When The Last of Us premiered in early 2023, it redefined what a video game adaptation could be: emotionally complex, narratively rich, and visually stunning. Now, more than a year later, Season 2 has arrived—and it’s darker, bolder, and already dividing fans in all the right ways.
Premiered in April 2025 on Max, the new season picks up years after the events of Joel’s controversial choice in Salt Lake City. With new characters, shifting alliances, and a powerful shift in perspective, this isn’t just a continuation—it’s a transformation.
A Story About Consequences
Season 2 dives headfirst into the fallout of Joel’s decision to save Ellie at the cost of potentially dooming humanity. But rather than framing him as a hero or a villain, the show leans into moral ambiguity.
Ellie, now older and more hardened, is at the emotional center of this chapter. Bella Ramsey delivers a raw, layered performance that shows the toll of surviving in a world where love can be deadly. She’s not the same Ellie we met in Season 1—and that’s exactly the point.
We also meet Abby, played with quiet intensity by Kaitlyn Dever. Introduced first as a mystery, then as a foil, and finally as a full protagonist in her own right, Abby’s presence reshapes the narrative. The season doesn’t ask viewers to pick a side—it demands they see all sides.
A Bold Structural Shift
Where Season 1 was relatively linear, Season 2 plays with structure. Flashbacks blend into present-day. Perspective shifts from Ellie to Abby and back again. The show mirrors the dual narrative of The Last of Us Part II video game but elevates it with a cinematic touch that only live-action can provide.
It’s a risky move, but it pays off. The fragmented storytelling forces viewers to recontextualize their assumptions and lean into empathy. It’s not easy—but neither is surviving in this world.
Violence That Means Something
Let’s be clear: this season is violent. But unlike many post-apocalyptic shows that glorify brutality, The Last of Us continues to treat violence as a tragedy. Every act of vengeance comes at a cost. Every death feels intimate.
The fight choreography is brutal and grounded, but it’s the emotional aftermath that lingers. One scene in particular—no spoilers—left social media reeling for days, not because of how it looked, but because of how it felt.
Performance Highlights
Bella Ramsey continues to prove why they were the perfect casting choice. Their portrayal of Ellie this season is haunted, tender, and terrifying. In scenes of quiet grief or explosive rage, Ramsey captures the weight of a young person who’s seen too much and lost too many.
Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby is another revelation. Her strength, both physical and emotional, is never played for easy sympathy—but her humanity comes through in the moments between violence. Scenes of her with Lev, a runaway from a cult-like faction, provide some of the season’s most tender beats.
Pedro Pascal’s Joel still looms large in the narrative, even when he’s offscreen. His shadow touches everything, which is exactly what makes the story resonate.
The Sound of Survival
Once again, Gustavo Santaolalla’s score delivers—haunting, sparse, and deeply evocative. The music remains a crucial character in the show, echoing the internal landscapes of its leads.
The use of silence is also striking. Some of the most powerful scenes this season are nearly wordless, relying on glances, breath, and atmosphere.
What It Says About Us
The Last of Us isn’t just about zombies or survival—it’s about the human cost of fear, vengeance, and love. Season 2 holds up a mirror and dares us to look. It’s uncomfortable, often devastating, but it’s also truthful.
At a time when media often plays it safe, this show doubles down on emotional risk. It asks hard questions and doesn’t offer easy answers. That’s why it stands above the rest—not just as a video game adaptation, but as one of the most ambitious dramas on television.
Not Just a Sequel, a Statement
Season 2 of The Last of Us is not here to please everyone. It’s here to challenge. To push. To evolve. And in doing so, it honors the brutal beauty of its source material while forging something wholly its own.
If Season 1 showed us the beginning of Ellie’s story, Season 2 shows us the cost of surviving it. And in a world full of noise, this show still manages to whisper—and make us listen.
By: Valeria Benavides Velarde
