The Last of Us Season 2: A Compelling Yet Irritating Continuation
The Last of Us Season 2 maintains the emotional depth that made the first season remarkable, yet it introduces a degree of irritation that prevents it from achieving true excellence.
Once more, creators Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (the original game’s creator) offer a captivating post-apocalyptic tale focused on Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Their connection remains the series’ emotional centerpiece, capable of bringing joy—or heartbreak. However, as the show tries to broaden its universe beyond the pair and the settlement in Jackson, Wyoming, it struggles to replicate the rich, immersive world-building that characterized Season 1.
An Eerie Continuation of Joel and Ellie’s Saga
Season 2 resumes five years after the shocking events of the Season 1 finale, where Joel eliminated the Fireflies in Salt Lake City to save Ellie. Now residing in the relatively tranquil community of Jackson with Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley), Joel and Ellie’s dynamic is strained and aloof. Joel finds comfort in therapy sessions with the town’s no-nonsense counselor Gail (portrayed by the sharp Catherine O’Hara), while Ellie immerses herself in patrols alongside new friends Jesse (Young Mazino, Beef) and Dina (Isabela Merced, Alien: Romulus).
The initial episodes emphasize the rhythms of life in Jackson—city meetings, community gatherings, and serene moments of normality. These scenes anchor the narrative in a world where survival has transitioned to stability, intensifying the emotional gap between Joel and Ellie. After all they endured to arrive here, their silence resonates deeply.
If Season 1 revolved around enduring and surviving, Season 2 delves into the repercussions—what it signifies to live with the decisions made for the sake of survival. Joel is tormented by both the lives he took and the falsehood he shared with Ellie regarding the events in Salt Lake. This lie emerges as a pivotal thread, unraveling their relationship in poignant detail. Pascal and Ramsey once again shine, portraying characters on the verge of emotional breakdown. Pascal radiates guilt and regret, while Ramsey simmers with fury. By the conclusion of the first episode, viewers will be eager for reconciliation. By season’s end, that eagerness may well turn into despair.
New Dangers, Expanded Universe—But Lacking Depth
Joel’s actions in the Season 1 finale also resonate beyond Jackson. Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), a surviving Firefly, seeks vengeance, and her mission pulls Jackson into a larger conflict involving two formidable factions: the militarized Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the zealous Seraphites.
These factions aim to broaden the series’ scope, yet they frequently feel detached from the primary storyline. While Ellie spends much of the season in Seattle—territory governed by these groups—her outsider role means she is largely oblivious to the deeper conflict. The show attempts to bridge the gaps with scenes featuring WLF leader Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright) and glimpses of Seraphite ceremonies, but these moments often come across as exposition rather than engaging storytelling. A notable torture scene with Isaac provides a hint of what it could have been, but overall, the factions lack emotional grounding, making it difficult for viewers to invest in their narratives.
This disconnection, along with the underutilization of key characters like Dever, Mazino, and Luna, results in a season that feels incomplete.
A Narrative Half-Explored
To be fair, this sensation of incompleteness is intentional. The show is adapting bold narrative elements from The Last of Us Part II, and those elements require time to develop. However, the shift from game to screen is not always seamless. Some omissions are glaring, and the pacing—spread across just seven episodes—feels hurried for a story of this scale.
Nonetheless, there is much to appreciate. Joel and Ellie’s emotional journey remains as gripping as ever, and action sequences like a snowy Clicker confrontation evoke the intensity of Game of Thrones’ “Hardhome.” Yet, despite its numerous strengths, Season 2 ultimately feels like merely half of a larger, more fulfilling narrative.
The Last of Us Season 2 debuts April 13 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.