Season 2 of The Last of Us ends not with a conclusion, but with a major shift in its storytelling focus. What began as a continuation of the intense bond between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) soon morphed into something radically different.
The show took a major gamble by killing off Joel in just the second episode, shifting the emotional and narrative weight to Ellie and her new antagonist, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), a soldier out to avenge her father’s death. This abrupt change sets the tone for a darker and more divisive season.
Joel’s death isn’t just a plot twist—it becomes the emotional and moral backbone of the season. His lies from Season 1 about murdering innocents to save Ellie come back to haunt their relationship, straining their connection in their new life in Jackson, Wyoming.
Abby’s arrival and Joel’s murder ignite Ellie’s obsessive revenge journey, transforming her from a rebellious teen into a hardened, emotionally volatile character. This turn reflects the show’s commitment to exploring the cost of violence, truth, and emotional betrayal.
High-Stakes Risks and Meandering Plot Undermine Emotional Payoff and Character Development This Season
This season embraced high-stakes storytelling risks, many of which didn’t land well with audiences. Ellie’s descent into vengeance and moral ambiguity rendered her unlikable for much of the season, alienating viewers who had once rooted for her.
Her actions lead to the deaths and injuries of those close to her, culminating in a brutal final confrontation with Abby. Despite tracking down and killing Abby’s crew, Ellie fails to get closure, and the season ends on an ambiguous and somber note.
A significant criticism of Season 2 is its function as a setup for future events rather than a satisfying standalone arc. Much of the season is spent maneuvering Ellie and Abby toward their inevitable confrontation in Seattle, instead of developing Abby or deepening the audience’s connection to her.
The narrative structure, freed from traditional episode constraints, feels meandering and incomplete, highlighting a broader issue in modern streaming television storytelling.
Violence Leaves Emotional Scars as Relationships Fracture and Redemption Remains Elusive This Season
Despite its pacing flaws, the show deserves credit for examining the emotional consequences of violence. Both Joel and Ellie’s violent choices lead to deep personal costs, reflecting a kind of karmic retribution.
Abby’s vengeance on Joel mirrors the same cycle Ellie enters, and by season’s end, both are emotionally and morally broken. The show doesn’t romanticize violence—it shows how it corrodes the lives of those who wield it, leaving scars that last longer than any physical wound.
The season’s standout moment came in its penultimate episode, “The Price,” which provided needed depth to Joel and Ellie’s bond. Through flashbacks, we see their complex relationship evolve and deteriorate, offering one last emotional high before Joel’s death.
However, this episode arrives too late to rebalance a season that feels dreary and unfocused. While Bella Ramsey remains a strong performer, the storytelling choices and lack of compelling new characters leave doubts about the show’s future direction and its ability to reclaim the powerful storytelling of Season 1.
