This post may contain affiliate links, which earn us commission. Learn more.
TL;DR
The Last of Us Season 2 is set to be one of the most intense, ambitious seasons of television in recent memory. If Season 1 was about survival and love, Season 2 is about loss, revenge, and the brutal choices we make when the world ends—and keeps ending.
Where Season 1 Left Us
Season 1 of The Last of Us ended with a gut punch—Ellie asking Joel to swear he told her the truth about what happened at the Firefly hospital, and Joel doing what Joel does best: lie. He had just massacred a hospital full of people to save her, denying humanity a possible cure to the cordyceps infection. That morally gray, emotionally complex moment set the tone for what’s coming next: pain, consequences, and moral ambiguity dialed to eleven.
Season 2 = Part II
If you played The Last of Us Part II, you already know Season 2 is about to rip your heart out—and then stomp on it. The new season will draw heavily from the events of the second game, and while the showrunners have confirmed some changes and expansions, the major beats are expected to stick.
Yes, that thing happens. And no, you’re not ready for it.
Who’s Returning and Who’s New
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey return as Joel and Ellie, with their complex surrogate father-daughter dynamic more strained than ever. The show will also introduce Abby, a major character whose arrival changes everything and adds a bold new perspective to the story.
Expect to see more of Dina, who fans of the game will recognize as Ellie’s future love interest, and characters like Jesse and Lev—each carrying emotional and narrative weight that fuels the second season’s firestorm of drama, revenge, and trauma.
The Tone Is Getting Even Darker
If you thought Season 1 was bleak, buckle up. Season 2 tackles themes of vengeance, grief, identity, and the high cost of justice. The violence will be more brutal, the emotional stakes higher, and the narrative even more divisive. This is HBO, after all—don’t expect clean resolutions or happy endings.
Also: the infected will play a bigger role this time. Showrunner Craig Mazin has acknowledged that fans wanted more clickers and bloaters, and he’s heard the feedback loud and clear.
Should You Play the Game First?
It’s not required, but if you’re spoiler-averse, maybe don’t. The second game is notorious for its controversial narrative decisions, and if HBO stays faithful (which they’ve promised to), it’s best to experience the emotional whiplash firsthand.
Looking for more shows to binge? Check out our list shows to watch right now.