It’s been over 2 years since The Last of Us season 1 gripped us with its harrowing journey through grief, love and the ruins of the world after the apocalypse. With a brilliant team behind it, Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (creator of both games), the show managed to be both a faithful adaptation and a deepening of the original narrative.
Season 2 was always going to carry more weight. More baggage. Five years after the outbreak, Joel and Ellie have built a life in Jackson. safer, quieter, but far from simple. Ellie’s growing up, growing tougher, and starting to question everything, especially Joel. Their bond is cracking, Outside the walls, the infected are changing.
reviewing the show solely in the context of the video game it’s based on is not my intention, but at the same time, it would be impossible to ignore the source material. so here are some highlights and first impressions!
foreshadowing
This premiere doesn’t waste time. The Salt Lake crew is introduced to us in the opening minutes, a bold change from the game, and even if the show hasn’t fully unpacked it yet, you can Already feel the weight abby (kaitlyn dever) has been carrying. The episode also ends with Abby’s face. grim, resolved, brimming with inner rage. it’s clear things are about to spiral.
TONE AND WEIGHT
THE EMOTIONAL TONE IS ALREADY NOTICEABLY HEAVIER THAN SEASON 1. THE LOOMING DREAD. THE INFECTED are MORE INTELLIGENT, MORE UNPREDICTABLE. ELLIE’S EMOTIONAL STATE IS DELICATE. SHE’S STILL the SHARP, WITTY, REBELLIOUS girl we have come to love, BUT THERE’S DEEP DOUBT BEHIND HER EYES. HER DYNAMIC WITH JOEL FEELS FRACTURED AND SAD. A PAINFUL CONTRAST TO WHERE WE LEFT THEM LAST SEASON. SEASON 2 IS CLEARLY NOT PLAYING IT SAFE and similar to the game, HERE TO CHALLENGE US.
the dance scene
THE DANCE SCENE WAS PERFECTION. A LOT OF ADAPTED GAME DIALOGUE, even THE SAME CAMERA PAN at the beginning, AS WELL AS THE SAME MUSIC PLAYING. IT LANDED EMOTIONALLY AND VISUALLY JUST AS HARD AND THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN ELLIE AND DINA IS MAGNETIC.
scene stealer
ISABELA MERCED AS DINA. I THINK IT’S EASY TO SAY THAT SHE CARRIED THE EPISODE, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT CONSIDERING THE STACKED CAST. SHE REALLY CAPTURES HER CHARACTER, FLESHES IT OUT EVEN MORE AND brings THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF GOOD ENERGY TO THE SHOW. my favorite already.
new addition
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ADDITIONS WAS GAIL, PLAYED BY CATHERINE O’HARA. A PSYCHOTHERAPIST WHO ACCEPTS PAYMENT IN WEED. SHE’S NOT FROM THE GAME, BUT just LIKE KATHLEEN (MELANIE LYNSKEY) IN SEASON 1, SHE FEELS LIKE SHE BELONGS IN THIS WORLD. DRUCKMANN AND MAZIN KNOW HOW TO EXPAND THIS UNIVERSE WITHOUT BREAKING ITS TONE. it’s also a fascinating detail that Joel, of all people, would seek therapy. It speaks volumes about the intensity of his guilt and his strained relationship with Ellie. The reveal that Joel was the one who killed Eugene (not a stroke, like we were originally told in the game) was a surprising and layered twist. It adds a whole new weight to Joel’s character and I really hope we get a flashback that dives deeper into what actually happened.
NODS TO THE GAME
FANS OF THE GAME WILL CATCH PLENTY OF SUBTLE NODS: FROM THE BOTTLE-THROW MECHANIC TO THE SNIPER SECTION, THE SHOW NAILS THOSE ICONIC GAMEPLAY MOMENTS WITHOUT MAKING THEM FEEL FORCED. COMPOSER GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA HIMSELF EVEN MAKES A CAMEO AS A MEMBER OF JACKSON’S HOUSE BAND. SOME SCENES MIRROR THE GAME ALMOST SHOT-FOR-SHOT. THEY FEEL LIKE LITTLE LOVE LETTERS FOLDED INTO THE NARRATIVE, WAITING FOR THE RIGHT FANS TO NOTICE. AND IT’S CLEAR HOW MUCH LOVE AND CARE WENT INTO HONORING BOTH VERSIONS OF THIS STORY.
