Movies

The Last of Us: Season 2 lacks the emotional conviction of its biggest storyline

BBG News

In its second season, “The Last of Us” deviates somewhat from the narrative it intended to present, as opposed to being an adaptation of a video game. Five years after the end of season one, the bond between Ellie and Joel is not the warm and developing father-daughter relationship we last saw, but rather a tense estrangement, leaving viewers wondering what could have led to their rift. Interestingly, although their relationship is pivotal, it’s also not the sole focus of season two. Joel’s death in episode two halts any further development between them. However, Joel’s passing sets the stage for the main theme of season two: Ellie’s quest for vengeance against Abby.

The second season of “The Last of Us” faces challenges in character development, side stories, and maintaining a clear motivation. With only seven episodes, it’s hard for the series to fully explore Ellie’s feelings after Joel’s death, which is a significant part of her character arc. While Ellie does show anger towards Abby and a desire for revenge, she also has moments of kindness and emotion with Dina. These softer moments help humanize Ellie, but they don’t fully show her descent into vengeance. The season doesn’t effectively build up to this crucial point in the story, making it seem like Ellie is pursuing Abby more for plot convenience than as a result of genuine character development.

In simpler terms, the pacing problems in Season 2 of “The Last of Us” were worsened by subplots featuring new characters and groups that weren’t fully developed, leaving viewers indifferent towards them and taking time away from developing the main characters further. The show didn’t effectively establish Ellie’s strong desire for revenge, as most of her and Dina’s time together was spent strengthening their relationship rather than focusing on her vengeful intentions. Despite Ellie’s bond with Joel being the driving force behind her actions, her dynamic with Dina became the central focus in Season 2. Unfortunately, season two didn’t provide much groundwork for future seasons, as it prepares to shift perspective to Abby. Abby had limited involvement in Season 2, and while video game fans might be excited for what’s coming, her role may not have been compelling enough for television viewers to return for Season 3 focused on Abby. The show could have incorporated Abby more into the story to generate interest in her character, but instead, the way Season 2 ends leaves a hint that Season 3 might be very different from the first two seasons, as Ellie’s fate isn’t confirmed in the season finale.

From a movie enthusiast’s point of view, I was anticipating a climactic showdown between Ellie and Abby in this season, but unfortunately, it never quite reached that boiling point. They did cross paths again in the finale, yet the lead-up fell short of generating the excitement I had hoped for.

To be honest, I felt let down by how The Last of Us handled Ellie’s thirst for revenge and Abby’s perspective, which could have made their reunion more enthralling. Instead, we only got Ellie’s take on the situation, and her anger seemed to be portrayed in a way that was underwhelming, leaving me unsure about what this confrontation might mean for either character.

When season three rolls around, I’m afraid season two didn’t quite manage to make Abby an engaging protagonist for an average TV viewer who hadn’t previously known the character.

Read More

2025-05-27 18:14

Previous post Pokémon GO Delightful Days: all spawns, Eggs, Raids and more
Next post You have used all your credits for this month. Please add more credits to continue.