How Do We Feel About The Last of Us Season 2 So Far?

Welcome to another Punished Chat! Season two of The Last of Us premiered on HBO/Max last Sunday, and our team has thoughts. Follow along as we discuss Ellie and Dina, Joel and his therapist, and the stalker at the supermarket. Cheers!

Q: Tell readers a bit about your TLOU history. What were your overall thoughts on The Last of Us Part II?

Sam Martinelli: When it comes to the games, I really liked the first The Last of Us, LOVED the Left Behind DLC, and honestly despise The Last of Us Part II. I think the first game, along with its phenomenal expansion, is more narratively and thematically cohesive than the sequel, which says any meaningful thing it needs to say very early on and then continuously bludgeons the player with abject misery and actively undermines its own messaging in the final hours.

I’ve written enough on this, but if I had to condense my TLOU II thoughts, I’d say this: It’s a game trying very desperately to appear deep and nuanced, but in reality, it just repeats the same tired refrain over and over again, often with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. There are some truly incredible moments in the game—the relationship dynamic between Dina and Ellie is constantly engaging—but the overall experience bites off way more than it can chew.

Mark Bowers: The Last of Us Part II is one of the greatest games I have ever played. The Last of Us Part II is also one of the most depressing and exhausting games I have ever played. I absolutely treasure the fact that I got to play it, and at the same time I never want to play it again.

Vaughn Hunt: The Last of Us Part II was a great game in many ways, but its flaws were glaring. The level design got boring after the open-world section, and the story was as flat as Ellie’s character development. Honestly, all the characters were flat and felt like the worst version of themselves until the end. The story didn’t say anything other than that revenge leaves you empty. For that to be Ellie’s final character arc after the development we saw in the first game is just poor writing.

David Silbert: I’m about as big a Last of Us fan as it gets. I played the first game twice (once on PlayStation 3, then again with the PlayStation 4 remaster), and ripped through The Last of Us Part II in just a few days. While I’ll concede that Part I is the stronger game, I will die on the hill that Part II was magnificent in its own right. The story was gripping, the combat was sublime, and the ending left me hungry for more.

Naturally, I watched Season 1 of the TV show each week, like clockwork. And though I haven’t played the Part I remake or the Part II remaster, it’s just a matter of time before I dive back into the world of Joel and Ellie once again.

Clint Morrison, Jr.: I loved the first game. It came out while I was studying abroad, and I almost bought a PS3 in Europe to play it on day one. I have a more complicated relationship with Part II. It was the first video game I wrote about (for Unwinnable), but as we’ve learned more about the politics of its creator, my perspective on the game has changed.

Q: What were your expectations heading into the Season 2 premiere? What ground did you expect it to cover?

Sam: I was fairly impressed by the first season, which I think made great choices in curtailing a lot of the “videogaminess” of the PS3 title. Heading into Season 2, I’m asking myself two questions: 1) Will the show make similar changes to whittle down some of that videogaminess, and 2) Will such changes alter how I view the second game’s story? Genuinely, I’m not sure what answers to expect.

Mark: I figured the S2 premiere would catch us up to where we are at the start of the game. I wasn’t quite sure of the pace it would move at and almost expected it to move very quickly (players know—the game did not). But at the very least, I expected it to kick off on a “where are we now” story.

Vaughn: The show covered exactly what I thought it would in the premiere. It set the stage for new characters and really highlighted the setting of Jackson. I totally forgot about the grocery store sequence but immediately remembered it once it played out on-screen.

David: I expected Season 2 to start off slow, but strong. After all, we knew going into the premiere that showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin had decided to split Part II into (at least) two seasons. While this made logistical sense—Part II was easily twice the length of Part I—I imagined it could lead to some growing pains if not handled with care.

Clint: I expected a slow burn. I didn’t expect a certain scene, but I also didn’t expect a certain dance.

Q: Did S2E1 deliver? What are your general thoughts, a few days removed?

Sam: So far, so good! Catherine O’Hara is a treasure, and seeing her in such a fascinating (and show-specific) role was easily my favorite part of this episode. She clearly understands that Joel’s hiding a dark, character-defining secret, but just doesn’t know how to get it out of him. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal are also just such great actors that the coldness between Ellie and Joel at the start was especially palpable.

I’m not sure how to feel about revealing Abby and the Firefly kids so early on, since the game waits a few hours to present that information. Hopefully, more on their backdrops gets drip-fed throughout the season, but there was something lost in revealing that connection right away.

Mark: I think it did. It adapted the early game well, while also expanding in some really great areas. We don’t get to see a lot of Joel moments in the game without Ellie, so the therapy session was a great add. Not only that, but I loved city planner Joel! He’s found his retirement gig and I’m happy for him. Most men his age would have settled for golfing.

Vaughn: I thought it was an excellent episode. You get a real sense that there’s a lot going on within the town as it expands and takes on new survivors, and I especially enjoyed the tension between characters. Bear in mind, this is just the early part of the game, and I thought Jackson was the most underutilized section, with so much depth left unexplored.

David: Absolutely! I certainly didn’t expect the premiere to cover that moment, but I did expect it to go big in some way. Jackson is host to a cast of characters both new and familiar, and it would take some great scenes to bring those relationships to life. Thankfully, S2E1 delivered with aplomb. We got Ellie and Dina at the barn, a tense (if predictable) fight with the infected, and even Joel and his therapist. It was rad.

Clint: I’m uncomfortable with S2E1. Joel’s line about the monsters outside during the conversation about refugees feels more explicitly timely and political than the 2020 game often felt. The subtext becomes the context. It is a moment that feels like it is foreshadowing a particular turn in the TV series—one that is unsurprising but nonetheless disappointing.

Q: What elements of the adaptation worked well? Which “deviations” did you enjoy?

Sam: I think the show has already nailed Dina as a character, particularly her chemistry with Ellie. It’s a little too early to tell if other parts from the game at this point have been adapted well, but I think they’ve already gotten that part right.

As I mentioned before, Catherine O’Hara as Joel’s therapist is fascinating to me, especially since it’s clear the sessions are only helping him so much. The first game largely positioned Joel as a manifestation of masculine insecurity and impulse, so adding some background into how he ends up a little more reserved in the sequel enhances even the smaller character moments.

Mark: I’m going to cheat and give the same answer for both: Ellie and Dina were so great together! The show did a great job of showing that they’re already great friends, but also revealing that there’s way more to it than just friendship. I also really loved Isabela Merced’s performance as Dina. She immediately made the character her own—goofy and unafraid to be herself. I can’t wait to see where she takes the role this season. Also, the stalker scene was incredible. What a way to introduce the new class of infected!

Vaughn: I loved the grocery store section with the stalker; it’s a terrifying enemy that gets a great introduction in a high-stakes scene. Ellie may be immune, but stalkers are the type of infected that can do serious damage due to their clever nature.

The still shot of the dance scene is taken straight from the game, which was amazing. I also thought the inclusion of dialogue was great. The actual dance scene was fun and flirty, showing great chemistry between Dina and Ellie. Of course, the peace was ruined with Seth insulting the young women and Joel shoving him to the ground. There’s a public acknowledgement of the conflict between Joel and Ellie, which wasn’t shown on screen until this moment, and the execution was really well done. Pedro Pascal’s acting in response to Ellie’s public outburst was great.

David: All the big beats from the game “hit” for me: The introduction of characters like Dina, Jesse, and Maria was well executed, the barn scene was as faithful as it gets, and the Joel/Ellie porch confrontation was a nice tease for what’s to come.

As for additions, Joel’s scene with the town therapist, Gail (Catherine O’Hara), was the easy standout. Not only did it serve as a rare window into Joel’s psyche (we never get that interiority in the games), but it opened the door for a rich subplot with the whole “Joel shot Eugene” thread. I can’t wait to find out more about how Eugene turned and why Joel was the one to take his life.

Clint: The stalker was cool! That sequence was one of the best horror scenes I’ve seen in some time. I also loved the shot-for-shot adaptation of the dance scene.

Q: Likewise, where did S2E1 fall short of the source material?

Sam: I know I talked about revealing the Fireflies stuff a little too early, but I’m still unsure if that’s a good or a bad choice just yet. The only other notable changes to me were the focus on the moving tendrils in the broken pipe and the added wrinkle of “smart” infected, and I also don’t know if those are good or bad choices yet.

Mark: I would have loved to see the season open similarly to the game with Joel teaching Ellie to play the guitar. That’s a really important moment that pays off at the end of the story. It looks like it will be there, but without giving it away, I always felt it was a great juxtaposition to the end of the story as well.

Vaughn: The inclusion of Gail as a character is supposed to give us this parallel to the Joel and Ellie relationship, which is a very “TV foil” thing to do. I’m not sure I like it, as it centers the relationships and dialogue of the show around the issue of “Joel’s choice” instead of leaving it as a hurdle for everyone to figure out without actually hitting it on the nose. The reliance of a therapist to bail out a character’s conflict—not to mention complicating the relationship with the fact that Joel killed her husband—is cliché TV fantasy.

A better way to handle this would have been for Joel to come to Maria for advice. Though it would have strained the trust they’ve established over the years, ultimately it would bring them closer together.

David: This was a criticism I had with Season 1, but I really don’t get much out of the infected fights. The supermarket scene was practically carbon-copied from the game, which I’m sure for most was a welcome decision. For me, though, it felt “too” video game-y. The bit of humor with Dina (where both give silly SWAT hand signs) was a nice touch, but otherwise this scene could have been cut in half and I wouldn’t have minded.

Q: Thoughts on how S2E1 handled Abby and the fireflies? Were you surprised by how and when they were introduced?

Sam: Maybe surprised by how, not surprised by when. I figured they would show Abby pretty early on, since she’s basically the co-protagonist of the game. I was hoping the first time we’d see her and her fellow Wolves would be in Wyoming like in the actual game, but as I’ve already said, I still genuinely don’t know if it was the right or wrong choice to change that just yet.

Mark: I can’t lie, I was truly shocked that we got so much of Abby in such a short time. Knowing where she comes from completely changes the context of her story. At the same time, I think that given how “fans” reacted before, this may have been a preemptive strike to soften the blow. I loved Kaitlyn Dever’s performance in the short time we saw of her, though, and can’t wait to see more.

Vaughn: I thought handling this more subtly would have been better. There’s a new surprise factor in terms of what might happen later, but this feels like a way to avoid the boiling anger that fans of the game felt. Having these characters in the first episode didn’t really add anything other than foreshadowing.

David: The verdict’s still out. One could argue that by introducing Abby so soon, we lose a bit of the shock value when she appears in Jackson. Personally, though, I respect the decision. Season 2 will have to take a lot of creative liberties compared to the game (there’s no way we get one season of just Ellie, then one of just Abby, for instance). I trust Mazin and Druckmann to embrace the TV medium while doing right by the source material.

Clint: I’m game for this new approach. I think that Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) was well cast. Centering her intentions and reasons early on may make for a more linear narrative (boo!) but also a more coherent and thoughtful one.

Q: Early favorite characters? Least favorite characters?

Mark: Favorite: Dina! As I said above, she completely stole the show. Meanwhile, Seth can go to hell. Joel was right to knock him over so hard!

Vaughn: Dina is great comic relief, providing energy in a dreary world. I don’t love how the writers made Tommy seem like this simple-minded, traditional man; he was sharper in the games. Joel as a tortured soul is still lovable. Meh to Gail. We still haven’t seen much of Jesse, and Ellie is impossible for me to like, at least currently.

David: Dina’s a gem, and Gail could be a standout new addition to the series lore. I also love the whole idea of a city council, even if we don’t know most of the folks by name. No least favorites yet, but that can easily change.

Q: When in the season do you think we’ll get to that moment?

Sam: The end of Episode 2, for sure. I’m not sure why they would delay such a pivotal moment more than that.

Mark: Next week, Episode 2. Good on the showrunners for letting Rory McIlroy enjoy his day.

Vaughn: Episode 3.

David: My money’s on Episode 3. Episode 2 feels too early, as there’s plenty of development to explore in Jackson between all these characters. That said, Season 2 only has a runtime of seven episodes, so the plot has to get moving somewhat quickly. I expect Mazin and Druckmann to lull us into a false sense of security before officially ripping the rug out.

Clint: Either Episode 3 or the final episode.

Q: Likewise, where do you think Season 2 will end?

Sam: I’m wondering if Season 2 will largely focus on Ellie’s perspective, and Season 3 will be Abby’s. If so, Season 2 ends with the showdown at the theater.

Mark: I really don’t know. It’s going to be impossible to tell this story in seven episodes. It looks like we’ll be getting a lot of Isaac, though, so I have to imagine we’ll get pretty deep into Seattle. Maybe it ends with the return to Jackson?

Vaughn: Season 2 ends with Dina and Ellie establishing themselves in Seattle amid the ongoing conflict there.

David: I think Season 2 will likely end in the theater. As for whether the season ends just before Ellie and Abby fight, or right after… that remains to be seen. But I think we’ll see some sort of confrontation, with Season 3 highlighting the aftermath, including the whole Santa Barbara epilogue.

Clint: That scene paired with a flashback. IYKYK.

Q: Any final thoughts on the premiere?

Mark: The Last of Us has still got it. Excited to see what’s to come!

Vaughn: The tease of the destruction of Jackson with the expanding virus root system seems lame. What made The Last of Us memorable as a game was its focus on quietness exploding into violence, a universal sense of dread always running through your mind. The TV adaptation is more comfortable placing violence front and center; its version of the cordyceps is an aggressive virus, which leads to an aggressive world. We’ll see how that difference plays out soon.

David: Seven episodes is too short, but I’ll take what I can get. Bring on the rest of the season!

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Where Were Your Thoughts on the Last of Us Season 2 Premiere?

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