Shortly after its debut, it was clear that The Last Of Us was a HBO show that got the world talking. The series adapted the beloved video games for film, and the first two seasons (which are streaming with a HBO Max subscription) came out in quick succession. Showrunner Craig Mazin recently teased what's coming for its upcoming third season, and I need new episodes to arrive ASAP.

Fans have tons of questions about The Last of Us Season 3, which will seemingly be focused on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby. In an interview with THR about his new movie The Sheep Detectives, Mazin spoke about the main idea behind Abby being the third season's protagonist. In his words:

Folks who played the Last Of Us games knew this twist was coming, as Abby was one of the playable characters in The Last of Us Part II. While she was originally seen on the show as a villain after killing Pedro Pascal's Joel, her motivation and trauma about losing her own father will likely be expanded in Season 3. And this shift in perspective is seemingly at the center of the show's story as a whole.

The Last Of Us' Season 2 finale ended with Dever's Abby taking center stage, and as someone who never played the games I can't wait to see how this changes my idea of the character. Later in the same interview, Mazin spoke about the deeper messaging behind this change of protagonist, stating:

While The Last Of Us is an apocalyptic story where the human race is fighting against terrifying zombie creatures, sometimes the human are the real monsters. The conflict between Abby's group and the Jackson community will presumably reach a boiling point in Season 3, and the audience will have the unique perspective of being in both POVs. And that's exactly what Craig Mazin and company want from the video game's TV adaptation.

The first two season of The Last Of Us are streaming on HBO Max. It's currently unclear when Season 3 will debut, but it's currently expected in 2027 rather than the 2026 TV schedule. So fans like me will have to practice some patience before seeing the fruits of Mazin's labor.

The Last of Us has generally been regarded as one of the best video game adaptations on screen so far, and while the HBO series hasn’t taken any significant diversions from its source material, though it has taken a few small ones, the story of Joel and Ellie (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey) has been no less powerful, even if you know what’s about to happen.

A third season is on the way that promises to be something quite different, as it will be told largely, if not entirely, from the perspective of Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. While fans will be excited to hear that Season 3 is getting closer to going into production, nobody seems quite as excited as Dever, who tells Deadline she’s looking forward to the expanded role. She revealed…

Season 2 of The Last of Us ended on a cliffhanger regarding the fate of Ellie at the hands of a very angry Abby, then the final episode ended with a flashback to several days earlier from Abby’s perspective. The video game version of The Last Of Us Part 2 put players in control of both Ellie and Abby and it appears the series will do the same, with Season 3 of the show following Abby’s storyline.

The perspective shift in the game allows players to see how a character that was initially portrayed as a villain is at best justified and at worst, understandable. Dever thinks fans of the series are going to really appreciate what’s to come, as it will likely do the same thing for show. She continued…

It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how fans of The Last of Us series respond to Season 3. When the second game shocked fans with the fate of Joel, and then the perspective shift to Abby, it has to be said that many were less than happy with what happened. While Abby has become more embraced by fans over time, it will be interesting to see how the series handles the transition.

The other big question fans will have with The Last of Us Season 3 is whether there will be a future for the show after it’s over. There is no The Last of Us Part Three video game to base a series on, and little indication that one is even in serious development. That doesn’t mean more show is impossible. And considering how popular the series has been, one imagines HBO would like more.

The biggest problem with television today is that there are only so many hours in the day. There’s a lot of really good TV out there to enjoy and even more TV that, while it might not change the world or my life personally, I’d still enjoy watching if I had the time. The problem is I frequently don’t.

My backlog of TV shows is almost as bad as my backlog of video games. The job that I have often means trying to keep up on the latest shows, which means if something gets missed, it can stay missed for a while. As such, I’m only just now sitting down to watch The Last of Us, and now I have a problem.

The Last Of Us Is Not A Show To Binge Watch

Part of the reason I intentionally held off on watching The Last of Us initially is the same reason I intentionally hold off on waiting for most shows. I hate weekly release schedules. I’ve written before about how I much prefer the streaming model that sees all episodes of a show drop at once. I might only watch a couple of hours of TV a night, and I don’t have six different shows that I try to keep up on at once. It’s much easier for me to watch a couple of hours of one show every night until it’s done.

This was how I expected to watch The Last of Us with my HBO Max subscription. Two seasons of the show are complete, with 16 total episodes. I figured I’d watch it over the course of a week and then move on to thenext thing. But I can’t.

Maybe Weekly Viewing Makes Sense After All?

For the first time that I can remember, a show I’m watching has me wishing I had watched it when it was new. Not to avoid spoilers, I already knew everything that happens from the games, but because I really could use a week break in between episodes. It’s such an emotionally harrowing show that I can’t watch one episode after another.

Some of the episodes, like the much lauded (justifiably) episode, "Long, Long Time" starring Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett as a couple who find love during the apocalypse, are quite wonderful, and make you want to watch more. But others required a longer break.

I’m thinking of “Endure and Survive”, an episode that ends on such an emotionally draining note that I straight up didn’t watch the next episode for a couple of days. I just couldn’t handle it. I needed an emotional break from the show.

Last night I watched the end of Season 1, and despite knowing exactly how it would end, watching it happen was still powerful. Under other circumstances, I would have gone straight into the beginning of Season 2, but I just couldn’t, not that night.

Recently, I started watching Season 2 of The Pitt. I had binged the first season after it was done, but thought, as an experiment, I might try weekly viewing of the new season. While I thought the pseudo-real-time element of the show would make binge-watching a near necessity, I haven’t found that so far. It also strikes me that this is the sort of show that might also have moments so emotionally traumatic that I might need a week to recover. When Season 3 of The Last of Us comes out, I know exactly how I plan to watch it.

Nico Parker is only 20 years old, but she’s well on her way to solidifying herself as a star. She made her film debut in the live-action Dumbo in 2019, and from there, she’s been flying high. Literally, flying too, because she’s one of the stars of the highly successful and well-reviewed live-action How to Train Your Dragon. Now, she’s being recognized as a rising star, and her The Last of Us co-star, Pedro Pascal, penned a sweet tribute to his “first daughter” that’s making me emotional.

As I alluded to, Nico Parker was named one of the World’s Most Influential Rising Stars by Time. So, to prove that, Pedro Pascal penned the tribute to her. He started by gushing:

Well, that’s the sweetest thing ever. It’s also so meaningful considering who the roles they played in The Last of Us cast. When it comes to that show, we spend most of our time talking about Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie. However, Parker played Pascal’s on-screen biological daughter, Sarah, who tragically dies at the start of the series (which you can stream with an HBO Max subscription).

While she wasn’t on screen for long, she made a huge impact on the video game adaptation and clearly on Pedro Pascal. Continuing his tribute, the Fantastic Four: First Steps actor wrote:

I’m sorry, but I simply cannot handle this. It’s far too sweet, heartfelt and further proof that both Pedro Pascal and Nico Parker are class acts.

However, to prove that note about Parker further, let’s talk about everything she’s doing to get this kind of acknowledgment. Along with How to Train Your Dragon, she has another project on the 2025 movie schedule called Poetic License. She’s also going to be filming those flying scenes on dragons again, because the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 is in the works, and she will return as Astrid. And, she’ll be diving into the horror genre eventually, too, by way of Osgood Perkins’ The Young People.

Really, her work and what’s to come speak for itself. However, Pascal’s tribute amplifies it and tells us about the person Nico Parker is. According to The Mandalorian star, she’s intelligent, sensitive, and utterly stunning.

So, if you weren’t on board the Nico Parker train yet, you should be now. While I wipe my tears over this sweet tribute from her Last of Us co-star and on-screen dad, you can see them in the show over on HBO Max. Meanwhile, we’ll keep you updated on the actress’s growing career, and I’ll also be hoping that she and Pascal do get the chance to collaborate again someday.

While film and TV adaptation of video games have had a checkered past historically, there have been some major improvements in the genre lately. Aside from the best video game movies, The Last Of Us (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription, has been an Emmy-nominated success. Season 2 saw the debut of Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, the same character he voiced in the game. And the acclaimed actor recently revealed the surprising way he got involved in the franchise.

What we know about The Last Of Us Season 3 is limited, but it's expected to adapt the second half of the sequel game. Wright will one again return as Isaac, a character he's played on and off for years now. While speaking with Collider about that gig, he revealed it was actually his son (and some colleagues) that got him involved. In his words:

Sometimes things happen for a reason. While Wright might not have originally voiced a role in The Last Of Us games, his son's enthusiasm for the first one is what convinced him to join the fun for Part II. Now years later, he's able to play that same role in live-action, to terrifying results.

Isaac debuted on the small screen in The Last Of Us Season 2, which made a number of changes from the game. But some of the scenes also played out identical to the source material. And I can't wait to see what sort of villainy Wright gets involved in when the show returns for its third season on the air.

Wright ultimately isn't the only actor from the Last Of Us games who had made their way to the HBO show of the same name. That includes Merle Dandridge, who reprised her role as Marlene in the show. OG Joel actor Troy Baker got a role in Season 1, while original Ellie Ashley Johnson got to play her signature character's mother in live-action.

Later in the same interview, Wright shared more about his son's reaction, which ultimately got him involved in the apocalyptic video game. In his words:

Talk about a rave review. Clearly Wright's son Elijah was way ahead of the game (literally), and was an early fan of The Last Of Us. His enthusiasm worked out for the franchise, which has now gotten the acting talents of wright in both video games and live-action.

Isaac has become one of Jeffrey Wright's must-see roles, and fans are gearing up for his return in Season 3. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long for its premiere, especially since filming started over the summer. So it would make sense if we get the third season sometime in 2026.

Throughout its years on the air, a number of HBO shows got the world talking and were quintessential water cooler talk. Those with an HBO Max subscription will likely know that The Last Of Us is the latest example of this, and is an Emmy-nominated hit. The show's creator recently teased one aspect of Season 3 that's going to end a long-standing critic of the second season.

What we know about The Last Of Us Season 3 is limited, but fans of the games have an idea about where the story will go. The TV adaptation was co-created by Craig Mazin, who recently spoke to THR about what's coming next. When asked if the pacing will be affected by what's left of the game's story, he offered:

Hey, that's something! Many fans were bummed out when it was revealed that Season 2 of the apocalyptic drama would be made up of just 7 episodes, two less than the 9-episode run we were given in Season 1. While Mazin didn't reveal exactly how many chapters we'll get in the third season, it sounds like it'll be more than the most recent installment.

Fans are eager for more episodes after The Last Of Us' Season 2 finale, which saw Ellie finally coming face to face with Abby. The latter character shot our protagonist, and the final moments indicated Kaitlyn Dever's character would become the subject of Season 3.

Season 2 was a rollercoaster, especially for fans who didn't already play the games. The death of Pedro Pascal's Joel in Episode 2 was a gut punch, one that changed the story of the series forever. After that Ellie has been consumed by her need for revenge, which is actually quite similar to her nemesis Abby. Exactly how this story ultimately plays out remains to be seen, but thinks looked deadly when they reunited in the finale.

While the first season adapted the original Last Of Us game, its sequel has been split across multiple. There are a number of sequences and bits of dialogue that are taken directly from that source material, as well as the inclusion of some of the OG actors. But the HBO show also introduced some new characters and dynamics along the way, ensuring even the biggest fan has moments of discovery.

The first two seasons of The Last Of Us are streaming on HBO Max as part of the 2025 TV schedule. Unfortunately, it's unclear when we'll get the next season, as there are have been conflicting reports about when production will begin.

The Last Of Us is one of the latest HBO shows that got the world talking, and the video game adaptation is an Emmy-winning hit. The second season, which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription, aired this year, and saw Pedro Pascal's Joel killed off just like he was in the game. Kaitlyn Dever's Abby is the one responsible for this kill, and she's still getting flak from fans month later.

Season 2 of The Last Of Us once again followed in the games' footsteps, including Joel's death and Ellie's quest for vengeance. Abby murdered him for revenge for her own father's death, and in an interview with Variety Dever confirmed she's having memorable fan interactions related to the show. In her words:

She's not wrong. Joel's death happened in Episode 2 of Season 2 back in April, so Dever has been hearing complaints from the general public for months now. Despite this, she's still surprised that the backlash is continuing... especially considering The Last Of Us games is where Abby's murder of Joel originated.

After that infamous murder scene, Dever later returned to the role of Abby in The Last Of Us' Season 2 finale. Her character once again took aim at a beloved character, seemingly shooting and killing Ellie in the episode's final moments. We'll just have to wait and see if fans warm to Dever's character when she presumably returns as a protagonist of the next season.

What we know about The Last Of Us Season 3 is limited so far, but fans of the video games have a better idea of what will happen when the acclaimed series returns to the small screen. The coda of Season 2 saw Abby seemingly become the next protagonist, but fans are going to hold out hope for Ellie's survival.

Only time will tell if the public's perception of Dever and Abby changed when the series returns for its highly anticipated third season on the air. I have to assume that folks will soften to her character, but since Pedro Pascal is the internet's daddy, maybe that won't happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

The first two season of The Last Of Us are streaming now on HBO Max as part of the 2025 TV schedule. It's currently unclear when we'll be treated to the third season.

Isabela Merced is having the kind of run most actors dream about, the kind where you’re equally believable as a post-apocalyptic girlfriend gracing the 2025 TV schedule and a winged demigod in upcoming DC movies. In a recent interview, The Last of Us season 2 breakout was asked about whether or not she “ships” Ellie and Abby, and I love her delightful take on the question.

Talking with TVLine, Merced opened up about everything from her casting as Hawkgirl in Superman to her forthcoming appearance in HBO's Peacemaker Season 2 to, of course, HBO’s The Last of Us. Then, the interviewer tossed in a curveball from deep inside the fandom trenches: Should Ellie and Abby be shipped? The Alien: Romulus actress’s response was both diplomatic and delightfully unfiltered:

The Dora the Explorer actress is correct. In the game, Abby is very much straight, having had a past relationship with Owen, one of her fellow former Firefly and companions. Still, the second season faced criticism for various pacing issues and diversions from the source material. So, nothing is out of the realm of possibility. I think game fans would be upset, but the Dina performer says it could be cute. She continued:

As charming as a masc–masc pairing might sound, it’s probably not in the cards for these two. As Merced notes, the similarities between Abby and Ellie come from shared trauma — specifically, the loss of their father figures. And here’s where the spoiler warning kicks in: in The Last of Us Season 2 (and in the second game), Abby brutally kills Joel, Ellie’s surrogate father. That’s a long way from the kind of meet-cute most fans are rooting for.

In the interview, which you can watch in full below, Merced’s answer perfectly captures why she’s such a standout presence right now — she can volley a fandom curveball with humor, honesty, and just enough chaos to keep people talking. Whether she’s in full flight as Hawkgirl or navigating heartbreak and survival as Dina, she’s clearly not afraid to lean into the messy “what ifs” that make fan culture so addictive. And while Ellie and Abby may never share that hypothetical masc–masc dinner date, the in-demand talent’s playful take proves that sometimes the best part of a great story is imagining all the roads it won’t take.

Isabela Merced can currently be seen in Superman, still playing in theaters, and will next appear in her highly anticipated television project, Peacemaker Season 2, premiering August 21 for everyone with an HBO Max subscription.

Pedro Pascal has it all. He has a hand in several major franchises (including the Star Wars saga with his lead role on The Mandalorian and HBO’s series adaptation of the video game, The Last of Us), a devoted fan base representing multiple generations, and some pretty epic lines of dialogue under his belt. Let’s take a dive into some of the coolest things the MCU’s Mr. Fantastic actor has said throughout his celebrated career.

"I Can Bring You In Warm, Or I Can Bring You In Cold" - The Mandalorian

I was immediately sold on Pedro Pascal's cosmic bounty hunter, Din Djarin, in the hit Disney+ original TV show, The Mandalorian, as soon as he uttered these chilling words to his bounty in the opening moments of the premiere episode of the Star Wars spinoff.

"Sometimes You Gotta Do Bad Things To Catch Bad People" - Narcos

Pedro Pascal starred in the fact-based Netflix original crime drama, Narcos, as DEA agent Javier Peña. With this quote, he. demonstrate the lengths that someone in law enforcement sometimes must go to in the effort of making an arrest, especially if the perpetrator is a criminal as notorious and untouchable as Pablo Escobar (played by Wagner Moura).

"Because I Love You. In A Way You, You Can't Understand. Maybe You Never Will. But If That Day Should Come, If You Should Ever Have One Of Your Own, Well, Then, I Hope You Do A Little Better Than Me" - The Last Of Us

In one of the most heartbreaking episodes of The Last of Us, Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) finally reveals to Ellie (Bella Ramsey) that he saved her from the Fireflies because making a cure out of her immunity would have killed her. She finds this unforgivably selfish, but his explanation for why he chose her over the remaining human race, echoing something his father told him in his youth, hit me harder than nearly anything I have seen on the post-apocalyptic HBO series.

"After I Turn Sad, I Grow Angry" - Game Of Thrones

Widely considered to be Pedro Pascal's Hollywood breakthrough, including by the actor himself in a video for GQ, is when he joined the Game of Thrones cast as Oberyn Martell in the fantasy series' fourth season. The sharp-tongued prince is noted for having a complex range of emotions, as he sums up quite efficiently with this brief collection of words.

"My Son Don't Have ADD! He Just Like To Jump!" - Saturday Night Live

Pedro Pascal made his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live in an episode that featured one of the most popular bits from the celebrated sketch comedy TV show's 48th season. In it, he plays the eponymous, Spanish-speaking "Protective Mom" of Louis (Marcello Hernandez), who does not approve of his new, white girlfriend, Britney (Chloe Fineman), and insists to her that her son does not need to take ADD medication.

"When You Grow Up Without Something You... End Up Spending A Lot Of Time Thinking About It" - The Wild Robot

Pedro Pascal lent his voice to the instant classic family film, The Wild Robot, in the heart-stealing role of Fink the Fox, who becomes an unlikely ally to the lost, A.I.-powered being, Roz (Lupita Nyong'o). In one scene, he explains to his new mechanical friend the concept of love, adding that he knows a lot about it because he never received it in his youth.

"I Cried Through The Entire Thing. It Made Me Want To Be A Better Man" - The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Pedro Pascal stars opposite Nicolas Cage, playing a wildly exaggerated version of himself, as the wealthy Javi Gutiérrez, who wants nothing more than to see the Face/Off star visit his home for his birthday. The Oscar winner and billionaire end up really hitting it off and bond over their love of movies like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Paddington 2, the latter of which Javi convinces Cage to watch by describing it as life-changing.

"I Don't Know If You Like Me Or If You Just Like The Places I Take You" - Materialists

In writer and director Seline Song's 2025 A24 movie, Materialists, Pedro Pascal stars as Harry, a wealthy New Yorker courting Dakota Johnson's matchmaker, Lucy, while uncertain if she reciprocates his affection.

"Life Is Good! But It Can Be Better" - Wonder Woman 1984

In Wonder Woman 1984, Pedro Pascal plays multi-millionaire and media mogul Maxwell Lord, who is constantly asked by those he meets to repeat his famous catchphrase, which he always happily obliges. Fun fact: Patty Jenkins' 2020 sequel marked the actor's second time starring in an adaptation of the DC comic after appearing in a failed pilot for a Wonder Woman TV series from the mid-2000s.

"This Is The Way" - The Mandalorian

As a fan of The Mandalorian, I never tire of hearing Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin utter what is not just a simple catchphrase, but an expression of his devotion to his creed.

"The Next Thing I Know, I'm FaceTiming With A Six-Year-Old Who Has No Idea Who I Am Because My Character Wears A Mask For The Entire Show" - Saturday Night Live

In the opening monologue of his SNL debut, Pedro Pascal described a time when a fan stopped him and asked if he could say hello to his son, who is a fan of The Mandalorian. Unfortunately, he did not have Din Djarin's helmet and armor with him, so the encounter, via video chat, was seemingly not quite what the child might have hoped for.

"Well, I Feel A Little Lightheaded. Maybe If You Give Me A 60-lb Pack And I Slung A Buddy Over My Shoulder, I Can Make It" - Brothers & Sisters

One of Pedro Pascal's early TV roles was a guest spot on ABC's Brothers & Sisters as a homeless former Marine named Zack. In addition to poverty, he is also struggling to reintegrate himself into society, which he cheekily hints at after paramedic and fellow war veteran Justin Walker (Dave Annable) asks if he can walk to the ambulance by himself.

"Years ago, You Asked Me What Two Men Could Do Living Together On A Ranch. I'll Answer You Now. They Can Look After One Another, Protect Each Other. They Can Keep Each Other Company" - Strange Way Of Life

Pedro Pascal is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and has even played a few members of the community, such as Silva in writer and director Pedro Almodóvar's 30-minute Western, Strange Way of Life. He portrays the role opposite Ethan Hawke as his former lover, Jake, to whom he provides a short, sweet summation of how a romantic relationship between two men is really no different from a relationship between a man and a woman.

"Wherever I Go, He Goes" - The Mandalorian

For all of its exciting action sequences and intriguing additions to Star Wars lore, the heart and soul of The Mandalorian and the one thing that keeps fans invested in the series is the impenetrable bond between Din Djarin and his foundling, Grogu, who was referred to as "Baby Yoda" early on.

"If You Love Someone, You Can Always See Their Face" - The Last Of Us

Some fans of The Last of Us believe that Joel goes too far in the Season 2 episode in which he kills the bitten Eugene (Joe Pantoliano), depriving him of the chance to see his wife once more, no matter how hard he pleads. I will give Pedro Pascal's character some credit, though, for the way he reminds the desperate man that he can still see Gail (Catherine O'Hara) right there and then if his love for her is strong enough.

"The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend, Until He Becomes My Enemy Again. When That Happens, God Help Them" - Narcos

Here, Pedro Pascal's Narcos character, Javier Peña, expresses his personal variation on a seminal Sanskrit saying.

"Why Do You Make Sparkly, Fast, Romantic Montages Of Me Every Single Day?" - Saturday Night Live

When Pedro Pascal made his SNL hosting debut, the show included a sketch poking fun at his reputation as "the internet's daddy." In the bit, he plays a teacher presenting a school assembly about the rules of technology use on campus, during which he takes the opportunity to address weird "fancams" his students have made of him on TikTok.

"I Like Those Odds" - The Mandalorian

This quote from The Mandalorian is iconic for a couple of different reasons. On one hand, it shows that Din Djarin is a warrior of calculated skill, and on the other, it is the inverse of one of the most famous quotes from Harrison Ford's Star Wars character, Han Solo, which is, "Never tell me the odds."

"Size Doesn't Matter When You're Flat On Your Back" - Game Of Thrones

While Oberyn Martell's unbridled confidence is one of the reasons Game of Thrones fans fell in love with Pedro Pascal's character, it would also seal his downfall as one of the last things he said to The Mountain before the behemoth (played by three different actors) savagely murdered the prince.

"Wizard" - The Book Of Boba Fett

In an episode of The Book of Boba Fett that could more accurately be described as a Mandalorian bonus episode, Din Djarin uses this positive slang term, originating from 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, to express his satisfaction with his new ship, an N-1 Starfighter built by Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris).

"If You Say 'Look For The Light,' I Will Break Your Jaw" - The Last Of Us

In the first episode of The Last Of Us, we learn the Fireflies' hopeful slogan, "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light," which Joel Miller has no patience for at this time.

"You Can't Keep Your Own Office Going, But You're Going To Run Mine. Leave You Mess Here And Start A Whole New One" - Eddington

In one of the best scenes from writer and director Ari Aster's satirical COVID-19-era Western, Eddington, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), the mayor of the fictional eponymous town, confronts the local sheriff, Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix), about his recently announced mayoral campaign.

"What Good Is Being The King If Nobody Knows It?" - Narcos

With this Narcos quote, Pedro Pascal's Javier Peña points out a harsh truth that even the most powerful criminals are forced to contend with.

"It Is Rare To Meet A Lannister Who Shares My Enthusiasm For Dead Lannisters" - Game Of Thrones

This Game of Thrones quote is a testament to Oberyn Martell's passionately vengeful motivation against the Lannisters for the justice committed against his sister.

"I Don't Know. All I Know Is That When I Wake Up, I Know I've Lost Something" - The Last Of Us

No person goes a single night without dreaming, but not everybody remembers their dreams, despite still waking up with their emotional remnants. Joel Miller hints at being this kind of person in a The Last of Us episode in which his younger brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna), asks what he dreams about. His answer also suggests that the tragic death of his daughter, Sarah (Nico Parker), haunts his subconscious.

"Are You A Jedi?" - The Mandalorian

Din Djarin's response to meeting Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian has gone down in history as one of the series' most unintentionally hilarious lines.

"Storytelling Is Lying-Adjacent, And I Lie For A Living. Watch And Learn" - The Wild Robot

In The Wild Robot, Fink the Fox uses his talent for dishonesty to teach Roz how to tell Brightbill a bedtime story.

"I Have 34 First Cousins... I Know They're Proud Because They Give My Phone Number To Every Single Person They Meet" - Saturday Night Live

Pedro Pascal did not shy away from poking fun at his extensive family from his home country of Chile, adding that he gets calls and texts on a daily basis asking to wish fans a happy birthday, questions about Grogu, etc.

"I Feel Like A Tornado In A Trailer Park" - Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Even though this line from 2017's Kingsman: The Golden Circle is kinda lifted from Pixar's Cars, Pedro Pascal makes it his own with the way he delivers it as Southern-fried secret agent, Whiskey.

"There’s No Way Out, Carlitos. You’re Going To Disneyland" - Narcos

Something funny about this Javier Peña quote from Narcos that may or may not be intentional is that Pablo Escobar once perfectly blended in with the crowds at Walt Disney World while paying the theme park a visit with his family in the early 1980s, according to Newsweek.

"When It Comes To War, I Fight For Dorne. When It Comes To Love, I Don't Choose Sides" - Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones' Oberyn Martell is among the LGBTQIA+ characters whom Pedro Pascal has played. The character explains here that he feels romantic feelings for both men and women.

"Because He Was Outstanding In His Field" - The Last Of Us

One of the few comparatively lighthearted episodes from the first season of The Last of Us sees Ellie passing the time by reading from a book of childish puns. Here, Joel provides the punchline to the setup, "Why did the scarecrow get an award?"

Though its second season served to be far more divisive than its first, The Last of Us Season 3 is still one of the more highly anticipated TV series on the horizon, and it’s near the top of the list of upcoming video game adaptations, given the finale’s game-centric cliffhanger ending. Naturally, shock waves reverberated through the fandom when co-creator Neil Druckmann vacated the live-action series, but star Bella Ramsey doesn’t believe his exit will change the show very much.

Druckmann publicly announced his decision to step away from the Last of Us TV series in order to re-devote his creative talents to the latest sci-fi adventure from his game studio Naughty Dog. (Last of Us Part 2 co-writer and episodic staff writer Halley Gross made the same exodus.) Both left before the horror-drama earned its latest Emmy nominations, which sparked concerns about newly lonesome showrunner Craig Mazin will face obstacles bringing Abby’s story to life in Season 3.

Bella Ramsey spoke with Variety about earning their second nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for their portrayal of Ellie, which marks the first time a non-binary performer has received multiple Emmy noms. Speaking to Druckmann’s decision to bow out ahead of crafting the third season, Ramsey serves as a voice of logic and pragmatism amidst a sea of worried fan reactions, saying:

Honestly, it's like Bella Ramsey's words were taken right out of an official "How To Stop Your Fans From Freaking Out Unnecessarily" handbook. Even if Druckmann's physical body isn't in a writers room putting fingers to laptop keys, his influence on Craig Mazin and the rest of the creative team isn't going to magically disappear as they craft Season 3's arcs.

It's impossible to know exactly how much Mazin and Druckmann discussed where the story will go for Kaitlin Dever's Abby, compared to how things went down in the video game. But I can't imagine that the duo put the second season together with Ellie at the center without specifically talking about how certain parts of the timeline would be returned to from Abby's point of view.

Even if they hadn't, though, Druckmann's influence on the TV series is still impossible to ignore, given how heavily involved he was with the source material. Simply by originating this highly complex and moody narrative in the first place, Druckmann's fingerprints will still be all over the third season.

How Much Of Bella Ramsey's Ellie Can We Expect To See In Season 3?

For all the faith that I'm putting in Bella Ramsey's take on Neil Druckmann's exit, it's certainly worth pointing out that if the TV show does indeed adhere to how The Last of Us Part II lays out Abby's story, Ellie may only be seen in limited doses. In fact, she may only appear as often as Dever's Abby appeared in Season 2.

Just don't expect the Emmy-nominated star to reveal those details in full just yet. When asked how much of their beloved protagonist audiences will see, Ramsey replied with:

Of course, anything the actor says now could very well be turned on its head by the time Season 3 actually arrives. HBO boss Casey Bloys shared with Variety in mid-July that the cabler is already viewing The Last of Us' next outing as a 2027 release, with Mazin in charge of deciding whether or not a fourth season will be required to wrap up the story.

During the long and potentially worry-filled wait for Season 3, the first two Last of Us seasons can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription.

One of HBO's biggest hits in recent years is losing one of its co-creators, but that's not the main thing that has me concerned for The Last of Us Season 3.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge The Last of Us fan. I have been for a decade now – wow, I really just aged myself, but anyway, I love this franchise so much. So when a series was announced back in 2020, I was one of the first to begin counting down the days until it premiered.

But now, it's been announced that one of the creators, Neil Druckmann, is leaving the series, and I, for one, think that might be a terrible idea. But there's actually another reason that makes me even more worried that I'll get it down below.

First Off, I'm Still Going To Watch The Show No Matter What

There's one thing about me that I tell everyone, and that is that I am loyal.

It does not matter what has happened to the series, how many iterations it has gone through – if I am a fan of the franchise, I will be supporting it until it ends. I did it for all eleven of The Walking Dead's seasons. I did it for The 100, which was one of the best CW shows before its strange last season, and I'll do it for The Last of Us no matter what happens to the story.

Even if the idea of it hurts me.

But it's not like I haven't been a fan of the changes The Last of Us has made. Aside from Jesse's strange reintroduction into the plot in Season 2, I've been alright with the plot shifts, character arcs, and more. I've liked the increase in Ellie and Dina's relationship. I've enjoyed how much more we've seen of Jackson.

Despite my willingness for change, I have to admit that when a creator decides to leave the series, it certainly makes my worry antennas jump up. But an even bigger loss makes them red-hot.

However, Neil Druckmann's Departure -- As Well As Halley Gross' -- Has Me Super Concerned

Deadline confirmed the news of Neil Druckmann's exit in July 2025, where it was announced that he would not write or direct any of the upcoming episodes for Season 3 of The Last of Us.

I'm not too surprised about him leaving, even if it does worry me. While Druckmann has been the face of The Last of Us since its inception, as the creator of the video game franchise, he's also faced plenty of animosity from fans over his story decisions in the past.

Most of his story decisions I've stood by, including Joel's death (featured in Season 2 and the video games), as well as the inclusion of Lev in the games (which I'm sure we'll see in Season 3 of the series). But the creator says that he's stepping away so he has time to work on other projects within Naughty Dog, the game company behind The Last of Us, which Druckmann happens to lead.

Alright, fine, I get that. The next video game released by them, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, is pretty hyped, and I'll likely end up playing it. But it's the departure of Halley Gross, a writer on the TV show and the co-writer for the story of The Last of Us Part II, that makes me super worried. She announced the news on her Instagram:

So, tell me what it means when both co-writers of The Last of Us Part II, a game that features Abby heavily in the second part, decide to leave before Season 3, which is going to feature Abby more?

I'm Excited About Abby's Story, But These Two Writers Really Shaped It So Well

Unlike many others, I thoroughly enjoyed playing as Abby in The Last of Us games. I really enjoyed her story, and many of the moments I wanted to see in the show from the games ended up involving her. Both Druckmann and Gross wrote her story.

And there was something that was just so unapologetically her in this game. She was big and strong, and she didn't care because she knew what she was doing, and deep down, she cared super deeply for others. She was the epitome of the adage "never judge a book by its cover," and her story mirrored Ellie's exactly. It was perfect.

It's already been discussed that the TV show Abby will differ from the video game version of her. I mean, looks-wise, it's already at that point since Kaitlyn Dever is nowhere near the amount of physical power that game-Abby is, which to me is fine, even if it takes away a core part of her looks.

Even so, you can still have the same story without it, and the fact that both Druckmann and Gross left at the same time makes me super concerned. What exactly is going on in the writer's room of The Last of Us Season 3, where they both step away from the project?

Gross also cited that she's stepping away to make time for "what comes next," so maybe she and Neil are working on the new game Neil talked about. Still, it's strange for both of these two, who shaped Abby's story, to step away right as the series is shifting towards Abby becoming the main character for a time.

Craig Mazin Is A Great Writer From Chernobyl, But Will He Be Able To Capture The Same Heart?

This isn't to say that I'm not excited for The Last of Us Season 3 still. I will be on my couch, with popcorn in hand, the moment it inevitably premieres in two years (because that's just what HBO does nowadays). Craig Mazin, the other co-creator of the TV series, is a great writer.

We've seen it with Chernobyl, which earned several Primetime Emmy Awards and is hands down one of the best HBO miniseries out there. Chernobyl was also factually accurate in many cases, so I don't trust Mazin to do his research and craft a good story.

But I can't help but worry, you know?

Druckmann has had a love for The Last of Us series. It's that series and the Uncharted franchise that put his name on the map. And the fact that both he and his co-writer for Part 2 of the games are stepping back feels like a significant red flag to me.

Only time will tell what happens with Season 3. But until then, I will sit with bated breath – and my Firefly pendant held close to my heart in the hope that it'll still turn out great.

The Emmy nominations are out, and after watching all the nominated performances for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series on the 2025 television schedule, I’m completely torn as to who I think should win. Pedro Pascal, Sterling K. Brown, Noah Wyle, Gary Oldman, and Adam Scott all put in amazing turns in amazing shows. How to pick just one? I don’t know if I can, but by the end of this story, I hope to have some clarity.

Pedro Pascal For The Last Of Us

Pedro Pascal may indeed be the “internet’s daddy,” and a big reason why is his role as Joel in The Last of Us. There is one more season for The Last of Us, but given Joel's limited role in Season 2 (IYKYK), this may be Pascal's final shot at winning an Emmy for this particular role. If I'm honest, I think he deserves this award more for Season 1 of The Last of Us, as his role was much bigger, of course. However, since every scene he's a part of in Season 2 has so much emotional weight, it's not like he's undeserving now.

The last few years have been amazing for Pascal and his fans. He also has Fantastic Four: First Steps coming out this month, and The Mandalorian and Grogu on the 2026 movie schedule. For Pascal to win an Emmy for one of the best video game adaptations ever would be a crowning achievement. An achievement he well deserves. But he’s hardly alone in this category.

Adam Scott For Severance

Apple TV+ has put out some amazing movies and TV shows in the last few years and at the top of that list has to be Severance. The Emmys have certainly recognized that with an amazing 27 nominations in 2025, leading all shows. Adam Scott, who plays Mark S., leads a fantastic cast that includes fellow nominees Britt Lower, John Turturro, Tramell Tillman, and Patricia Arquette.

I do think, as amazing as Severance is and as fantastic as Scott is, he may be the longshot in this category, which goes to show just how loaded it is. I won’t be surprised by anything when the Emmy is announced on September 14th, but still, if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t be betting on Scott. He’ll surely be nominated again after Season 3 of Severance.

Noah Wyle For The Pitt

HBO Max's fantastic medical drama The Pitt was at first a tough watch for me, at first. It took me a couple of restarts to finally get into it. That’s not because I thought it was bad, in fact, it was quite the opposite, it was so good–and so real–that I had to turn it off. It was literally freaking me out by how real it felt.

The show’s star, Noah Wyle, has five Emmy nominations to his name from his days on that other medical drama he once starred in, ER, but honestly, he hit a new level of performance with The Pitt. Though he never won for ER, and he might not win here, given the competition, his performance is riveting, heartfelt, and most importantly, real.

Sterling K. Brown For Paradise

Hulu’s Paradise is the brainchild of Dan Fogelman, who is also responsible for a little show called This Is Us, for which Sterling K. Brown was nominated for five Emmys in this same category and won the award in 2017 after Season 1. Brown and Fogelman teamed up again for Paradise, and the outcome, unsurprisingly, was another fantastic season of television and a slew of Emmy nominations.

Brown brings his trademark emotional depth to a character, Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins, who might have been two-dimensional in anyone but Brown and Fogelman’s hands. On the surface, the show is a science fiction whodunit, but with Brown leading the amazing cast, it’s so much more than that. A win here would be Brown’s fourth Emmy (he also won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson and Best Narrator for Lincoln: Divided We Stand), so it’s never a surprise to see him on the stage accepting an award for acting excellence.

Gary Oldman For Slow Horses

Finally, we come to what is actually my personal favorite. Slow Horses, which you can stream with an Apple TV+ subscription, has been among the best shows on streaming for four seasons now (with a fifth right around the corner). Gary Oldman, who plays the crusty, smelly, chain-smoking, washed-up spy Jackson Lamb in the thriller, has been outstanding for all of those seasons.

This is only Oldman’s second nomination for Slow Horses, which almost seems criminal. The Oscar winner has never won an Emmy, and while I would be happy to see any of these actors win, I’m quietly rooting for Oldman, because I really love the show, and his performance is so good, I can smell his character through the screen–and I mean that in the best way.

Who Will Win Is Anyone’s Guess

This is the Emmys, so of course there are always going to be five worthy Emmy nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series, but this year just feels different to me. It seems especially hard to predict a winner. While I’m personally rooting for Oldman, as I said, I don’t know that he’ll take it home, and really, nothing would surprise me here.

I’ve been sitting here for almost a day thinking about this, and still have no clue who will win. All five actors put in deserving performances in excellent (and very popular) shows. Even though I said Adam Scott is maybe the longshot, the more I think about Severance and its dozens of nominations, the more I change my mind about that. That’s where we are with this category. I go back and forth between all five. I can’t wait to tune in to CBS in September to find out who wins.

It’s once again time to look back at everything we’ve watched so far on the 2025 TV schedule and beyond in order to celebrate and honor the very best that broadcast, cable and streaming platforms have to offer. Or, you know, whatever shows everyone in the TV Academy voted for, even if they don’t square up exactly with audience expectations. That’s right, the 2025 Emmy Awards nominations were announced for the upcoming awards ceremony.

What We Do In the Shadows’ Harvey Guillén and Running Point’s Brenda Song announced this year’s major nominations, but we also rounded up all of the supporting and guest-star noms that were left out of the live video, followed by a smattering of caffeine-fueled reactions and commentary pointing out the biggest snubs and other fun facts.

77th Emmy Awards Quick Facts

• Network: CBS
• Air Date: Sunday, September 14
• Air Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Host: Comedian Nate Bargatze

Welcome, TV Lovers And Award Show Fanatics!

The Emmy nominations are almost always a hurried and harried affair, so let's make sure we have all our much-needed items nearby to help us make it through the morning.

Coffee? Check.
More coffee? Check.
The rest of the coffee? Check.

Well, that was quicker than expected. So let's take a look at the first of two categories already announced this morning.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• The Amazing Race
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Survivor
• Top Chef
• The Traitors

MY PREDICTION: The Traitors

Outstanding Talk Series

• The Daily Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

MY PREDICTION: The Daily Show, which has won the past two years of the "post-John Oliver winning every year" era

It's Go Time

Big props to Chairman Cris Abrego for kicking things off. He gets my nomination for whatever this would be nominated for.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
• Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”
• Jake Gyllenhaal, "Presumed Innocent"
• Brian Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”
• Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

MY PREDICTION: Stephen Graham

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
• Meaghann Fahy “Sirens”
• Rashida Jones, “Black Mirror”
• Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”
• Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex”

MY PREDICTION: Michelle Williams

Outstanding Limited Series

• Adolescence
• Black Mirror
• Dying for Sex
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
• The Penguin

MY PREDICTION: Adolescence

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy

• Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”
• Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
• Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
• Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
• Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Nobody celebrates an Emmy nomination quite like Kristen Bell, whose hubby Dax Shepard captured her mostly nude reaction to the news.

MY PREDICTION: Jean Smart

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy

• Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
• Seth Rogen, “The Studio”
• Jason Segel, “Shrinking”
• Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
• Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

MY PREDICTION: Seth Rogen

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Hacks
• Nobody Wants This
• Only Murders in the Building
• Shrinking
• The Studio
• What We Do in the Shadows

MY PREDICTION: The Studio

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama

• Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
• Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”
• Britt Lower, “Severance”
• Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
• Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

MY PREDICTION: Britt Lower

But for all that I'd love to see the Severance co-star take home the gold, I'm quite enamored by Kathy Bates' humbled reaction to her nomination, and who doesn't love Kathy Bates?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama

• Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
• Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
• Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
• Adam Scott, “Severance”
• Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”

MY PREDICTION: Sterling K. Brown

Outstanding Drama Series

• Andor
• The Diplomat
• The Last of Us
• Paradise
• The Pitt
• Severance
• Slow Horses
• The White Lotus

MY PREDICTION: Severance

Additional Limited Series & TV Movie Nominations

I'm not sure if it's just me, or if everyone else also always believes that the prior year's Emmy nominations were spread out and timed better. With zero supporting performer categories being addressed in the live announcement, I'm going to run through those as well for the major categories.

Outstanding TV Movie

• Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
• The Gorge
• Mountainhead (MY PREDICTION)
• Nonnas
• Rebel Ridge

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Erin Doherty, “Adolescence”
• Ruth Negga “Presumed Innocent”
• Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin” (MY PREDICTION)
• Chloë Sevigny, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
• Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”
• Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" (MY PREDICTION)
• Bill Camp “Presumed Innocent”
• Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”
• Rob Delaney, “Dying for Sex”
• Peter Sarsgaard, “Presumed Innocent”
• Ashley Walters, “Adolescence”

Additional Comedy Series Nominations

Same deal here for the Comedy noms.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy

• Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
• Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks” (MY PREDICTION)
• Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”
• Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
• Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
• Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy

• Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio” (MY PREDICTION)
• Colman Domingo “The Four Seasons”
• Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
• Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
• Michael Urie, “Shrinking”
• Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Shrinking stars Harrison Ford, Michael Urie and Jessica Williams shared celebratory texts after their respective nominations were announced, making me want to hang out with that squad even more than I already did.

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

• Olivia Colman, “The Bear”
• Jamie Lee Curtis, "The Bear"
• Cynthia Erivo, "Poker Face"
• Robby Hoffman, “Hacks”
• Zoë Kravitz, "The Studio"
• Julianne Nicholson, "Hacks" (MY PREDICTION)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Jon Bernthal, "The Bear”
• Bryan Cranston, "The Studio" (MY PREDICTION)
• Dave Franco, “The Studio”
• Ron Howard, "The Studio"
• Anthony Mackie, “The Studio”
• Martin Scorsese, "The Studio"

Additional Drama Series Nominations

Stop me if you've heard this one....we're looking at the unmentioned Drama categories.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama

• Patricia Arquette, “Severance”
• Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”
• Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”
• Parker Posey, “The White Lotus” (MY PREDICTION)
• Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”
• Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama

• Zach Cherry, “Severance”
• Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”
• Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”
• James Marsden, “Paradise”
• Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”
• Tramell Tillman, “Severance” (MY PREDICTION)
• John Turturro, “Severance”

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama

• Jane Alexander, "Severance"
• Gwendoline Christie, "Severance" (MY PREDICTION)
• Kaitlin Dever, "The Last Of Us"
• Cherry Jones, "The Handmaid's Tale"
• Catherine O'Hara, "The Last Of Us"
• Merritt Wever, "Severance"

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama

• Giancarlo Esposito, “The Boys”
• Scott Glenn, “The White Lotus”
• Shawn Hatosy, “The Pitt”
• Joe Pantoliano, “The Last Of Us” (MY PREDICTION)
• Forest Whitaker, “Andor”
• Jeffrey Wright, “The Last Of Us“

Praise Kier For All These Severance Nominations!

Holy ORTBO, people! One of the biggest winners of the day is already Severance, even months before the actual awards get handed out. If anyone was worried about the Apple TV+ drama not making much of an impact after a three-year absence, the whopping 27 Emmy nominations is proof that this show is a critical darling of the highest order.

Season 2 earned NINE acting nominations — Jane Alexander, Patricia Arquette, Zach Cherry, Gwendoline Christie, Britt Lower, Adam Scott, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, and Merritt Wever — and the other 18 nods were across a variety of different categories. From various Picture Editing nods to a pair of Outstanding Direction noms to ones for stunts, music composition, visual effects and more.

Oh yeah, and Outstanding Drama Series, the biggest award of the night. I'm a huge Severance obsessive, so if the show wins all 27 awards, I would come away happy. (And also confused, since several of the nominated talents are competing against each other in the same category, and thus would make it impossible for all 27 to win, but nothing is impossible at Lumon.)

2025 Emmys By (Some Of) The Numbers

As it normally goes, a bulk of the Emmy nominations went to a relatively limited number of shows. But it wasn't just the same three shows this year, even though past behemoths like Hacks and The Bear are still showing up in a big way. Let's look at some of the more interesting stats to be culled from this year's noms.

• Shows With The Most Nominations
  • Severance - 27
  • The Penguin - 24
  • The Studio - 23
  • The White Lotus - 23
  • The Last Of Us - 16
  • Hacks - 14
  • Andor - 14
  • Adolescence - 13
  • The Bear - 13
  • The Pitt - 13
• Networks / Streaming Platforms With The Most Nominations
  • HBO / HBO Max - 142
  • Netflix - 120
  • Apple TV+ - 79
  • ABC - 37
  • FX on Hulu - 35
  • NBC - 29
  • Disney+ - 28
  • CBS - 26
  • Hulu - 23
  • Peacock - 19

While so many accolades go to shows that have been on the air for years, I'm always intrigued by which completely new series end up getting nominated across the categories, since it means those shows went above and beyond to capture everyone's attention spans. This year is no exception, either. Check out some of the biggest wins amongst freshman TV shows, not counting limited series.

• Most Nominations For New Shows
  • The Studio - 23
  • The Pitt - 13
  • The Residence - 4
  • Mid-Century Modern - 4
  • Nobody Wants This. - 3
  • The Diplomat. - 3
  • Agatha All Along - 3
  • The Four Seasons - 1
  • Matlock - 1
  • Pop Culture Jeopardy! - 1
  • The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives - 1
  • Bad Thoughts - 1

A Few Quick Takes From CinemaBlend's Riley Utley

When asked to talk about some of her most positive takeaways from the Emmy nominations, she first gave credit to the voters for letting surprises into Drama's Supporting Actor category:

Another big plus in Riley's book? The love showered onto the acclaimed limited series Dying for Sex. Here's what she had to say:

Expect to hear a bit more from Riley when it comes to snubs.

POLL: Let Us Know What Show You Think Should Win Outstanding Drama Series

Since I've already shared my impulsive predictions for what actors and series will win when the Emmys air in September, let me get YOUR thoughts on what should win for Outstanding Drama series.

POLL: Let Us Know What Show You Think Should Win Outstanding Comedy Series

Second verse, same as the first. Or in this case: Second poll, same as...the first...roll. Ugh. Everyone forget what was just said, and answer the poll below!

The 6 Most Glaring Drama TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Even with all the Severance nominations at play, I could still spend the next 10-15 minutes yapping about all the parts of the show that didn't get attention for. But none of that would readily count as a snub, so let's take a look at some of the examples that actually count.

In no discernible order:

1. Barely any love for the long-anticipated final season of The Handmaid's Tale or its star/producer Elisabeth Moss. The only nominee for the previous Oustanding Drama winner is Cherry Jones for her guest spot.
2. For all the nominations that The White Lotus did earn, this is the kind of show that's an embarrassment of acting riches where everyone is relegated to Supporting categories. But it's worth pointing out that Michelle Monaghan and Patrick Schwarzenegger were two of the core stars who did not get recognized by the TV Academy.
3. The Pitt's cast readily deserved more acting honors than the three that were announced. Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Shawn Hatosy were certainly deserving, but what about other standouts like Fiona Dourif or Tracy Ifeachor or Taylor Dearden? The list goes on.
4. Allison Janney should probably get an automatic Emmy nom anytime she stars in anything, and her work on The Diplomat did not prove to be an exception to that assumption.
5. Somewhat rare is the Outstanding Drama or Comedy series that doesn't earn nominations for any of its lead and supporting actors, while Star Wars Emmy noms are even rarer. But for all that Andor racked up a ton of below-the-line appreciation, the only two performers nominated are Alan Tudyk for Voiceover and Forest Whitaker for Guest Actor.
6. I guess I didn't really expect Yellowjackets to have a ton of sway with Season 3 nominees, but it still feels like a big middle finger to the horror genre.

The 6 Most Glaring Comedy TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Now let's thumb our nose at the TV Academy voters whose actions led to the following comedy-centric snubs.

1. I get that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is like Emmy kryptonite and may have a lasting effect on its stars, but I don't understand how Kaitlin Olson missed out on a full trio of nominations. She definitely deserved it for heading up ABC's High Potential, she definitely deserved it for her emotional return to Hacks' fourth season, and she probably deserved it for guest-starring as Sweet Dee in Abbott Elementary's big crossover episode. Get your shit together, dawg.
2. After getting nominated in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Tyler James Williams missed out on his first Emmy nomination since Abbott Elementary began. To me, that’s shocking. One, because he’s remarkable as Gregory, and arguably gave one of his best performances in Season 4, as his relationship with Janine flourished. However, this also highlights a long-standing snub too, as Chris Perfetti was left out once again of the Supporting actor category. So, all around, it’s shocking and disappointing that the actors of Abbott didn’t get nominated. (Written by Riley Utley)
3. Let’s talk about a long-time Emmys oversight: The Righteous Gemstones. Across its four seasons, it has received ten nominations, but none for the major categories, which is a shame. The fourth and final season was remarkable, and while I’m thrilled it picked up six nominations, it should have gotten more. I wish Danny McBride, Bradley Cooper and the cast got nods for their performances. And it 100% should have been a frontrunner for Outstanding Comedy. However, it’s sadly never been a contender. (Written by Riley Utley)

4. I am very pleased that What We Do In The Shadows earned a nomination for Oustanding Comedy for its absolutely superb sixth and final season, but I'll never understand how this cast doesn't get more awards love. If you have Harvey Guillén hosting the nomination announcements, it sure would be nice if he was also listed among them. R.I.P. Guillermo's Emmy dreams.
5. Yes, I'll keep the horror bent going here by endlessly griping that Agatha All Along was completely shut out of any acting categories, while Kathryn Hahn did earn a nomination for her work on The Studio. Certainly well-deserved, but I know somebody put some kind of hex on this shit. Was it Wanda? So jealous.
6. How is Natasha Lyonne not an automatic lock for this category? She's this generation's vape-pluming Jessica Fletcher, and she deserves awards.

CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley Is Hyped For Matlock, Shocked By Pedro Pascal

Before dipping into another list of big snubs, let's turn back to the positive side for some good vibes from CinemaBlend's own Laura Hurley.

Once upon a time, Emmy nominations were full of network TV shows getting awards love, but that changed with the advent of premium cable and streaming dramas. I’m delighted to see that after Kathy Bates took the top prize for Best Actress as the 2025 Critics Choice Awards for her work in CBS’ Matlock, she has officially been nominated for Best Actress in a Drama at the 2025 Emmys. Not only is she the only star representing network TV in a Drama category, but she has made history as the oldest nominee for Best Actress at the age of 77. I’m rooting for network TV to get some love this year, and Kathy Bates has certainly delivered the kinds of performances as Matty Matlock to deserve an Emmy.

The Last of Us finally returned for Season 2 after two years of hiatus, but fans wouldn’t get another full batch of episodes with Pedro Pascal opposite Bella Ramsey. His character, Joel Miller, was killed off in just the second episode, and Pascal would ultimately only be credited with three of the season’s seven episodes. Don’t get me wrong – I cried when Joel was killed off despite thinking I’d pull through without any tears, but I was still surprised to see Pascal nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series. I’m not predicting that he’ll win up against stiff leading man competition, but I did a double take when I saw him nominated as a lead.

The 3 Most Glaring Limited/Unscripted TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Now let's cap off our closer look at Emmy snubs with Limited Series and Unscripted categories.

1. I'm not sure what anyone is meant to glean from this, but the fact that both Late Night with Seth Myers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Kimmel were left out of the Talk Show category's THREE nominations cannot mean great things.
2. Am I wrong for thinking LEGO Masters is still one of the most feel-good reality TV shows out there? Plus, Will Arnett is as great a host as it gets, and he'll be the first, second, and third to agree.
3. Anytime a mainstay nominee like The Voice goes without a nod, it's a shock. And one that leaves the door open for other shows to swoop in.

So don't forget to tune into CBS on Sunday, September 14, to catch the full 2025 Emmy Awards telecast, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET.

I don’t imagine any upcoming finale cliffhangers on the 2025 TV schedule will be as jarring and polarizing as the final minutes of The Last of Us’ deadly Season 2 finale, which left Ellie and Tommy’s fate unclear as the narrative refocused on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. Thankfully, Bella Ramsey fanatics won’t need to wait until The Last of Us Season 3 finally arrives to see them back on the small screen, though one of the co-creators is stepping down in the meantime.

The Last Of Us' Neil Druckmann Announced He's Stepping Down As Co-Showrunner

Neil Druckmann was known for his directing and co-writing duties for the first two Last of Us games with his company Naughty Dog before jumping into the TV fray with Craig Mazin to turn the games into HBO's live-action series. He's seemingly been a major part of spinning the source material into a broader world for TV audiences, but will no longer be involved behind the scenes when Season 3 kicks into gear.

Naughty Dog shared the following message on Instagram and elsewhere, citing Druckmann's company-wide memo:

Druckmann's exit is both surprising and expected all at once, and is both disappointing and encouraging at the same time. With Naughty Dog gearing up for its biggest post-TLoU games, which hopefully one day includes the rumored third game, Druckmann couldn't really afford to spend so much of his creative efforts on the TV side of things. But as somehow who loves how faithful the show has been to the games, I'll miss his input.

His message to others continued:

Hopefully he'll be able to lend a hand to Season 3 in some way, possibly by directing an episode or two, though that would obviously still require quite a bit of time and effort away from bringing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet to life.

Bella Ramsey Has Joined An Intense New Thriller Series

With Craig Mazin having previously stated he wouldn't be getting into the thick of writing and building out Season 3 until after a proper post-Season 2 break, it's definitely unclear when Abby's story will kick off in earnest. But Bella Ramsey will be keeping busy in the coming months with a new project.

The Game of Thrones vet has signed on for the thriller drama Maya, which was created by Daisy Haggard, the UK talent perhaps best known here in the U.S. for co-starring in the excellent FX comedy Breeders with Martin Freeman. Or perhaps for voicing the Ministry Lift in the Harry Potter movies. She most recently starred in the comedy thriller Boat Story, and it sounds like this new project will also be a mix of tension and character-driven humor.

According to Deadline, Ramsey will portray the titular character, who is the teenage daughter of Haggard's Anna, and one of the big themes of the show is the strong mother-daughter bond. The two are forced to enter the witness protection program and leave the comforts of their London lives to relocate to a small town in Scotland. But their feeling of safety from the horrors of their past is shortlived, as they're tracked by a pair of hitmen set on taking them out.

Production on the six-episode Maya will take place later this year in Scotland, with more casting expected to be announced. Though this project, like many UK shows, will take place over a relatively short production span, it still means Ramsey won't be filming for The Last of Us during that time. But does that mean the third season will have to wait until she's free to start filming?

I don't think so, since the first chunk of Season 3 will likely be centering on Abby, possibly with a few flashback scenes from Ellie sprinkled in. But unless Craig Mazin has plans to inject a lot more of the teen protagonist into the upcoming episodes, Bella Ramsey's time on the set will likely be drastically reduced from past seasons.

While waiting to hear more about Maya, The Last of Us' first two seasons can be streamed with a Max subscription.

Obviously, it’s quite common for actors, musicians, and other well-known people to generate a dedicated fanbase, but sometimes there’s such a groundswell of positivity regarding one of these people that it seems as though everyone is saying the same wonderful things about them. For at least a couple of years now, Pedro Pascal has been in that category. On top of being a beloved part of many major franchises, the man has become known as the “internet’s daddy.” Now, his The Last of Us co-star, Bella Ramsey, has opened up about not liking the moniker.

What Did Bella Ramsey Say About Not Liking Pedro Pascal Being Called ‘Daddy’?

The clear parenting/protective influence aside, I hope we all know by now that being called a “daddy” (or to some “zaddy”) is far more naughty in nature than anything the average person would associate with your typical father figure. Pedro Pascal, the man who brought Game of Thrones’ lust-filled spear-wielder (pun intended) Prince Oberyn Martell to life, is officially the internet’s daddy and has been for a while now, but Bella Ramsey, who portrays his surrogate daughter on The Last of Us has revealed why they don’t like that title for him at all.

When speaking with Vanity Fair about the actor (who stars in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and is currently filming Avengers: Doomsday), Ramsey (they also had a memorable role on GOT and was able to bond with Pascal over it) said of the whole “daddy” situation:

Awwww. Honestly, I think this is the loveliest comment. What it says, to me, is that Ramsey and Pascal are close enough that the Ellie performer has an understanding of their co-star that goes way beyond looks, his perceived personality (at the very least, we know he’s a great SNL host) or any other potentially naughty-thought inducing traits. While he’s been willing to play along with the “internet daddy” title, the Materialists star has spent decades working hard to get to this point and the “daddy” talk could overshadow that.

It doesn’t really seem that Pascal is bothered by his status, especially seeing as how he’s been a pop culture father figure since his time on The Mandalorian began, and it carried over to TLOU. While participating in such series, he’s continued to branch out and work on numerous other projects to show as many different sides of himself as possible on screen, so it doesn’t appear that anyone has taken the “joke” Ramsey spoke of to heart.

And, if William Shatner giving you a wacky call-out on Father’s Day because you’re the internet’s favorite daddy doesn’t lead to anyone downgrading your talent, then nothing will.

Those unfamiliar with the video games were likely shocked by The Last of Us Season 2, which gave a strong indication that the alread confirmed third season will follow Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, whose actions appeared to set her up as the biggest antagonist on TV. While it's surely great to be a TV hero, Dever recently explained in an interview why she doesn't mind playing a character that viewers and gamers are narratively geared to hate at first.

As The Last of Us Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available to stream with a Max subscription, the actress linked up with Walton Goggins for a Vanity Fair interview. The duo, who first worked together on Justified, discussed playing characters and the feeling of embodying well-crafted characters that audience may not feel so kindly about. Dever talked about how that relates to Abby, whose most significant moment in Season 2 was the brutal murder of Pedro Pascal's Joel, saying:

The actress noted that while public speaking is something that makes her anxious, she's perfectly fine doing so in character while filming scenes in which scripts call for it. Sure, she still has fear of what's required from some scenes like being up in tall places or being chased, but when it comes to the emotional performances involved with bringing Abby to life, she has to put aside any thoughts about how audiences may feel about it down the line.

To be sure, Kaitlyn Dever has played many great characters across various the movies and TV shows she's starred in, but there's something special about Abby, whose story in Season 3 will likely bring provoke more empathy within even the angriest of viewers.

The Unbelievable actress talked about the hard work she's already put into getting into the character's dark headspace, and why it's been such a rewarding experience from a performance standpoint:

And just think, had Kaitlyn Dever been cast as Ellie years back when a movie for The Last of Us was in consideration, she might have gone through an entirely different form of grown than what she's felt as Abby. As someone who has not played the games, I am very curious to see how things evolve with Abby from here, especially after Dever talked about how viewers view her as the villain.

As The Last of Us' co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann prepare for Season 3 behind the scenes, fans are left to reckon with the finale's big death and subsequent cliffhanger. While I wasn't thrilled by how the scene was executed, I'm still very invested to see when and how Bella Ramsey's character will return next season, and whether or not Abby's final gunshot hit its target.

I have a good feeling that we won't be seeing much of Pedro Pascal's Joel given his exit in Season 2, though I still wouldn't rule out any flashbacks or dream sequences that allow him to re-enter the story, if only briefly, while Abby's tale is being laid out. If not, at least we can expect a good deal of Dever after she only had a few pivotal scenes to shine in, as well as other members from Abby's group who were fatally dispatched by Ellie.

As mentioned, The Last of Us will return to HBO for Season 3. We'll probably be waiting at least a year, if not longer, for new episodes, so let's hope there's plenty of updates from the actors involved about what to expect as they start production.

A lot of times when horror actors and bonafide scream queens are interviewed, they're asked about any frightening moments that might have happened while filming. Sometimes, it leads fun behind-the-scenes stories about genre classics, and then other times, a legitimately disturbing confession or two will happen, as was the case with The Last of Us co-star Kaitlyn Dever.

With The Last of Us Season 3 set to delve far deeper into the post-apocalyptic life and times of Dever's divisive survivor Abby following the Season 2 finale's cliffhanger ending, the Last Man Standing vet will likely be changing a lot of viewers' opinions when new episodes arrive down the line. But I can only hope she's not constantly dealing with an on-set fear she picked up while filming for the second season.

Talking with her former Justified co-star Walton Goggins for a Vanity Fair interview, the 28-year-old actress addressed a specific fear she experienced that I'll attempt not to let settle into my own nightmares. As she put it:

Perhaps the freakiest sequence that took place during Abby's somewhat limited screentime in Season 2 came in Episode 2 when she was fleeing the infected and crawled behind a chainlink fence, only to nearly get crushed by the slew of rabid-esque monsters that piled on top.

That scene alone, which also came out of the video game, is 100% understandable as a major fear, since just thinking about being in that situation gives me the creeps even if it's just normal people and not monsters doing all the potential crushing.

Beyond that, Dever pointed out another couple of instances that were fairly scary to bring to life while filming Season 2, saying:

I'm glad she was able to work through her fears to bring some stellar TV scenes to life, and I think other gamers would agree that she's only filmed the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Abby's story. Although I guess murdering Joel deserves a bigger distinction than just being the tip.

My fingers are crossed that Kaitlyn Dever finds a way to get Walton Goggins into the cast for Season 3, even if it's only for a single scene, a la Joe Pantoliano's highly depressing scene in Episode 206. We'll be waiting a while to see what guest stars will pop up, however, as the upcoming horror show isn't expected to go back into production until later this year.

Okay, so it’s been a little bit of time. Can I talk about The Last of Us Season 2 finale yet?

It feels like it was just yesterday that we were prepping to sob our hearts out for The Last of Us Season 2. We waited two long years for it to premiere, and finally, when it did, it felt like returning to an old friend–until that friend decided to rip out our hearts and stomp the two pieces into the ground with all that had happened.

From the insane death of Joel in the second episode to expanding on Ellie and Dina’s love story to everything else in between, there was so much that happened this season that it’s almost hard to keep up. And while I don’t necessarily agree with all the changes that the show has made, I’m still a fan – and will be excited for The Last of Us Season 3 regardless.

However, there’s one aspect of the finale that I didn’t like – and it’s probably not what you think. Let’s get into it.

The Fact That The Season Ended With Abby Doesn’t Bother Me

I’ve been seeing a lot of discourse online regarding the cliffhanger of Abby and the appearance of her home base of the WLFs at the end of Season 2. Many have said that it shouldn’t have ended there and instead should have ended on the (unintentionally hilarious) cliffhanger of Ellie possibly getting shot.

I actually could not care less about that, and I’ll tell you why.

As someone who has played the games several times, including both parts and the DLC - just to hurt myself a little more - I don’t mind that the season ended there. In the game, it was honestly just as jarring. Sure, we ended up getting a lot more games immediately after that, and we didn’t have to wait a year for Season 3, but I still think it’s a good way to leave fans hanging.

It begs that question in fans' minds – those who haven’t played the games, the same one that players questioned back in 2020 when Part 2 was released: “Are we going to be following Abby’s story now of those three days? Are we playing as her?”

While we won’t be playing as Abby in Season 3, it’s clear that she will be a bigger part of the story overall, and fans should be prepared.

Sure, ending on the Ellie cliffhanger might have been a fun take, but to be honest, it would have been so average. That’s the kind of cliffhanger that I’m pretty sure we have ended countless times again in so many other TV shows. At least with this take, it’s creative, and it adds a hint of mystery for those who haven’t played the games. I agree with this decision.

However, one thing I dislike is how they portrayed Ellie and Dina in the beginning.

But I Hate That They Made Ellie Talk With Dina After She Killed Nora

One thing I did like about Season 2 is how they divided the episodes into Ellie’s story. I think there certainly could have been WAY more, but putting the breather between Episodes 5 and 7, where we fully get the background information regarding Joel and Ellie, helped us settle into the chaos that ensues in the finale.

But it’s how Ellie arrives back with Dina that annoys and bothers me. I’ve been pretty lenient with the show’s changes over Season 2. I feel that it has taken a lot more liberties than Season 1, which is fine. It’s still, relatively, the same story that breaks hearts over and over again.

However, the decision to have Ellie speak to Dina leaves a foul taste in my mouth. In the games, if you’ve never played, Ellie certainly does beat the snot out of Nora and kills her. But when she arrives back at the theater, she doesn’t speak.

Instead, she sits down in front of Dina, and her girlfriend wordlessly starts to remove Ellie’s clothes to examine her wounds and bruises, her touch gentle and caring – the complete opposite of what Ellie has just done. As Dina takes care of her, all we see is Ellie’s face, how it contorts in silent grief over what she has done, a subtle numbness that morphs into the realization of the horrors she has just committed, but knows nonetheless that she can’t undo.

And will only continue to do more.

All of that is said without words, and yet, somehow, it conveys so many more emotions than what we received in the television show. I don’t want to knock out Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced’s acting performances because I still think they are standouts in The Last of Us cast. However, I think the script they were given was clunky at best and disrespectful at worst to the source material.

Having Ellie comment that she thought it would be harder to kill Nora takes away a lot of the subtlety from the characters in the games, and it doesn’t help that it feels as if she doesn’t feel bad whatsoever. I’m not trying to humanize her, but there was just something in the games that added a lot more to this moment, something that didn’t require words.

It Also Worries Me That Ellie Essentially Told Dina What Joel Did In The Hospital

Something else that I wanted to bring up, as a fan of the games, is that Ellie doesn’t tell anyone about what Joel did in that hospital. Not even Dina – as far as we know. It’s never shown in the games. However, she fully reveals it all to Dina at that moment.

It’s that instance that nearly makes them go home, but it also makes me wonder what that means for the future. If Ellie tells more people about what happened now, could that potentially ruin Joel’s memory of Jackson? Could Ellie get in trouble? I don’t know.

It just feels like this moment was ruined by talking, and that’s something I really wish didn’t happen.

I Wish They Kept More Of The Subtlety From The Games

The Last of Us is still a fun TV show. It’s still an HBO series that has got the world talking and remains very popular. But Season 2 really did take away a lot of the subtlety from the games that I wish was still there.

I’m not saying that Season 3 has to be exactly like the games, and I doubt it’s going to go in that direction. But not everything needs to be spoken out. Not everyone needs to have a dramatic emotional moment. There are a few changes to that which I like, such as Joel and that porch scene in Episode 6, which really added more to the character.

But when it comes to situations like this, where words instead harm the character’s arc, that’s where I draw the line. Showing is always better than telling, and for this script, someone needed to do a second pass.

While it’ll undoubtedly be some time before we see The Last of Us Season 3, at least I have these two seasons to rewatch. Or maybe it’s time for another replay of the games. Where is my PlayStation controller?

Of all the big moments that played out during The Last of Us’ hectic Season 2 finale, which itself followed the emotionally crushing Joel-heavy flashback episode, none drew out an impressed “Oooh” out of me the way that Kaitlyn Dever did with her late-stage return as Abby. Not entirely for the way she violently set up the game-referencing cliffhanger — during which Jesse was killed and Ellie and Tommy were threatened — but for the way she oozed Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor vibes from Terminator 2 while also honoring the source material.

When CinemaBlend spoke with The Last of Us’ costume-designing mastermind for Season 2, Ann Foley, I brought up how excited I was to see Abby back in the mix in such a big and broad way. And she told me the personal touch she brought to the character’s finale look, as well as a core detail that ties Abby and Ellie’s stories together.

Ellie And Abby's Clothes Share A Key Detail That Fans May Not Have Picked Up On

In staunch contrast to the bright, eye-grabbing rainbow jacket that Isabela Merced's Dina rocked earlier in Season 2, Dever's Abby is decked out in largely darker colors when she breaches the seemingly safe walls of the theater. When I asked that decision was made to play into fan presumptions that Abby is the "villain" in this story, Ann Foley said:

Those familiar with the video game, and those who just generally have a penchant for empathy, are likely more ready to view Abby as a non-villain than others only experiencing the story through the TV show. But in any case, it's awesome to learn that the show is stitching Abby and Ellie's bleak and violent journeys together through their wardrobes, even if it's not always immediately obvious.

What's more, Foley said she and her team make a point of avoiding a certain color that people generally associate with darkness revenge. In her words:

It's obviously hard to keep the color black out of everything a character wears, but by and large, both Ellie and Abby are shown to be wearing an array of shades and tones that don't go to such dark extremes. But without knowing that detail going into it, one might not immediately catch on.

The Personal Touch Behind Abby's Jacket

Ann Foley, who talked to me about Ellie’s Converses and gorgeous tattoo, brought, talked about knowing how much of a visual highlight Abby's jacket is for gamers, and knowing she had to get it exactly right for live-action. As she put it:

If I ever became a costume designer in Hollywood, the only articles of clothing I'd be able to bring in from my own past would be a couple hundred T-shirts and licensed socks. Not exactly ideal for TV. For promoting a TV show, certainly, but not on the show itself.

Ann Foley shared that one big highlight from her work on Season 2 was seeing Kaitlyn Dever in Abby's full finale regalia saying:

The very end of the Season 2 finale, fans see Danny Ramirez's Manny waking Abby up from napping on a couch, and she emerges to reveal the WLF's massive base of operations set up inside what appears to be Lumen Field, the stadium that the Seattle Seahawks call home. It's the game-changing set up for Season 3, which will follow Dever's character across the same three-day period that covered Ellie and Dina trek.

It's not yet clear when The Last of Us Season 3 will start coming together behind the scenes, so we may once again be waiting nearly two years for new episodes. Until then, be sure to rewatch the first two seasons in their entirety with a Max subscription, with Ann Foley talents and creations on display throughout the second season.

Spoiler Warning: You are about to walk into a story bursting at the seams with spoilers from The Last of Us Season 2. If you aren’t caught up on HBO or with a Max subscription, please turn back now…

I’m not going to lie – I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Last of Us Season 2. From various pacing issues to diversions from the source material to performances that left me wanting more, I kept going back and forth with the 2025 TV show. I’m not mad about it, because it’s just the way things go sometimes. Though I have a lot of issues with the series’ sophomore effort, I can’t sit here and act like Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann didn’t give some of the most perfect TV moments of the year.

Instead of focusing on the bad and going on about The Last of Us Season 2 not being perfect, I’m going to give the show its flowers, at least when it comes to these absolutely stunning scenes that were at times outrageously exciting and others, utterly heart-wrenching.

Joel's Brutal And Heartbreaking Death

Having played The Last of Us Part II when it was first released back in 2020, I knew exactly where the TV adaptation was headed long before Season 2 kicked off. And then the show went there. It actually went there with Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) heartbreaking death at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in the second episode.

Was it pretty? No, much like in the game on which the show is based, the slow, methodical, and brutal killing of the series protagonist was watched with my hands over my mouth. Not in shock, but in awe because Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had the guts to kill off a fan-favorite just as the season was getting started.

The Seattle Tunnel Sequence

Another one of my favorite moments from The Last of Us Season 2 came in the fourth episode, titled “Day One,” where Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) escape a group of WLF soldiers by traveling through the Seattle subway system, which is filled with infected. Though the show made some slight changes to the sequence compared to the game, those deviations actually worked in this case.

The intense gunplay, the sneaking, Ellie revealing to Dina that she’s immune after being beaten during their escape, all of it worked together to create not only a tremendous reimagining of one of my favorite parts of The Last of Us Part II, but also some must-see TV. This episode was my turning point for this season, and I like to think that’s all because of this thrilling and highly emotional series of events.

Joel And Ellie's Birthday Trip To The Museum

The Joel and Ellie story hit new highs and suffered some terrible lows throughout the flashback-heavy The Last of Us Season 2 penultimate episode, “The Price.” Before I drag things down and force everyone reading this (including myself as I write it) to revisit perhaps the second-most traumatic death of the show so far, I have to talk about the absolutely beautiful scene where Joel and Ellie (several years in the past) take a trip to a museum for Ellie’s 16th birthday.

When I first went through this section with The Last of Us Part II, it felt like the 2020 game’s version of the famous giraffe sequence from its predecessor. The beauty, the simplicity, the fact that Joel is still alive and not beaten to a pulp in a lodge overlooking Jackson, and the pure joy were all perfect. I mean, the look on Ellie’s face while wearing the space helmet, acting like she’s an astronaut, worked then, and it works now. It's the show at its best and pure perfection...

Eugene Looking Out At The Lake And Mountains

When I was watching “The Price,” I knew the other shoe was going to drop sooner or later, and that came when Joel encountered Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) while taking Ellie out on her first patrol on her 19th birthday. As soon as the injured Jackson resident lifted his shirt and exposed a bite mark, I had a feeling we were headed towards one of the show’s signature heartbreaking moments. And I was right…

Joel making the decision to kill Eugene before the infection set in was the right call, but how he went about doing it really got to me. Wanting nothing more than to say goodbye to his wife, Eugene begged Joel to hold off a little while longer and not kill him in the wilderness. While that wish was left ungranted, the doomed man’s final moments were astonishing. The peace that overcame him while he came to terms with his fate, the visual of the mountains and lake in front of him, the birds flying away in silence as the gunshot ended his life, all worked together to create a truly unforgettable moment.

Ellie Taking A Boat To The Aquarium

The Last of Us Season 2’s finale was one of the most intense episodes of the season, and one that was filled with one intense moment after another. One of those came partway through the episode when Ellie attempted to reach the Seattle Aquarium in hopes of confronting Abby once and for all. While the two wouldn’t cross paths until later in the episode, the sequence did recreate one of the most memorable scenes from the game. Yeah, I’m talking about that terrifying boat ride.

The way director Nina Lopez-Corrado brought this scene to life in “Convergence” was nothing short of brilliant. The darkness, the storm, the massive waves, the hatred fueling Ellie to push herself to the breaking point, all of it was incredible and a major feat in storytelling. Much like the original level from The Last of Us Part II, I won’t get this out of my head for a long time.

Abby Walking Into Lumen Field In The Season 2 Finale

One thing I’ll never forget from my first playthrough of The Last of Us Part II was shifting from controlling Ellie to Abby following their confrontation in the Seattle theatre. Having no idea going in that I would be playing as a character who had been the main antagonist up to that point was quite jarring, and it appears as if the series will be taking that direction heading into The Last of Us Season 3.

In the final moments of “Convergence,” Abby gets off a couch and walks through the upper hallways of Lumen Field to reveal just how big of a presence the WLF has in Seattle. It was pretty much a shot-for-shot recreation of this moment as Abby walks out of a suite and into the open air to see a massive community down below. All I could think in that moment was “Here we go.”

Who knows how long we’ll have to wait before The Last of Us returns, but these moments, and others like them, will hold me over while I count down the days, weeks, months, and years.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Last Of Us Season 2 finale. Stream it with a Max subscription, and read at your own risk!

The Last Of Us Season 2 is over, and boy, did it end on a cliffhanger that gives us a lot to think about before we see what's happening in Season 3. It's a shame I wasn't more wrapped up in the moment, as I was, unfortunately, doubled over in stitches laughing at what might be the most unintentionally hilarious moments I've seen in a critically acclaimed show in quite a long time.

I'm not sure I've laughed at any show on the 2025 TV schedule the same way I laughed at the final moments of The Last Of Us, which is a bummer, because it wasn't supposed to happen like that. Here's what had me wiping happy tears from my eyes at the end, and needing to rewind the episode so that I could get the proper reminder of just how heavy the ending was.

Ellie's Big Cliffhanger Scene Didn't Land With Me The Way It Should've

I have not played The Last Of Us, so I was completely blindsided by the fact that Ellie would get a gun pulled on her by Abby and potentially die. I have no idea how things will shake out for the character, though I do hope she survives because of the baffling decision that went into how her possible final scene went down.

I don't want to link the actual moment, mainly because of copyright takedowns and because it's still so fresh, but when Ellie screamed "No, no, no" and the scene immediately cut to black, I couldn't help but bust out laughing. Honestly the first thing that came to mind was that reaction meme with Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle panicking while sitting in a chair:

I don't want to think of that, and it's the final memory I have of Bella Ramsey's Ellie, though I suspect the talk about The Last of Us potentially returning for Season 4 means she may stick around long past this moment. This means the character has a chance at redemption, though I can't say the same for HBO, which might now have a new contender for the most awkward scene on one of its shows since the infamous scene transition in The Sopranos.

I Feel Like The Internet Is To Blame For My Broken Sense Of Humor

I feel like The Last Of Us could've used a second pass on such a big moment, especially with the way meme culture works nowadays. While abrupt cuts in filming have been used for powerful cliffhangers in the past, it feels like they're used far more often these days to put an exclamation point on a particularly hilarious moment in a viral video. For example, the video cuts right as someone's head collides with a garage door, or when someone screams.

Believe me, I wish I could have connected with Ellie and Abby's big showdown in the same way I appreciated the return of Joel in the episode prior. Unfortunately, I feel like I'll never be able to appreciate the sheer tension of that scene because it'll forever be tainted by my broken brain and the humor of the internet. Hopefully, I can shake off this feeling before the next season rolls around, and they don't show it in the recap right before I watch the Season 3 premiere.

The Last Of Us Season 2 is available along with Season 1 on HBO Max. I am curious to see if I'm the only one who thought Ellie's big scene was a bit weird, or if others had the same reaction to what should've been a much more powerful moment.

Spoiler Warning: There are some major spoilers for both seasons of The Last of Us below, so be warned if you aren’t all caught up on HBO or with a Max subscription.

After seven physically and emotionally grueling episodes, The Last of Us’ Season 2 finale left audiences on the edge of their seats with that massive cliffhanger involving Bella Ramsey’s Ellie and Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. Now that the show has come and gone from the 2025 TV schedule and the waiting begins for The Last of Us’ Season 3 premiere date, I think I know where the series is going, at least in terms of story.

If it’s anything like the 2020 PlayStation exclusive on which it is based, the upcoming video game adaptation is about to tell the other part of the game’s split narrative, meaning we’re about to see a whole other version of Abby and meet one of the franchise’s most beloved characters, Lev. This well-written and developed character, a trans Seraphite who helps Abby on her journey, is one I cannot wait for the show to introduce, and I have a pretty obvious choice to play them when it returns…

Ian Alexander, Who Played Lev In The Last Of Us Part II, Is A No-Brainer Choice For Season 3

Ian Alexander, a non-binary actor who has appeared on shows like The OA, Star Trek: Discovery, and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, served as the voice and likeness of Lev throughout The Last of Us Part II. Giving one of the game’s most nuanced yet unforgettable performances, Alexander added so much heart and depth to their portrayal of a young Seraphite caught between two worlds.

I think this is a “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” type of situation when it comes to portraying Lev, so having Alexander return for the live-action adaptation of the second half of The Last of Us Part II is a no-brainer. If anything, their growth as an actor since doing the motion-capture work more than half a decade ago would be great to see.

Alexander Has Previously Voiced Their Desire To Play Lev Again

Though Lev didn’t show up in The Last of Us Season 2 (we haven’t gotten to Abby’s side of the story just yet), I’m willing to bet we’ll see the character show up very early on when Season 3 premieres sometime down the road. And whenever the character is finally introduced, Ian Alexander has previously said they would love to reprise one of their most famous roles.

When speaking with Business Insider on the red carpet for the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur premiere back in February 2023, Alexander said their “fingers are crossed” that they would get to reprise their role as the 13-year-old transgender teen shunned by other Seraphites. Now we just need to make this happen.

The Show Has A Brief History Of Having Actors Reprise Their Roles From The Games

Though most of the major characters from the first two seasons of The Last of Us have been played by different actors than in the games, there are a few examples of the actors from the games coming back in the same capacity for the HBO series. In Season 1, Merle Dandridge played Fireflies leader Marlene before the character died in the explosive 2023 finale. Then, the second season saw Jeffrey Wright reprise his role as Isaac, the calm yet cutthroat leader of the W.L.F. (his fate was left unknown).

Interestingly enough, Misty Lee and Phillip Kovats, who provided the motion-capture work for the deadly clickers in The Last of Us games, played infected once more when the show hit the small screen back in 2023.

There are some fears about the future of The Last of Us, especially when it comes to a possible fourth season. However, I cannot wait to see how the next installment unfolds, especially when it comes to the partnership shared by Abby and Lev.

When it comes to Hollywood stars, there’s only a handful of actors who have spoken about being on the autism spectrum. The Last of Us’s Bella Ramsey is helping normalize being part of the community that is estimated to include over 60 million people around the world. After previously opening up about getting their diagnosis while working on the video game adaptation, Ramsey has now shared why they believe having autism helps them with acting.

When the actor was filming Season 1 of The Last of Us, they got their diagnosis after a crew member with an autistic daughter inspired them to get a psychiatric assessment and diagnosis. Once they got their diagnosis, the actor told British Vogue it confirmed something they “always wondered” about.

In Ramsey’s latest interview with Them, here’s how they talked about it further:

In the new interview, it was also explained how the diagnosis detailed how “highly perceptive” they are, which definitely plays into being “hyper-aware” of others’ emotions, micro-expressions and body language.

The Game of Thrones actor previously spoke about how the diagnosis helped them come to terms with feeling out of place in school when they were younger or having sensory issues, such as not being a fan of wearing thermals on set in Canada.

Acting also works well with their autism because being on set plays into their love of routine. Ramsey has called having the diagnosis “freeing,” and it allowed them to “walk through the world with more grace towards” themselves.

Per UCLA Health, research has shown that nearly 80% of people assigned female at birth, in particular, are undiagnosed as of 18. Having a diagnosis is important because it can explain symptoms and offer more resources and support to feel more confident when making friends with one’s autism and going about the world.

Outside of Ramsey’s autism diagnosis, the actor, who is non-binary, has spoken up about their thoughts on gendered awards categories and suddenly getting famous at a young age because of their role in The Last Of Us.

Ramsey’s place on the 2025 TV schedule as the lead of The Last Of Us Season 2 has just ended following the finale of Season 2, but we can’t wait to see what’s next for the 21-year-old Brit.

It’s still a rarity for actors to speak about autism, so certainly more people will read Ramsey’s comments and perhaps be inspired to explore the condition if they can relate to the actor’s story.

Ugh…I hate criticizing things.

I know I’m literally a movie and TV journalist; it’s kind of my job to do that. However, there are specific shows that make me hate when I have negative thoughts, and one of those is certainly HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us.

I’ve written about this show ad nauseam. Like, way too much. But hey, that’s what happens when you believe this is one of the best video game adaptations ever. Recent comments, however, are sounding off alarm bells in my head, and I have to admit, I am very concerned about the state of the future seasons with the possibility of a fourth. Let’s get into it.

I Know That The Creator Said There Would Be A Different Ending

First off, let me say that before I get into why I’m nervous about this, I want to point out that I have heard Neil Druckmann’s comments about the ending to the TV show changing from the game. He said as much in an interview with Variety in May 2025. Honestly, I’m okay with that.

I have been one of the biggest supporters of The Last of Us's changes. From Bill and Frank’s love story in Season 1 to the inclusion of Jackson as a bigger impact on the story in Season 2, all the way to how they are handling Ellie and Dina’s relationship—mostly everything has worked for me.

While there have been some misses for me – I still don’t like how Jesse was reintroduced to the narrative – it’s mainly been good. So I’m all for an ending change. I like the Part 2 ending of the games, but if Druckmann thinks there can be something even better, I’m okay with it.

But I’m Not Too Sure About There Being A Fourth Season

However, I really don’t know if there should be a fourth season.

When Season 3 was confirmed, it made sense. The games really tell a lot of story in Part 2, from the views of two completely different characters, and trying to fit all of that into Season 2, with only seven episodes, would have been next to impossible. So, Season 3, I felt, was a reasonable number of seasons.

However, Druckmann recently said in an interview with Collider in May 2025 that there was “no way” to properly complete the narrative with just Season 3. And I’m really not too entirely sure about that.

Most Of The Story For Ellie Has Been Told

Let’s be real here – if you’ve played the game, you know how it’s split. We get about half of it with Ellie and the other half with Abby, and then we get about an extra two to three hours until the grand finale if you play it all the way through and aren’t looking to expand the story anymore.

Most of Ellie’s story has already been told. We are well into Day 3 with the finale, and I’m sure it’s going to end the same way that it did in the games.

We also know that Season 3 will most likely focus on the Abby side of the story, as Catherine O’Hara stated in an interview with Variety in May 2025. I’m not sure if Season 3 will have the same number of episodes, but it makes me wonder how much they’re going to change in order to fit her story in there.

That brings me to Season 4.

Are They Going To Add More Episodes For More Story Or Drag Out Both Abby And The Last Part?

If they’re going to be adding on a fourth season, does that mean that Abby’s story is going to bleed into the next season? Or are we just going to add a bunch of new stories in order to make Season 4 the same amount of episodes as Seasons 1 through 3?

While I’ve been a fan of the changes, they haven’t inherently changed the entire storyline…but trying to add another season when I feel Season 3 could sum everything up kind of worries me.

I may be overthinking this, but it seems like this is a bad idea. Who knows, though? It could become one of the best decisions HBO ever made, like getting Pedro Pascal as Joel for The Last of Us cast. Only time will tell. For now, I’ll remain cautiously optimistic.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains some major spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2. You can get caught up with a Max subscription if you haven't already.

Let me just get this out of the way: being a parent is tough. More times than not, we’re forced to choose between making a bad decision or an even worse call. We try to do the right thing, even if everyone (including our conscience) tells us it’s wrong. I say all of this because Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller made a tough call in the penultimate episode of The Last of Us Season 2, and I can’t really justify his actions.

Don’t get me wrong, I know the popular 2025 TV show, much like the first season and the video games on which they are based, is about making terrible decisions that no one wants to face, coming to terms with our actions, and then being strong enough to face any and all consequences. I have been defending Joel since first playing the popular PlayStation game more than a decade ago, but he crossed a line in “The Price,” and I can’t quite justify what he did or how he did it.

I Understand And Justify Joel's Decision To Save Ellie From The Fireflies

Ever since I first played “The Firefly Lab,” the final mission in The Last of Us, which was later revisited in the show’s Season 1 finale, I’ve been able to understand and justify Joel’s decision to save Ellie from the Fireflies and prevent them from using her to make a cure (one that may or may not have worked).

Years after losing his own child at the start of the outbreak and then finding himself again after being hired to transport Ellie across the country, he didn’t want to grieve another child. He was blinded by his emotions and selfishness (totally justified, by the way), which led to him making a terrible decision in the grand scheme of things.

Despite that, and despite the work by the Fireflies possibly leading to society turning around and starting a better tomorrow without fear of being infected by cordyceps, I can honestly say that the broken-down smuggler and morally ambiguous father figure did what he thought was right. While some may not be able to side with him in this instance, I did, even before I had children of my own.

Do I agree with him lying to Ellie about it in an attempt to protect the young girl from carrying the weight of knowing she was humanity’s one shot at redemption and that society is pretty much screwed? No, but again, I understand why he made that call before returning to Jackson, even if I don’t totally agree with him.

However, Joel Killing Eugene Like That Crossed The Line

It was a completely different story near the end of The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6, where Joel shot and killed Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) after he and Ellie stumbled upon the injured Jackson resident while out on patrol. One of the many flashbacks featured throughout the highly emotional episode, this sequence further explored the tense relationship between Joel and Ellie, and how events like this led to them growing more and more distant, and not just in a “my daughter is growing up and I don’t know how to relate” kind of way.

Begging, not for his life, but to see his wife one last time before the infection took hold and he was shot, Eugene knew his time was up. He just wanted to have one last good moment before crossing over to the Great Beyond. A simple request was made, but Joel denied it. Instead, he took a different and darker path.

But, Joel killing Eugene is only part of it. Where he really crossed the line was telling Ellie he wouldn’t kill the man before he saw his wife, which was a lie. If that wasn’t bad enough, Joel proceeded to lie to her again on their way to town, attempted to get her to hide the truth from Gail and others, and then lied to Gail (Catherine O’Hara) anyway. If not for Ellie, enraged by the deception and Joel’s poor judgment, spilling the beans, no one would have known, and Eugene’s final moments would have been unknown to everyone else.

I Have Been Trying To Rationalize Joel's Decision, But I Can't

In the minutes, hours, and days since watching Joel kill Eugene, I’ve tried time and time again to make sense of his actions, but I just cannot rationalize his thought process. Someone as experienced with the infected (and watching loved ones slowly turn into ravaged monsters) as Joel should know that his fellow Jackson resident had enough time to make it back to town and see his wife before turning. So, I’m left wondering why. Why did Joel do this? I really don’t know.

You can say he didn’t want to risk Eugene turning right when they made it to town, but even then, Joel, and everyone at the gate could handle one infected. I mean, the big battle in this season’s second episode showed that people are more than capable of handling a massive horde of infected, so one shouldn’t be a problem. You can say he was sticking with protocol. That does make some sense, but Joel has to be more compassionate.

It Did Provide A Lot Of Context For Two Key Relationships, Though

Though I don’t agree with Joel’s decision, the gut-wrenching flashback did provide a great deal of context for two key relationships featured in The Last of Us Season 2. First, we finally got to see why Gail hated Joel so much and was so mean to him in the season’s first episode back in April. In the weeks between the two episodes, we were forced to fill in the blanks and guess what happened to Eugene. I thought it was going to be something bad, but nothing prepared me for what actually happened.

Second, and more importantly, the incident provided another clue to the disintegration of Joel and Ellie’s relationship, and further set up the emotional interaction the two had after the chaos of the New Year’s Eve dance and his shocking and tragic death shortly after. Again, I can’t justify Joel’s choice, but watching it unfold gave me a greater appreciation for the rest of the show.

By the time you’re reading this, The Last of Us Season 2 will have concluded, and the waiting for the show’s third (and possible fourth) season has begun. In the meantime, though, there are still plenty of promising upcoming video game adaptations to hold us over.

Spoilers below for both of The Last of Us’ completed seasons, so be warned if you haven’t yet finished watching on HBO or with a Max subscription.

As The Last of Us’ second season went from development and into the throes of production, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were fairly candid about their plan to split the video game sequel’s massive narrative in half. HBO still waited until the week before Season 2’s big premiere to officially renew the hit series for Season 3, but it’s definitely confirmed as one of many upcoming video game adaptations. And what an exciting season it’ll be.

After that wild Season 2 finale took out a main character (and a couple of others) while putting even more right in harm’s way, The Last of Us will have viewers on their toes wondering about Ellie’s fate for the foreseeable future. But now that the wait is on, we’re keeping track of all the big Season 3 updates while also speculating about story beats and which characters will and won’t be back. So hop on Shimmer’s back and let’s trot through what we know about the third season so far.

When Will The Last Of Us Season 3 Premiere?

With Season 2 having only just concluded, The Last of Us fans will likely be waiting a while to see how the story plays out for everyone still alive in the theater. To date, no plans are officially in place for the production to begin, much less an official release date on HBO.

It's possible new episodes won't arrive until 2027, which would line up with the nearly two-year wait between the first and second seasons. But hopefully the wait won't be quite so long.

Craig Mazin's Plan Has Been To Start Writing Season 3 After Season 2 Ends

In early April, co-showrunner Craig Mazin talked with GamesRadar+ and was, at the time, still neck-deep in making sure all the final details were locked in place ahead of the Season 2 premiere. As such, he wasn't in the most ideal place to start breaking down the story for future episodes. But he did share that he'd be jumping right back to work after a brief period away from his computer, saying:

Hopefully Mazin opens up on social media about when he starts digging down into outlining the new season.

What Will The Last Of Us' Season 3 Story Be About?

While the creative team no doubt has some surprises in store for The Last of Us viewers, there are at least two overarching storylines that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Season 3 will dig into.

Abby's Story

Mirroring the video game's dual narratives. taking place during the same time frame, The Last of Us delivered Ellie's side of this tragic tale in Season 2, with the vast bulk of Abby-centric scenes being held for the third cycle. It's almost a bigger risk to bifurcate things so completely, since it gives TV audiences more time to stew in hatred for the supposed villain, but I've little doubt that the writers will successfully put fans in Abby's shoes quickly enough to somewhat justify her awful actions.

To that end, Mazin and Druckmann will also take viewers deeper into Abby's daily regimen as a trusted soldier under Isaac's WLF leadership, as well as her personal life and relationships with others in her group. Just in case anyone thought that Owen and Mel's deaths in the finale were already tragic enough, there's a lot more backstory to fill out for those two and others.

The War Between The Wolves And The Scars

Once Jeffrey Wright's callous and intimidating Isaac was introduced in Episode 204, I assumed the TV series would give viewers some kind of bullet-pointed exposition giving context to the ongoing conflict between the militant WLF soldiers and the cult-like Seraphites. But in the podcast episode that followed "Day One," Craig Mazin explained that Season 3 will provide answers to such questions, and that worries about not being renewed fed into the decision to hold off on those details entirely.

I can't wait to see where that journey into the heart of darkness goes, although I realize it's going to be as unpleasant as this show gets. With Isaac leading dozens of Wolves to their assumed doom specifically to destroy the Seraphites' island community, one can be sure this didn't all start over something inconsequential.

The Last Of Us Characters And Cast Members Most Likely To Return In Season 3

Ellie (Bella Ramsey) & Dina (Isabela Merced) - Alive, Presumed Alive

• I think we can all agree that this duo is the most obvious pair of characters destined to be back on the small screen for The Last of Us Season 3, so it's not really worth going into the reasons why it's logical, even if we didn't see where Dina was after Abby breached the theater.

Joel (Pedro Pascal) - Beaten And Stabbed To Death By Abby

• While it definitely seemed like Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann utilized the bulk of the games' Joel-centric flashbacks in Season 2's penultimate episode, I can't help but feel like the co-creators will continue giving viewers emotional pops that coincide with Ellie's memories, or perhaps even Abby's nightmares.

Tommy (Gabriel Luna) & Maria (Rutina Wesley) - Alive, Alive

• While Maria's safety isn't in question by the end of Season 2, Tommy being at the end of Abby's gun barrel is not the happiest situation for the character. That said, he didn't appear to be fatally wounded in those final moments, and it didn't appear as if Abby's final gunshot was meant for his head.

Jesse (Young Mazino) - Shot To Death By Abby

• Honestly, I don't expect Jesse to get a ton of extra scenes in Season 3, and while it would be good to see more from him and DIna in private, I really only expect to see Jesse return whenever the show returns to that final scene from Abby's point of view. A sad reason to have the actor back on set, but still.

Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) - Alive

• Considering Season 2 ends with her likely aiming to put a bullet between Ellie's eyes, I'd say the chances are higher than Gail that Abby will return almost immediately when Season 3 kicks off.

Owen (Spencer Lord) & Mel (Ariela Barer) - Both Killed By Ellie

Despite being taken out of the story rather unceremoniously in the midst of the confrontation with Ellie, Owen and Mel's personal stories have yet to be explored, so I can only imagine that they'll get even deeper backstories that help make their eventual doomed fates all the more gut-wrenching to witness.

Nora (Tati Gabrielle) - Presumed Dead

As the first in Abby's group to get picked off in the game, Nora doesn't necessarily have the most interesting history to explore for the TV series, but Tati Gabrielle's performance in the back half of "Feel Her Love" was so excellent, I can't imagine we won't get a few heartbreaking details from her past to think about.

Manny (Danny Ramirez) - Presumed Alive

Manny is the only core member of Abby's group whose fate isn't explored by the Season 2 finale, as he wasn't seen again beyond his appearance in "Day One." So it would be baffling if this character didn't show up again before the end of the season.

Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) - Presumed Alive

The WLF's rather sadistic leader has yet to have his actions explored or explained for audiences, so I'm waiting for Season 3 to dig into Isaac's twisted outlook and what the ongoing conflict between the soldiers and the Seraphites is all about in the HBO series' lore. And I'm assuming Isaac will still have his loyal second banana Burton (Ben Ahlers) around.

The Last Of Us Characters And Cast Members Least Likely To Return In Season 3

Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) - Shot To Death By Joel

• As much as I'd love to witness a scene where Joey Pants and Catherine O'Hara were actually on-screen together as married couple Eugene and Gail, I don't see the need for him to return after such an emotionally gripping guest spot in "The Price."

Gail (Catherine O'Hara) - Alive

I'm not 100% convinced that we won't see Gail again in Season 3, because I think we can all agree it would be a TV sin to get rid of Catherine O'Hara without a reason. But if Abby's group gets the bulk of the screentime in Season 3, I'm not sure how much time would need to be spent with Gail now that we've seen Eugene's death play out. Plus, Catherine O'Hara shared with Variety that Mazin told her she wouldn't be back in Season 3.

Javier Miller (Tony Dalton) - Fate Unknown, Presumed Dead

Considering Joel's family history didn't extend beyond Sarah and Tommy in the video games, the TV series introduced the Miller boys' father as a self-aware abuser hoping for Joel to break the genetic cycle of violence. His lone scene was key to exploring Joel's surrogate-father mindset in "The Price," but he likely won't be required for any future introspective flashbacks.

Seth (Robert John Burke) - Alive

For all that I'm holding out hope to see more from Maria and Gail, I can't imagine The Last of Us will give the bigoted service worker yet another chance to partially redeem himself for his slurred rudeness and Ellie and Dina kissed.

Season 3 Likely Won't Be The Final Season

With a post-apocalyptic show like The Walking Dead spanning eleven seasons and a wide variety of spinoffs, one might think The Last of Us would be similarly geared for an extended run, but that's not at all the gameplan for this universe. Mazin and Druckman have stated in interviews that they don't want to make the Game of Thrones mistake of taking the live-action adaptation beyond the previously existing story.

Without a third video game in the works yet, or even fully confirmed to one day exist, the implication would be that the TV show would need to wrap it up after the events of the second game have been adapted in full. And yet...

Craig Mazin shared with Collider that he doesn't think the creative team will be able to properly fit the rest of the game's story into the third season, even if it ends up being longer than the second. In his words:

So there's a chance that Season 3 will end on the exact same cliffhanger, just from a different perspective. I hope that won't be the case, but it certainly seems possible.

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t watching The Last of Us’ Season 2 finale airing on HBO or streaming it with a Max subscription, so be warned!

Welp, just six weeks after The Last of Us returned for its heart-eviscerating second season, we’ve already arrived at the finale. I feel like there should be blame to throw around for not matching its predecessor’s nine-episode count, but that’s just how co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann decided to split the story at the heart of the source material. Regardless, I’m just all-around not ready for this show to take another 20-month absence before Season 3 arrives. (Here's what we know about Season 3 so far.)

But that's enough whinging about the future when I'm here to focus entirely on the present for my final Last of Us Season 2 live blog. (Unless, of course, HBO reveals a super-secret eighth episode is airing next week.) Check out all of my previous entries below.

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 5 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 6 Watchalong

The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale Live Blog Starts Here

First and foremost, a big thanks to all of YOU for showing up week after week, with the same amount of thankful grace shown to anyone who’s following along for the first time. I can appreciate the irony in jumping on board right when the ride is ending. What a ride I’m expecting it to be.

Before the festivities kick off, here are a few anti-predictions for what I definitely don’t expect to happen during the episode:

1. Ellie will find Abby and before they can fight, they both bond really hardcore over a shared love of ‘90s grunge rock.
2. Tommy will wear a totally faded shirt that wouldn’t stick out against any background.
3. Jesse will be totally cool with every aspect of Ellie and Dina’s burgeoning relationship and won’t say anything harsh.
4. TV’s first Clicker-on-Clicker sex scene, coinciding with TV’s last Clicker-on-Clicker sex scene.

No Cold Open

Considering most cold opens end on a somber note that the opening titles serve to punctuate, I guess it’s a positive thing that the finale is just getting straight into the meat of it all. Coulda used another smack of Pedro Pascal’s Joel, especially after seeing the return of the single figure at the end. Sigh.

Dr. Jesse Operates On Dina’s Gnarly Leg Wound

It’s bonkers to me that Jesse and Dina traveled all the way back to the theater before doing something about the arrow in her leg. I understand why they had to hoof it, of course, but I’m not sure my own body would have followed suit so successfully. Also, is it a bad omen that Dina starts this episode off saying Jesse can't let her die? I choose to say no.

If only all doctors told their patients to shut up and drink alcohol before an operation. Surely Jesse is wondering why Dina would refuse the booze, right?

I gotta say, the sound of the arrow being pushed through the back of Dina’s leg would be enough to get me to down a shot or two, even if I was pregnant. (Considering I’m male, the leg wound wouldn’t be the one topping the list of medical anomalies.) I now feel bad for Isabela Merced having to act with Dina’s wound for the rest of the episode and beyond.

A Shimmer Reference!

Fans have been waiting for an update about Ellie’s horse since the old gal was left behind in the record shop to munch on some grass. Although I’m not sure if it counts that Jesse namechecked the animal as a form of security to make sure it was Ellie banging on the door.

• “Shimmer. I’m alone. Open the fucking door!” - Ellie, alone and wet and horseless

Still no actual update though...

Dina Cleanses Ellie's Wounds And Soul

Though they haven't been away from each other for that long, quite a lot transpired since Ellie and Dina were in the same space. And bless Dina for her first move to be to take care of Ellie, already letting the motherly feelings set in.

Also, holy fuck, Ellie's back.

Ellie comes clean about what happened with Nora after I initially thought she'd lie about it, reflecting Joel's lies to Gail about Eugene. She says she left Nora for dead, which is probably the truth, though she doesn't mention the spores at all. Still, this confession was enough.

• “I made her talk. I thought it would be harder to do, but it wasn’t. It was easy. I just kept hurting her.” - Repentant Ellie

Ellie then comes clean and gives Dina the TLDR version of events that led to Abby murdering Joel, confirming that she took a trip out to Salt Lake City and learned what Joel did to Abby's father. I wasn't even sure if Ellie was telling Nora the truth in saying she knew what Joel did, but this brings the story closer to the game's version of events.

"I knew" could become the newest version of "You swore."

Dina Gives Ellie THE BRACELET

It's unclear whether or not the bracelet will come up again in this particular finale, but anyone watching who didn't play the games should keep an eye on Ellie's wrist in future episodes. It may not be quite as meaningful as Joel's watch, but give it time.

SHIMMER LIVES!!!

Aw hell yeah, Jesse, for this update:

• "We followed the likeliest path into the city. Found the place you stashed Shimmer. She’s still there doing alright, not that you asked." - Jesse, not horsing around

Three cheers!

Everything Changing Doesn't Have To Change Things

Ellie may have grown up a lot since her time as a 14-year-old, but one talk with Jesse is a quick reminder that she has a long way to go still.

Jesse is indeed all clued in about Dina's pregnancy, which he tricked Ellie into admitting, and is going forward with the knowledge that he needs to survive long enough to make sure Dina and his kid make it back to safety. Because that kind of plan goes REALLY WELL in this universe.

Jesse Doomed Himself, Didn't He?

As soon as Jesse says the words "I'm not dying" in any context, it kinda sealed his doom in my mind. One can hope for the better, but one doesn't get to take amoral stances on children getting killed by WLF soldiers right after talking about wanting to keep his unborn child safe. Something doesn't add up there, Jesse.

Costco Cameo!

I love that this wasn't just a generically named store, and is 100% a Costco.

Abby Is Isaac's WLF Successor

Abby's importance within the WLF is set up pretty well here, and without really putting a bow on it. Elise initially suspects Isaac is horned up for Abby, but soon learns of Isaac's other plans for the future, involving the possible death of all his soldiers on what sounds like a dangerous mission.

Grover Cameo!

One of my favorite books of all time is The Monster at the End of This Book. I still have my original softcover, as well as the newer version bought for my daughters. The Last of Us won my heart once more when Ellie picked that book up. We're all the monsters here.

Jesse Is Maria's Jackson Successor (I.E. Saint Jesse Of Wyoming Is Super-Doomed)

I love that Jesse and Ellie's heartfelt conversation happens in the bookstore that looks so close to the game's version.

Jesse's attempt to once again school Ellie in responsibilities was met with this hilarious reaction:

• “Oookay. Got it. So you’re St. Jesse of Wyoming, and everyone else is a fucking asshole.” - Ellie on a pedestal

Bwahahaha.

The Truth About Jesse's Vote

Aha! After the episde in which Ellie sought to get assistance on her revenge quest, she was voted down by Jackson's city council, and it wasn't clear at the time who voted for or against Ellie. Now we know that Jesse was one of the dissenting votes. And we know that Ellie did not take that news very lightly, nor did she buy into his community-based defense.

• "Fuck the community! You let a kid die today Jesse. Because why, because he wasn’t in your community?" - Ellie, still on a rampage

Can't blame her for immediately invoking Joel's memory there. Read the room, Jesse, especially after you were just in a bookstore.

So Many WLF Soldiers Going On This Mission

Remember when Dina and Ellie were in that one building with all the stalkers, and they realized they were surrounded by way more of them than they expected? That's exactly what it was like to see all those boat lights come on just as Ellie was about to make her presence known via gunshots.

Isaac is not fucking around here. I hope this wasn't the last we see of Jeffrey Wright.

Ellie Doomed Boat Ride

I get why Ellie felt the need to go out in the worst elements possible, but that massive wave was a good indicator of why she should have reconsidered it a few dozen times.

But wait, what shore did she wash up on?

Is Ellie's Hanging A Game Swap?

The video game features a key sequence where Abby is discovered by Seraphites and strung up by rope in a way that's pretty similar to what happens with Ellie in the TV show. It's also a point where another pair of very important characters are introduced, which doesn't happen here.

And no one even dies during the scene, as the Scars are distracted by the wave of destruction happening elsewhere on the island. And then Ellie gets back in her boat and makes it to the other island without issue. So....I don't know if I understand the decisions made here.

Ellie Enters The Aquarium

The aquarium where Owen and Mel are holed up is a vital location in the game, and will no doubt be explored way more in Season 3. Because we only get to see it in the darkness here, with a cold and wet Ellie skulking around. Still, I do love those jellyfish decorations and the hanging sharks.

I kept an eye out for targets in the main room, but didn't see anything.

R.I.P. Owen And Mel

Ellie finds Owen and Mel talking about leaving, with Abby's location being discussed. We'll no doubt learn more about that at a later date. But it means nothing for now, because Owen's stupid move to go for a weapon instead of show Ellie his map got him shot in the throat.

Not only that, but the bullet exited cleanly enough to nick the side of Mel's throat, and it's immediately clear that she's a goner. What isn't quite clear yet is that Mel is pregnant, presumably with Owen's child.

In what will likely go down as one of this show's Top 5 Most Heartbreaking Scenes, Mel attempts to direct Ellie through delivering the baby before she dies, and isn't capable of understanding that Ellie is panicking and not actually helping.

• "is it out?" - Mel, destroying my soul

Ellie seems to be way more destroyed by this turn of events than she expected, since she only aimed to kill Abby in the same way Abby aimed directly for Joel. The way Bella Ramsey's voice broke on the line "I'm not like you" was everything. What a tragic goddamned scene.

Tommy And Jesse Rescue Ellie Once More

Tommy's attempt to make Ellie feel better doesn't really do that, and only speaks to the heinous lack of innocence in this universe.

• “They were part of it too. They made their choices. That’s all there is to it.” - Cold, Hard Tommy

If only it was that easy, Tommy.

R.I.P. Jesse

Even with all the foreshadowing, seeing Jesse get shot and put down with such quickness was still a jolt to all my nerve endings. And there's no questioning whether he survived this one, either.

Abby's Back, Motherfuckers

Anyone wondering where Abby's been needs not wonder anymore. The episode's current-day timeline ends with Jesse dead on the floor, Tommy still alive on the floor at gunpoint, and Ellie potentially at the receiving end of Abby's final gunshot.

• "I let you live. I let you live, and you wasted it!" - Abby as Terminator's Sarah Connor

Kaitlyn Dever looks so damned cool in this scene, man. I know we're supposed to be all against Abby and everything, but how can I hate someone that oozes badassery like that?

Another Fun Book Cameo

The mini-flashback kicks off with Abby waking up on a couch while prominently holding a book titled Thieves of the City, as written by Ben Davidoff. That title and author are actually a nod to the real-life historical fiction novel City of Thieves by former Game of Thrones co-showrunner David Benioff.

Fun Fact: The Last of Us Part II’s key character Lev, who has yet to be introduced in live-action, was named in part after the main character Lev in Benioff’s novel.

Return To Day One - Abby's Version

After all the darkness, rain and run-down indoor spaces that marked Ellie and Dina's trip to Seattle, The Last of Us' second season finale ends on a wildly bright note as Abby walks outside to the WLF's main compound, which fills up a literal football stadium, with tons of military buildings, farm crops and more makeshift settlement elements taking up the bulk of what appears to be Lumen Field.

Interestingly, the stadium opened in 2002, so the Seahawks would have only played a single season there before the world went kablooey with cordyceps the next year. I'd love to know how much research went into this part of the live-action series.

"Convergence" Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Monsters At The End Of This Live Blog

It'll take a bit for me to properly assess what I think about the pacing and episode order of Season 2, but I can't deny that this show takes me on an emotional ride like few others. Even when I already know that huge characters deaths are around the corner, my insides still turn into a neurotic butterfly convention at various points in each episode. So even if all seven episodes in a row might give me cause to nitpick, thinking about each ep individually is easier on the brain.

As a finale, "Convergence" taps into certain cliffhanger frustrations, and the thought that we might be waiting most of Season 3 to learn what happens in the aftermath of that final scene is agony to consider.

But given the unique nature of Season 3 exploring the backstories of Abby and her group, this finale sets up some pretty tragic outcomes that will be interesting to get more context for in later episodes. It's not the normal way for TV storytelling to work, and I'm confident this creative team can make it work in live-action despite TV audiences having to wait so long to learn what happens next, while gamers just needed to keep playing.

Thank You For Following Along

Covering The Last of Us Season 2 was in some ways just as fun as playing it and watching it, even if the stress level was a bit higher. So I once again thank everyone for reading along week to week! Let's all meet up again for Season 3, shall we? Just remember to bring food and supplies, unlike Ellie.

Mild spoilers below for those who haven’t caught up on The Last of Us via Max subscription.

HBO’s The Last of Us has often proven its potential as a blueprint for upcoming video game adaptations, with co-creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin’s creative team knowing when to strictly adhere to the source material and when to change up key moments and explore areas the games couldn’t. Bella Ramsey understandably doesn’t look precisely like pixelated Ellie from head to toe, but they are rocking a lot of wardrobe elements crafted with such fidelity in mind, with costume designer Ann Foley leading that charge in Season 2.

I was excited to talk to Ann Foley about bringing Ellie’s look to life as she aged up throughout the years since Season 1’s tragic events. In particular, she talked about giving Ellie’s Converse sneakers — a look core to the game character — a completely unique look thanks to Ramsey’s involvement, as well as being able to show off the beloved character’s scar-covering tattoo.

Bella Ramsey’s Converses Are More Special Than Audiences Might Realize

In the Last of Us games, Ellie sticks with her signature sneaks to the point where it became something of a joke to think about her surviving for so many years wearing only Converses instead of a variety of more heavy-duty boots. After taking on costuming duties for Season 2, Ann Foley made a point to ensure that the shoes fans saw on screen this season were more than just a bare-bones reference.

To that end, when I asked about the element Foley was most proud of from working on the seven episodes, she brought those up directly, saying:

While peeping out Ellie’s journaling perhaps isn’t the most rewarding for gamers more enthralled by burning bloaters with flamethrowers, both the written and illustrated entries provide more ways to understand the character’s worldview and the beauty she finds in her surroundings. To Foley, it also represented another great way to meld the characters. She continued:

Because it’s the kind of visual flair that doesn’t get extended close-ups during the episodes before Dina convinces Ellie to ditch the shoes, Foley made sure to provide a place where viewers could get a closer look at the doodles, even if we might never know what inspired them. As she put it:

Considering she played a big part in making them unique to the TV show, I asked Foley if she was able to keep a pair of the Converses, and was sad to hear this as her answer:

If there are that many, at least one pair should go in a museum, and one should go in Ann Foley's closet.

Ann Foley On Using Silhouettes To Show Ellie's Aging And Showing Off Her Tattoo

Episode 6, “The Price,” was such an emotional ride, not just for Joe Pantoliano’s magnificent guest role, but also for the truncated evolution of Joel and Ellie’s relationship in the years between the Salt Lake City massacre and Joel’s brutal demise. Fans were able to watch Ellie grow up, as it were, with Ann Foley’s team doing a lot of legwork to make those year-to-year transitions feel legitimate.

When I asked about Ellie’s look changing and her repeated urge to wear short sleeves again, the costumer designer spoke to the challenges of representing those highly formative years of someone’s life, saying:

Similar to how Stalkers and Clickers and others TLoU creatures can be identified through silhouette alone, Foley made sure that each mini-era of Ellie’s teenage years could be identified in the same way. She explained:

Obviously everyone is different, but Foley hit the nail on the head there for a vast swath of my friend group in high school. I never lost my appreciation for baggy jeans, but I can’t imagine they would be a big help when trying to run away from grabby monsters in the rain.

Ann Foley also spoke to going shorter with the sleeve lengths with Ellie in the flashbacks that introduced her tattoo, as well as in key moments during the present timeline when the elements weren’t a problem.

Another fantastic look that Foley talked more in depth about on her Instagram page was Ellie’s straight-from-the-game look during her birthday trip to the natural history museum, and how they hand-crafted the striped shirt. As excellent as that sequence was all-around, from the dinosaur statue to the blast-off, I don’t think it would have hit as hard for me if Ellie would have been wearing a band T-shirt or something monochromatic.

The Last of Us Season 2 comes to a close on HBO on May 25 at 9:00 p.m. What will YOU be wearing when it all goes down? Wait, no, that didn’t come out right…

SPOILER WARNING: The following article dives deep into two of the most important moments from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6. If you have not yet used your Max subscription to catch up on the apocalypse, I recommend you make like a survivor approaching an abandoned building and proceed with caution.

I am not much of a gamer, but as a fan of zombie movies, I was very excited for the debut of HBO’s series adaptation of the PlayStation hit, The Last of Us, and I can certainly say I have not been disappointed. That being said, I could not say the apocalyptic TV show had a personally emotional effect on me… until I saw the sixth episode of Season 2, “The Price.”

Not only can I confidently say that no program on the 2025 TV schedule (or in any recent year that I can think of) has left me as shaken as The Last of Us with this particular episode, which consists of flashbacks that bridge the gap between seasons. No other episode of this show has left me in such a state of heartbreak and lasting ponderance, which is really saying something when you consider how this show thrives on tragedy. Allow me to explain why it took this long for the series to break me.

As A Married Man, Eugene Pleading With Joel To See Gail Had Me In Tears

One of the most talked-about moments from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6, sees Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) come across a bitten Eugene (Joe Pantoliano). Joel promises him and Ellie that he will wait for her to come back and bring the ailing man to Jackson to see his wife, the local therapist Gail (Catherine O’Hara, who cried a lot while filming this episode), one last time. Unfortunately, Joel breaks that promise and shoots the man dead before Ellie returns.

“Joey Pants” makes a great case for his second Emmy (which he previously won after shaking up the cast of The Sopranos in Season 3) with this despairing performance that, quite frankly, I am not sure would have had as much of an effect on me if I were not married. Hearing him respond to Joel’s promise that he would deliver his last words for Gail with, “No, I need her last words for me!” and begging for her face to be the last thing he sees really got to me because I would be pleading the same. For my wife to be the last thing I see before I pass is all I can hope for, too.

Joel's Line About Parenting Spoke To My Personal Fears

I could have never anticipated that, after witnessing Eugene’s devastating final plea (a welcome change from the Last of Us video games, from what I hear), “The Price” would tap into my emotions any further. Lo and behold, I was wrecked by the final scene, when Ellie confronts Joel about ruining the chance for a Cordyceps cure by rescuing her from the Fireflies, and he explains he did it out of love for her and would do it again if given the chance. What really did me in was when he tells his surrogate daughter that, if she has children of her own, he hopes she does “a little bit better than me,” echoing his own father’s words from the cold open.

At the moment I write this, I am not a parent, but my wife and I intend to have children sometime soon, and yet, to be perfectly candid, the idea of bringing a child into this world terrifies me. Clearly, I have less hazardous circumstances to contend with than Joel did (and I pray it stays that way), but I nonetheless agonize over, not just keeping my children safe, but also doing right by them in a just manner. Thankfully, Ellie’s admission that she would be willing to try to forgive Joel for his actions gave me hope that, as long as my approach to parenting comes from a place of love, we will be all right.

Inevitably, I have found many reasons to compare this series to a show similar to The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, and even found a similarity between Joel’s murder and another tragic character death. However, that hit series never got to me like this show has for the reasons above. So, for my money, The Last of Us reigns as TV’s superior zombie apocalypse series for now.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Last Of Us Season 2. Stream the season with a Max subscription, and read at your own risk!

We're reaching the end of The Last Of Us Season 2, and I can't blame anyone who is still reeling from the brutal death of Pedro Pascal's Joel. It, without a doubt, deserves inclusion on CinemaBlend's list for character deaths that broke our hearts, and I'm saying that as someone with no personal connection to the actor. As such, it was fascinating to hear how his sister felt about watching that scene, and I'm not suprised she felt the same way as everyone else.

Lux Pascal was recently asked at a red carpet event about her brother's big scene on The Last Of Us, she wasn't thrilled to watch Season 2. I don't imagine many went back and watched the scene with a Max subscription, but I don't think Pedro Pascal's sister will be among those that did based on her reaction from watching it the first time (via remezcla):

I totally understand this, and can't imagine what it would be like to witness any of my love ones in a scene as brutal as that. Even if it is fake, and you know it's fake, it still looks incredibly real! It was triggering enough to watch as a fan of The Last Of Us, I can't imagine how much worse it gets when you're related to the actor in the role.

That being said, this is not the first time that Lux Pascal has had to watch her brother die onscreen. It wasn't that long ago that we saw the HBO star suffer a gruesome death on Game Of Thrones. Pascal made mention of that as she continued to talk about it, and mentioned a couple another movie where she had to see her brother die:

It was quite a way to be caught off-guard by in The Last Of Us Season 2, as we continue to watch Ellie try to exact revenge on the people responsible for killing Joel. The death had the knife twisted further in the latest episode when it was revealed that Joel confessed to her what he'd done ahead of his death, and they were on the road to working through their troubles.

I don't know if knowing Ellie was fully aware of Joel's lie before his death helped her come to terms with seeing it on The Last Of Us, but it certainly helped make the death a little less tragic. At least Ellie knows she's avenging him knowing the full scope of what he'd done, rather than being surprised at the very end.

That said, as someone who has not played the video games, I have no idea how The Last Of Us Season 2 will end. I would love to see Ellie get her revenge, but I think it's going to come at a cost especially with her being so deep into unfamiliar territory. Ellie isn't afraid to get in over her head, but I seriously doubt her ability to get out of this situation alive at this point.

We will see what happens as The Last Of Us airs its Season 2 finale on HBO on Sunday, May 25th at 9:00 p.m. ET. Hopefully I'm not throwing things like Pedro Pascal's sister after watching it, but I'm not making any promises!

Alright, here we go again, another week, another commentary on The Last of Us – but this time, I have to talk about Joel and Ellie specifically.

With The Last of Us back with Season 2 on HBO, there are a lot of changes and moments that have truly made this season stand out. From the iconic second episode death to Jesse’s arrival in Seattle, to Jackson becoming a bigger part of the franchise, there’s been a lot to take note of and admire.

However, one thing that hasn’t changed that much is how excellent Joel and Ellie’s relationship is and yet the show just made it that much better.

Joel And Ellie’s Story Has Always Been Great

I’m the kind of person who eats up certain tropes in any kind of movie/TV show instantly because I am so basic. One is always a grumpy figure taking on a parental role and then loving the kid more than life itself. It’s been done time and time again, but hey, I’m a sucker for it.

However, Joel and Ellie feel so authentic that they have, hands down, become my favorites since I played the games and have only continued to grow on me. In the show, their relationship is amplified a lot by the incredible acting from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, but it’s always been great. Their chemistry is off the charts.

But, the latest episode really took it to another level, and I have to talk about it.

But That Moment Of His Backstory Added So Much

We never got Joel’s backstory in The Last of Us games. Ever. The first game probably would have been the place to tell it, and of course, in Part 2, we didn’t really get a lot of him, so it makes sense. But seeing that small flashback—of him with his father and his dad hoping that he would do better as a father one day than him—is an absolute gut punch.

Because, while Pascal is an amazing Joel, he’s not like the game's Joel. To me, he is better because we truly see the emotion and love that he has for Ellie, the pain behind his decisions, and the tough choices he has made. That additional context – including that he had an abusive father – makes the portrayal mean so much.

Joel's Reaction To Ellie Growing Up And Rebelling Made Their Porch Scene Hit That Much Harder

Then there are also the aspects of watching Ellie grow up. We do get flashbacks in the game—including that incredible birthday scene we see in the show—but it wasn’t nearly as much as we got on TV. We truly watched Joel become a father again, allow himself to become vulnerable, and love Ellie like she was his own, all the way up until his death.

We saw him watch her become a teenager and then a young woman, trying to accept who she is and grow as a person. We saw him make terrible choices that led to their division. We saw everything. And, then we saw him say, “I love you.”

Joel never said “I love you” in the games.

When I tell you, I absolutely started to sob my eyes out. I did. It was everything I needed from their relationship that I didn’t even know I needed. I thought the games had satisfied that part of me, but no – this show did. Now it’s only further cemented itself as one of the best video game adaptations ever. This is how you magnify a character’s traits, dissect them, and turn them into a masterpiece of storytelling. I’m in awe and have no complaints.

I only wish I had more time with these two.

We know that The Last of Us Season 3 is confirmed, and the Ellie vs Abby story will continue. But man, I’m going to miss these moments with Joel. If this is truly the end of Pedro Pascal’s version of him…then what a ride, and thank you for somehow making me love these two characters even more.

It’s scary how much AI-generated imagery is advancing these days. We’ve gone from making barely recognizable images only a few years ago to more recent creations like the Harry Potter cast as Disney characters or the Friends cast as gym rats that almost pull themselves out of the “Uncanny Valley.” I’m usually someone who isn’t down for these types of things. However, I can’t stop watching this AI video reimagining The Last of Us as a gritty ‘80s horror flick.

After spending too much time with all the Last of Us Season 2 discourse online since the show returned to the 2025 TV schedule in April, I was honestly excited when I stumbled upon this video by YouTuber Sora AI. The content creator takes the original game and makes it look like some of the best horror movies with its grittiness and AI-generated imagery. I’ll discuss it further after the jump:

Seriously, how great does this video look? Unlike the current season of The Last of Us, which looks way too clean, this nearly two-and-a-half-minute video is dirty, gritty, sweaty and terrifying as all hell. Those sound effects, the droning music track and the off-putting visuals all create an experience that is both unique and wholly familiar.

It’s wild watching scenes like the chaotic and harrowing opening sequence, Joel and Ellie confronting an irate Bill in his walled-off city and the big showdown with the Fireflies, made to look like something out of one of George A. Romero’s best movies. In fact, there were times when I had to remind myself that this wasn’t a young Cailee Spaeny playing Ellie but instead the creation of some generative AI program.

This Whole Video Is Great, But Two Moments Stand Out The Most

While the whole AI-generated reimagining of The Last of Us is absolutely terrifying and moody as hell, there are two moments stand out the most. One sent a shiver down my spine and the other my my heart sink.

I’m not saying The Last of Us Season 1 didn’t do a good job of recreating the winter portion of the game with its version of David (Scott Shepherd). Nevertheless, this AI video brings the character’s villainy and creepiness out incredibly in only a few seconds. That grin, those dead eyes, and unsettling body language send a shiver down my spine.

Moments earlier, the video introduces Henry and Sam, two of the most tragic characters from the first game and first season of TLoU. The shots of a young Sam playing with a Transformers-like toy and Henry putting his hands in the air are so lifelike, so detailed, and so tragic, especially knowing how their tragic stories end.

Though I’m still not fully down with everything people are doing with AI these days, these little videos are fun to watch and even more fun to talk about. If you want to say up with the conversation about The Last of Us Season 2, you may want to get caught up by watching all available episodes with a Max subscription before the big Season 2 finale hits HBO on Sunday, May 25th at 9 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t watching The Last of Us’ latest episode airing on HBO or streaming with a Max subscription, so be warned!

Five episodes into The Last of Us’ second season, and the wrecked feelings stemming from Joel’s face-squelchingly brutal murder were just finally settling into their respective brain holes, and then along came those gut-wrenching final moments from “Feel Her Love.” Of course, Ellie’s last-second memory of Pedro Pascal’s Joel not only had fans weeping, but also set up this week’s flashback-filled return to the fan-adored Joel-n-Ellie dynamic, so I can’t be too upset about it.

As it’s gone for the majority of Season 2’s installments hitting the 2025 TV schedule, I’m settling in once more to share my reactions for Episode 6 as they’re happening live. We can only hope that I won’t have to mention more than one snot bubble forming from sobbing over one reflective Joel moment or another. If there’s only one snot bubble, I can deal. Before saddling up and riding out, be sure to check out all of my previous efforts below.

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 5 Watchalong

UPDATE: I also reacted to The Last of Us' Season 2 finale promo, which can be found below the live blog posts.

Episode 6 Live Blog Starts Here

Welcome, The Last of Us fans, to the dual experience of watching this week’s episode "The Price" while also wading through the sludge factory that encompasses both my emotional center and my sense of humor. I appreciate you as much as I appreciate Dina’s endlessly immaculate hair; which is to say, lots ‘n’ lots.

As we wait the few minutes for the episode to begin, here are a few hopeful predictions I've had bouncing around.

• That the museum scene is amazing.
• That the museum scene is amazing.
• Oh, and for the museum scene to be amazing.

Perhaps there is a pattern to be sensed here. Onto the episode!

The Flashback Before The Flashbacks

Holee molee, before The Last of Us could even give audiences Pedro Pascal living and breathing as Joel again, it delivered a look into the Austin native's distant past. WITH TONY DALTON AS HIS DAD., "J. Miller."

Joel clearly experienced an abusive childhood, and Dalton is almost too charismatic an actor to make me buy into this scene. He's a dude that Joel both thinks is going to beat Tommy for petty crimes, probably logically, but he's also someone who will offer up a beer and introspective advice soon after?

• "I'm doing a little better than my father did. And you know, when it's your turn, I hope you do a little better than me." - Joel's Abusive But Also Weirdly Practical Dad

It's a good line. It's a good line.

Joel And Ellie In The Opening Credits Again

I love that this episode reverted back to a pair of survivors in the opening credits.

Joel Is Just Like The Best Surrogate Dad

Carving a bone to fit a custom guitar has to count as a win in the parent department, right? Also, this moth etching? Gorgeous.

And then his reaction to Ellie's pain after having burned the shit out of her arm as a way to hide her bite scars?

• "Easy, baby girl, easy." - Joel, breaking my heart

I think all my heartstrings are already knotted together and are being yanked all as one.

Happy Birthday, Ellie, But With A Better Song

It's a good thing Seth baked Ellie's cake years before he knew she would one day earn his for her sexuality. He still fucked the cake up, though. At least the message, if not the flavor.

I want to live in Ellie's happiness right here.

Oh no. Wait, let's go back to the happiness of Ellie's cake face! I can't take this song in live-action.

[gulp]

Pedro Pascal's performance was as vulnerable as the lyrics were. And Ellie said a mouthful with her reaction.

• "Whoa. That didn't suck." - Ellie, in need of more cake.

He understands why she burned her arm, which goes a long way. And the fact that she maintained her feelings about wanting to wear short sleeves again is a great detail, since that's what she also told Dina inside the theater.

ONE YEAR LATER: Joel And Ellie Are Still Cute, And There's Also A Dinosaur

This is my dream sequence, but I'll hold onto the excitement until the details happen.

Ellie's Sweet 16 starts off with an attempt to sway Joel into letting her go on patrols, and includes a quick talk about dicks and vaginas. I think we can all relate, right?

I think just about everyone who played the game immediately ran up on that T-Rex as soon as it was right in front of them. And who didn't repeat this one as soon as Ellie yelled it?

• "I'm on a motherfucking dinosaur!" Ellie, on a motherfucking dinosaur

Classic Ellie. Classic Joel. Classic dinosaur.

OMG, It's Museum Time

I realize the rest of this episode won't be spent inside the museum, but this is easily one of my favorite chunks of the game, and I know I'm not alone. It really drives home just how close Joel and Ellie became in the years between the Salt Lake City mayhem and their eventual rift.

That Joel even knew how to grease the solar system display to make it work for Ellie is impressive unto itself. I guess it's not that complicated?

Ellie's Big Liftoff

Bella Ramsey once again is a beacon of innocent joy as Ellie here, smashing windows to gain access to historic artifacts in order to sit inside THE remnants from Apollo 15.

It's a glorious gift from someone whose love for Ellie knows no bounds, even if that love is what eventually seals his doom. I got goosebumps all over again hearing that audio.

Props to the HBO series' creative team for handling this sequence in just as powerful a way as it went down in the source material.

• "I do okay?" Joel, adorably knowing he did the best

HOW IS THIS OVER ALREADY, THOUGH?

Joel And Ellie's Rift Sets In

Ugh. Even knowing that this episode wouldn't be all birthday cake and shuttle launches, I still thought we might get more time with Joel and Ellie's happiness. But no, we get awkwardness of Joel catching Ellie fooling around with another girl, smoking weed, getting a tattoo and doing that whole teen thing.

• "It wasn't sex, and it wasn't a fucking experiment." - Snarling Ellie

So of course she immediately tries to move out, although I have to say, she makes a solid point in calling him out for saying "under my roof" without it actually being his roof. That shit never happens.

So good on him for quickly calming down and offering his help as opposed to jumping further down her throat. Which leads him to discovering Ellie has a keen interest in moths.

Catherine O'Hara Is The Best

I live for lines like this:

• “Is there a ‘Doctor is In’ sign on me like Lucy from fuckin’ Peanuts?" - Gail, a queen among peasants

I feel like hard times are coming for Gail, however.

Oh No, Ellie Is Asking The Right Questions

My stomach dropped as soon as Ellie started practicing her speech, as it quickly became clear she'd been thinking hard about what went down in Salt Lake City.

• "If there are dozens of immune people, why hasn't anyone..." - Ellie, making my stomach drop further

But she's not quite ready to bring it out into the open just yet, since she quickly hid it all as soon as Joel came knocking.

Ellie Notices Squirrels Banging

If there's a point in this post-apocalypse where witnessing the fucking habits of squirrels in relation to their size becomes a vital skill, Ellie has a leg up on the competition.

Joe Pantoliano's Eugene, Doomed From The Start

I'm thankful Joel and Ellie's weird tension was interrupted by a distress call, even if it means distress is at the other end. But hey, after some haunting visuals of a horse dragging a body before seeing another nasty-ass corpse, we get Joey Pants!

More like Joey Ripped-Up Shirt, amirite?

The always-excellent Joe Pantoliano's arrival has been heavily anticipated since his casting as Gail's husband Eugene (who was only pictured in the video game) was announced. And this is quite the introduction for any character, knowing that he's already going to die at Joel's hand in the immediate future.

• "It makes you cold, the cordyceps. I didn't expect that." - Eugene, who needs a blanket

Honestly, it's the line after that...

This one is proof alone of why you hire an actor as talented as Joe Pantoliano for five minutes of screentime.

• "Last words for her? No, I need her last words for me! I'm dying. I'm terrified. I don't need a view. I need Gail. To see her face. Please. Please let that be the last thing I see." - soon-to-be-disappointed Eugene

Wow. Just wow. Like, even I'm pissed off at Joel right now for not letting the man see his wife.

Joel Lies About Eugene's Fate

Joel's foul streak continued by first telling Ellie that he'd only tell Gail what she needed to hear, all as she cried out of his eyesight. And he then followed it by flat-out lying to Gail's face by saying Eugene went out bravely and shot himself as not to endanger anyone else.

But before Gail could even fully comprehend the false fate pushed into her ears, Ellie slammed the door on that by calling Joel out on his lies, earning him a rightful slap from Gail.

"You Swore"

Ugh. I won't be able to hear this phrase in any context again without thinking about Ellie's soul-ripping rage.

Uncle Grumpy

Of course, as soon as Joel gets the nickname Uncle Grumpy, nobody is ever given the chance to use it on-screen again.

Joel And Ellie's Big Juicy Heartbreaking Talk

I figured it was coming after seeing the promo for this week's ep, but I still didn't quite fully expect Ellie and Joel to have their conversation about The Big Lie and other big topics. Largely because it doesn't actually happen until the tail end of The Last of Us Part II.

The fact that he's drinking coffee here is all the more sweet and depressing after she'd left the coffee beans on his grave.

I love that they were able to talk about Dina in a way that didn't end badly. But that's not what Ellie came to talk about. She needed to hear him confess to the information that she believed she knew already: that he saved her life at the expense of humanity.

Oh my God, Pedro Pascal's performance here is destroying all of whatever is still holding me up. He's not even defending himself in telling Ellie that he saved her because he loves her. It's just his truth and has been his cross to bear for years now.

Not to take away anything from Bella Ramsey's performance, as they perfectly convey Ellie's desire to have a life that matters, and why the character is justified for her anger, even at the expense of her own life. Definitely easier to say in a moment like that than while on the operating table, and it's perhaps why Ellie relents and attempts to make peace instead of creating a further divide.

• “I don’t think I can forgive you for this. But I would like to try.” - Ellie, the sweetest li'l human being

I should have seen it coming that Joel would literally echo his father's words from the cold open at some point, rather than just proving his attempts to stick to it through his behavior.

I think the question we're all thinking about now is, what DID Joel trade to get that coffee?

Back To The Present

The final shot of the episode is of Ellie returning to the theater safe haven in the present, no doubt hoping to find Dina and Jesse on the other side of its doors. Will she be truthful about what went down after she split from the others to track down Nora at the hospital? Will she be candid about discovering spores and that she tortured Nora for information?

Considering how cyclical other elements can be in this universe, I would imagine that Ellie will bullshit her way through an explanation in the same way that Joel lied to Gail about Eugene, thinking she's only telling them what they need to hear, rather than pointing out how many ways she endangered herself.

I have to think she'd want to expose the truth about the spores to others, but doing so would reveal her big secret to Jesse, so I doubt that'll happen.

"The Price" Rating: 4.5 Out Of 5 Custom-Made Acoustic Guitars

If TV episodes were all meant to be judged by how slightly exhausted one feels after watching, due to all the eye-welling and heart-thumping and lip-quivering and so on, then this episode might go down as one of the best in TV history.

That said, I know there are plenty of Last of Us viewers who are extremely eager to see Ellie extracting more justice on Abby's group, and this episode was surprisingly light on plot-developing drama for a penultimate installment, as this is usually where the fireworks come out in full. So in that respect, I can only assume that next week's finale will be a fast-paced and gory-as-hell ride from beginning to end. Even if we'll likely be waiting until Season 3 to see those two forces smash directly head-on.

Thanks everyone for following along, and please join me for whatever goes down in The Last of Us' final outing of 2025. Somebody get Seth to bake a cake to mark the occasion.

The Last Of Us' Season 2 Finale

Before I go any further, check out our biggest look at the Season 2 finale to date!

Even without really featuring a ton of footage, there's still quite a bit to unpack, so let's go into lightning-round mode to tackle each of these topics as quickly as can be.

1. Right away, we see Dina giving Ellie THAT bracelet from the game, and notes that it's meant to be for good luck. Viewers should definitely pay attention to clock any moments where Ellie might NOT be wearing it. Not just in the finale, but also in future episodes.
2. Ellie and Jesse are out in the wild, seemingly without Dina, and the locations probably look quite familiar for those who played the game. It's interesting that Jesse's voiceover carries through much of the promo.
3. Isaac is back! And so is his sycophant buddy Burton, who gets to smash someone's face in with the butt of his gun.
4. Ellie washing up on a muddy shore doesn't seem like a good sign, especially as she's being watched by perhaps the youngest Seraphite child we've seen yet.

5. As soon as Jesse said, "I'm not dying out here," my brain automatically started preparing for him to die out there. The only TV characters who make those kinds of assertions are the ones who are destined for death the soonest.
6. It looks like Ellie gets a quick moment to potentially try and take two of her nemeses out, although it's too dark to confirm whether or not Abby is one of the people walking.
7. Ellie and Jesse running in the theater without Dina makes me think it's her peril that they're running toward.
8. Wait a second...if Bella Ramsey's Ellie is the one being dragged by Seraphites with the intent to hang her, does that mean the series is totally changing up that section of the game that introduces the vital characters Lev and Yara? Or is Ellie just dealing with a mutually exclusive threat of a hanging?
9. Why does Dina aleady look like she's about to be in labor with Jesse next to her?
10. Tying into the #8 point, the promo ends by making it look like Ellie is the character who treks it out to the island where the Seraphites' main island settlemant, rather than Abby, which I'm extremely confused about, while still being quite intrigued.

That somehow became an even larger list of topics than I thought it would, hinging in part on the bonkers idea that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann would swap details from Ellie and Abby's stories. I can only assume it'd be for the purpose of shaking things up for fans, but that's assuming everything in the trailer should be taken at face value, which is almost never the case.

Now I'm even more pumped to see how things play out on Sunday, May 15!

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t caught up on The Last of Us Season 2 on HBO or with a Max subscription.

To be expected, The Last of Us has given its fanatic fanbase a lot to think about and mourn over in its second season so far, including one of the most glee-pummeling TV deaths I can think of. Thankfully, Joel’s absence through the middle episodes — save for that emotionally uplifting Episode 5 appearance — has been buoyed by the adorable relationship building between Ellie and Dina, with Isabela Merced winning my heart every second she’s on the screen.

For all of Merced’s intelligence, warmth, humor and charisma as Dina — factors that make it easy to understand why Ellie would be head over heels — I’m of two minds about how willing I am to ignore what is perhaps The Last of Us’ biggest leap in everyday logic, if not the biggest leap of anything on the 2025 TV schedule: Dina’s hair is always a little too perfect to be real in this post-apocalyptic setting. And yeah, I’m jealous, but my reasoning is still valid nonetheless.

I Can Understand Dina Having Nice Hair Within The Comforts Of Jackson

While I can't lay claim to knowing all the ins and outs of The Last of Us' live-action community within Jackson, Wyoming, I feel comfortable assuming that Dina and Ellie both have access to functional bathing apparatuses, likely with some kind of shampoo and conditioner, ir not other hair products. I'm not saying they have full salon-ready inventories of product, but shampoo and conditioner are sure the kinds of creature comforts that still feel more sensible than more extreme forms of hygenic luxury.

As such, when Isabela Merced was rocking her perfect 'do in the Season 2 premiere at the dance with Ellie, I didn't give it a second thought, because of course she's going to try to look her best on such a joyous social occasion. But do they make a point of hanging out near Jackson's showering holes? Of course not.

Dina And Ellie Went Through Subway Scares And A Huge Storm Long After Leaving Jackson In "Day One"

As someone who has boasted fairly long hair for more than half of my life, I'm pretty keen on what will and won't cause chaos for it in between washings. Stressful situations that cause one to sweat a lot? Those are definitely in the "Will Cause Ickiness" folder. Plus, I haven't even felt the distinct anxiety that comes with being chased by fungi monsters and believing my new love will soon join the monstrous herd, at least at the time of this writing. (Good luck, future Nick!)

So it seems almost insultingly impossible that the talented Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann want me to believe that Dina made it from Jackson to Seattle without any noticable downgrade in volume or waves smoothness? Come on! Even if she and Ellie hadn't dealt with any super-hectic situations beyond the subway terror, they went through it in that episode, and still no change? That's the dream, not the reality.

I'll even allow for this explanation: Dina's hair would have looked like shit after avoiding underground peril if not for that huge rainstorm that washed all the sweatiness out. But only if it was built into the show's reality that Dina went to sleep with knotty-ass hair and then woke up with an even more scraggly mop on top of her head.

Wait, Dina Somehow Woke Up With Perfectly Maneuverable Hair, Despite All The Rain, Stress, Sex And Sleep?!?

I can always appreciate the use of a ponytail holder in times of need (of shampoo), and after a full night of mayhem, panic, confessions and sexy-time? I mean, that precious rubber band can be the key to avoiding a total calamity on top of one's head.

But only if the potential for a calamity exists in the first place. As seen above, Dina almost definitely didn't tie her hair back as a way of keeping any gunky follicles out of sight and out of mind. It was like far more an issue of her hair being so silky and shiny that light bounces off of it when it hangs in her face, making it harder to read the maps.

Which would still be all good IF appearances were deceiving, and IF Dina was actually keeping a true wasp's nest hidden with her up-do.

Dina's Hair Remained Enviously Voluminous Throughout Day 2

How in... Where the... [Blinks rapidly.]

Dina's powerful backstory admission in "Feel Her Love" made for quite the powerful scene, especially in terms of how it might affect the two characters' endgame in relation to the source material. And I was definitely hooked into everything she was saying about being such a young child when she happened upon her murdered family and their killer, and how she instantly rectified the stranger's heinous acts. It makes her bubbly positivity all the more lovable.

At the same time Dina is bearing her soul and her crosses, however, I'm thinking to myself, "I think Isabela Merced could easily get awards buzz for this role." And that soon became, "If she had to present or accept an award and went on stage with hair similar to Dina's during this scene, I might not even notice right away." Which is perhaps not a preferred thought tangent during a monologue about kid justice.

Obviously I'm not actually upset or even genuinely baffled by Dina's hair staying so gorgeous despite a lack of regular brushing marathons. We're not supposed to think about how Dina and Ellie get all the blood and gutsy bits out of their hair and clothes in between sequences, nor why the array of pungent odors isn't a regular topic of conversation. It's TV.

Or rather: it's not TV; it's HBO. (But not HBO Max, since that's still coming back.)

I love the moment in a show like this where characters who haven’t experienced working facilities in ages are allowed the solace of a well-deserved hot bath. (Never forget the day when Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes shaved his bushy beard on The Walking Dead.) But they need to look like hell first in order to make it count.

It doesn't look like we'll be seeing much of present-day Dina in the sixth episode of Season 2, given it'll be flashback-oriented, but everyone place your bets regarding how Dina's hair will look in the finale, which will air on HBO on Sunday, May 25.

I didn’t want this day to come…but today, we need to talk about a change that The Last of Us made that I’m not a massive fan of.

Ever since the show premiered, I’ve been singing its praises. I suppose that’s not too much of a surprise since The Last of Us is considered one of the best video game adaptations, and I am an avid supporter of this franchise.

But, in its latest episode, they made a change that I don't like, regardless of how it played out on television. So, let’s get into it.

I Haven’t Minded Most Of The Changes

As I’ve said before in a few of my other articles, I don’t mind the changes the series has made that much. In fact, I’ve really been welcoming it. I’ve loved how we’ve gotten to see a lot more of Jackson as a whole, and I’ve also loved what they’ve done with Ellie and Dina, and really given their relationship a heck of a lot more attention.

Even in Season 1, I loved the changes they made, from Bill and Frank’s iconic episode, which I feel was all over social media for so long, to the addition of new characters that helped build out the story even more. Everything has really flowed well.

There’s one change with a new character in Season 2, however, that I’m not super happy about. And, it involves Jesse.

But I Wasn’t A Huge Fan Of How They Introduced Jesse Back Into The Plot

So, let me be honest first and say that I love Jesse in the show. I think adding Young Mazino to The Last of Us cast was a fantastic decision, and he has brought life and joy to the character that wasn’t there in the games. Really, he looks exactly like him. I’ve liked how he’s spent more time with Ellie overall to show their relationship.

I really wish, though, that the way they introduced him to the plot was the same as it was in the game. In the show, he comes in at the last minute to save both Ellie and Dina from stalkers, and he kind of just appears out of nowhere, where they have to run from enemies and then hide from Seraphites, and it’s just non-stop action over and over again. It’s fun for TV, but it takes away the intensity of what happened in the game.

In the game, Jesse only saved Ellie, because she kept Dina safe in their base after she found out she’s pregnant. The two of them work together to escape being hounded by enemies in this epic car chase that would have been so good on TV. We really see how well they work together, and it builds the emotional climax to Jesse reuniting with Dina when there’s this whole complication of a baby there.

We don’t really get to see that in the show because Ellie and Dina are always together, and now, suddenly, Jesse is there. We haven’t gotten a chance to see Ellie and Jesse work together stealthily to take down enemies like we do in the game – it just feels like certain things have been taken away in favor of more action.

However, Maybe It’ll Lead To A More Emotional Climax

Granted, I’m not entirely opposed to what is happening. Without spoiling anything, perhaps adding Jesse in at this point is key to building up a bigger emotional climax with his character, like in the game. Maybe we’ll see grander reactions that will truly change how we view the characters in the future. I’m not sure.

We won’t really know until the finale, which is two weeks away as I write this. Either way, I’m curious to see how this new dynamic plays out…and what awaits Jesse, Ellie, and Dina as the season continues.

HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation is already confirmed for Season 3, so this story will continue. And, regardless of any changes, I’ll be sitting on my couch impatiently waiting for the next part of this epic apocalypse series – even if Jesse’s story isn’t exactly how I thought it would be.

I truthfully never thought I'd have the chance to write an article like this, but here we are. And I couldn't be happier.

I'm sure I've talked about this several times before here, but I'm bisexual. I've accepted it for many years of my life and embraced it wholeheartedly when it was challenging for me to do so as a kid when I grew up in a pretty religious household. Now, I fully share it with everyone.

While I'm very passionate about my love of Hispanic culture and the best Latino TV shows, I don't get the chance to share my passion for LGBTQ+ characters who have really changed my life. I've talked about the best LGBTQ+ TV shows to watch, or maybe even actors who are LGBTQ+ in real life, but I've never gotten to the nitty gritty of certain characters who changed everything.

Today, though, I'm doing that with a character you might not expect—Ellie from The Last of Us.

As A Teen, I Never Really Had Other LGBTQ+ Characters In Video Games To Admire

I've talked about this a few times on here, but I grew up a hard gamer.

I certainly don't game as much now – my days are split into movies and TV and prepping for new films ahead of the 2025 movie schedule, and then my nights are filled with all the novels that I read in prep for some of the upcoming book-to-screen adaptations. Gaming just hasn't been a huge part of my life, or at least, as much as it used to be.

But back then, I loved gaming, and the video game that really changed it all for me was The Last of Us. I had played video games before then, but it was mainly because I had the chance to play alongside my brother. That survival game was the first that made me ask my parents to buy me a specific console so that I could play the game, and it changed everything.

However, if you're also a gamer like me, representation for people like us is few and far between. The main demographic for gaming that's targeted is certainly not us. But at the end of the day, when I was younger, I always wished that there was a character on the spectrum who shared the same views as we did. I didn't think it would come from an apocalypse game, but it did. And I love it so much.

But Then When It Was Confirmed Ellie, My Favorite Character Ever, Was Queer, I Literally Cried

Ellie wasn't confirmed queer in the first game, which I totally agree with. She was fourteen, and the last thing we really needed was to dig into who she was attracted to. Rather, I was more focused on her just trying to survive.

But then we got that Left Behind DLC, and we saw that kiss between her and Riley. You would think that the world exploded with the internet's response to this, with the rage-baits, angry tweets, and everything else you could possibly imagine.

But me? I cried.

I cried because I had never seen a character so close to my age at the time, who was who she was, without any barriers around her. I cried because this was a step in a direction that I didn't realise gaming was going to take. I cried because, in reality, it made so much sense that she would lean that way, but I never dared dream it would be like that.

While I don't identify as queer, the fact that the games were even willing to go down that route – and even more so in the sequel game – changed everything for me. It wasn't that long after that DLC came out that I started telling close friends that I was bisexual. It almost feels a little pathetic to think that it was because of a fictional video game character that I felt the confidence to come out – but hey, whatever helps, you know?

The Show Has Only Made Their Relationship Feel Much More Real

So, if I'm singing the praises of the video game, I must also sing the praises of the HBO The Last of Us adaptation, right?

Yeah, you're totally correct, because that's what I'm about to do.

I absolutely love what they have been doing with Ellie and Dina. I knew from the moment Isabela Merced was picked for Dina in The Last of Us cast that this actress was going to bring her all to the character and not only become her, but make her better. I've been a fan of hers for years, but truly saw what she was capable of in Turtles All The Way Down on Max (a great movie about anxiety and OCD if you've never seen it), and I instantly believed she'd kill it as Dina.

Five episodes in, and I love these two more than in the games. In the video games, it felt like Ellie and Dina happened because of the one moment they hooked up in the beginning, and then feelings began to really develop. But in the show, it feels a lot more genuine. It really feels like two young adults fumbling their way to admitting how they feel in a world where literally everything is trying to kill them.

Their moments together have been some of the shining lights of Season 2, in a slew of episodes featuring intense and dark scenes. That guitar scene alone in Episode 4 was everything I could have imagined it to be from the game, but somehow, they made it even better.

It feels authentic, true, and that's what I absolutely love about them. The show takes the time to flesh them out, not just say, "Oh, they're together now." That's what I enjoy.

And It'll Make What Ultimately Happens With Them In The Games That Much More Heartbreaking In The Show

With this fleshing out, what happens to them in the games is even better, and hopefully, it will translate to an even harder gut-punch on television.

I won't spoil anything if you haven't played, because I don't want to be that person. But these two go through it, seriously, and it gets to a point where you wonder what's going to happen. I was already a fan of theirs in the sequel, and now I'm even more of a fan of the TV show because of the amount of time that the creators are spending giving the couple the room to breathe that they deserve.

But, they're probably going to give me that same video game ending, most likely in Season 3, and I just have a feeling it's going to hit so much harder, because these two actresses are really giving their all to these roles. I believe them, and that's a hard thing to do with LGBTQ+ relationships in TV and movies, because they can feel thrown in just for representation's sake and sometimes don't have real meaning. However, I can't wait for the pain their big video game moment will cause.

I really hope that Bella Ramsey can be the next generation's Ellie. Game Ellie is great, and I love her to death and will always hold her so close in my heart. But watching Ramsey perform as her, with this openly loving relationship, is a stepping stone to a lot of great things in an ever-changing landscape.

Maybe there's another teenager out there who's afraid to come out, and they might be inspired by Ellie's bluntness and openness now, too. The lives she could change are endless, and I'm eager to witness it all.

Bella Ramsey is no stranger to the limelight. They have been on the scene since they were 11 years old, initially portraying the small-but-mighty Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. Now, they have taken a step further into the limelight as the not-quite-as-small and definitely mightier Ellie Williams in HBO’s The Last of US, which is currently rolling out its second season for those with a Max subscription. Unlike Ellie, Bella was a bit more fearful diving into fame than their character was when taking on the infected in this video game adaptation.

The Last of Us Season 1 put Bella front and center in ways they weren’t expecting, but I was surprised to find out they were "terrified" before the drama hit the TV schedule. They had a chance to sit down with their former GOT castmate Kit Harington who asked Ramsey for Interview Magazine what they thought about “all the stuff around" the show, and they admitted they were "terrified of signing on," just not for the reason I might have guessed.

Yeah, OK when I think of The Last of Us Terror I'm definitely think of the horror elements that have made the show such a popular watch.

Having said this, I'd imagine the feeling might be akin to what Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby this season, feels when the infected hordes pop out of the snow in Season 2, Episode 2. You are standing there and see a wave of people rushing towards you, and all you want to do is get away from them as fast as you can, but they just keep coming.

Ramsey may catch a bit of a reprieve from the hordes once this season dies down, (although Harington has even been a culprit of this in the past), but the circus will likely start up again as Season 3 gets off the ground.

To also note, Bella always knew that The Last of Us would make them the ringleader. Here’s what they had to say about joining the circus:

Taking on an iconic role like Ellie was always going to thrust whomever was going to portray her into the spotlight because co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have created such a beautiful, heartbreaking, and lived-in world so adeptly. You cannot help but fall in love with Ellie and in turn the person who plays her --whether that is Bella Ramsey’s interpretation in the show or Ashley Johnson’s portrayal in the game.

From my perspective, Bella seems to be handling all the press with openness, delight, and a playful energy. I am sure having Pedro Pascal by their side doesn’t hurt. If they are still scared at all, they seem to be hiding it well. But if you would like to see them truly terrified, make sure to watch new episodes of The Last of Us on HBO every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched The Last of Us’ latest Season 2 episode, “Feel Her Love,” on HBO or with a Max subscription.

After an episode that truly cemented Ellie and Dina’s live-action relationship, The Last of Us realigned the duo’s focus on their dark and troublesome goal with a danger-filled hunt for Tati Gabrielle’s Nora. Plenty of brutal violence was on display, largely involving the warring WLF soldiers and cult-like Seraphites, before the episode culminated in Ellie going feral on Nora in that spore-filled basement. Nora ordered up her hyper-painful doom by having audacity to call Joel a “little bitch.”

Just when it seemed like Ellie crushing Nora’s legs with a pipe would serve as an extremely ironic ending to an episode called “Feel Her Love,” The Last of Us’ creative team chose to follow Bella Ramsey’s guttural screams with a dime-turn into sunshine-y warmth, as Pablo Pascal’s Joel appeared for a few fleeting seconds where it was easy to forget problems both fictional and personal. And then reality came crashing back down as the credits rolled.

Who knew that the two words “Hey, Kiddo” could be so utterly soul-crushing and uplifting all at the same time? Well, it looks like millions of people are more aware of that fact now than they were before Sunday night, and while not everyone went online to voice their retriggered traumas, the HBO show's Instagram posts about Joel's last-second appearance were met with tons of relatably dramatic reactions.

Check out a selection of enjoyably heightened highlights, with game studio Naughty Dog's brevity topping the list:

• 🥹 - @naughty_dog_inc
• That was cathartic. That was like coming home from the roughest day of my life and feeling safe again. - @morgxnstxrn
• This felt like waking up from your worst nightmare as a scared little kid, and your parent comes in and comforts you and you feel safe. 😢🥹 - @krose94
• Happy Mother’s Day Joel Miller - @paris.pryber03
• It was 4am for me when Joel appeared and I screamed, my cat got scared but I don't care, I'm happy. - @pascal.pedrito
• I'll take all the Joel crumbs we can get - @the_sunset_driver2343
• i was giggling watching the scene w nora and then this flashback appeared and my smile disappeared so quickly 💔💔 - @cinekravitz
• crying. screaming. throwing up 😭 - @bulletpr00fbully
• OMG I FVCKING SOBBED WHEN I SAW JOEL 😭😭😭😭 I didn’t expect him till next episode with the flashback! TLOU MY HEART!!!!! ❤️ - @karencityy
• I can imagine she could be dreaming about him 😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺 - @vin.no

As it tends to go whenever a fandom latches onto something, the reactions to Joel's surprise appearance bounced from heartfelt to melodramatic to hopeful to...you know it was coming...horny and thirsty for Pedro Pascal in any capacity. Even this trifecta of similarly worded reactions follows the trend.

• The way I burst into tears - @aftercoffeewithjess
• the way i immediately sobbed at domestic joel :( - @athvmy
• The way I screamed “DADDYYYYYY” - @_jessegallagher

I technically also choose to be hopeful about what that scene meant, even as I understand it just means Ellie is finding a sense of peace and connection to Joel by violently lashing out at Abby's group, which doesn't bode well for her safety or her mental health.

Thankfully, perhaps, The Last of Us' next episode isn't focusing on the future so much as the past, as it looks like this will be where several of the video game sequel's unforgettable flashback sequences take place. So you just know that seeing the variety of new scenes between Pascal and Ramsey sent fans into orbit with dread-soaked anticipation.

• Let's get the tissues ready for next week 🥺🥺 - @im_mssiel
• Oh my days. The way the words "Hey, kiddo" has ruined me 💔😭 I don't even know how i will cope next week. HELP!! 😭 - @mrsg2004
• That ending killed me, next episode will be so hard to watch❤️❤️🥺🥺 -@ryan_hawks12
• NO BECAUSE I FEAR I WILL NOT MAKE IT NEXT WEEK - @thepadalorian
• You're going to pay for my therapy in the next episode 😭 [translated] - @cyndelkatrynne
• I was like “no please no”, then the episode ended and I was relieved, because I don’t want to cry two Sundays in a row, I’ll just cry next Sunday. - @poxa.math
• I hope more of the flashbacks are good ones with Ellie and not so much when they fight😭🫶 - @blink_4_pinkk
• now we just need the museum scene and life will be good again - @katelyn_lasater_

Gamers know what's up with that reference to the museum, and it is indeed the sequence I'm also looking forward to the most. But no reason to dwell on those hopes right now. Not when this commenter dared write a comment so cruel and foul!!!

• Just remember: Joel got what he deserved - @daniel_bo83

I guess we all know that comment was actually written by ABBY HERSELF. Okay not really, but that's the only context in which that would make sense to me as I choose to amorally pick hard sides here.

Join me for what will presumably be a viewing experience full of tears and snot when The Last of Us' penultimate Season 2 episode hits HBO on Sunday, May 18, at 9:00 p.m.

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t watching The Last of Us’ latest episode on HBO or with a Max subscription, so be warned!

The Last of Us’ post-Joel era — which I can’t comfortably abbreviate as the comfort-implying “PJ era” — continues in Season 2, and Episode 5’s arrive means it’s once again time to celebrate this show’s unique concoction of stressful grief and darkly comedic horror. The end of the season is already so close, and with so much storytelling yet to deliver, but no time for moping through such sour sorrows while there are cold, vengeful dishes yet to serve.

I’ll be once again live-blogging my in-the-moment thoughts as The Last of Us’ "Feel Her Love" airs, and am welcoming any and all fans to read along, whether you’re watching on Sunday night or a few days later. (I also extend a 21-Click salute to returning readers, while the priors week’ efforts can be found below.) Could this week’s ep deliver a moment as faithful to the game as Ellie’s “Take on Me” performance? Will Jeffrey Wright shift from copper pans to cheese graters for his torturous duties? Let’s find out.

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Watchalong
• The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Watchalong

Welcome, Faithful Survivors!

Last week's preview for tonight's episode teased all kinds of mayhem, but I know I'm most ready to see how the live-action series brings SPORES into the mix.

Also, WTF, the episode is now live on Max, five minutes ahead of schedule!

A Predictably Depressing Introduction To Spores

It's our second appearance from Alanna Ubach’s WLF leader Hanrahan, and is thankfully a meatier one for the actress as opposed to last week's debut opposite Jeffrey Wright's Isaac.

We're also meeting Hettienne Park's Elise Park as she shares a troublesome story about the latest hiccup in humanity's survival against cordyceps, namely the discovery that bites are no longer the only way for the outbreak to get passed from one organism to the next. Somebody call Phil Collins, because it's in the air tonight, baby.

We're talking MOTHERFUCKING SPORES!

And yes, I do feel awkward about celebrating this concept in the face of the reveal that Elise was talking about sending her son to his doom. But...spores...hell yeah?

Dina Does Math Good, Ellie Does Math Bad

The "non-school-oriented" Ellie is clearly better at aiming for a target whose presence she's alerted to as opposed to trying to find that target herself through math and shit. Which means anytime Dina isn't around, Ellie probably won't be operating from the best foundation of planning.

Ellie Gets Too Close To Joel's Memory

The gorgeousness of the theater's setting, along with all of the instruments it offers, aren't quite enough to completely pull Ellie into the present and away from the memory of Joel, as evidenced by how quickly her emotions are rattled as soon as she starts playing the song so key to her relationship with Joel.

There's sadly no "if" when it comes to losing him these days.

Mysteriously Avoided Buildings Are Never Good Omens, Guys

I love seeing Dina and Ellie's strategizing about the WLF's communication, and what it means for both that group and the relatively tech-free Scars.

But anytime one stumbles upon an unknown that one quickly refers to as "The Big Fucking Something," it's not gonna be a treat to experience. So of course they're running into it headfirst.

WLF Soldiers Are Too Brutal

Are we to assume every one of these people deserved this fate? Not likely.

Dina's Big Backstory Change

Holy shit, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann just upped the ante when it comes to how much support Dina has for Ellie avenging Joel's death. Isabela Merced nails this expository sequence, revealing that she walked in on her family being murdered at just eight years old, and that her immediate impulse then was the same as it is now. She's in until the end.

I need more time to think about how this could be a gigantic branching point from where things go for Ellie and Dina's endgame in the source material. Because I'll just keep saying "holy shit" over and over again.

Love Is In The Air Before Spores

Is it just me, or does it seem ill-advised for Ellie and Dina to keep flashing their lights even within a building that they assume isn't populated by active threats? There are still windows and shit.

Still, not even unknown threats can stop these two from being ultra cute, and I love Dina accurately calling Ellie out for having a heavy trigger finger before dropping the L word into the scene.

• "You love me?" - Ellie

And now for whatever love-hating things await them.

The Big Fucking Something = Building Full Of Stalkers

Gotta love a deadly enemy that largely keeps its victims centrally located, so that others can explore other rooms in the building without realizing they're no more than 100 ft. away from various people's leaking intestines. But that's about as complimentary as I can get when it comes to those freaking fucking Stalkers.

Seriously, their higher-pitched moaning is enough to bring even make the most positive experience to a halt. Few scenes in this show have been as inherently horrifying as Dina realizing how surrounded they were. Although seeing one of them rip fencing apart like it was paper wasn't far behind.

Jesse's Heroic Return

Woo! Despite having played Part II multiple times, I still thought it was going to be WLF soldiers that saved Ellie and Dina from the Stalkers, but it was thankfully Jesse!

I'm shocked that Jesse revealed Tommy is also out there somewhere, as I honestly didn't expect the live-action character to leave Jackson. Which no doubt means that he's going to run into a heap of trouble, but fingers crossed it's just a stubbed toe or a paper cut.

The Scars Are Also Too Brutal

Just in case anyone thought the TV studio hangings were a one-off maneuver for the Scars, this episode proved that wrong with a scene that mirrored the source material quite successfully. The Scars brought a sordid end to one WLF foe that left the dude's guts all over the damned ground. I hope nobody just cleaned their shoes.

A Familiar Seraphite

After last week’s surprise cameo from Nickelodeon vet Josh Peck, The Last of Us once again appealed to viewers of a certain age with this appearance from Laine MacNeil, best known for playing Greg’s rival Patty in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film trilogy. At least MacNeil’s unnamed Seraphite survived her first scene.

Dogs And Their Sniffers!

One of the more interesting threats that one has to avoid while playing The Last of Us Part II are dogs, which can pick up on Ellie's scent. They didn't play too heavily into this episode, but I hope more is on the way.

Ellie Vs. Nora: The Chase

Ellie made the seemingly ill-advised move of striking out on her own as the trio were running away from the whistling Scars. But she did manage to evade guards and find Nora all by her lonesome. But instead of striking first and then asking questions, Ellie allowed herself to be shocked into inaction by Nora twisting from empathy to malice with this game-sourced line:

• "I'm sorry you saw it happen. No one should ever have to see something like that. At night sometimes I still hear his scream. It was a terrible thing the way he died. Yeah, the little bitch got what he deserved." - Nora

Ooooh, that line made me clench my fists and want to start swinging.

That chase was very close to the sequence in the game where players are only required to keep up with Nora as she dashed from room to room. But this is where things changed a bit, because SPORES!

Nora? More Like SPORE-A

Ellie and Nora's conversation was every bit as amazing as I hoped it would be. Tati Gabrielle's character did a formidable job of trying to drop an info-bomb on Ellie by telling her exactly why Abby murdered Joel, but it turns out our hero was already clued in on that information.

At least Nora learned that the rumors about a fabled immune girl were actually legit before she presumably died at the hands of a rage-fueled Ellie.

All The Sobbing For That Last-Second Joel Appearance

Ohhh, you sons of bitches behind the scenes of The Last of Us. I was so ready to throw my hands up in aggro-solidarity with Ellie after that moment cut to black. But no...

Instead of credits, we were given a quick jolt, or is it a Joel-t, of Pedro Pascal's beloved character in a long-distant memory of him walking into Ellie's room and uttering his signature greeting:

• "Hey, kiddo."

Ellie's couldn't-be-more-comforted smile in that moment was very nearly enough to make me forget about the myriad lows and woes that have taken place thus far. This is absolutely a "Christmas morning, but I get to open a couple of presents in bed before falling back asleep until noon" face. Or a "work was canceled because of cold weather and I'm under three blankets" face.

Or perhaps an "I'm talking to the person I owe my life to without any clue that my survival will guarantee his grisly death" face. Sigh.

"Feel Her Love" Rating: 3.5 Out Of 5 Spore-Filled Exhalations

For all that I was enthused about all things spores-related, and was indeed impressed by the horrific way those moments were depicted, I can't ignore the feeling that this episode didn't feel quite as vital or immediate as its Season 2 predecessors. Which isn't so much a knock on it as it is a glowing view of what we've seen so far.

By and large, though, "Feel Her Love" didn't introduce any major over-arching characters (either from the game or otherwise), and by logistically limiting the spores' impact on the outer world, even that arrival was more central to Ellie's story than the world at large. Plus, for as haunting as the Stalkers sequence was, that was just upping the ante for a threat we've already witnessed.

If anything, I think Dina's orphaned origin story may be the episode's most impactful scene, given the potential ramifications down the line. So while a surprising admission may not be the most valuable Last of Us takeaway for some fans, I'm hoping it pays off in a way that does indeed make this episode that much more important in hindsight.

Also, in case my voice cracked awkwardly earlier, or if there was background noise at any prior point in the live blog: HUZZAH FOR DOGS AND SPORES! And for Joel-inspired smiles.

I Cannot Handle This Joel-Filled Trailer For Episode 6

The penultimate Season 2 installment will apparently deliver on the numerous and extremely meaningful flashbacks that players experience in the video game sequel. So in a way, Pascal's arrival at the end of this week's installment was a stepping stone into Ellie's memories. Check it out below!

Joel and Ellie's non-combat-related flashbacks are some of the game series' most memorable and emotionally poignant scenes, despite coming after Joel's death. So I can only hope the live-action interpretations will be on the same weep-worthy wavelength. Until next week!

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2. If you haven’t watched “Day One,” please take a step back and watch it with your Max subscription before proceeding.

I’m not going to lie, I think The Last of Us Season 2 has been a dud and a far cry from the incredible TV show we got a couple of years ago or the outstanding video game on which it is based. I’ve been discussing my issues with the show pretty much since it premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, but the most recent episode, “Day One,” is starting to change the way I view the video game adaptation. Especially after how the series handled one of my favorite levels from The Last of Us Part II

I still have some major problems with the series, and one great sequence in a good episode of television won’t fix overnight, but it did get me thinking that maybe, just maybe, I need to be more open to the changes and reintreptations of the source material made by co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. We can all change, right? Well, let me explain anyway…

I Haven't Been Down With A Lot Of The Changes The Last Of Us Season 2 Has Been Making

While a number of my colleagues have been down with all of the changes The Last of Us Season 2 has been making throughout the first half of the second installment, I haven’t been as forgiving or as open to those changes in the first few weeks of its return. While I understand why Jackson, Wyoming, was such a major focus of the first three episodes, a lot of it felt like filler in my eyes and felt like a way of stretching one game into two seasons of television. The town council voting scenes, the unnecessary battle sequence with the infected, and other moments took away from Joel’s tragic death and Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) revenge plan, instead of building the tension for her eventual encounter with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever).

Don’t get me wrong, Neil Druckmann is free to change the scope of the story he first told in the form of an incredible yet divisive video game a half-decade ago. But at the same time, I feel like I’m free not to like those changes or agree with them. And I haven’t been down with many of them, at least until “Day One” came around.

But The Way The Show Recreated The Seattle Subway Sequence Has Me Singing A Different Tune

There was so much to love about “Day One.” From the long-awaited introduction of WLF leader Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright) in two unnerving scenes to Ellie picking up the guitar in a Seattle music store to Dina (Isabella Merced) finding out she’s pregnant, a lot of the big moments from The Last of Us Part II made their way into the show. The sequence that blew me away the most was the chase through the Seattle subway tunnels as Ellie and Dina attempted to escape WLF soldiers and a massive group of infected.

I know, I know, I have been somewhat of a purist when it comes to the show and its handling of the game’s major events, but the way this slow yet tense level from the game was turned into an intense chase sequence was nothing short of amazing. It got me thinking about the way I look at the show, and even started to change my perception of the characters and everything that’s been adjusted from the source material. Again, I’m not down with everything, but this is progress.

Ellie And Dina Escaping The WLF Was One Of My Favorite Levels In The Last Of Us Part II

Though I don’t like The Last of Us Part II as much as the first game in the franchise (I don’t think I’m alone here), the 2020 sequel did give gamers some of the most ambitious and atmospheric levels of the eighth console generation. The expansive and almost open world sections of Seattle, free for exploration, the early chapters in Jackson, and the stuff in Santa Barbara at the end were incredibly thought-out and crafted levels with all kinds of twists, turns, and areas to explore. And the Seattle subway tunnel section was at the top of my list.

With the red glare of the WLF’s flares, the cramped subway cars, and various obstacles getting in the way of Ellie and Dina reaching the exIt (not to mention the shamblers along the way), this whole scene was a masterclass in tension, and it led to one of the biggest moments in the entire game: Ellie telling Dina she’s immune.

Ellie's Big Reveal To Dina Is Different In The Show, But I'm Not Mad About It

One of the big changes in “Day One” revolved around how Ellie’s immunity to the codryceps fungus was revealed to Dina. In the game, Ellie’s gas mask was shattered during the tunnel sequence, and she had no choice but to tell her love interest to prevent her from taking off her own mask. Since the spores have yet to be introduced in the show at this point, this version of Ellie had to reveal it in a different way: a bite on the arm. And you know what, I’m not mad about this decision.

It still led to Ellie revealing her secret, but it also gave us this incredible act of self-sacrifice that added a lot to the character and her dynamic with Dina. On top of that, we also got a very realistic response from Dina, who thought she was going to have to kill her best friend and complete her mission alone.

I Still Have Some Problems With The Show, Though

Despite my changing tune with The Last of Us Season 2, don’t get the impression that all my problems with the series are fixed. I’m still having trouble with the pacing, the characters aren’t as strong as they were in the video game, and where are all those great flashbacks that added so much richness and depth to the original story? I’m sure a lot of that will be worked out in the final three episodes of the season, but I feel like we’ve wasted a lot of time getting here.

Hopefully, “Day One” is a sign of things to come, both for the remainder of Season 2 and when the show makes its eventual return at some point in the future. I mean, I’ll be here regardless, but I would love to see this momentum continue…

Considering The Last of Us excelled at bringing the first video game's story to live-action so faithfully, I never expected the source material's second volume to be adapted in full for Season 2. Part II takes a long time to get through, as the story goes farther and deeper than Joel and Ellie's solo story ever could. So it's not so surprising to hear that a huge plot point won't be explored during the 2025 TV schedule, but I am surprised to hear the reason.

Craig Mazin And Neil Druckmann Reveal Major Plotline That Won't Be Fully Explored In Season 2

The third episode of The Last of Us Season 2 introduced a roaming group of Seraphites, with a doomed father and daughter offering up faction-based exposition, while I'd talked in my Episode 4 live blog about the always excellent Jeffrey Wright reprising his game role of WLF leader Isaac. It's a character who doesn't pop up often in the game, and I'm definitely not the only viewer excited to see his story expand.

But as co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed in the latest installment of HBO's The Last of Us Podcast, fans may not get to see the full scope of Isaac's WLF leadership, as the series is for now holding back on digging into the WLF's complicated and exceedingly violent war with the Seraphites. Mazin said:

Even knowing there are only three episodes left to go in Season 2, I'm still taken aback by Mazin's assertion there. Given the flashback to Isaac's official exit from FEDRA, bookended with him torturing that Scar with Williams Sonoma pans in the present, I definitely expected that game-based storyline to become more of a focus as Ellie and Dina are on the road far from the comforts of Jackson.

However, it appears we'll be waiting until the third cycle hits HBO to get those answers, with Neil Druckmann sharing:

Thankfully, the premium cabler's execs made the call and ordered up Season 3 ahead of the second season's hectic premiere, which plays into the overall idea that the creative team broke up The Last of Us Part II's story to play out across two different seasons, with the future beyond that still up in the air. But apparently that plan didn't come with the confidence that HBO would play along.

The Bonkers Reason The Co-Creators Held Back From Exploring The War In Season 2

I think anyone aware of The Last of Us' existence would agree that Season 1 was a hit, and that anticipation for Season 2 was immediately lofty, especially with the massive tragedy that went down in Episode 2. So when the co-creators revealed that they wouldn't be attempting to shoehorn the second game's entire storyline into a single season of TV, I assumed that meant they were bullish about earning follow-up seasons.

Apparently that was overly optimistic of me, as Craig Mazin suggests the reason they held off of digigng into the Wolves conflict with the Scars is because nobody was sure if the show would continue. As he put it:

I'm flabbergasted. In part because I don't even fully believe that anyone working on The Last of Us after Season 1 thought that the second season might be the final one. Especially if Mazin and Druckmann were up front with HBO's bosses about how they wanted to split the plot up. I guess if the network execs were being very prissy about the show's chances, while showing off an abundance of newer projects that wouldn't be killing off 75% of the characters introduced, then I could understand.

On the flip side, maybe Neil Druckmann was overly cautious about fan reactions to Joel's demise at the hands of Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, given the catastrophic blowback the game faced for that particular sequence. But it's already clear that the live-action drama didn't deal with anything so harsh, so that hypothetical caution was all for naught.

I suppose holding off on exploring the WLF's issues with the Scars will drive anticipation for Season 3, but I'm wondering how the show will continue depicting Isaac's leadership and the Seraphites as an antagonist group without going deeper into those stories. So I guess I'll find out one day, but for now, I'm too busy waiting on the next episode to arrive.

The Last of Us airs new episodes on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO or for those with Max subscriptions.

Another week, another piece on The Last of Us, am I right?

But no, in all honesty, I’ve been waiting anxiously and impatiently for The Last of Us Season 2 since the very minute Season 1 ended, as I am a longtime fan of the franchise. I never would have imagined that HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us would take off as much as it did when it was first released, but honestly, I am here for it, and it has only seemed to grow over time.

But there have been some things that have changed throughout the series that I’ve liked…and some of them I haven’t. Aside from that, there is one change that I genuinely don’t want them to make – a death that has to stay there. So, before you get into this, this is your spoiler warning from The Last of Us video games.

As Someone Who’s A Fan Of The Games, A Lot Has Changed So Far

This series has changed a decent amount from the video games. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not like the story has changed a lot. We’re not dealing with a strange Until Dawn adaptation here. What we’re dealing with is a well-adapted video game franchise that is deciding to not only dive deeper into aspects that we haven’t explored but also add substance to the story.

That’s not to say that some of the changes have been, well, for the better. Personally, one of the things I wanted to keep from Part 2 of The Last of Us was Joel’s death. I feel that the entirety of the story and the theme of what grief does to us and the cost of love in a world where everything dies wouldn’t have hit as hard if he hadn’t been driven (pun intended) with that golf club.

But in the game, it’s not Dina who sees him get killed, but Tommy, and personally, that hits me harder. Adding more to Dina's backstory with Joel is great, but it doesn't hit the same. There’s this utter gut punch that slams you when you realize that Tommy literally watched his older brother die in the game – and to me, that’s better, and would have been excellently used in the show if they decided to go that route. The Dina change isn't one I'm super happy about.

Even so, there are plenty of Last of Us changes that I do like.

But I Don’t Mind Them – In Fact, I Welcome The Change

This isn’t an article about the changes to The Last of Us. If anything, I really enjoy most of the changes.

I love that we’re seeing way more of Jackson this time around because, in the game, it feels like a footnote rather than an expanded piece of lore that we should have explored more. I like that we’re getting a lot more backstory on certain characters and groups without giving away too many spoilers about who they are.

I also love the addition of new characters. Catherine O’Hara’s therapist was not one I ever envisioned for the series, but man, it was fitting to see Joel sit down with someone and talk about everything he has gone through.

Even if we've only seen one scene of that so far, that’s beside the point.

These changes don’t hinder the story—they enhance it. While I might not agree with everything, I can’t argue that they’re not well-thought-out and hold a different kind of weight than what we are used to.

Another change that I’ve liked is that we’ve dug a little deeper into Jesse…which brings me to my most significant point.

However…I Really Hope They Keep Jesse’s Death The Same

This is quite hard for me to say, but I need them to keep Jesse’s death, and I’ll tell you why.

When I first played The Last of Us games, I knew Joel was going to die. I was a victim of the leaks that came out a month before the game’s release. I wasn’t upset about his death—in fact, I really welcomed it because that is bold and good storytelling, regardless of what people tell you. But because I knew from the leaks, it did not hit as hard as it should have.

Do you want to know what did? Jesse's death. We meet Jesse at the beginning of the game, and he really seems like a nice guy with a sarcastic chip on his shoulder. At some point in the game, he willingly goes to Seattle to help Ellie and Dina despite knowing that Jackson is most certainly not going to be very happy about it, alongside Tommy. He’s a good guy.

And then he’s shot by Abby, and it’s so sudden, you can barely comprehend it until you’re sobbing as we move into the next scene. I remember thinking, “Oh my god, NO!” and legit began crying moments later because I couldn’t believe they did that.

And now, it feels like we’re seeing Jesse a lot more. Young Manzino from the Beef cast is kicking it up a notch and giving us a sarcastic but kind and intelligent version of Jesse. We’ve seen his friendship with Ellie way more. And it makes me nervous that they might change things up and not kill him off this time around…heck, maybe they might even kill Tommy instead. I don’t know.

It Would Double The Impact Because We Know Him More And Push Ellie To Seek Further Revenge

But hear me out – I need him to die now because, at this rate, we’ve gotten to know him way more than we ever thought we would. Jesse’s death would actually mean so much more than it did in the game.

While the idea of The Last of Us cast dwindling is a sad thought, the idea of Jesse dying would not only hit harder with the audience but would also inspire Ellie to go on her final hunt for Abby in Season 3 (whenever that comes around). It would be a fitting end to his character and would probably be one of the most heartbreaking deaths of the show. Heck, it would be a TV death that will continue to make The Last of Us an HBO show the world talks about.

I feel like I’ve been able to accurately predict who dies in this show based on the game, but there have been moments when my expectations have been beyond subverted. Jesse’s death could be another one.

Then again, this show is not afraid to rip out my heartstrings, clearly, with Joel’s death, so maybe I’m overthinking for no reason.

Either way, I’ll continue to watch the next three episodes and cry during each one because I love this show so much, and hopefully, wait for the doom to begin relatively soon. Well, we might already be there at this point, but you get me.

Award shows are already inherently debate-centric events, from the nominating process right through picking the winners. But over the years, such multi-headed conversations have stretched further back to address the categorical classifications themselves, sometimes with other film genres in mind, but increasingly more often with gender divisions as the centerpoint. It’s a topic that many Hollywood stars have discussed, including The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, despite them not having the strongest feelings on the topic.

Ramsey, who portrays beloved video game survivor Ellie in HBO’s hit adaptation, was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series after The Last of Us’ first season, and though Succession’s Sarah Snook was the nominee joining the list of other 2024 Emmy winners, Ramsey was still honored to have earned the recognition. Appearing on The Louis Theroux Podcast, they first shut down any rumors of foul feelings, saying:

The discussion then fully turned to the concept of male and female awards categories, with host Louis Theroux opining whether overhauling the gender divide for just a single set of nominees would be detrimental on the whole specifically for female actresses who are already fighting for recognition. And that’s a part of the argument that Bella Ramsey also thinks is important, as they also don’t want to strive for equality only to end up with even more imbalanced nomination choices. In their words:

Therein lies arguably the biggest conundrum by way of gendered awards categories, in that it's unclear whether the better solution would be to consolidate and limit the number of awards given out, or to set up additional categories through which gender-neutral performers (and even crew members) can be celebrated distinctly.

But considering awards shows these days already have issues keeping telecasts limited to three-hour blocks, and adding a dozen or more new categories would just pressure producers, presenters and winners to make things even speedier. While that might be a good idea specifically for winners whose speeches are long-winded and rambling, it would also take more time away from the night's best speeches and more genuinely TV-worthy moments.

As such, even though there are thoughtful arguments to make on both sides of the awards aisle — with past comments made by House of the Dragon's Emma D'Arcy, as well as Killers of the Flower Moon's Lily Gladstone — it's doubtful anyone will arrive at a magical solution in the near future that pleases every single person equally. But one can hope.

Bella Ramsey Addresses Thoughts On Using They/Them Pronouns

Having shot to stardom as Lyanna Mormont on Game of Thrones, Bella Ramsey rose to possibly even greater heights upon landing The Last of Us, and thus found their private life and personal opinions coming up more and more in interviews and social media commentary. Ramsey addressed being gender-fluid back in 2023 ahead of the HBO horror-drama's debut, but doesn't seem to feel as strongly about embracing any particular pronoun at this point. As they put it:

Ramsey's The Last of Us, despite having a depleted post-apocalyptic population, is one of the more inclusive shows on TV at the moment. The latest episode specifically pointed out that this world was thrown into chaos before the Pride movement's nationwide expansion, with neither Ellie nor her romantic foil Dina (Isabela Merced) understanding all the rainbow murals in Seattle. And gamers know that a very important pair of characters are on the way that will offer their own complicated take on representation.

Whether or not any awards ceremonies make the call to change up categories in the future, I think everyone would agree that Isabela Merced has already proven herself worthy of all the nominations, regardless of gender, job duties, or even the central medium. Give her an Oscar and a Tony as well!

The Last of Us airs every Sunday night on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET, with new episodes simultaneously available to stream with a Max subscription.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched The Last of Us’ latest episode on HBO or streamed it with a Max subscription, so be warned!

After setting up Ellie and Dina’s screen-perfect dance and kiss in The Last of Us’ Season 2 premiere, and then pitting them against the life-changing tragedy of Joel’s murder (with Dina swapped in for Tommy in the TV series), co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann thankfully cemented their romantic relationship with this cycle’s fourth installment. And yes, that came complete with a tweaked version of the video game’s sex scene that fans were disappointed didn’t happen when Eugene’s grow room was introduced.

Suffice to say, the HBO series’ fanbase was up in arms in the best ways possible during and after watching “Day One” play out (which I did while live-blogging the ep) with all manner of hot and bothered reactions to the live-action characters’ bonding and then some. And the fact that their late-night loving was prefaced by Dina’s pregnancy reveal only made it more meaningful. At least to me. Let’s see what others had to say about it all.

The Last Of Us Fans React To 'Dellie' And That Sex Scene

Despite giving audiences plenty of moments that come straight out of the video game, HBO's The Last of Us held off on Ellie and Dina consummating their romantic connection until the pair reached the all-important theater that serves as a key hub in the source material. But after all the stress of Ellie having to explain her immunity, and Dina coping with that reality, it felt like the perfect time for the characters to engage in whatever kind of relief was available. Which, at that point, was some lustful smooching as they rounded second base.

Not that this series went all hardcore with graphic nudity the way that Bella Ramsey's former HBO series Game of Thrones did for years on end. But that didn't stop fans from reacting in huge ways to it all, as seen below, starting with a cheeky post from Max.

• Pride month came early. #TheLastOfUs - @Max
• THE DELLIE MOMENT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR #thelastofus - @kateofbish
• Finally Dina she’s all yours #TheLastOfUs - @LegendaryKay__
• ELLIE AND DINA BOOMBAYAH - @JinxLovesKpop
• put this on my fucking grave oh my goddd #thelastofus - @jamiesfleurs

Now, I'm not exactly sure how a televised sex scene could properly be put onto a fan's grave, at least at our current point in history where tombstones don't come equipped with media players. But I kinda like the idea of someone leaving a cell phone atop the grave with that scene playing in a loop. Probably best to leave the sound off.

Also, I kinda left out the more extreme posts where fans inserted themselves into the action instead of one of the characters, or where the sex was championed outside of the context of the characters' relationship. I obviously also avoided giving haters any attention, since they can all make time for themselves.

But outside the scope of carnal stress relief, viewers were also vocal about the ups and downs that took place during Dina and Ellie's trip to Seattle, from the aforementioned reveal to the TV station sequence to Ellie seemingly sacrificing herself. Along with a hefty dose of unbridled adoration for Isabela Merced in general.

• “Holy shit…I’m going to be a dad!” Ellie’s reaction on knowing Dina’s pregnant being more sympathetic, understanding and excited as opposed to the game was a heartwarming change that I enjoyed #Dellie - @bigdogXVI
• isabela merced has been crushing it as dina since episode 1, but episode 4 is HER episode. every nuanced look, every piece of dialogue, everything she has poured into this character has been amazing to watch. this was THE dina episode and she nailed it. i'm so happy #thelastofus - @noradominick
• #TheLastOfUs S2E4 is powerful and storytelling at its finest. Bella and Isabelas give their best performance thus far which is saying something. Issac was really intense and better in one scene alone than he was in the whole game. The subway was incredible, the action was intense. The TV station atmosphere was great but could have used more. Loved what they did with the Immune and pregnancy reveal. Very beautiful. A couple changes idk if I liked as much like Dina going off with Ellie on her journey at the end of the episode although yes it makes sense for the show and makes it compelling. - @WesleyW606
• I believe the casting of #TheLastOfUs has been outstanding all around. But Isabela as Dina has been breathtaking. She enhances every scene. Absolutely a joy to watch. - @DaBaba85
• i was surprised by how well the show handled dina finding out ellie is immune. ellie putting her arm in front of dina so she got bit instead was sooo good. #TheLastofUs - @razzelrocks

And I'd be remiss if I didn't also share a little love for Bella Ramsey and their applause worthy performance of A-ha's "Take On Me," a scene whose impact definitely rivaled that of the game.

• Bella's amazing vocals. Isabela's genuine infatuation. The gorgeous lighting. Baby, they nailed this scene. #TheLastOfUs - @MyersFTW
• Bella Ramsey did phenomenal doing Take On Me 🎸🥹 #TheLastofUs - @DomTheBombYT

So. Much. Love. And it's all deserved, at least in my book. Now let's check out what one-half of that beloved coupling had to say about it all.

Isabela Merced Explains Dina And Ellie's Relationship Equation And Reacts To Sex Scene

Isabela Merced has been talking proudly about The Last of Us’ second season for a long time now, and was seemingly referring to this particular episode when saying that fans would be tweeting heavily about a particular scene. And it sounds like she’s all-in on continuing to develop all the Dellie vibes. Speaking with THR, Merced shared her explanation for why Dina and Ellie are so compatible, saying:

According to Merced, Dina feels guilt about things going down exactly the way they did, and feels that her character could have changed something that might have led to an outcome where Joel wasn't murdered. Alas, such regrets don't have a home in the post-apocalypse.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the actress also has very high regard for her and Bella Ramsey's sex scene, and shared why she thought it was hot in and of itself. As she put it:

If it wasn't the most natural turn of events, that's probably because discoveries about immunity and pregnancy aren't the most natural ways to get one's libido revved up and rolling. Dina's pregnancy admission being followed by love and passion is a direct flip from how it played out in the game, with Ellie's reaction being far colder, to the point where she called Dina a burden for being a liability.

Learn where The Last of Us will go next when Episode 5 hits HBO on Sunday, May 11, with just three more eps left to hit the 2025 TV schedule.

Spoiler warning for anyone who isn't watching The Last of Us' latest episode on HBO or streaming with a Max subscription.

I havent' said it before, and there's only the most minimal chance I'll one day say it again, but Sunday nights are weirdly perfect for post-apocalyptic TV storytelling. (Oh hey there, The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2 premiere, airing at the same time as The Last of Us' "Day One.") There's just something natural about seeing a destroyed world ahead of the dregs of Monday morning. Doubly so if it involves mourning characters one just met yet love wholeheartedly.

On that super-fun note: welcome everyone to my latest Last of Us live blog, where I'll obviously be reacting to all of the events taking place during Episode 4, including Jeffrey Wright's long-awaited arrival as the intimidating Isaac. Enjoy, and thanks for joining along!

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Watchalong

Welcome Note

I can't wait to see what Isaac has in store for his followers and his enemies in this episode. That's all I'll say for now, though, as not to ruin anything with my own hopes.

Isaac Is Here, A.K.A. FEDRA Soldiers Suck Just As Much In Live-Action

The Last of Us is great at bringing in characters whose deaths you hate to see coming, but hot damn, this lineup of FEDRA clowns deserves an instant shutdown, save for JEFFREY WRIGHT, MOTHERFUCKERS. Ahem, sorry. Love this dude.

The award-winning actor brought life to Isaac in the video game, and brings even more gravitas to the live-action role. Especially when he's making pompous asshats eat their words.

Something I wouldn't have seen coming in a million years: Josh Peck's totally unassuming Last of Us cameo.

Maybe Drake Bell will be a Scar or part of WLF.

Bye Bye FEDRA Dingleberries

Well it took all of no time for Isaac to show domination. Not only did he blow up a vehicle full of testosterone-stuffed FEDRA junkies, but he also aligned with "the fight," as it were.

So maybe he's a hero or something, since he did save that one very green soldier from dying with his compadres.

• "Now make your choice." - Isaac Like a Muhfucka

Not that I expect either of these guys to maintain their sanity over the next eleven years.

Dina And Ellie: Seattle Day One

It really rocks seeing the video game timeline so directly referred to, especially with Weston's Pharmacy in the background. And also especially when yeast infection jokes are involved. Wait, I didn't mean to say "especially" in that one.

Happy, Proud Rainbow Town

It's depressing to think about Ellie and Dina not knowing that rainbows were a symbol for LGBTQ+ equality, and would no doubt question those letters in relation to the WLF.

Ellie Talking About Astronauts

Gotta love Ellie following her tank hatch maneuvering with some talk about astronauts. Non-gamers aren't going to expect where Ellie's love of the Space Race comes into play, but it's a sequence I cannot wait to see in live-action.

In the meantime, we can just enjoy stellar quips like this:

• "Yeah, these guys were just assholes killed by other assholes." - Ellie

Ellie is as full of truths as that tank was full of burned-up assholes.

The Music Store - Ellie's Take On "Take On Me"

One of the most picture-perfect scenes early on in The Last of Us Part II comes when Ellie and Dina find the music store, and I'm oh so happy to say that Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced turned every emotion three-dimensional during the sequence.

I wasn't sure if Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann would stick with A-ha's '80s staple "Take On Me" for TV. All the more so given Ashley Johnson's soul-enriching delivery in the game:

All the props in the world to Ramsey for bringing the same vulnerability and non-performative performance as her digital counterpart. Very nice. Very moving. Very Ellie.

• "All those lessons from Joel." - Ellie
• "He tought you well." - Dina
• "He did." - Ellie

And then cue all the sobbing as she leaves that perfectly maintained guitar in that gorgeous setting, presumably never to be played again.

The Strange Benefits Of The Apocalypse

Isaac's interrogation goes everywhere that a prestige TV show, but I didn't necessarily expect to see Jeffrey Wright delivering a monologue about Williams Sonoma and the conduction strengths and weaknesses of copper pans vs. cast iron.

But I did expect to see him using those pans to inflict all kinds of pain on the nude and bloodied Seraphite. And yet he didn't, really, only burning the back of the Scar's hand before eventually shooting him through the head.

Isaac couldn't handle hearing his victim's logical arugment that for all the WLF soldiers that joined the Seraphites, the opposite never happened.

Ellie And Dina Find The Horrors At The TV Station

Watching The Last of Us characters being forced to enter buildings and areas through upper-story windows never gets old. If only Ellie had more trouble pushing one of those doors open.

No time to think about that, though, because there are all those hanging bodies to be horrified by. As well as the "Feel Her Love" message on the wall written in blood. Very gross.

Isabela Merced delivers what I predict will be an episode-best line with:

• "What the fuck is wrong with Seattle?" - Dina

Yeahhhhh. Adding onto the list of "video game moments I love to see in live-action," hearing the WLF soldier barking out at his troops to "fan the fuck out" and find the threats is so good. As well as hearing them call out that areas are clear. Doesn't need to be anything complicated to match right up with the source material.

Ellie Stabs A Dude In The Neck

One of the video game's most-used moves involves quietly walking up behind a threat and sticking a bladed shiv into their necks, causing ample blood spatter.

Seeing Ellie do it to one of the WLF soldiers here was another great nod to a game-specific action. Do such deadly wonders never cease?

The Dreaded Subway Tunnel Massacre

Despite being in a relatively large section of an abandoned subway, this particular Last of Us scene feels incredibly claustrophobic thanks to the flares and need for silence. And then, you know, because of all the horrifying monsters that come pouring in with a shocking amount of speed and agility.

I wish we could have seen more of the WLF soldiers being torn apart, but I guess I'll have to settle for my butthole tensing up while watching Ellie use presumably her final bullets on the runners bursting through the windows.

I also do not have the upper body strength to have pulled myself up the way that Ellie did, so I can't truly put myself in her shoes after that point, because my own would have been toast.

Major Change: How Dina Discovers Ellie's Immunity + The Theater

The video game also uses Ellie seemingly sacrificing herself to save Dina as the catalyst, but instead of giving audiences a scene filled with infection spores and a broken gas mask, viewers watched Ellie shoving her arm into one of the monsters' mouths so deflect it from biting Dina.

As far as changes go during an episode that mirrored the game so expertly, I give this one my bite-shaped stamp of approval.

Going right back around to game similarities, seeing the introduction of the theater play out in such a dramatic way rocks. It's a major location in the game, so I expect the same for the series. Hopefully they clean it up a bit.

Horrors Worse Than Cordyceps

Ellie waking up to no doubt filthy water dripping on her face is kind of scarier than bloaters. But only for that one second when you have no idea what it is.

Dina Pregancy News Naturally Leads To Sex And Morning Cuddling

After learning that Ellie isn't actually destined to become a carnivorous monster, Dina's emotional dam fully burst, and her first move was to drop the admission that she's pregnant. BLAMMO.

Obviously, two life-changing developments coming together in such short order meant that the characters involved had to do the same, if you catch the drift I just sloppily lobbed out there.

I don't even feel right talking sleazily about that scene at all, given the snuggles and candid conversation that takes place the following morning. From talking about Ellie's bite(s) and scar to Dina's frankness about Jesse and her pregnancy, I fully believe that these two characters exist and are in love.

Also, Isabela Merced came through and possibly topped her earlier quote highlight after Ellie questioned her urinating on a pregnancy test.

• "That's how it works. I don't just randomly piss on stuff." - Dina

Ellie learns things in the most interesting ways sometimes.

Ellie And Dina Are Now Truly Ride Or Die

What a change a day can make for two characters, amirite?

One day prior, neither Ellie nor Dina were aware that the latter was pregnant, and Dina was clueless about Ellie's freedom from worry about becoming infected. Sharing either of those truths with another person requires a vast amount of trust, and while there's no doubt in my mind that they would have ended up romantically together down the line anyway, that first day in Seattle was the gunpowder, the fuse, and the igniting flame.

As such, the context for their mission hits on a completely different level by the time the episode's final scene arrives. Dina now understands why Ellie is so eager to impulsively go after Abby, knowing that being bit won't equal instant doom. And they're both going forward on this mission with the awareness that Dina's pregnancy and overall survival will be at risk. That's heavy shit.

Sure, I'm excited to see how the hunt for live-action Nora goes down, and seeing that part of the storyline move forward. But during the week between episodes, I would much rather live inside the exponentially loving bubble shared by Ellie and Dina. It's just better in there.

"Day One" Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Positive Pregnancy Tests

The worst thing about watching each episode of The Last of Us is knowing the finale is getting that much closer. But when episodes are so packed with big moments like this first half-plus of Season 2 has been, no regrets. It was almost weird to not have any Jackson-set sequences in focus, though it was a natural move to skip those.

"Day One" definitively made Ellie and Dina as formidable a duo as Joel and Ellie were, albeit with completely different dynamics involved. I thought this live blog might be overrun with talking about Wright's arrival as Isaac, and while that was as effective as I'd hoped, my heart is choosing love over callousness this week. And if I can't get the face of that lumpy bruise shaped like Joel's face out of my head, I may never go back.

[INSERT BRILLIANT SEGUE]

Thanks everyone for reading along either while watching live or while catching up after the fact. Until next week, formulate your grossest predictions about what Ben Ahlers' character has been up to since becoming Isaac's lapdog.

Spoilers for the latest episode of HBO’s The Last of Us, “The Path,” lie ahead, so read on at your own discretion.

The Last of Us Season 2 is proving to be just as entertaining as its predecessor and just as heartbreaking amid its run on the 2025 TV schedule. Fans of the Naughty Dog video game series were likely aware that this season would adapt a heartbreaking moment involving Joel (who’s played perfectly by Pedro Pascal). Well, it finally happened, and it was just as devastating as I imagined it would be. Luckily, I have found a bit of comfort in the aftermath, and that’s thanks to the community of Jackson, Wyoming.

At the end of the second episode of TLoU Season 2, Joel is brutally murdered by militia leader Abby as retribution for Joel killing her father while taking Ellie from the fireflies years earlier. The following episode tackles the aftermath of Joel’s tragic demise and how his loved ones cope with it. With that, the city of Jackson takes center stage in a way that it didn’t in 2020’s The Last of Us Part II, on which serves as the basis for this season for the show. There are specifically two reasons why I appreciate this change.

The Community Has Time To Mourn Joel And Others Lost During The Attack By The Infected

Episode 2 features a considerable number of casualties, as Abby triggers an event that accidentally wakes up a horde of infected, who make their way to the town. Lives are lost, and in the aftermath, the survivors must pick up the pieces. What I was pleased to see in the third episode, which picks up three months later, is that viewers really get to see the town grapple with what went down. Many of its residents help with the rebuilding process while also reflecting on the people they lost after weeks of funerals.

A major aspect of this that I really enjoyed seeing was Ellie being forced to reckon with the death of Joel, her surrogate father figure. Because The Last of Us Part II moves so quickly and is action-oriented, there’s not much time for the character to sit in her grief. With that, I found it appropriate that the typically vivacious young woman has to take a beat before ultimately seeking revenge on Abby. Joel’s brother, Tommy, and Ellie’s friend, Dina, must also wrestle with the loss in their own ways.

The shared grief leads to some wonderful character moments, with one particularly affecting scene involving Tommy and local psychotherapist Gail. Moving towards more of a macro level, Joel’s death has a larger impact on the greater Jackson community. That’s actually what leads into the second point I want to make.

Viewers See Jackson Come Together To Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Avenging Joel

Some may argue that the Jackson-heavy content in Episode 3 is simply filler, but I’m of the thinking that the public hearing is far from that. On a basic level, it represents how democracy works in the town, though it more specifically illustrates the varying ideologies held by its citizens. There’s a divide not only in regard to whether it’d be morally correct to seek revenge in Joel’s name, and if it makes sense from an economic standpoint.

I wasn’t shocked at all that the council didn’t vote to send out a posse of 16 to hunt down the WLF members, even after Ellie’s tempered speech. (However, I am still curious about exactly who voted yay or nay.) What I was surprised by, though, was to be so impressed by just how thoughtful series creator Craig Mazin and co. were in dealing with the politics and personal ideologies of the people in this town.

Of course, Ellie – with Dina in tow – is now in Seattle and intent on killing Abby. I’m both excited and nervous to stream episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 moving forward, which are sure to be intense. While Ellie’s mission is at the heart of the story, I’m hopeful that the producers continue to develop Jackson, whether it be through the upcoming Eugene-centric episode or by other means.

New episodes of The Last of Us air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, and they’re simultaneously available to stream with a Max subscription.

Spoiler Warning: The following article contains major spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2. If you’re not fully caught up, please take a step back and watch all available episodes with a Max subscription.

Ever since its debut a couple of years ago, The Last of Us, for the most part, has been a tremendous video game adaptation of the beloved (and highly divisive) franchise of the same name. I’ve been down for a lot of the changes made to the overall story, despite some minor complaints here and there. But, unlike a lot of my peers, there’s one storyline created for the show’s second season that keeps getting in between me and what I came here to see: Ellie going after Abby to avenge Joel’s brutal murder.

What storyline am I talking about here? Well, none other than Jackson. Though the walled-off community was a part of The Last of Us Part II (as well as its predecessor) back when the game came out five years ago, I feel like the show is spending too much time in the exposition phase of this revenge thriller, and I’m losing my patience. Let me explain…

I'm A Massive Fan Of The Last Of Us Part II, And The Conflict At Its Core

After years of having an Xbox 360 as my main gaming system, I traded it in for a PlayStation 3 in 2013 solely because of The Last of Us. I blew through its campaign on the original hardware, again the following year when the PlayStation 4 remastered version came out, and then a few years after that when The Last of Us Part I came out on PlayStation 5.

And, it’s a similar story with The Last of Us Part II, which my wife and kids bought me for Father’s Day back in 2020. Though I’ve stayed away from much of the online discourse about the game, I’ve played it a few more times over the years and have always been captivated by the conflict at its core.

Not your typical good vs. evil story or even a game with traditional heroes and villains, the game was about past mistakes, revenge, redemption, and hope, as told through the brutal revenge story centering on Ellie avenging Joel’s death by hunting Abby and everyone she loves. How the game makes you reevaluate and recontextualize the revenge narrative is nothing short of astounding, and I really can’t wait to see how it untfolds in the HBO series.

Though The Ellie Vs. Abby Story Is Still A Major Part Of The Last Of Us Season 2, I Feel Like The Show Is Wasting Time

Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving the whole Ellie vs. Abby story, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds in the four remaining episodes of The Last of Us Season 2. However, I can’t help but feel like the show has been wasting a lot of time getting it going.

I’m fully aware that this drama isn’t just for those of us who played the games, and we have to ease our way into one of the most upsetting deaths in TV history, but I feel like the season premiere and second episode could have been combined into one. There was so much about the happenings in Jackson throughout the first two episodes that felt unnecessary and could have been summed up in a line of dialogue.

I mean, Joel doesn’t die until the end of the second episode, and Ellie doesn't go after Abby until a little more than halfway through the following chapter, but we have time for a town council meeting, a ridiculous battle sequence, and so much talking that I’m starting to get lost.

I Appreciate What They're Doing With The Expansion Of The Jackson Story, But A Lot Of The Scenes Feel Like Filler

Though I’m not totally on board with the expanded focus on Jackson (again, I know it’s a major location in the games), I can totally see why the show’s creators – Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin – took this route and I kind of appreciate what they’re doing. I can also see how Druckmann, the co-creator and director of the games on which the show is based, would want to expand certain things or take a different approach to a plotline years after Part II hit store shelves. However, a lot of the Jackson stuff is nothing more than filler, at least in my eyes.

I’m still having a hard time understanding why so much was changed about the timeline of the story. In the game, Joel is killed in late March, and Tommy goes off to find his killers the next day, with Ellie and Dina not far behind. But in the show, Joel dies in January, but Ellie doesn’t go on the hunt for Abby and the W.L.F. until the spring. Instead of fast action, we have the recovery from the infected attack on Jackson, a town council meeting to decide the best course of action, and so much talking. It doesn’t have to be this way…

Though It Looked Cool, The Whole 'Game Of Thrones' Style Battle In Episode 2 Was So Unnecessary

I love a big battle sequence as much as the next guy, but I cannot get down with the Game of Thrones style battle that took up a large chunk of The Last of Us Season 2’s second episode. Yeah, there are some tense moments in the game where you have to escape large groups of infected, but this was just so much. When I saw the battle teased in one of the various trailers hyping the season, I initially thought I had put on the wrong video.

I will admit that the nighttime battle did look cool in execution and offered some great moments for Tommy, but it felt so rushed and unnecessary for a show that has long focused on small moments between a few characters. I don’t know if Druckmann and Mazin wanted to include this or if it was HBO wanting to add more to the season, but I just didn’t like it.

I Know The Last Of Us Part II Is Being Split Into Multiple Seasons, But There Has To Be A Better Way

With Part II being a massive game (24 hours to beat the main story, per HowLongToBeat.com), I was not surprised at all when I read a Variety interview where Mazin said the story would be told over two seasons instead of one like the first game. It makes sense, considering so much happens throughout the game and so many characters are brought in (one of those major characters hasn’t even been introduced at this point in the series).

That said, there has to be a better way of stretching out the story and adding more to the Ellie vs. Abby dynamic without unnecessary battles, multiple town council meetings, and drawn-out scenes that don’t really need to be there in the first place.

Despite my various complaints with The Last of Us Season 2, three episodes in, I’m still totally invested in what’s going on between Ellie and Abby, and I cannot wait to see how the show handles their eventual run-in way down the road on the 2025 TV schedule.

Fame is a strange thing. While some actors seem to become famous instantly, and many never reach a level of true “celebrity,” there are others who, after years of working and going largely unnoticed, finally break through to becoming household names. One actor who is currently experiencing fame on a whole new level is Walton Goggins.

Walton Goggins has been riding pretty high of late, but recently, with his role as the Ghoul in the massive Prime Video hit Fallout, followed by turns on The White Lotus and a final season of The Righteous Gemstones, Goggins is clearly riding quite high. Speaking with the Observer, it seems even he can’t believe he got to be part of The White Lotus. He said…

Goggins says he’s trying to “honor the moment, and not let his new found celebrity change him. On the plus side, it seems the actor has somebody he can talk to about his new position in Hollywood. Goggins says The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal, who has also seen his career transform over the last couple of years, is somebody he might confide in. Goggins explained…

One imagines Walton Goggins may have a lot of friends from outside Hollywood, who simply can’t relate to his recent experience. Even if he has other friends who are actors, many of them probably haven’t had a similar experience.

Pedro Pascal would be one man who absolutely understands what’s going on. Like Walton Goggins, the last couple of years have seen Pascal transform from “popular character actor” to “bona fide movie star” thanks to everything from The Mandalorian to The Last of Us and his role in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps. Pascal has spoken about the times he was broke and nearly gave up on acting. One can only imagine the sort of conversations these friends could have as they look back on the path their careers have taken.

Of course, now we all know what this means. We need a movie or TV series starring two good friends, and major stars, Walton Goggins and Pedro Pascal. The fans would go crazy, the two friends would love to work together. Even if it's just a quick video of Mando and Boyd Crowder in a duel.

It’s not uncommon for actors to work together on multiple TV or movie projects. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler and Kenan Thompson & Kel Mitchell are just a few of the acting duos that can be mentioned. The Last of Us Season 2 co-stars Gabriel Luna and Catherine O’Hara now have a couple of shared credits, too.. Years before working alongside each other on the post-apocalyptic drama series (airing amid the 2025 TV schedule), they worked together on a movie. The stars recreated a BTS pic from the film, and Luna looks so youthful.

16 years ago, Catherine O’Hara and Gabriel Luna worked together on the TV film Temple Grandin, which is, coincidentally, also an HBO production. The movie focuses on the titular Grandin, an ethologist who revolutionized the way in which cattle and other livestock are treated on ranches and slaughter houses. Luna made note of his long-standing connection to his co-star by sharing two BTS photos. The first shows them in a trailer from their time working on the movie and the other is taken from production on TLoU. Check it out:

I don’t know what’s more adorable: the photos – which are staged identically – or the lovely caption that the former Ghost Rider portrayer added to his post. The fact that he’s had the opportunity to work with “Catherine the Great” multiple times is so cool, and I’m quite envious. Ultimately, I’d say that both actors have aged well, though I have to say I can’t get over just how young Gabriel Luna looks in the flashback pic. The now-42-year-old actor’s skin looked as smooth as a baby’s. Take a look at his lovely message:

The fact that the Terminator: Dark Fate actor kept that photo would seemingly indicate that he appreciated the opportunity to work with Catherine O’Hara at that point in his career. I know I’d be fanboying over O’Hara, who was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role in Temple Grandin. Fate can work in mysterious ways and, in this case, it’s wonderful that it worked in a way that allowed these two talented actors to work together again.

Speaking of their most recent work, for The Last of Us’ latest season (which can be streamed with a Max subscription), Gabriel Luna reprises his role as Tommy Miller. Catherine O’Hara, on the other hand, plays psychotherapist Gail, an entirely new character not present in the games on which the show is based. Both stars play their roles perfectly, and I was quite happy when Gail and Tommy had an incredibly personal conversation during the season’s third episode, “The Path,” which tackles the aftermath of THAT Joel tragedy.

Hopefully, we’ll have the opportunity to see Tommy and Gail chop it up a bit more before the season comes to an end. At the same time, I’m hopeful that the Luna/O’Hara dynamic remains strong off camera. I’d love to see them work together again at some point. In the meantime, though, I’m just going to keep admiring Luna’s sweet throwback photo – and try not to be envious of how flawless his skin looked.

Watch the two stars on The Last of Us, which airs new episodes on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet returned to The Last of Us’ Jackson via HBO or Max subscription, so be warned and keep those weaponized tissues close.

Despite making a few story-specific changes from the source material, The Last of Us co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (and esteemed director Mark Mylod) delivered one of the most shocking and traumatic episodes of any TV series airing in 2025, culminating in the death of Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller. And then somehow, another new episode emerged — read my live-blog watchalong coverage for “The Path” — taking viewers into the aftermath of the protagonist’s murder.

Watching an in-shock Ellie’s tear-filled terror during the cold open was just as affecting as Bella Ramsey’s emotional performance in the prior episode, and as a viewer, it was all too easy to mentally support the character’s goal of corralling a team to hunt down Abby and get justice for her crimes. (Yes, even knowing the potentially justifiable reasons behind her actions.) But at no point did I expect Tommy and Maria’s city council to approve her request, and the 8-3 vote against wasn’t too surprising.

Interestingly enough, however, the episode isn't strictly clear about exactly who provided the three votes in Ellie's favor. And while Gabriel Luna's Tommy can easily be assumed as one "Yes," the other two are slightly more difficult to nail down. In fact, during a post-screening Q&A for Episode 203 (via Variety), Luna and co-star Isabela Merced shared opposing assumptions about who was and wasn't involved.

When asked, Gabriel Luna shared his take that both Tommy and Maria voted in line with Ellie's wishes, and he isn't sure who offered up the third "Yes" vote. In Luna's mind, it didn't come from Young Mazino's Jesse, despite his fruitful advice to Ellie about how to get people to hear her argument. As the former Ghost Rider portrayer explained that assumption with:

A very interesting declaration, even though this episode in particular delivered a couple of around-the-town moments where Tommy is clearly viewing Jesse as a cross between a boss and a surrogate father. So that writing is pretty much on the wall already, and I can see why Luna thinks Jesse would vote with a mind towards the future, as opposed to the past.

Isabela Merced, whose character Dina is romantically involved with Jesse on a sporadic basis, argued against Gabriel Luna's point, saying it was plainly unclear where the third vote would have come from. And when the Tommy actor shared that Young Mazino told him he'd voted no, Merced amusingly clapped back with this slice of logic:

I do wonder whether or not Mazino's info tidbit actually matters within the context of the scene. Which is to say, Mazino could have literally written "no" on a piece of paper while filming the city council scene, only for it to not technically count towards the scripted 8-3 votings results.

In that respect, it's technically possible for all of the council members to have written whatever they wanted as their votes. Tommy could have written "I'm happy Joel's dead" for all we know. I mean, I'm sincerely hoping he didn't, but it's possible.

Honestly, I wouldn't have gone so far as to automatically assume that Maria would have voted approvingly for Ellie's plan. Since she would have known where Tommy's head was, I'd think she would have opted for the choice to keep the community safe, at least while reconstruction mode was still happening. (Which might be the unfair influence of the game's Maria.)

But however it goes, Ellie may have one or two city council members who are secretly on her side, and could potentially offer a helping hand when it's needed most and expected the least. Not that anyone else sitting behind that table looked anywhere near as capable as Tommy or Maria, but every bit of positivity counts.

Hopefully The Last of Us drops a subtle (or not) reveal for where the third vote came from when new episodes hit HBO and Max every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.