On April 3rd, HBO premiered the first episode of The Last of Us Season Two. Starring Bella Ramsay and Pedro Pascal, the first episode does a decent job of depicting the emotional aftermath of the first season’s events and setting up interesting new developments for the story.
About the Story
The Last of Us, originally an action game released on the PlayStation 3 in 2013, centers around a grizzled survivor named Joel Miller and his adopted daughter, Ellie Williams. The two live in a world ravaged by a zombie fungus infection, and Ellie’s biological immunity is key to researching a vaccine. However, developing a cure would require dissecting her brain. Joel makes the fateful decision to stop the procedure, dooming humanity.
In the bloody aftermath of Joel’s actions, both he and Ellie try to build new lives in the sanctuary of Jackson, Wyoming. However, their relationship is fractured, and the growing menace of the infected and the emergence of old revenge-seeking foes threatens all they hold dear.
Critiques & Criticisms
The Last of Us Season Two has big shoes to fill. Following up the critically acclaimed TV show’s season one, it also adapts the story of The Last of Us Part II for PlayStation 4, one of the most divisive video game sequels ever made.
The overall production quality of the show is very high. It’s clear that lots of effort and care was put into every single detail, like the sickeningly lifelike fungal growths on the zombies or the bustling town of Jackson. The show also continues using the beautiful theme composed by Gustavo Santaolalla. It doesn’t do much in terms of cinematography to build a unique visual identity, but the camerawork and editing are perfectly serviceable.
One of the show’s greatest continuing strengths is its character development. Joel is busy trying to improve the lives of his people, as well as his bond with Ellie. He becomes a city planner for the Jackson settlement, rather than his old work as a mercenary smuggler, emphasizing his commitment to building rather than surviving. However, he is still gruff and closed-off, and his guilt stops him from truly connecting with anyone.
Ellie, on the other hand, is just coming of age, and she struggles to find a sense of self and belonging. Her purpose since birth has been to create a vaccine to save humanity, but when those hopes are dashed, she takes brash risks with her life, putting herself and her friends in danger. The first episode does a strong job of depicting the emotional fallout of the choices made in Season One, reinforcing the character-centric core of the The Last of Us story.
Final Verdict
Episode One The Last of Us Season Two sets up an interesting and character-driven story that follows up the fateful events of the first season. For anyone who enjoys zombie media and liked Season One, it’s worth a watch.
Rating: TV-MA
Run time: 6h 18min
Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi, thriller
Directed by: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey
