Controversies aside, the first season of The Last of Us was a triumph—capturing the emotional weight and narrative brilliance of the beloved video game while establishing a strong voice of its own. Unfortunately, Season 2 marks a significant step back. While it still offers moments of powerful storytelling, the season’s overall execution feels inconsistent, rushed, and uneven in tone.
Set five years after the events of Season 1, the story picks up with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) now living in Jackson, Wyoming. Their bond, once forged in trauma and survival, is now strained—Ellie suspects Joel is hiding the truth about what happened with the Fireflies. When a group of ex-Fireflies led by the mysterious Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) arrives near Jackson, the consequences of past choices come crashing into the present.
At its best, Season 2 echoes the emotional intensity and technical brilliance that made the first season so compelling. Standout episodes like Through the Valley (Episode 2), Feel Her Love (Episode 5), and The Price (Episode 6) remind viewers of the show's capacity to deliver gripping human drama, sweeping cinematography and set pieces, and deeply affecting performances. The production values remain top-tier, with meticulous attention to detail that continues to set the series apart. However, these high points are surrounded by episodes that feel underdeveloped or narratively muddled. With only seven episodes, the season struggles to complete its arcs cohesively. Several storylines are introduced without clear payoff. The pacing is especially jarring, making it difficult for emotional beats to fully land and the revenge story at the core of it all becomes absent or inessential. The final episode, Convergence, encapsulates both the strengths and weaknesses of the season. It offers emotional intensity and cinematic spectacle, but also highlights how much of the story feels incomplete or rushed.
Bella Ramsey delivers a solid performance as Ellie, but the character's development feels oddly static despite the five-year time jump. It is frustrating that such talent feels wasted with inconsistent material. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, and Kaitlyn Dever often outshine her—not necessarily due to performance quality, but because the writing affords them more dynamic material to work with. In the end, The Last of Us Season 2 is still a worthwhile watch, delivering enough to satisfy fans, but it lacks the narrative clarity and cohesion that made Season 1 a masterpiece.
The Last of Us Season 2 (2025) Full Series Review: A Huge Step Back
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