The team behind the third episode of “The Last of Us” were ecstatic when they received a letter from the famous filmmaker Steven Spielberg complimenting their work. Director of the episode, Peter Hoar, revealed in a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter that the letter was addressed to Craig Mazin, the writer of all the episodes, which he shared with Hoar, co-stars Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett, and cinematographer Eben Bolter. According to Hoar, the group of middle-aged men started squealing because their idol had recognized their work. Although Spielberg didn’t know who Hoar was, the director was thrilled to receive recognition from his favorite filmmaker.
Response to the Episode
Despite Hoar’s self-deprecating comment about being forgotten, the episode he directed has left a lasting impact. Succession director Mark Mylod called it “the most extraordinary tonal switch in a series” he had ever seen, while Peter Barclay, director of Dahmer, described it as “one of the most moving things I’ve seen in my life” and “a moment in history for television.” The episode received both praise and backlash upon its release, with actors from both the show and the game responding to its emotional content.
HBO has ordered a second season of “The Last of Us” but casting has been halted due to the Writer’s Guild of America strike, so there is no premiere date yet for the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story. Nevertheless, the recognition from Steven Spielberg and the positive response to the third episode of the first season have cemented “The Last of Us” as a landmark in television history.
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