Through the Valley

Episode 1 of Season 2 was a solid though largely sedate affair. It was clearly there to set the scene rather than move the plot forward in a big way or provide much action. With background to two sub-plots provided I expected these sub-plots to come to fruition over the remainder of the season.

Turns out we didn't have to wait long for stuff to get real.

Episode 2 is an absolute humdinger of an episode, quite the most action-packed, drama-packed episode of the show so far. No gradual buildup to a season climax, this feels like a season finale there's so much going on, and so much finality in some respects.

Such is the outcome of the episode there are a multitude of plot-lines open to the series, making the next episode very intriguing.

Note: I haven't played the game nor have any inkling of the plot, before this episode aired or from here on out, so my views are entirely based on what has happened thus far in the TV show, not on any other sources.

You wanted more infected !

This episode is non stop!! A dangerous blizzard hits the area. Tommy and the rest of the town are on high alert as infected have been found under the snow. Ellie and Jessie are on patrol and are seeking shelter from the storm. Abbie takes it upon herself to seek out her target, Joel and Dina are also out on patrol, they run into a new face as they are up against all odds!

This is episode is a lot of mixed emotions, firstly the action scene in the town is some of the best television I have seen in a long time, that maybe recency bias but it's awesome. The whole episode is high stakes and tension.

Abbie's section is awesome, so much infected which leads to a lot of RUNNING.

A very hard episode to talk about without spoiling as one thing leads to another, definitely one of the best episodes in the entire show so far, mind you that does NOT mean I agree with the choices made. Abbie had a dialogue in this which is good but they will NEVER make me like you !!! 9/10.

For die hard GoT fans, we all get the jist of why and how series like these thrive. It's all about the living versus whatever curse has come to wipe out all humanity. This episode was the equivalent to GoTs "Hardhome", S5, episode 8. This episode reveals how the "infected" are evolving and finding ways to increase their "hive" exponentially compared to the non-infected ranks. GoT did the same with the "Army of the Dead" overunning outpost after outpost until "The Night King" was finally defeated. It all boils down to how crazy killing the living for no reason always sounds. Madness never makes sense, but usually has a goal. The game itself has not revealed how this will all end. But with this episode being so similar to the game, I can only think an enemy of the non-infected has not revealed itself. Basically an enemy that can be the key into eliminating the infected once and for all.

This second episode of the new season of The Last of Us left me stunned, not just because of what happens story-wise, but because of how it was executed. Unlike the video game, the writing in this episode makes much more sense. The characters' decisions feel more human, more emotionally driven, and therefore, more believable. What leads up to that scene-such a controversial and pivotal moment-feels far more real and justified in the series than in the game, thanks to a much stronger narrative build-up.

The production and acting were, without exaggeration, sublime. Pedro Pascal delivers one of his best performances as Joel, showing a moving vulnerability. The level of detail in the setting, the tension in each frame, and the emotional weight of every scene all reflect top-tier filmmaking.

What stood out the most to me were the new elements and action additions not present in the game or reimagined for the show. Everything feels more organic, more intense, and at times, heartbreaking. The Jackson part, for instance, adds a brutal sense of urgency to the episode and keeps the viewer on edge.

In summary, this episode doesn't just honor the source material-it improves upon it, adding coherence, emotion, and stronger narrative structure. It's an adaptation that dares to go further than the game and succeeds brilliantly.

There are no words to describe how phenomenal the execution of this episode is.

We all knew what was coming, and it's still executed in an extraordinary, unforgettable way.

The addition of Jackson really elevates the episode beyond its potential before.

And of course... the scene.

Five years of knowing what was going to happen here and I still cried like a baby again.

Amazing!

One of the best episodes we've seen on television in recent years, and maybe ever. I wish I could watch it without knowing what would happen, and yet - it didn't take away from the intensity of the experience I had.