The Last of Us: Season 2 Will Torture Joel and Ellie

We’re getting closer and closer to the second season of the hit series The Last of Us, the post-apocalyptic drama that kept everyone glued to the screen in early 2023. New episodes aren’t set to premiere until 2025, but HBO decided to give fans a glimpse of what’s to come.

In a recently released teaser trailer, Joel and Ellie seem to be acclimating to their new lives in a relatively safe community. However, the zombie threat is never too far away, and existential dread is sure to keep the protagonists on their toes 24/7. We can hardly wait.

Photo byCatalin PoponUnsplash

What Is The Last of Us About?

Based on the popular video game of the same name, The Last of Us in set 20 years into a devastating pandemic kicked off by a mass fungal infection. Infected individuals transform into zombie-like creatures, leading to the eventual dissolution of society as we know it. There are quarantine zones, but the remaining healthy population isn’t in great spirits, and the characters face threats at every step.

The main action revolves around Joel, a skilled smuggler. He is tasked with transporting Ellie, a teen who appears immune to the virus, away from relative safety, across the deserted and dangerous United States. Together, they go through various ordeals as they make their way to their destination. They also bond, leading to lighthearted moments in an otherwise grim story.

The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. The show premiered to critical acclaim from critics and audience enthusiasm, with viewers praising the show’s storylines, atmosphere, acting, and production design. More importantly, fans fell in love with these characters, making season 2 a highly-anticipated affair.

What To Expect from The Last of Us Season 2

Season 2 of the drama is expected to adapt the second game in the series, The Last of Us Part II. Based on the teaser trailer, however, it may take its sweet time doing so. Per HBO’s official logline, the season picks up five years after the events of season 1. Joel and Ellie’s past catches up to them, and they once again become entangled in a dangerous conflict.

The intense trailer kicks off on a heartwarming note, as we see Joel and Ellie sharing sweet moments together and apart. That said, this is The Last of Us we’re talking about. Things quickly turn ominous and creepy. Zombies show their ugly heads, violence ensues, and the characters appear more miserable than ever. The trailer ends with Joel shedding a tear, which can’t mean anything good.

The second game is expansive, so the creators will split the story and adapt it over multiple seasons. That's mainly why The Last of Us season 2 will only consist of 7 episodes, while season 1 featured 9. Judging by the quality of the installments we got so far, it’s unlikely for anyone involved to suddenly want to rush through the story. Plus, they might want to explore paths only briefly mentioned in the game, expanding the universe even further, to fans' delight.

Final Thoughts

The season 2 trailer, set to Pearl Jam’s Future Days, also features new characters, including Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. A pivotal figure in the video game, we see her running away from a horde of zombies that pin her down behind a gated fence in an anxiety-inducing scene. Besides Dever, the season 2 cast features Jeffrey Wright and Catherine O’Hara, among other new faces.

While The Last of Us is set to return sometime in 2025 on HBO Max, an official premiere date hasn’t been set yet. Let’s keep our fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later.

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This article was written by Alexandra Plesa.