SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us.
Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us kicks off in Jackson, Wyoming, about five years after Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) arrived. At first glance, life seems calm. But tension is brewing. Joel and Ellie aren’t communicating much, and there’s a sense that their relationship is strained.
We meet a new character, Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Abby is part of the Fireflies and is grieving the loss of her friends from the hospital where Joel made a shocking choice to save Ellie. In her first scene, Abby vows revenge on Joel, creating immediate intrigue about her motivations.
This introduction of Abby is different from the video game, but show creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin wanted viewers to connect with her emotionally right away. Dever, a fan of the game before joining the cast, emphasized the importance of showcasing Abby’s vulnerability from the start. “Understanding her core motivations early helps to humanize her,” she said.
The series had a successful first season that closely followed the game, but adapting The Last of Us Part II is a heavier challenge due to its larger scope. Mazin explained that the adaptation process involves understanding the essence of the story and how to portray it in a way that resonates with viewers. “You start broad and then narrow down to find what really matters to the story,” he noted.
Despite the differences, some scenes in the opening episode mirror parts of the game. For example, there’s a conversation Joel has that echoes an earlier discussion from the game, highlighting the emotional fallout from events in Season 1.
One notable element this season is the evolution of the Infected. During a patrol, Ellie encounters a smarter Infected that stalks her, a clear signal that things are becoming more dangerous. This marks a shift in the threat level as the characters begin to feel overconfident in their surroundings.
Mazin pointed out that while Jackson seems safe, complacency can lead to trouble. Characters like Ellie and Dina joke about hunting clickers, forgetting the fear they once had. “Complacency is a dangerous mindset,” he cautioned, hinting at the chaos that’s about to unfold.
The episode ends ominously, with signs that Abby’s pursuit of Joel is closer than ever. Jackson’s expansion to accommodate more refugees adds another layer of vulnerability to the community.
As we dive into this second season, it’s clear the stakes are rising. Halley Gross, a co-writer for the show and the game, assured fans that every moment has meaning. “Everything is a setup for a payoff,” she said. Viewers should watch carefully, as the characters’ world is about to shift dramatically.
The Last of Us Season 2 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is available for streaming on Max.
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