The Last of Us is a series based on the video games of the same name that mainly follow two characters, Joel and Ellie, as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by terrifying monsters and tackle the moral complexities of the human condition along the way. There have been two games made so far, and to say that the first installment was translated to the first season of an HBO series exceptionally well would be an understatement. The first season of The Last of Us TV series was absolutely fantastic, seamlessly adapting the game’s masterpiece of a story while highlighting the performances of the cast. The chemistry between Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie was definitely a highlight for me. Now, as for the second game in the series, while the gameplay and the visuals were top tier, saying that the story of Ellie seeking vengeance following a tragic incident was controversial would be yet another understatement. I won’t be revealing any story details in this review, but I was always curious as to how the second season of this show would adapt a story so provocative in nature that ultimately split the fanbase in half. The answer: rather interestingly. It does its best with the source material it has to work with. As expected, the performances from the new and returning cast members are beyond exceptional, making the emotional gut punches from the game hit that much harder. There are even characters and story arcs introduced that weren’t in the game, adding extra layers to the story’s emotional weight, such as Joel’s therapist, Gail. The second season also doubles down on world building and set pieces we didn’t see in the game, such as the politics and defense systems of the town our main characters live in, as well as flashbacks that further establish the resolve of certain characters. However, in its efforts to adapt the source material as effectively as possible, it doesn’t completely stick the landing. We end up with a second season that is significantly shorter than the first as a result of the series’ decision to split the events of the second game across multiple seasons. While understandable, because of this, many story and character arcs felt unfinished and underdeveloped, making the second season of this series difficult to recommend without the context that will most likely be brought about by the third season whenever it arrives. Score: 6/10
Noah Robinson 