The reviews are in, and it looks like HBO’s hit series is still holding strong.
The first reviews for The Last of Us Season 2 are in, and it’s looking good. With a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on the first 45 reviews), the HBO series is once again proving that video game adaptations don’t have to miss. According to critics, the new season is more “intense,” “emotionally grounded,” and “even more ambitious” than Season 1.
Here's When The Last of Us Season 2 Drops
Mark your calendars: Season 2 premieres April 13. New episodes will air every Sunday, with a total of seven episodes this season. Looks like Sunday nights are officially booked again.
Let’s take a look at what critics with early access had to say about Season 2 of The Last of Us.
What's It About?
The story picks up five years after we last saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). They’re trying to build something like a normal life in Jackson, Wyoming – but that doesn’t last long. A violent event pulls Ellie into a new and deeply personal journey. Along the way, we’re introduced to Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever), a key new character whose connection to Joel adds even more emotional weight to the story. If you’ve played The Last of Us Part II, you’ll know how intense that gets. But interestingly, the show’s second season will only cover the first half of the game.
New characters like Dina (Isabela Merced) and Jesse (Young Mazino) are introduced this season, adding more depth to Ellie’s world. Ellie and Dina’s relationship becomes a key part of Season 2, with their romance unfolding alongside the season’s heavier themes. Their romance adds emotional depth to Ellie’s journey and offers rare moments of softness in an otherwise brutal world.
Bella Ramsey Is the Heart of It All
Early reviews are already highlighting Bella Ramsey as a major standout. Their performance as Ellie is getting praise for being raw, honest, and emotionally layered. They're clearly stepping into the next phase of the character with a lot of depth. You can really feel how much the character has evolved, and how fully Bella has grown into the role.
THE LAST OF US Season 2, like the game it's based on, is more painful and significantly more ambitious. Most impressive is Bella Ramsey as Ellie, who hides the character's pain and rage behind a mask of normalcy while around others. When the mask slips, she's terrifying. pic.twitter.com/E6lBcsaqau
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) April 7, 2025
What Critics Didn't Love
While most reviews are positive, not everything in Season 2 lands perfectly. Some critics, like IGN, mention that the seven-episode format makes parts of the story feel a little rushed or uneven. A few character arcs don’t get as much time to breathe, especially compared to the slower, more expansive pacing of Season 1. Still, even those reviews admit the emotional impact and great performances make it worth watching.
Season 2 doesn’t hold back, it’s darker, more personal, and emotionally heavier than what came before. Not every choice will land for everyone, but the ambition is clear, and the performances hit hard. If this is just the first half of the second game, we’re in for a lot more.
Are you excited about the new season? Drop your thoughts in the comments.