THE LAST OF US: SEASON TWO
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, and Kaitlyn Dever
Creators: Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin
ADRIANO
The Last of Us will always have a shadow over it from the excellent games it adapts from. Like the first season, this sophomore offering is at its best when it branches out from the source material, not just with its horror, but the characters that the showrunners clearly care about. Unfortunately, this season's ripped-from-the-game moments feel too much like cheap imitations that (not always, but often) lessen the impact. Plus, the decision to end it where it does is a little confusing to me. This season is still quite good, but it is a very clear downgrade.
KATIE
I don’t know if it's because I haven't played the games or because Season One was so good, but this season of The Last of Us was disappointing. Ellie has undergone some kind of age regression, acting petulant and immature compared to her younger self from the first season, reflected in the writing and not Bella Ramsey’s performance. The hair and makeup disrupt the immersion too, as everyone looks so good, and apart from a couple of episodes, the characters don’t behave as if they’re living amid a zombie apocalypse. There are some fantastic set pieces, but I was underwhelmed, overall.
AMARÚ
The Last Of Us's second season confirmed what was already established at the end of Season One: it’s one of the best shows on television, it’s one of the best video-game adaptations ever, and it’s one of the best shows to balance multiple genres, from zombie to dystopian to character study. What I was not expecting to find out this season was how damn great of an actress Isabela Merced is proving herself to be. Her charisma steals every second of screen time, with an absolute magnetism that outshines Bella Ramsey's and Pedro Pascal’s powerhouse performances. Well fucking done, Ms. Dora the Explorer.
ROBERT
After finishing Season Two of The Last of Us, I realized it was a season of swings: some that connected while others whiffed entirely. Those swings were both from stringently following the source material and straying from it for creative purposes. When the plot diverges for story reasons, it feels hollow; when done for building emotional tension, it’s mostly successful, leaving me shaken. I do not believe all the storytelling devices from the game are translatable to the show, which makes the finale especially jarring. That will likely carry over to Season Three, so I remain cautious about the present and future.
QUENTIN
In my review of Season One, I called The Last of Us a “good show” but a “retread” of The Walking Dead. Season Two has doubled down to diminished returns. It doesn’t help that so much of this season is undercooked, which is especially noticeable through disjointed time jumps, revelations, and pacing. The conflict between WLF, FEDRA, and the Scars — the backdrop of everything — is confusing, lessening any impact we are supposed to gain from Ellie and Dina’s (Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced) journey. There are some great scenes and performances, but for this person unfamiliar with the game, Us just isn’t that “good” anymore.
