The Last of Us Season 2 Review: Woke Dumpster Fire

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Initially, Abby is bent on seeking retribution, while the other member of their group, who happens to be white, prefers to retreat and flee.

Later, it transitions to a 90-pound Elie engaging in a fight with a 200-pound Caucasian man – and surprisingly, she emerges victorious over him.

We’re not done yet. It turns out Joel is in therapy. He also cries.

On Sunday evening, the second season of “The Last of Us” made its debut on HBO and Max. This new season follows up from the highly successful first season that was broadcast in 2023, which was based on the incredibly popular video game with the same title.

Similar to “The Walking Dead,” this story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic era, where humanity battles for survival amidst dire circumstances. It’s important to note that these aren’t your average undead creatures; instead, the horrifying beings in this scenario are infected by a contagion derived from plants.

The main concept is intriguing, however, this particular episode appears to emphasize female empowerment at the cost of portraying men as incompetent. The character Joel (Pedro Pascal) seems overly submissive and is criticized for it, which could be perceived as an unnecessary feminization of his role. There are instances where derogatory comments towards males can be found. Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabella Merced) disregard authority and refuse to comply, initially portrayed as problematic behavior. However, this rebellion is later justified, seemingly due to their female identities.

It’s clear that Ellie identifies as a lesbian, having been in a relationship with the sole other lesbian in town. Now, she finds herself smitten with Dina, who is aware of her feelings. Notably, Dina has just ended her relationship with her boyfriend.

On New Year’s Eve, Dina playfully danced with every boy present, eventually sharing a dance with Ellie who had been shyly observing throughout. Naturally, they shared a kiss. An elderly man, evidently displeased, suggested they attend church or similar, and derogatorily labeled them as lesbians. Joel intervened, became agitated, and shoved the man. However, Ellie didn’t take kindly to Joel’s intervention and made it clear that she doesn’t need his help.

Incidentally, Joel has been attending therapy sessions with the spouse of the person he ended up killing. She struggles with alcohol and it’s her birthday today. In their session, she expresses her dislike for Joel, causing him to shed tears.

Unfortunately, what could have been an exciting scene… instead we’re left with its aftermath. This is due to David Zaslav reducing budgets across all WB shows, including House of the Dragon and White Lotus. The original idea might have featured zombies battling a bear, creating an epic spectacle. However, we only get to see the aftermath.

Initially, Ellie and Dina pursue two zombies into a shop, yet for some reason, they seem to have misplaced their count of two. It’s a mystery I can’t solve as I didn’t author the episode. They manage to eliminate one, but unexpectedly, the second zombie strikes back at Ellie.

It turns out that this novel kind of zombie – yes, you guessed it, female (ha-ha) – exhibits distinct traits. Unlike most of her counterparts, she appears to be less mindless and more clever instead.

The episode concludes as Abby, carrying a lingering anger that’s been there for five years, uncovers the location where Joel resides. A sly smile graces her face.

The Verdict

The opening episode of The Last of Us Season 2 received a score of 1 out of 10. This latest installment seems to be just another example of overproduced Hollywood content, prioritizing an agenda over storytelling. The writing and character development are both subpar.

Similar to shows such as The Acolyte, She-Hulk, Secret Invasion, and Ms. Marvel, watching The Last of Us has become nearly impossible.

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2025-04-14 07:31