The Last of Us Season 2 Review: A Drifting Disappointment
This season of The Last of Us became increasingly dull as it progressed, especially after Joel's death. The plot completely lost its tension and failed to be engaging, doing little to convey the struggle between different factions that was so central to the game's world. Instead, it felt like a very flat and straightforward depiction of Ellie's quest for revenge.
One of the biggest issues for me was the lead actress's (Bella Ramsey) performance; she simply couldn't convey the inherent rage of the character. The dialogue often made no sense, making the protagonist seem unintelligent. The only real enjoyment I got was going online after each episode to look at memes. The creativity of netizens was absolutely brilliant.
As I watched, I kept hoping to see some of the boss-level infected, eager to see how the production team would bring them to life. To my great disappointment, not a single one appeared...
Overall, I'd give it a 5 / 10. It's not terrible, and if you have nothing else to do, you could watch it and then enjoy the memes online for a laugh.
I hear there will be a Season 3 focusing on Abby, and the production team has indicated it will deviate from the game's story. Currently, I don't have much confidence in the showrunners; it might even get worse.
Synopsis
In 2003, a parasitic fungal infection ravaged the planet, turning humans into violent creatures known as the Infected. Twenty years later, hardened survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to the rebel Fireflies. Season 2 of The Last of Us picks up five years after the events of Season 1. Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.