The first season of HBO’s The Last of Us wasn’t simply one of the spectacular online game variations so far, it was additionally one of the devoted. The present did a outstanding job of replicating the characters, areas, and moments of the sport, to the purpose that it felt prefer it was simply skipping straight to the cutscenes at occasions. Still, season 1 displayed flashes of its personal storytelling, with episodes like “Long Long Time,” which expanded the post-apocalyptic world’s scope past the principle story of Ellie and Joel. This helped the collection really feel each genuine to and distinct from its supply materials. Season 2 takes issues a step additional — it neatly follows a extra difficult story, whereas additionally spending extra time fleshing out the setting past its lead characters.
This piece accommodates gentle spoilers for The Last of Us present and video games.
While season 1 spanned everything of the primary recreation, the second season solely covers a portion of The Last of Us Part II. It’s seven episodes lengthy, which covers roughly half of the sport’s plot; co-creator Craig Maizin beforehand mentioned the cut up was made as a result of “the story materials that we received from Part II of the sport is far more than the story materials that was within the first recreation.” (It additionally means the brand new season is shorter than season 1’s 9 episodes.) After watching all the second season, it undoubtedly feels shorter, but it surely additionally ends at a spot that properly units up season three.
If you haven’t performed the sport, the second chapter picks up after Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) pivotal resolution, by which he “saves” Ellie (Bella Ramsey) from a bunch of scientists making an attempt to make a vaccine for the zombie-like an infection that has ravaged this world. But they don’t get the prospect as a result of Joel kills everybody to get Ellie out of there, because the process would kill her. It’s a selfishly private selection — rescue one particular person on the potential expense of humanity as a complete — to the purpose that Joel lies to Ellie about what actually went down.
Image: HBO
Fast-forward to season 2, and the pair reside in a comparatively secure group within the stays of Jackson, Wyoming, whereas coping with the realities of Ellie rising up. She desires extra accountability and perhaps even has a girlfriend named Dina (Isabela Merced), and Joel isn’t dealing all that properly with it. He even sees a therapist (Catherine O’Hara) in hopes of working via it.
Early on, although, these issues change into a faint reminiscence. The Last of Us’ second chapter is in the end a revenge story, and after a key second — I gained’t spoil what it’s for the uninitiated, however I’ll say it stays unchanged from the sport — Ellie turns into consumed with the thought of revenge and travels to a harmful, war-torn Seattle with Dina to get what she desires. That brings us to Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), the supply of Ellie’s ire. In the sport, she remained a largely mysterious power up till about midway via, when issues shifted and gamers noticed — and performed — issues from her perspective. In the present, whereas there’s nonetheless some thriller to the place she comes from, her motivations are made a lot clearer early on.
This doesn’t change the dynamic between Abby and Ellie; they nonetheless hate one another, and so they nonetheless have their causes to take action (whether or not these causes are justified, after all, is fairly hazy). But it does assist issues transfer alongside somewhat faster, and it suits higher with a weekly TV present, the place you’ll be able to’t rush via the story to see what Abby’s deal is. The thrust stays the identical as ever, with the 2 steadily inching towards an inevitable battle, which signifies that this season can be more likely to be as divisive as the sport. If you thought Joel’s resolution within the season 1 finale was difficult, oh boy, simply you wait. I personally felt that The Last of Us’ second chapter was a troublesome however efficient solution to discover the lasting impression of violence and anger, but it surely additionally turns its most important characters into unlikable sociopaths, so your mileage will certainly differ.
Image: HBO
What’s spectacular concerning the present’s second season is the way it maintains that very same revenge-fueled storyline (or, not less than, the primary half of it) whereas additionally constructing on it. Since it’s a present, you’re not simply enjoying from Ellie’s perspective like within the recreation, and so the remainder of Jackson and Seattle get extra consideration. In addition to some new characters, like Joel’s therapist, there are pivotal storylines that don’t even have something to do with Ellie’s quest, however do put into focus simply how harmful this world is. You get to see much more of Jackson’s internal workings, whereas Seattle has change into a battleground for 2 opposing forces: a militant group and a bunch of non secular zealots. Much like Abby, the teams’ motivations and backgrounds are made clear early on. Here, you not solely see the gory, brutal battle firsthand, however you additionally see the reasoning behind it.
What this implies is that, even should you’ve already performed the second recreation, there are nonetheless lots of causes to observe The Last of Us’ new season. It does a wonderful job of rendering among the recreation’s most touching moments — sure, there’s loads of guitar enjoying — whereas additionally placing Joel and Ellie’s story into the bigger context of this world. And should you’re coming in recent, properly, season 2 is simply the beginning of a brutal story — one that can change the best way you see these characters.
Season 2 of The Last of Us premieres on HBO and Max on April thirteenth.
