status/1630690926027853825 https://twitter.com/nowbvcktome/status/1624384913515466754 https://twitter.com/landonisdon/status/1630038928861409282 There are two episodes left of the series, with a hell of a lot still to happen if Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are going to make it to the Firefly base in Ohio. And, perhaps surprisingly, the series finale is set to be the shortest of the nine episodes, clocking in at just 43 minutes, compared to the just under an hour long run times of the other episodes. A second series has already been given the green light though, so fans can probably expect plenty to be left unanswered by the time the credits roll. Related links:

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