The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 changes things up just a little bit from the game, but doing so makes THAT moment even more emotional.
As a gamer I went into this episode of The Last Of Us season 2 knowing exaclty what to expect, but that didn’t make it any easier to watch. From the very first scene where we see the lodge, I knew that The Last Of Us season 2 episode 2 was going to make me cry.
This series has always been an extremely faithful adaptation. It is almost a shot-for-shot remake of the cut scenes and the game that so many know and love. That said, there were a few small changes made in this episode, and yet they somehow just made it even more emotional.
I was immediately taken aback to hear that Joel went on patrol with Dina. In the game, he is with Tommy. Dina essentially plays the same role as Tommy does, not actually witnessing the murder after being knocked out – it was just done so in a different way as Tommy was physically knocked out (and potentially dead) where Dina was just injected with something to make her sleep.
The decision to change this is absolutely brilliant, in my opinion. This allows Tommy to be there in Jackson to help protect the city from the massive horde that breaks in. This is not something that happens in the game, but it was a piece of action that the show needed to help add stress and desperation to the feel of it all.
Joel was torn about whether he should go back, and Abby was forced to consciously make the decision to lead him to slaughter. She was so stuck on revenge that she was willing to put the lives of many others at risk. Watching the way this part of the episode played out was extremely difficult, but necessary.
Because of this, however, Dina does not go with Ellie on patrol, which led to a fan favorite moment from the two of them when they go in the shop filled with weed. At least the shop still made an appearance.
In The Last Of Us season 2 episode 2, we as viewers learn that Abby wants to kill Joel as revenge for her father, who was the doctor that Joel shot to save Ellie after he realized what the Fireflies were doing. Joel also learns this truth. In the game, not only does Joel never fully understand why he is being killed, those playing do know the doctor was Abby’s father until much, much later.
Because we are not playing the characters and connecting with them in that way, it was smart to reveal the true reason behind Abby’s anger and grief. Audiences can now understand why she does what she does, even if they do not agree with her reasoning. If you think about it, Joel has done very similar things.
When playing the game, it was heartbreaking to think that Joel did not know the full extent as to why he was dying. In this episode, it was even more devastating to think that Ellie is now in the same situation as Abby is. He has to know on some level that Ellie will want to avenge his death, and will not stop until she does, or until she is killed herself.
Joel is so badly beaten that he cannot explain this to Ellie, or try to offer some advice to just let things go. This broke my heart to see, especially as a parent.
One very small change that probably broke me the most is that Joel tries to get up when Ellie tells him to. He musters everything he has and can only lift a few centimeters off the ground, but he does this for her, which is very telling.
He may not be her actual father, but he is the closest she has to one. She even said they were going to do a patrol as a “daddy-daughter” thing at the start of The Last Of Us season 2 episode 2, which is even more devastating.
Kaitlyn Dever is phenomenal in this episode. It is impossible not to feel her hurt and anger, and at least see where she is coming from. Kicking the episode off with the nightmare about her father helps to create that sympathy from the audience, although surely most will be furious with her for killing Joel, especially after he saved her life.
Bella Ramsey is also incredible, as always, really feeling their emotions during that key moment and helping translate it to viewers. Pedro Pascal goes out with a bang, delivering on every single emotional beat, per usual.
It is hard to say for sure that this version was more brutal and made me more emotional because of the changes, or if it is because these feelings are packed on top of the ones I felt while playing the games. Still, I rather like what the creatives did with The Last Of Us season 2 episode 2 and cannot wait to see what they have in store for the rest of this season and season 3.
NEXT: The Last Of Us Cast Teases What To Expect In Season 2
About The Last Of Us Season 2
Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.
Returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Previously announced new cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.
THE LAST OF US, based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation® consoles, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells; with writer/co-executive producer Halley Gross. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
Season two of THE LAST OF US debuts SUNDAY, APRIL 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The seven-episode season will continue with one new episode weekly through May 25.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.