The producers of HBO’s The Last of Us have pulled off production values second to none on Season 2 as far as jaw-dropping are concerned, but viewers were left with a different taste after Episode 2. Calling the episode “explosive,” reviews have suggested that despite the applied technical brilliance, “two halves don’t make a whole,” meaning the storytelling may not land perfectly.
The tweet from those on the scene regarding the review presents an oblique but interesting thought- a recognition of insane behind-the-scenes work at least with some suggestion that perhaps emotional payoff is a little wanting.
And true enough, this has been borne out in what we have seen with the first season itself having set an almost impossibly high bar for emotional character-driven drama mixed with brutal survival action that Season 2 now has to live up to while adapting probably one of gaming’s most divisive sequels.
Voices across this wide stretch of purples have the audacity to cast back upon the first tweet because it is simply a cold hard truth floating in the void. Usually, Last of Us discussions are war zones where fans either fight for or against every single frame for not being 1:1 with the games. But this time? Crickets. Maybe everyone is still trying to process things. Or maybe they are way too busy watching that crazy clicker fight scene on repeat. (Yeah, the one.)
That there simply aren’t immediate reactions for the same is somehow intriguing. In most instances, the flaming comment incites stans on both sides to engage within seconds; this, one, however, seemed stuck on the timeline like a bloater waiting to pounce.
Maybe folks are too frightened to touch it until they see for themselves. Or, the fandom could just be a bit burnt out from participating in too many Part II debates. Either way, the radio silence speaks volumes.
What is known for sure is that this episode avoided all safety nets. It clearly states that between the harsh displays of violence and gut punches of emotion, the showrunners have not been soft or kind to newcomers.
So does that spell out an emotionally satisfying experience? Or an outright shock? That’s the million-dollar inquiry. And with this reviewer, the answer might just be… both? Neither? Ugh, now we’re just going in circles.
In all honesty, The Last of Us Season 2 is still a must-watch. A hard landing may be impossible, but the mastery is undeniable. Conversely, hardcore fans may begin to tire if the next few episodes fail to bring those halves together into a coherent piece. Let’s hope that great payoff at the end comes through, since for now, this is still everybody’s prize.
