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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy  The Last of Us Episode 2 released on schedule with a fairly significant dip in runtime but does the quality suffer because of that? Absolutely not! The premiere episode boasted an excellent score of 8 out of 10 so this episode had to keep up the standard in momentum, faithfulness, adaptability, and quality. But luckily for viewers, it does so tenfold. This episode starts with increased tension by dropping the viewer immediately into the action. This tone sticks directly to the camera the entire time and even turns up when the situation requires it. The heart of this episode is discovering the bond between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a bond that will grow and become the heart of the show, and it is handled beautifully. The first episode had to focus on establishing characters separately, especially Joel who got the majority of the screen time. As a result, the relationship was not explored and Ellie herself was very underexposed. This episode is aware of that and immediately remedies it. There is plenty of Ellie content here, even away from Joel and she has an important conversation with Tess (Anna Torv) where she explains how she got bitten and whether she has a family or not. Ramsey plays up the subtext here and provides a deep yet subtle performance. She capitalizes on every chance to create a nuanced performance, and even in lines that could easily be forgotten, she gives so much meaning and life, a perfect piece of casting.  Joel and Tess discuss their next steps. Joel doesn't grow much in this episode but not because of how the character is written. Joel becomes a warmer toward Ellie through this episode, starting off very cold, callous, and soldier-like, but ending up much kinder and understanding. This small character shift, seen in just an action or two, is enough to keep the audience invested in their growth together. Their relationship seems built more on experience than conversation. Joel is a character who finds it difficult to open up and this show would lose a lot if it were to just give it away so early. Beyond the two protagonists, the show succeeds stylistically. The first episode was more of a drama, but this episode definitely leans into the horror sensibilities of the source material. The suspense scenes where we finally see the real threats of this world are heart pounding and executed in a way to not put off viewers who are faint of heart while enticing those who want the more thrilling aspects of the story. The balance is found wonderfully and with ease. Some of the plot developments involved with these scenes are slightly predictable but being from a video game, that is not at fault of the show.  Hats off to the set designers. Adaptations often come across a big problem in their creation. They either change plot points to be unpredictable or they stick to them and run the risk of it not working as well in a different medium. An IP this beloved must stay as respectful to the plot beats of the original as possible and only add in moments that don't effect the overall story, which it does. Though it's taking the smarter route, it's to the show's detriment at times, but does not happen enough to ruin the experience. As an adaptation of this section overall, it brilliantly captures the feeling of creature discovery as intensely as the game does. In line with the previous episode, scenes and sequences not from the game are added to build out the world in a unique way that only television can do. It takes everything that works in the original video game, puts it in a colander to lose all the aspects that won't adapt well and that takes what's left, adds a few ingredients and creates a beautiful new dish that feels refreshing yet familiar. The set design is even better this time around. We venture outside the quarantined zone setting of the first episode and find ourselves in a larger city. Just the aesthetic of this city tells a story. The tipped over skyscrapers, the craters in the floor from bomb explosions, the mass graves, and overgrown cars. Every corner of this city looks beat down and filled with stories of tragedy and fear. I love that you know exactly what happened to this city without it having to be told to you. They're even improving on some aspects, a tall task which the creators (particularly set designers) seem to want to take on. The costume and makeup on the zombie-like creatures are incredible, partly practical, partly CGI. They look impressive, especially in low light where the designs are most effective.
AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical).
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