'The Last of Us' Release Schedule: When Does Episode 4 Hit HBO Max? - CNET

Joel and Ellie have taken the early steps of their dark journey on HBO Max, with the first three episodes of The Last of Us now available on the streaming service.

The show adapts the legendary PlayStation video game series from developer Naughty Dog, with the nine-episode season 1 focusing on the initial entry in the franchise.

Set in a world where an unnervingly believable fungal brain infection transforms most of the world's population into violent cannibals, the games follow grumpy smuggler Joel and his upbeat teen pal Ellie as they travel across a ruined US.

Mysterious teen Ellie (left) could change the fate of the world in The Last of Us.

The infected don't show up often -- Joel and Ellie face more human survivors than monsters -- but are used to great effect when they do.

The show retells the events of the first game, which came out in 2013, with some storylines and background elements expanded.