HBO Max's anticipated horror TV drama The Last of Us has exceeded viewers' expectations with its heart-stopping premiere.

The first episode of the streaming platform's new show was dark, scary, and thrilling from start to finish.

Early reviews did hint that fans of the 2013 video game were in for a treat with HBO Max's latest adaption.

We are pleased to announce that the hype wasn't premature.

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Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's debut as survivors Joel and Ellie has finally arrived in The Last of Us' ground-breaking premiere.

The horror series didn't waste any time setting the tone.

The first episode stayed true to the video game and also managed to pull off a pivotal scene that had viewers on the edge of their seats for the first 20 minutes.

Warning: spoilers ahead!

The premiere episode of The Last of Us, titled When You're Lost in the Dark, kicks off much like the video game by showing a day in the life of Joel's daughter Sarah, played by Nico Parker.

For those who haven't seen the episode yet, we won't spoil too much.

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But it is important to note the events that take place in the opening of the show are what put the gaming series on the map, as Sarah is the first character gamers play in The Last of Us before things get chaotic.

Another thing worth noting about the post-apocalyptic drama is that it's one of the few shows since the Walking Dead that had fans raving after the first episode.

For those who haven't watched the episode yet, all we'll say is that the hype is real!

From viewers getting an immersive POV of the fungal outbreak that's similar to playing the video game, to Pascal and Ramsey's performances and the horrific zombies running amok in this fictional world – HBO Max may have another hit on their hands.

Check out what fans had to say of the show's first episode on Twitter:

New episodes of The Last of Us will drop every Sunday at 9 PM EST on HBO Max.