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The Last of Us | S2 E2 | Full Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-21 03:32:04
Imported:
2026-08

Content

I'm still not really sure how to feel after this episode... I'm kind of just sitting here staring at the wall asking myself 'did that really just happen??' The pacing of this episode felt so wildly different than the first. It felt deliberate and intimate. Every small moment between each character had room to breathe, but the tension kept boiling up like the infected under the snow.I won't go into too much detail for the sake of potential spoilers in case y'all are watching this for the first time with me. But wow. This one packed a punch I wasn't prepared for. And I think I'm still trying to catch my breath even now.Thank you for your support on Patreon!Relax and enjoy 🍿🌿LINK: https://youtu.be/qz8KB9CRpH8I watched this on HBO Max

Files

The Last of Us | S2 E2 | Watch Along

Welcome in! 🌿 Grab a blanket and get settled in!

Comments

Russell Rutigliano

Oh man this episode is gonna hit super hard! I’m sorry I forgot you hadn’t played Part II when I suggested you watch the behind the scenes stuff at the end of the episode. Hopefully you didn’t.

Jim

I hate how much I get Abby. Someone kills my mother I probably want that person dead. I don’t really care if they had a reason.

iameNeRG (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-07 13:00 Obviously for context to spoilers I will keep my comment really vague, but the big thing of this episode is why the second game is so divisive. I really can't speak to how much sorrow this has caused me once again. It's a weird feeling to have and continue to play the game after. And yet, it is still one of my favorite video games of all time. This is a hard one... I am dreading this reaction honestly. So many mixed emotions and feelings.
2025-04-21 03:35

kaliwali

Ugh I totally feel that... My emotions were all over the place in this one. I wasn't really sure how to feel, honestly. I can see it from all sides... But all sides hurt, too. Sheesh.. Now I'm wondering how this episode looks in the game. The game hit harder for me in Season 1 so I can only imagine how this must have gone in Part II

kaliwali

I didn't! This was definitely a tough one. I feel like my emotions are still all over the place and I'm not really sure which emotion out of the 10 to feel. Sheesh..

kaliwali

Same. I hate Abby so much. But I also totally get her.

Jim

I remember reading that Kaitlin was cast and my first thought was “that poor girl.” But she lends a vulnerability to the character in my opinion

JeRon Washington

Kali, hopefully you don't get any spoilers since you haven't played The Last Of Us 2

KJ

The episode hasn't dropped here because of time zone differences, but having played the game I can guess. Like with the game, I have to give the creators props for making bold decisions. Many shows play it safe and wouldn't have the guts to make the narrative decisions The Last of Us makes. While everyone has gone through shock, I can at least say the story isn't being provocative for the sake of it. How the characters deal and cope in the aftermath is just as important, making for an incredibly human story in a world full of monsters.

Giancarlo Gasparin

The only thing bothering me about Kaitlyn Dever’s performance isn’t that she’s not a good Abby, but that she would’ve been an ideal Ellie.

Dude Longcouch

Absolutely brutal episode. I still recall playing this part of the game, couldn't really do much besides rest my head on my desk and try to absorb it all. I was actually livestreaming at the time, and at the end of the stream I remember just being like, "OK... uh... hope you had fun... 🥴"

Robert da Spruce

Dang ☹️ I haven’t played the game, so this was devastating. Joel and Ellie are The Last of Us. So, I actually feel kind of mixed going forward On one hand, I wanna see what happens next. But at the same time, it’s not going to be the same without Joel That was crazy. I need to go watch something else to cleanse the palette. Hope you had a nice Easter Kali!

TheJoeKerr

Joel’s death in the show was so brutal. I wasn’t expecting it so soon into the season especially since they were splitting part 2 into 2 separate seasons. wow my heart hurts even though I knew it was coming.

Cory Stanish

Amazing reaction, horrific episode. Having played the game and knowing what was coming actually made it worse. I don't think anything I've ever watched, listened to, played, or read has ever given me the conflicted feelings that this story did. I noticed a couple of things on the rewatch that didn't strike me the first time around, like: in Abby's dream, current-day Abby is telling younger Abby not to go into the room where her father's body is, and younger Abby says, "I don't know you." The experience warped her so much that five-years-younger Abby doesn't even recognize herself. The other thing was that in episode 1, Joel takes Ellie's guitar and promises to put new strings on it. In this episode, they focus real quick on Ellie's guitar, back in her room and with shiny new steel strings on it. That hurt my heart a little bit. Also, fun fact: The song that plays on the end is sung by Ashley Johnson, who's Ellie's voice actor in the game and who also played Ellie's mother last season. The song was originally used in the reveal trailer before the game came out, and it kind of basically says, "I'll go to Hell for what I'm about to do, but I need to do it anyway." It was powerful enough to hear it sung by Ellie in that trailer, even when we didn't know exactly what would happen, but in the context of the show, it's as if we're hearing it in the voice of the only other person who could have possibly loved Ellie as much as Joel did.

Ciarra Jade

I played the game so I knew like so many others but I still cried so hard .. I really really wished I had one more fun episode with Joel before his golf match with Abby 😭😭

Robin Holmes

This is considered the most macabre and messed up moment of video game history. And the video game series makes it worse, But it is a huge thought on a speedbump of the the track that is the Human Race. This also was the spoiler I wanted to warn you about.

M1 Maz

I've been waiting all week for this one specifically, so I'm really glad I'm off work still today and didn't have to wait until the evening haha. Dancing around the elephant in the room for a moment, I wanted to mention the infected attacking Jackson and how cool to watch that whole sequence was. That was battle of Helm's Deep level of craziness with the hoard, Jackson's preparedness, and particularly Tommy's role in all of it. I loved how his character was portrayed throughout it all. Such a brave and efficient leader, but we also got to see him appear so human, with the fear and other emotions throughout. Really great Now for Joel.... This whole episode was like one big pressure cooker, just building and building tension. Tension that the entirety of last episode helped further to set up. I think one of the things about his death that hits the hardest on the first time, is just how quickly things escalate out of nowhere to that point. And you keep thinking, 'surely the protagonist finds a way at the last second to get out this', and then you think it's Ellie who'll be the savior... only to have her watch.... the whole thing is emotionally scarring forever I like to think that Joel, if he knew his fate and the consequences rendered to him for his actions in the hospital, still would have gone through with it the same way, because that's just who he is. Driven by love for Ellie, forged by what happened to his own daughter. Everyone's got a fire deep inside, that left unchecked can unleash the monster within. Was Joel justified in saving Ellie? Was the way he did it justified? Was Abby justified in her revenge? Was the way she did it justified? This story is really the ultimate gray area, and I'm very much looking forward to riding this train with you and continuing to see all your thoughts and analysis!

kaliwali

I haven't and I'm avoiding them :) this episode was a hard hit..

kaliwali

Ugh yeah, the shock was very real in this episode for me. I actually didnt' start really crying until after the credits rolled in because I was so shocked at what happened. Which hasn't happened to me since Game of Thrones end of Season 1 (if ya know ya know lol). This was a heavy one for sure. But I do give this storyline props for taking this leap and giving us a "oh crap. what now?" moment of hearbreak.

kaliwali

I actually VERY much agree with this! I struggle with Ellie's character a lot. Like with the scene in this one where the guy apologizes for his behavior at the party and she just stares him in the face and says "k". I just can't with people that aren't willing to budge with others and I never got that from Ellie in Part I of the game. I can see now why people were upset about the casting. It makes Ellie really hard to love, unfortunately. And Dever's would have made a great Ellie. Her scene in this where she tells Joel who her father was... WOW. But even after everything I just said, Ellie's facial expressions are phenomenal I gotta give that to her. The look she can portray in her eyes speaks volumes and kinda makes up for her tougher shell that I think comes off a bit unconsciously.

kaliwali

Ugh, yes... I felt the same way watching this play out. I was so shocked that I couldn't really feel much other than disbelief and I kept asking myself "Is this the right show?? How did that really happen?" I thought for sure someone would swoop in and save Joel. So when things started to get real, I was in denial for awhile..

JeRon Washington

Whenever you play The Last Of Us 2, your gonna love it, it's very intense, and lots of emotions. I have both of the games

kaliwali

Ugh I totally feel you. I was so shocked. I kept waiting for Joel to get rescued, for someone to show up, for Ellie to come in and save the day like he did for her in the hospital. Then I realized what was happening... and I was just in disbelief. I can't really see The Last of Us without Joel. He was my absolute favorite. And for this to happen in EPISODE 2??? I just.. I'm lost too.

kaliwali

I was NOT expecting this at all, let alone this soon into Season 2. I'm still shocked waking up today asking myself, "did that really happen last night???"

kaliwali

Wow, I love that Ellie's voice actor sang that and now it gives that scene a whooooole new meaning and heaviness. The song was so beautiful and it was the perfect way to end Joel.. But wow was I in absolute shock. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And yes! Abby saying, "I don't know you" hit hard. Trauma changes us so much that we don't even recognize ourselves anymore. And that dream was such a deep way to show that. I'm still shocked at what happened in this episode. I can't believe that this is where episode 2 ended up. Did it feel this fast in the game, too?

kaliwali

Same exact thoughts. I want one more fun episode with Joel. Just one more. I think we are in the bargaining phase 😿🔥

kaliwali

It was absolutely 100% messed up in so many ways. This episode was actually shocking. Wow.

kaliwali

Oh man. Since I didn't play the game first, I was not expecting this AT ALL. I think I actually went into a bit of shock for awhile there. I kept thinking that somebody had to save Joel. Somebody, anybody. And then when Ellie got in there and I saw the state he was already in and hearing Abby just losing it, it felt like my stomach dropped to the floor. I hate that Joel died in this. I also hate that I can see why Abby did what she did after learning why she wanted her revenge so bad. It was such a brutal and undeserved death for Joel, to me. But to Abby, it was justice... I agree with the infected charge on Jackson! And I love how you compared it to Helm's Deep, because YES. They were SO prepared on such an enormous scale that it was so impressive. But then the huge bloater came out from the crowd and I just knew all of their preparedness was about to be fully tested. And YES. Tommy was an absolute hero (and also extremely lucky!). I love how you put those thoughts in about Joel and not regretting anything that he has done because I totally agree. It is just the kinda guy that he is. He protected Ellie until the very end. And if he had a chance to save her or end up this way, he would still do the very same thing over and over again. What happened with him and his own daughter at the beginning of the outbreak is enough to change anyone. And now I'm seeing where the gray areas are beginning that caused so much controversy in Part II of the game. And I think you definitely explained it perfectly! "Everyone's got a fire deep inside, that left unchecked can unleash the monster within" YES, wow! That's exactly what happened with Joel and, in turn, ended up being his own demise because it happened with Abby as well. Even though Joel is gone and I absolutely hate that. I'm looking forward to seeing where they are going with all of this. Ellie will definitely be changed forever by this as well. And now her revenge and monster inside must be brewing into something that looks very similar to Abby's. Very much looking forward to how this all plays out! 👀

Lastboyscout73

Well, this is why I stopped watching The Walking Dead, they kept killing off my favorite characters. It's a good show, don't get me wrong but I'm already thinking of the repeat that happens in zombie shows. You start really loving a character and then they kill them off. It's making me wonder if I'm going to keep watching it. Side note: Don't eat breakfast while watching a zombie show. 🙄

Cory Stanish

It came at you even faster and harder in the game, with a lot less set-up about who Abby is and why she's there. No set-up at all, really. That scene from the beginning of episode 1 doesn't exist in the game at all and we also don't see the dream she wakes up from, but we do see her wake up from a bad dream and we just know nothing about her. The first several minutes with her is just a conversation between her and Owen and we have no idea why they're here or who they are. Even the game's subtitles just refer to them as "Woman" and "Man." I really thought the show was going to make us wait at least one more episode for this to happen.

Cory Stanish

I remember telling a friend (who didn't play either game) that I'd just finished The Last of Us Part II and she said, "Did you like it?" And I was like... "Not really?" I mean... it's brilliant. It's the best argument I could ever put forth to counter that notion that video games aren't a form of art on that can stand next to literature or cinema. It's a brutal and emotionally complicated and challenging story to take in. I'm tempted to use the word "masterpiece." I couldn't put it down. I'm glad I played it. But also, I hated it. I was sure I would never play through it again (but lately I've been thinking I might). Anyone who's watched the show this far has probably figured out that this show is going to make you watch people's tortured psyches drive them to acts that are simultaneously morally/ethically repugnant but also some degree of understandable and it's sometimes hard to watch. But the game? The game doesn't make you watch that stuff. It makes you complicit in all of it.

KJ

It's not a spoiler to say the events are pretty faithful to the game. The way the game revealed who Abby was and why it's so personal is very different. It's the same motivation but the game made it a mystery for over half the playthrough. The way the show handled it was probably to make sure they didn't lose their entire audience. The game seems more stark and sadistic.

Cory Stanish

I agree Kaitlyn Dever would have made a great Ellie, and she was actually the frontrunner to play Ellie in a Last of Us movie that ended up not getting made. But really, if Kaitlyn Dever was playing Ellie, she'd be performing the same script with the same directors that Bella is working with. She'd be just as convincing being closed-off and unforgiving and I think we'd be having the same struggle with Ellie was we would if she was played by any other capable actress. If I'm wrong and Kaitlyn would do a better job of making a character who's behaving in unlikable ways come off as sympathetic, then I'm still glad the casting ended up how it did. Because Abby as a character actually needs that quality in her actor way more than Ellie does, without a full season of built-up love for her character. Also I think Ellie's behavior in the first episode and a half is very purposeful. She's letting herself be this way because she's making the classic mistake of thinking that there will always be time in the future to mend these rifts that are forming between her and the people she cares about. And now we have to watch what happens to her when that future is violently torn away and the regret she has to grapple with. Also I can kind of empathize with Ellie's position regarding Seth and his apology. He did a good job of selling the apology, but it seemed pretty clear that Maria prodded both of them into this situation to keep the peace and that undermines the whole thing in my eyes. I can understand her being a little over-sensitive being one of a very small number of queer people in this small, tight-knit community in the post-apocalyptic remnants of a red state. This isn't a situation where people become *less* socially conservative, and I find her reluctance to let him off the hook that easily to be very understandable. She's just not mature enough emotionally to be willing to take on the burden of being the bigger person. I don't think it's the right thing to do, but I understand it (which is kind of a running theme in The Last of Us). At least they cut her snarky comment about "bigot sandwiches," that would have been too much. Behaving the way she does doesn't help, it doesn't make anything better, but it does have the cheap allure of being much easier to do. I would love to see her trade some of that weed she took from the 7-11 for some sit-down time with Gail, but I doubt we'll see that happen. I feel like maybe I'm writing too much in the comments, but I have a lot of feelings about all this and not enough opportunity to have this level of conversation about it :D

Cory Stanish

It makes it seem very intentional the way they give Abby such comprehensible motives while simultaneously making Ellie a bit less easy to love.

Cory Stanish

I stopped watching The Walking Dead when they fake-killed my favorite character, and then revealed they were actually alive, and then killed them for real. And honestly I was pretty checked-out for a long time before I finally stopped watching. After a time it started to feel like cheap, crass emotional manipulation. Brutality for the sake of brutality and saving up the big deaths for the mid-season finale or whatever. I think it's very different in an open-ended show like TWD where they don't have an end-game, the ultimate story is yet to become clear and/or may not exist at all, and they're just trying to keep people watching as long as they can. And then coming up with five or six spinoffs after they finally pull the plug. The Last of Us is, to me, the antithesis of the way The Walking Dead went about it. This story is absolutely going somewhere and everything that happens, no matter how brutal it is, is leading us to that place. The game made me do a lot of deep thinking and soul-searching about the way I interact with stories in general and I 100% believe the showrunners here are going to find a way to capture that in the adaptation.

Giancarlo Gasparin

A lot good stuff here. I could be wrong, but I feel as though the apology we got last night was far more sincere than the one we got in the game, making the line about the sandwiches unnecessary. Ellie's refusal to accept the apology, though not required, did come off a bit immature.

Farbod

While I prefer how the game did it, I dont think its possible on TV. Playing the game at a normal pace, you will find out in a few days why Abby did the things she did. But if the timing is the same in the show, you wouldn't know for 1-2 years. Thats just too long to wait for the reveal. I think they handled it the best they could.

KJ

Oh I totally understand why the show is more traditionally linear and chronological. The average TV audience needs more hand-holding.

TheGuy

I don't see Abby having any right to kill Joel. Every one of those Fireflies, and her dad, were about to murder someone. He saved that someone. Unless Ellie had given advised consent to her own death, which she had not, they were going to murder a kid. Screw'em. They all deserved to die.

Walker

I can understand Abby wanting to take Joel‘s life. If I grew up in this world, I would probably do the same thing except Abby‘s father wasn’t tortured and beaten he was just instantly put to death. That would’ve been I don’t wanna say the just thing to do, but if Abby was being fair that would be how she would’ve killed Joel. Also, the difference I see between what Joel did and what Abby did was Joel did it to save a life. Abby wasn’t trying to save anybody’s life. She was just trying to take out her own rage on Joel. The other thing that bothered me was that Abby said that he was helpless and unarmed. Her father pulled a scalpel on Joel. That’s why Joel shot him and why he didn’t shoot the nurses. He threatening Joel‘s life. Part of me wishes Joel would have told her exactly why he killed her father because he was gonna kill a 14-year-old girl and he pulled a weapon on him. I’m sure it wouldn’t have made any difference in terms of Abby‘s plan but I think she should’ve known what her father was doing