The Last of Us: Season 2, Episode 2 Did the Thing
Golf club sales plummet following sunday’s second episode premiere | MAJOR SPOILERS
MAJOR SPOILERS
Last night's episode…was a lot, both emotionally and narratively. As a longtime fan of the games, I found myself bracing for the inevitable for a while now. From the moment the first episode aired, I knew Joel’s fate was sealed, but that didn’t make the journey any easier to watch. The first episode of season 2 was the calm before the storm, and episode two delivered that storm in full force, both metaphorically and quite literally.
In this episode, Jackson and the surrounding area succumb to a blizzard that becomes a looming, unrelenting force that strips the characters of control and sets the tone for the chaos that follows.
Abby—still on her mission to track down Joel, unknowingly spots him and follows after him, only to fall into a layer of frozen infected. I’ve got to admit, when the series first introduced the concept of tendrils back in Season 1, I wasn’t entirely sold on the idea. As someone deeply attached to the original lore of the game, it felt like an unnecessary change. But watching that sequence unfold, especially with Abby running away from the infected, breaking from the snowy earth. I’ve grown to appreciate what the tendrils add in terms of visual tension and world-building. The whole scene was intense and did justice to the spirit of the game's counterpart.
That being said, one of my least favorite aspects of the episode was the altered patrol pairing. In the game, Joel and Tommy patrol together, while Dina and Ellie share their own route. This dynamic not only created intimate moments between characters but also helped establish bonds and motivations that paid off later in the narrative. In contrast, the show chose to have Tommy remain in Jackson, fighting off the infected horde, while Dina pairs up with Joel instead.
I understand the reasoning. Adaptations need to restructure events for pacing, logistics, and sometimes even thematic clarity. But the change left me a bit… disappointed, especially with how little screen time we got of Bella Ramsey. Ellie’s emotional absence in the buildup made the whole scenario feel slightly off-balance, especially for those of us who cherished the "couch scene" from the game— a moment that allowed Ellie and Dina's bond to truly shine and gives payoff to a scene later in the game.
Of course, I recognize I’m being a little nitpicky. The show’s choice to pair Dina and Joel does actually help address one of the main criticisms from the original game. The moment when Joel and Tommy casually reveal their real names to complete strangers. Dina unknowingly reveals Joel's name in the show. And it’s here that the altered pairing served to highlight Joel’s instinctive need to protect others, especially when he risked his life to save not only Dina but Abby as well—and look where that got him. While I still prefer the game’s original structure, this change did add a layer to Joel’s character that was meaningful.
That said, I do think the large-scale horde attack on Jackson slightly overshadowed the emotional buildup and impact of Joel’s death. The intensity of the action made for great TV, but it also left less room for the quieter, more haunting dread the game so perfectly cultivated.
Another thing I just have to call out— the characters’ constant hesitation. Why do they always stand around, frozen, when every second counts? I caught myself yelling, “BITCH MOVE!” at the screen more than once. It’s one of those recurring tropes in TV and film that still frustrates me. Like YALL CAN WE PLSS LOCK IN!!😔
Now onto the real highlight: Kaitlyn Dever. I’m honestly not sure why anyone would doubt my bitch in the first place. I mean—yes, I too felt a little pang of disappointment when I realized Abby wouldn’t have her signature muscles in the show, but Dever has proven she can act down.
When she said, “You stupid old man,” I could have sworn I was listening to Laura Bailey. Dever’s performance oozed not only grit but tenacity and raw emotion. It was clear that she wasn’t just playing Abby— she embodied her.
However, I did have some issues with the writing during her monologue. The moment Abby spilled all her cards on the table, revealing her motives, it felt a bit… forced. Part of what made Joel’s death in the game so gut-wrenching was the sheer shock of it. The player didn’t know who Abby was or why she was doing what she did— and that mystery added to the horror.
The show, on the other hand, let the tension unravel a bit too early, and by the time she got to the "villain monologue," it started to feel a little too theatrical.
That being said, Joel telling her to “shut the fuck up” was waranted, hilarious, and right on par with Joel’s character. I just wish the monologue had been trimmed, allowing more room for the raw, unspoken tension.
When the moment finally came, and Ellie was thrown to the ground, I wasn’t as emotionally shaken as I was when playing the game. Part of that, I think, comes from already knowing what was going to happen. The shock value was gone, and in its place was honestly… a really quiet, heavy sadness.
Bella Ramsey did a fantastic job with what they were given, and the scene hit all the right emotional notes. The choice to dial back on the graphic violence, compared to the game, was actually something I’ve come to appreciate. Sometimes, less is even more.
I still can’t think about the game’s version of Joel’s death without cringing. That final swing to the head—man, that shit was brutal. It reminded me a lot of Glenn’s death in The Walking Dead. That was another scene that stuck with me for days, not just because of the violence of it all, but because of the emotional weight it carried. So much so that The Walking Dead was never the same again, and I can only hope that The Last of Us does not meet the same fate, because I believe this is a story worth telling.
Despite any critiques, this episode was a masterclass in performance. Pedro Pascal, Kaitlyn Dever, and Bella Ramsey all delivered deeply moving work, especially in the final moments. Watching Joel attempt to get up when Ellie pleaded for him to do so was heartbreaking. And of course, when Ellie crawled toward him, the weight of the moment hit full force.
I mean the callback to Season 1:
I need a cigarette.
Despite watching Joel die for the millionth time on my television screen, I’m still excited to see how this show will adapt the story. Ellie still feels very similar to her Season 1 counterpart, and I have no doubt that was intentional on the part of Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. It sets the stage for the painful, rapid transformation that’s about to happen. We’re about to witness Ellie shed her youth and take on a much darker, more hardened persona, and I know Bella Ramsey is going to kill it— both literally and emotionally.
While I try not to compare the two mediums too directly, I have to say: the game excels in storytelling, but the show isn’t far behind its predecessor. This episode was a clear demonstration of how adaptation choices can both enhance and challenge fan expectations, and I’m excited to see where the show takes us next. 8/10
