If you’ve played The Last of Us Part II, you’re going to read this vague, spoiler-free review thinking you know what I’m really talking about. You almost certainly won’t, but even if you do, it probably won’t be for the right reasons. The structure and chronology of the story make it hard to predict. Meanwhile, those who have no idea what happens in that game, and therefore have no specific expectations for what might happen during season two of HBO’s series, should be happy to remain ignorant. It’ll be more fun to watch season two of The Last of Us that way… Because holy hell, what a season it is.
Season two of The Last of Us not only delivers one of the single best episodes of television ever made, but all seven episodes are tremendous. The Last of Us season two is a terrifying, intense, brave (though not quite as brave as it initially seems), highly emotional, and expertly made season of television that suffers from only one glaring problem: it’s woefully, frustratingly incomplete.
The scope and scale of The Last of Us season two are absolutely incredible. Simply put, the show looks amazing. Its action sequences put most movies to shame, but even its quieter moments feel grand. It’s a stunning visual achievement on par with Game of Thrones at that series’ best.
Like its fellow HBO brethren, what elevates The Last of Us to something special is that its performances are just as good as its production. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal once again both give Emmy-worthy turns as Ellie and Joel, respectively. (Ramsey has some genuinely awe-inspiring moments throughout season two of The Last of Us.) As does Gabriel Luna as Joel’s brother Tommy. Luna’s character is a much bigger, more important part of the show this season than he was in the show’s first chapter. He’s asked to do a lot, and he’s excellent with everything he has to carry.
That’s also true of two newcomers to The Last of Us‘ world in season two, Isabela Merced and Young Mazino. Merced plays Dina, a major character from the video game. She is the most charming, vibrant character on the show. She absolutely jumps off the screen and gives The Last of Us season two a necessary brightness that keeps it from total darkness at times. If someone doesn’t fall in love with Dina while watching this season, assume that person is rooting for cordyceps.
The same is true with Mazino’s Jesse, another important figure at the commune in Jackson, Wyoming, who comes straight from The Last of Us—Part II. Jesse figures strongly into the world that Joel and Ellie have inhabited for the five years since we last saw them, and the connections with him feel deep and rooted. Mazino gives one of my favorite performances of the entire series. His Jesse feels so authentic that it makes a world full of fungus monsters feel more real and therefore more terrifying.
Speaking of real and terrifying, everything the show’s creators have said about Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby is true. Abby is the main antagonist of The Last of Us season two, but she’s as complicated, relatable, and sympathetic as the show’s protagonists. It’s hard to talk about what makes her performance great without getting into spoilers, but I think fans of the video game will be more than happy with her portrayal of the infamous character.
I am less sure how The Last of Us video game fans, or newcomers to the story, will feel about how season two ends. All I can say is that when the final episode’s credits rolled, it felt less like the end of a season of television and more like a season of television getting cut in half. It’s one of only two real complaints I have about the entire seven episodes. (The other involves a misdirect that undoes what seems like a truly brave storytelling choice. The good news is that it leads to a truly outstanding scene, so no one will care.)
Actually knowing the season’s ending might feel/is incomplete could prevent you from feeling as frustrated by it as I was. But even if you do feel the same, it won’t change how you feel about everything that came before it. The Last of Us delivered something special in season one, and it does the same in season two with a tighter, more focused story.
I just can’t tell you exactly why The Last of Us season two’s story is so good, and for that, you should be happy whether or not you think you really know why I can’t.
Content shared from nerdist.com.