New episodes of Season 2 of The Last of Us are being released weekly on HBO, with recaps provided every Monday morning by Ars’ Kyle Orland, a player of the games, and Andrew Cunningham, who is new to the franchise. While these discussions won’t cover every detail of the episodes, they will contain significant plot spoilers, so viewers are encouraged to watch before reading.
Andrew: This marks our first episode without Joel at the forefront. While there have been episodes featuring less of Pedro Pascal’s character, his presence as the “reluctant uncle” has become a vital aspect of numerous current TV shows, and I find myself missing it considerably.
Kyle: Indeed, I’ve previously mentioned how integral the relationship between Ellie and Joel was to my appreciation of the first game. Without that dynamic, my enthusiasm for the second game waned, and it seems to be affecting my outlook on this season as well. The hospital scene left me astounded, particularly when Ellie admitted that she had the chance to converse with Joel on the porch before his passing but chose not to. For those familiar with the game, the importance of “the porch scene” in reshaping their bond cannot be overstated. I initially held out hope for a flashback to that moment later in the series, but it now seems increasingly unlikely.
Andrew: I have to admit, I’m avoiding that video in order to keep my perspective fresh!
Kyle: Ellie might just have been fabricating a story for a nosy therapist, but if she wasn’t and that final conversation has been completely erased… it’s perplexing. However, if it’s simply a trick to mislead fans of the game, then kudos, I suppose.
Andrew: Ellie’s penchant for deception is well-documented, a fact highlighted even before Catherine O’Hara, in her role as an ethically questionable therapist, calls her a “lying liar.” If the porch scene is indeed as crucial as you claim, I’m confident the showrunners will find a way to include it that maximizes the emotional impact. After all, the re-strung guitar did end up back in her room, didn’t it?
The episode skips ahead three months, showcasing a Jackson community that is slowly rejuvenating after a phase of mourning and healing that the series chose not to dwell on. I’m struck by the contrast between Jackson, characterized by its normalcy with baseball and sandwiches, and the chaotic environments inhabited by other groups, which often resemble either violent cults or rogue bands of lawlessness.
Kyle: Last season, we also witnessed Ellie’s upbringing in Boston, a place that was a blend of “paramilitary insanity” and “regular community.” The Last of Us universe generally presents a bleak perspective on human responses to hardship, making Jackson’s distinctiveness as a secure setting even more noteworthy.
This episode also introduces us to the political landscape of Jackson, taking a surprising route toward the same conclusion: Ellie and Dina’s journey for retribution. While I found the town hall meeting to be a solid narrative mechanism explaining why two young girls would embark on a revenge mission alone, I felt the scene was overly drawn out with preachy dialogues from various characters.
Andrew: The town hall scene felt somewhat peculiar. Certain parts could have easily been taken from a comedic series like Parks & Recreation, especially the moment when a participant at the “Are We Voting to Pursue Bloody Vengeance?” meeting discusses agricultural nuances instead of the topic at hand.
It almost seemed too reminiscent of our own political discourse when Seth, the individual who previously caused trouble for Ellie and Dina at the dance, labels everyone as “snowflakes” for considering a non-violent approach. He ominously warns that a vague “they” would be laughing at them if the community doesn’t track down Abby. The fact that he’s one of only two individuals supporting Ellie’s pursuit of vengeance doesn’t reassure me about her decisions.
Kyle: The statement “Nobody votes for angry” felt a bit disheartening in light of current events. Despite their national politics freezing in 2003, that line doesn’t quite hold up…
Andrew: Many people definitely vote based on anger or emotions. It’s a reliable trend!
Kyle: But here in Jackson, at least, we find a bastion of rational and compassionate decision-making amidst an apocalyptic landscape!
Andrew: Instead of embracing anger, Ellie delivers a prepared statement claiming her quest for vengeance isn’t rooted in revenge, seeking to appeal to the council’s better judgment. As expected, her appeal is unsuccessful, and she swiftly decides to leave the community, embarking on her mission with Dina beside her.
Kyle: I appreciated that the episode highlighted Ellie’s eagerness to rush into revenge, even when others cautioned her to gather better supplies first.
Andrew: I find myself noticing that Ellie’s impulsive sarcasm is losing its charm without Joel’s grounded presence to balance it out.
Kyle: I understand where you’re coming from. Tommy’s comment about how Joel would have moved heaven and earth to save someone he loved, but might reconsider acting on revenge, adds complexity to the situation. Joel was pragmatic, always prioritizing the safety of his own.
On a positive note, at least we get to enjoy some beautifully extended shots of the scenery as they journey toward Seattle, which is a cinematic strength carried over from the game. What did you think of Dina asking Ellie for her thoughts on her kissing skills, especially the insistently “You’re gay, I’m not” remark?
Andrew: “You’re gay, I’m not, and those are the only two options! No, I refuse to clarify!”
I don’t want to be overly critical of Dina. Sexuality is nuanced, and navigating it becomes even more complex in a post-apocalyptic context, where the survival of the species adds pressure on societal norms. Ellie, who often finds joy in pushing people’s buttons, might feel more at ease being “out” in this setting than Dina would.
Kyle: As the episode closes, we are introduced to looming threats—possibly a cult and a troop of heavily armed WLF soldiers, who Ellie and Dina appear ill-prepared to confront. In a video game, I would trust a super-soldier character to face any number of foes. But in a more realistic TV series, their odds seem grim.
Andrew: One narrative thread I’m eager to see developed is Ellie’s baseless attempt to blame Abby and her crew—who left Jackson months earlier—for a recent massacre of cult members. It seems more an effort to cast Abby as a terrifying monster in her mind, making it easier to justify her pursuit of revenge later on. We’ll see how that plays out!
Kyle: Considering they encounter the dead cultists just before reaching Seattle, blaming Abby’s group doesn’t seem entirely far-fetched.
Andrew: (A girl whose main experience with murder is watching Abby murder her father figure, now seeing dead bodies everywhere): I’m definitely sensing some Abby vibes here…
