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Season 1 Details

• Number of Episodes: 7
• Network: HBO Max
• Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Romance, Thriller, Young Adult, LGBT+
• Actors: Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Tati Gabrielle, Ariela Barer, Jeffrey Wright
• Renewal Status: Renewed

Plot Summary

Following a portion of the events of its video game counterpart, we watch as Ellie finds herself losing Joel in a violent and traumatic way and venturing for revenge with her love interest Dina. All the while, it is made clear that as Ellie seeks justice, her adversary, Abby, is in the middle of a burgeoning war.

Review

Highlight(s)

Ellie’s Chemistry With Dina and Joel [83/100]

The best parts of season 2 are when Ellie is either interacting with Dina, giving you the post-apocalyptic sapphic relationship you didn’t know you needed, or you are watching a continuation of Joel and Ellie’s relationship. Which, albeit, isn’t in a great place at the beginning of the season, but Ellie is also a teenager, becoming a young adult, and you are forced to understand Joel didn’t get to complete raising his own daughter, so it isn’t like he had the tools.

On top of that, in episode 6 it is made clear that Joel was the last of his family line who was or dished out abuse in how his family raised kids. So with Ellie, while she was rebellious in ways that Joel’s biological daughter wasn’t, or didn’t get to be, take note, he may have gotten angry, but he always held back so Ellie wouldn’t get scared.

And it’s in Joel returning, after the events of episode 2, which really push you to understand why season 2 struggled for most of its run. But, I will say, Dina did help immensely. Isabela Merced may not have given Bella Ramsey the type of actor she needed to replace the time Joel took up, but she did provide you with someone to care about amongst those who were newly introduced or given more focus compared to season one.

Which, yes, lost some of its luster or lost its prominence as Ellie’s revenge and the war in Seattle took hold, but Dina was always a reminder of what a lot of these new characters could be if the writing, or maybe performances, allowed.

Low Point(s)

Nearly Every Supporting Character Felt Meek [67/100]

Because The Last Of Us is in some realm a horror and a bit of a thriller, it means characters have to matter for it to work. That isn’t the case in season 2 at all. Now, to be fair, season one was heavily reliant on Joel and Ellie’s relationship, and didn’t leave much room for any other character or actor, especially one expected to be in season 2, to thrive. But, how badly things go in season 2 isn’t as disappointing as what we saw in Joker: Folie à Deux, but similarly, it can feel like season 2 stripped a lot of what made season 1 work just like the Joker sequel took away a lot of what made people fall for the original.

Now, is this to say season 2 was utterly bad? No. As noted below, there could be some potential from it. However, whether you are talking about Tommy, Maria, or those with an association with Abby, if not Abby herself, it is difficult to get a reaction beyond you taking note that you’ve seen this actor or actress in something else.

For example, Jeffrey Wright joins the season as Isaac, but with the focus on Ellie, and Isaac not on her radar, nor is Ellie on his, he is just a notable face – he isn’t utilized to become a villain getting in the way of Ellie’s quest. Then, as much as Kaitlyn Dever is a notable actress, Abby is barely in this season, and what we get are her associates who are guilty by association and lack everything necessary to care about whether they live or die.

Which, considering Nora is a nurse, and Mel was pregnant when she died, feels wrong. And note, for Ellie, she seems torn about Mel, not so much Nora, but those emotions I found myself unable to empathize with or inherit. Nearly every death, including Jesse’s, felt like it wasn’t notable, just what happens, and being able to be that callous, not feeling sad or glad someone died, is not good. There needs to be some kind of reaction, or else something is wrong.

On The Fence

Season 2 Largely Felt Like Its Existence Was To Set Up Season 3 [73/100]

As noted in the low point, a lot of the recognizable or strong actors who are introduced in season 2 don’t go beyond the introduction. This leaves Ellie having to try to keep your attention, based on your connection to Joel, while Isaac is torturing Seraphites, the Seraphites are establishing their culture which you want to learn more about, and honestly, to be fair, it just felt like Ellie was competing against way too many storylines and things going on to stand out and be worthy of consistent praise.

But, as shown by the end of the season, as it is teased we will get Abby’s perspective, it almost makes you question, with the show revealing who Abby was and why she killed Joel early on, why didn’t they just mix the two like we see in a lot of shows? Why not have it go from episode to episode, with these two on a collision course? Why dedicate an entire season to Ellie’s lukewarm revenge tale and then leave us with the uncertainty of whether things could get better when we switch to Abby in season 3?

To me, it is a test of loyalty, patience, and I would say, while Bella Ramsey has played notable, even lead roles, season 2 made it seem like she isn’t ready to be the star, just one of them. Here is hoping Kaitlyn Dever doesn’t suffer the same fate.

The Large Scale Battle Of Episode 2 Felt Like An Afterthought [72/100]

It has been a long time since I played, or watched someone play, The Last Of Us: Part II but considering how much the show leans more towards the drama, with a consistent reminder that clickers exist, rather than making the clickers the hook for the show, I feel like episode 2 was a huge waste of the budget. I get the setup of the avalanche, Abby awakening the clickers, and everything that led to the battle of Jackson was needed to set up the perfect storm for Joel’s death. However, it feels like such a footnote now with so little impact.

I’d even say, assuming we see Jackson in season 3, I think what happened would have to be reminded to the audience since, no pun intended, Joel’s death certainly caused an avalanche that buried what happened to Jackson deep.

Overall

Our Rating (73/100): Mixed (Stick Around)

While season 2 of The Last of Us offers touching moments—especially through Ellie’s dynamic with Dina and Joel—it struggles to recapture the must-watch feeling of its previous season. Season 2 often seemed weighed down by underdeveloped supporting characters and a narrative that feels more like groundwork for season 3 than a cohesive story that could stand on its own. Also, despite standout performances from Pedro Pascal and the occasional spark beyond his scenes, it felt too often like the season was juggling too much and delivering too little – often leaving Bella Ramsey to hold all the attention on why things weren’t working.

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