HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Episode 1 Review - Daddy Problems

After killing so many zombies, Firefly soldiers, and other human beings, Joel, in the first episode of The Last of Us Season 2, comes in conflict with teenage hormones. His bond with Ellie has started to fray - a development that the psychotherapist, Gail, considers normal, natural, fine. As far as she's concerned, Joel's problems are boring. Hence, she mocks him: "Oh, a 19-year-old daughter. She's acting toward me like every 19-year-old daughter has ever acted toward their dad, ever." What can you say about Catherine O'Hara that hasn't been said before by other fans, filmmakers, and critics? Just see how smoothly and subtly she lifts the scene from the arena of comedy and places it into the arena of grief. I was also quite taken aback by the weariness in Joel's eyes. Pedro Pascal looks convincingly old - his Joel just wants to live a quiet life behind a desk fixing some electronic device. A sense of resignation emanates from him as if he's saying, "I have enough trouble handling Ellie; I don't want to increase my blood pressure by fighting zombies." This doesn't mean that Joel has become "soft." There is still some toughness and roughness left inside him, which mostly appears in the foreground to protect Ellie. He tries to keep his "daughter" away from patrol duties (she hates these "protective decisions") and pushes a man who calls Ellie and Dina "Dykes." Episode 1 also clarifies that Joel is no saint when he suggests that perhaps no more people should be allowed to enter their community. He's selfish, and Pascal gives these bitter edges a bite.

Ellie, on the other hand, doesn't want Joel to interfere in her life. She has grown fierce, volatile, and dynamic. She confronts danger without second thoughts, without fear, and in Dina, she finds a perfect partner-in-crime. The two of them ignore their leader and enter a building to kill the Clickers (they don't want to leave this problem for men to handle). This scene is curiously suspenseless and weak. It should have been much, much better, considering the introduction of a smart Clicker that can prove to be a serious problem for the characters this time. Then again, I think one shouldn't expect much from the first episode itself. The premiere suffers from the same problem that affects most premieres nowadays: They merely set the table for future episodes/events. Episode 1 is fine, and those final moments are pretty exciting. As someone who hasn't played the video game, I am curious to see where this season will go from this point.

Final Score- [7/10]