The Last of Us returned this evening allowing viewers to see the next stage for protagonists Joel and Ellie after the violent events from the season one finale. The pair have started a new life in Jackson, Wyoming, but their relationship is more strained than when we last left off.
The episode smartly revisits the scene where Ellie learns about the fate of the Fireflies that planned to operate on her. The hesitation before she accepts his events sets the stage for their current estrangement. The series takes an interesting route having Joel seeking therapy to better grasp his predicament. In the session, Pedro Pascal conveys pain, remorse, and fear through his looks into the camera alone. He paints a picture of a tortured soul desperate to make things right.
The therapy session is a deviation from the source material that works better for this medium and longer form storytelling. As opposed to confessing everything to his brother, his reluctance to admit the truth at this point provides an opportunity for a possible future redemption, even for something that could be unforgivable. His complicated history with the therapist Gail, serves as a contrast since she is able to move on and work with him despite the pain Joel has caused. There might not be forgiveness but healing can begin once all the dirty laundry is out there.
The Last of Us is propelled by the performances of the two leads so we can’t forget Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The moment she starts give attitude and sass to everyone to get her way you remember how much you miss the character. But she backs it up with her toughness and courage. It looks like she’s met her match in newly introduced love interest Dina.
Ramsey and Isabela Merced have great chemistry together and the playful flirting is a nice build to their eventual relationship. The series crafts a wonderful love story that leads to a magical moment that rivals last season’s “Left Behind.” The lighting creates a surreal experience and the dialog is perfect, setting the stage to the first kiss. It’s one of the few times you see Ellie flustered.
The love story is a perfect example of what separates The Last of Us from other shows in the genre. The people might live in a dark world, but it allows its characters to enjoy happy moments in their lives. It’s not all despair, despite the infected or evil people they encounter. Ellie and Dina still feel like normal and regular young adults who aren’t jaded due to the zombie apocalypse.
The series also creates great action sequences with the Infected. They bring you back to reality with the dangers out there. The creators craft suspenseful scenes aided by the darkness and poorly lit environment. More disturbing are the cries the runners let out that give them that small amount of humanity that makes you a little uncomfortable when killed. They are not mindless monsters and the series alludes to something more.
The Last of Us season two premiere is a great start delivering intriguing character beats, exciting action, and magical personal moments.
New episodes of The Last of Us air Sundays on HBO.
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