The release of HBO’s The Last of Us was a landmark moment for live-action video game adaptations after decades of doomed studio attempts. Whereas recent TV shows like Halo on Paramount+ and Twisted Metal on Peacock failed to make an impression on their dedicated fan bases, the HBO original series in question made new fans out of general audiences on top of appealing to pre-established players of the Naughty Dog games. Arguably, the success of The Last of Us Season 1 paved the way for other shows, like Fallout and Like a Dragon: Yakuza on Prime Video, to more easily build their own audiences since people are now growing a stronger appetite for “prestigious” video game adaptations on television.
Neil Druckmann, the writer/creative director of the games and head of Naughty Dog studios, and showrunner Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) have now returned after two years with a stacked ensemble cast to adapt the critically acclaimed yet massively controversial second game in the franchise, The Last of Us Part II. With the promise of a third season and the opportunity to revisit divisive source material, The Last of Us Season 2 on HBO has a uniquely high bar to clear. But does it succeed? Like the story’s thematic moral questions, the answer is much more complex than a simple yes or no.
Revisiting the Messiness of The Last of Us Season 1
Unfortunately, to hardcore fans of the The Last of Us games like myself, the cracks of Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin’s HBO adaptation have started to become more apparent in the gap between seasons. When compared directly to the original game, the weaknesses of the first season’s writing and direction were especially noticeable. Though season one was well performed and looked expensive, it was awkwardly paced throughout nine episodes (which was too short to cover the whole 2013 video game without skipping sections). Moreover, it severely lessened the subtlety and emotional impact of genuinely getting to know Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) for the first time in a tense survival adventure.
Courtesy of HBO
In order to compress the first game’s story, Druckmann and Mazin cut a significant amount of action in the TV adaptation. Side plots from the game were expanded on to varying degrees of quality: at best, enriching the material like in Nick Offerman’s standalone episode, “Long, Long Time,” and at worst, overexplaining the lore or taking precious time away from Joel and Elie’s relationship. As a result, the iconic, emotionally devastating ending of the game fell completely flat in the series. Though the adaptation was faithful (sometimes to a fault), removing entire sections of gameplay made the show feel like a skeleton of plot beats with none of the connective tissue that made its source material so emotionally authentic.
“The HBO series is still burdened by the existence of the same story told better in another medium.”
Reflecting on the first season’s flaws was a crucial step in evaluating The Last of Us Season 2. While the show has improved in many aspects and flirts with interesting adaptational choices, it’s difficult to reconcile with what is lost in translation. Ultimately, the HBO series is still burdened by the existence of the same story told better in another medium. But if you’re willing to look past these weaknesses, or if you have no context as a newcomer, then the second season of The Last of Us is sincerely a better overall production. Thankfully, this season is more patient and willing to take its time to reimagine The Last of Us Part II with each delicate detail.
The Last of Us Season 2 reintroduces us to Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) five years after the first season. The surrogate father and daughter live together in a commune in Jackson, Wyoming, run by Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria (Rutina Wesley). However, tensions grow, and their relationship is strained in the aftermath of Joel’s questionable actions. After a traumatic event opens old wounds for Ellie, she embarks on a quest for revenge to Seattle, Washington, with her maybe-more-than-friend Dina (Isabela Merced) by her side. Some events and sequences are restructured to fit within the context of the HBO show, but for the most part, this season covers roughly half of the second game.
Ellie and Dina’s Romance Takes Center Stage
Credit should be given to Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin for taking some criticism of the first season’s structural weaknesses to heart. Yes, The Last of Us Season 2 is shorter with it being seven episodes. However, the choice to adapt only the first half of The Last of Us Part II instead of trying to stuff it within one season pays off in allowing the world to breathe. Additionally, it gives the TV series the opportunity to include many more intimate and special moments that strengthen our bonds with the characters. Particularly, Ellie and Dina’s relationship gets to take the spotlight — their friends-to-lovers romance is as much a highlight here as it is in the game.
The performances are the show’s biggest strength; it’s a testament to the skills of this ensemble that they don’t come off as imitations of the game’s cast. Instead, each actor has a unique take on their respective character, making the series feel dynamic even when the adaptational choices falter. Despite the negativity towards their lack of recasting, Bella Ramsey proves they are Ellie. The Last of Us Season 2 portrays Ellie at crucial stages of her adolescence, and Ramsey perfectly balances all of her teenage angst, longing, and grief. Ramsey’s youthful glow is contrasted by Ellie’s hunger for violence, visualizing that contradicting phase right before adulthood as she finds herself at nineteen years old this season.
The Last of Us Season 2 is Saved by the Ensemble Cast
Pedro Pascal continues to ground Joel in a different direction than Troy Baker’s original performance, highlighting the sensitivity and emotional torment within the character. Meanwhile, Isabela Merced (Alien: Romulus, Madame Web) shines as Dina — she’s bubbly, loyal, and immediately likable. Abby Anderson, played by Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar, Booksmart), is also introduced this season. With little screen time, she immediately establishes herself as a force to be reckoned with. Abby’s pure vengeful rage is well executed, and Dever presents an interesting visual character foil, considering she auditioned to play Ellie in the first season. It would have been cool to see a buff actress take on the role, but Dever’s Abby is fitting for this live-action reimagining.
Courtesy of HBO
In 2013, The Last of Us proved that video games have advanced into an audiovisual medium in their own right. The reason why the franchise made an easier transition into prestige television is that the game itself was already cinematic, far and above the standard of the time. As a result, the HBO show often fails to justify its existence. Admittedly, The Last of Us Season 2 fares better in this regard. Gone are the uncanny moments of season one where the game’s script is copied, pasted, and blocked the same way. Be that as it may, some of Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin’s adaptational choices remain questionable.
Neil Druckmann’s Growing Pains
There are numerous times when overarching mysteries are answered as soon as possible, depriving us of the ambiguity that made playing the game such a captivating experience. The backlash of The Last of Us Part II was intense, and Druckmann understandably has been personally affected by it. Still, the choices he’s made in re-editing his story demonstrate a fear of being misunderstood, which makes his writing on the show a lot less artistically interesting than the abrasive and unapologetic tone of the ambitious sequel game.
You could say the HBO series serves a mainstream audience rather than just fans of the game. Even then, it must be possible to balance the narrative sophistication of the game and still reach a wider audience. HBO’s The Last of Us continues to be a good show, but it’s short of being great. Season 2 is a huge improvement from the previous season. Yet, when crossing over into live-action, it sadly fails to capture what makes its source material so celebrated and singular. What saves The Last of Us at the end of the day is that its core ensemble cast is so strong and compelling that they can keep the material fresh and interesting enough.
The Last of Us Season 2 is about Ellie growing up and realizing her relationship with her parental figure is a lot more complicated than she thought, and just like Ellie herself, Neil Druckmann’s sophomore venture into TV has its own growing pains.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on HBO and the Max streaming service on April 13!
Premeire Date: April 13, 2025.
Created by Neil Druckmann & Craig Mazin.
Based on The Last of Us video game franchise by Naughty Dog.
Showrunners: Neil Druckmann & Craig Mazin.
Series Directors: Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Kate Herron, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Mark Mylod, & Stephen Williams.
Series Writers: Neil Drickmann, Craig Mazin, Halley Gross, & Bo Shim.
Executive Producers: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Carolyn Strauss, Rose Lam, Evan Wells, Carter Swan, Asad Qizilbash, Jacqueline Lesko, & Cecil O’Connor.
Main Cast: Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Young Mazino, Isabela Merced, Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Joe Pantoliano, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, Hettienne Park, Robert John Burke, & Noah Lamanna.
Composers: Gustavo Santaolalla & David Fleming.
Production Companies: The Mighty Mint, Word Games, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, & Sony Pictures Television Studios.
Network: HBO.
Episode Count: 7 (Season Two).
