After more than two years have passed since the premiere of Season 1, The Last of Us Season 2 is finally set to debut on Max this week. Season 1 won eight Emmys and was nominated for even more, so it’s fair to say expectations are high for Season 2. The first season of the beloved Max series adapted The Last of Us Part I in its entirety, and now the second season of the hit HBO series begins the colossal task of adapting The Last of Us Part II, which won Game of the Year in 2020.
Despite both creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann returning for Season 2, the entire cast and crew had their work cut out for them adapting The Last of Us Part II into live-action. While Part I and Season 1 are mostly contained between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Part II introduces new members from the town of Jackson, Wyoming, while also bringing in the W.L.F. (Washington Liberation Front).
The Last of Us has yet to be renewed for Season 3, but it’s been confirmed that Season 2 will only adapt part of The Last of Us Part II, meaning the show will need another season to finish adapting the second installment. Adaptations always raise even more questions than regular projects, particularly when it comes to accuracy regarding the source material. While The Last of Us Part II mostly stays the course, it’s not without its issues that feel simultaneously like growing pains and also like they could be fixed with another episode or two.
What Is ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 About?
The Last of Us Season 1 tells a largely linear story that closely mirrors that of The Last of Us Part I. Joel, a smuggler living in Boston, develops a close relationship with Ellie, a young girl who’s immune to the fungus infecting the world. This happens after he agrees to take her across the country as part of his latest deal, but the two ultimately become like father and daughter by the end of the season. The Last of Us Part II is entirely different.
The Last of Us Season 2 sees both Ellie and Joel move into the large community of Jackson, Wyoming, founded by Joel’s brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna). Jackson is the closest thing both Joel and Ellie have seen to a functioning, stable society since the outbreak, and after several years there together, a shocking death in the community forces Ellie to leave the town and head to Seattle on a revenge mission.
This is when Ellie and her best friend and lover, Dina (Isabela Merced), meet the WLF, aka the Wolves, who they know are responsible for the death they are looking to avenge. Led by Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), the Wolves operate a community that’s nothing like Jackson — they’re more likely to execute an innocent civilian than offer them shelter. Ellie heads out on a collision course with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), intent on revenge no matter what it costs.
How Does ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Work as an Adaptation?
While a show like The Last of Us needs to stand on its own merit as a great TV series, regardless of the project it’s pulling from, there will always be comparisons to the source material for any adaptation. Being a great show and a great adaptation don’t go hand in hand and they’re not mutually exclusive. While some projects focus more on one lane than the other, The Last of Us manages to deliver another prestige season of TV that will surely be in contention for Emmy awards while also staying wholly faithful to the source material.
Similar to Season 1, The Last of Us Season 2 is not a shot-for-shot remake of The Last of Us Part II. Season 2 tells Ellie’s story from Part II, which, in the game, accounts for roughly 10-15 hours, depending on exploration and completion levels. With seven episodes running between 45 minutes to an hour, this leaves at least three hours’ worth of playtime that had to be cut out. While much of this playtime is spent traveling to the next location or taking down clickers and Wolves, by season’s end, it still feels like there is room for another episode to give things time to breathe.
This isn’t to say that what made it into the final cut doesn’t belong there or should be replaced by something else. There are moments in The Last of Us Season 2 that will leave game veterans awestruck at just how faithful they are, between the set decoration and the story beats. The narrative is still well-constructed, despite most of what gets left out, but the relationship between Ellie and Dina in particular isn’t given as much time to blossom, which makes it slightly harder to buy into, despite the crackling chemistry between Ramsey and Merced.
Newcomers Like Isabela Merced and Young Mazino Bring the Heat in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
Between the members of Jackson and the WLF, casting director Victoria Thomas (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Django Unchained) knocked it out of the park with all the new additions to the ensemble. Isabela Merced and Young Mazino, in particular, shine in bringing Dina and Jesse to life in a way that makes it feel as if they spent hours studying their in-game counterparts. Merced has all of Dina’s passion for Ellie and everyone else she cares about, while Jesse is a steadfast leader, always willing to go to war for anyone in the Jackson community.
Catherine O’Hara is another shining addition to the cast. She steps into the role of Gail, a community therapist for the town of Jackson who knows just a little too much about everyone’s problems. Another newcomer in the Season 2 ensemble is Robert John Burke, the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit veteran. Burke was tapped to play Seth, the game character who makes a homophobic comment toward Ellie and Dina. The Last of Us Season 2 doesn’t shy away from recreating this moment, but it does give Burke’s Seth some redemption down the line that sees him try to right the ship as best he can.
The biggest new star in The Last of Us Season 2 is undoubtedly Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. Although lacking her physical stature, Dever portrays Abby with the same fierceness that rightfully makes her one of the leaders of the W.L.F., and one of the few who reports straight to Isaac. Similar to the rest of Abby’s crew, which consists of Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen Moore, and Danny Ramirez as Manny Alvarez, Abby’s role in Season 2 is small, but it’s certain to be expanded upon in a potential Season 3. Nonetheless, it takes Dever only a few scenes to prove she is the perfect choice to play Abby.
Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie Remain the Heart of the Show
Pedro Pascal assumes a smaller role in The Last of Us Season 2, but he is somehow more brilliant with less screen time. While this is partially due to show creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann giving him a chance to shine in the most emotional moments ripped straight out of the video game, Pascal also further solidifies himself here as one of the more talented and charismatic stars of his generation. He can convey profound thoughts and feelings with nothing more than a look on his face, and he knows exactly when the right time to tap into this and make more out of less.
Ramsey does a stellar job in their return to the role of Ellie, particularly in some of the more climactic moments of the season. Ramsey unlocks some powerful acting in Season 1 — as evidenced by their Emmy nomination — and the writers and directors know exactly how to get the most out of them to extrapolate both tension and fear from the audience. Watching Ramsey navigate certain scenes with iconic infected, like stalkers, will have everyone watching through their hands.
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Doesn’t Reach the Same Heights As Season 1 — and That’s Okay
The Last of Us Season 1 is as close to a perfect season of TV as there is, and although Season 2 doesn’t quite hit the same beats, it’s still a more than worthy follow-up that will contend for and likely win even more awards. It also effectively sets up what could be an even more explosive Season 3 if the cast and crew are given the chance to return for another season. Whether you’re a fan of the games or just looking for a new show to dive into, The Last of Us remains one of the best on the market for post-apocalyptic aficionados.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres Sunday, April 13 on Max. Follow Agents of Fandom on socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.
'The Last of Us' Season 2 Review
'The Last of Us' Season 2 ReviewThe Good
- The new additions to the ensemble are perfectly cast.
- Pedro Pascal makes the most out of less screen time.
- Some of the shots and landscapes are breathtakingly accurate compared to the game.
- The story remains faithful to the source material with complimentary changes.
The Bad
- Things begin to feel a bit rushed as the season winds down.
- The finale is the weakest episode of the season.
