The highly anticipated second season of HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us is set to premiere on Sunday on HBO and Max, with a subsequent release on Monday on Sky and NOW.
Based on the acclaimed video game series, the show continues to follow the harrowing journey of survivors Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in a world ravaged by a fungal pandemic.
Season two picks up five years after the events of the first season, with Joel and a now 19-year-old Ellie residing in Jackson, Wyoming. The new season delves into the complexities of their relationship and Ellie’s character. Ramsey describes the upcoming episodes as “more intense, more emotionally complex,” hinting at an increase in physical confrontations and action sequences.
Co-creator Craig Mazin, alongside Neil Druckmann, assures fans that the second season maintains the storytelling approach that earned the series its accolades in the first season. Mazin notes that while the narrative style will remain consistent, the portrayal of the infected has evolved to be “more convincing, more grounded, and more scary,” promising authentic and unsettling realism, according to Reuters.
The seven-episode season introduces new characters, including Isabela Merced as Dina, Ellie’s best friend, and Young Mazino as Jesse, Dina’s ex-boyfriend and a respected member of their community.
Critics have already responded positively to the new season, with Forbes reporting a 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. The pilot season scored a 96% critic score and 88% audience score.
Looking ahead, Ramsey hints at developments that set the stage for the already confirmed third season, encouraging viewers to pay close attention to subtle cues, otherwise known as easter eggs, throughout the upcoming episodes.
