The Last of Us Season 2 breakdown: What’s new, plot, cast and what critics think

Dubai: Fans of The Last of Us are eagerly awaiting Season 2 of the popular video game-based series, which is slated to release on April 14 here in the UAE. 

Meanwhile, here’s a recap:

Season 1 of The Last of Us saw Pedro Pascal portray Joel, a smuggler hired to convey a teenager, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), to a revolutionary group 20 years after a parasitic fungal infection ravaged the planet and caused humans to turn into zombie-like creatures called the Infected. In an interview to Deadline, Pascal explained why he said yes to starring in the series. “I was blown away by the world of it. And though I wasn’t familiar with the game, I was familiar with Bella, and with (creator) Craig Mazin, and I wanted to do it. It intercepted me in a very specific way.”

What’s next?

Season 2 focuses on the lives of Joel and Ellie, five years after the events of Season 1. Settled in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, the two join citizens to patrol the area searching for the Infected, ultimately embarking on a treacherous road trip. New characters include a vengeful soldier, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), seeking retribution over an attack by Joel. Abby is a key character in Part II of the original video game. 

What the reviews are saying:

The BBC in its review criticizes a “drastic plot turn” in Season 2, while praising the lead stars’ performances. “There are still high points and emotional moments. Pedro Pascal still gives a charismatic and wrenching performance as Joel, letting us see both the hardened survivor and the tenderness that has persisted. And Bella Ramsey still sharply defines the strong-willed Ellie. But the plot twist tears the heart out of the series, leaving a diminished version of the great show it once was.” 

Radio Times has given Season 2 five stars in its review. “The world of The Last of Us, the apocalypse and the infected, take a backseat in the brutally human tale that's laid out in front of us, which is one of love, vengeance, and morality.” 

Don’t miss it!

Season 2 of The Last of Us will premiere April 14 on OSN+ in the UAE.