Last of Us Season 2 Finale FAILED Me (Here’s Why)

As a passionate movie enthusiast who had yet to delve into the world of The Last of Us video games, I embarked on season 2 with minimal understanding of the storyline and major surprises ahead. All I was privy to was Joel’s untimely demise, an event that transpired swiftly in episode 2. This left me clueless about the series’ subsequent developments, except for Ellie’s eventual journey to Seattle. Being a newcomer to this narrative without preconceived notions based on the original games, I even harbored hopes that I might find season 2 as captivating as its predecessor.

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on “The Last of Us” season 2. Overall, I was captivated by this series, it’s undeniably one of the most gripping shows on television today. The show’s haunting portrayal of humanity’s descent into desperation, survival, and the decay of civilization is truly compelling. However, I must confess that I found season 2 a tad less engaging compared to its predecessor. This sentiment isn’t based on any changes made to the games, but rather on certain aspects such as pacing and character perspective in the storyline. The ending of “The Last of Us” season 2 left me feeling more disappointed than I had anticipated.

As Someone Who Never Played The Games, I Found The Last Of Us’ Season 2 Finale Underwhelming

The Last Of Us’ Season 2 Finale Was Ultimately Unsatisfying

In the final episode of “The Last of Us” Season 2, I expected some shocking turns for Ellie and Dina. While the events did turn out dark, with Jesse getting killed by Abby following Ellie’s actions against Owen and a pregnant Mel, the rapid pace made these incidents feel less impactful. Furthermore, the season finale ends abruptly, leaving those unaware of the game series uncertain about who fired the gun and whether anyone was hit by the bullet.

From my perspective, while it’s evident that the story is being divided into parts, similar to how “The Last of Us” season 2 serves as a prelude and season 3 as the continuation, I must admit that the way this strategy has been executed hasn’t fully captured my interest. As someone who hasn’t delved into the games, I’ve had less time to connect with Ellie, Dina, Abby, Jesse, and Tommy as characters compared to those who have. Consequently, I feel that the show itself hasn’t provided a comprehensive exploration of their perspectives yet, which makes some of the events in the finale move too quickly for me to fully appreciate.

In simpler terms, the plot points such as Dina wanting to go home versus Ellie staying, Ellie being taken by the Seraphites in The Last of Us, Ellie killing Owen and Mel, Jesse dying shortly after revealing why he saved Ellie, and Ellie trying to save Tommy from Abby – these are significant events that occur quickly without fully developing the emotional impact needed for a satisfying conclusion. The abrupt ending leaves many unresolved aspects, making it seem like not all parts of the story have been adequately addressed. In essence, this marks a major turning point in Ellie’s quest for revenge, but there are several elements left unexplored, which detracts from a sense of closure.

In simpler terms, we didn’t find it necessary for Isaac to learn about the ongoing war or for Ellie to suddenly appear on the Seraphites’ territory only to mysteriously escape. Additionally, some of the discussions about destiny, life, and selflessness seemed overly explicit, more so in expressing the show’s central themes rather than demonstrating them through character interactions, plot developments, and pivotal scenes. This has been a recurring issue since Joel’s death, but doing it again during the finale, when the action and tension should ideally be at their peak, made for an anticlimactic ending.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Should Have Only Focused On The Jackson Characters’ Perspective

The Story Felt Incomplete After Adding So Many Teases Outside Jackson’s Perspective

A significant factor contributing to the disappointing ending of The Last of Us‘s season 2 is the sense of incompleteness regarding Ellie’s narrative. Instead of abruptly switching to delve into the pasts and viewpoints of Isaac, his WLF soldiers, and the Seraphites, the show might have been more impactful if it had solely revealed what Ellie and Dina understand about these groups. In this way, the deeper examination of the Seattle factions could have been intertwined with Abby’s story in The Last of Us‘s season 3.

Instead of providing partial or unsatisfying insights into the WLF and Seraphites this season, why not save their full backstory until Season 3? By hinting at them during Ellie and Dina’s journey in Season 2, we were left with unfinished storylines that still require significant expansion in the next season. This approach significantly reduced the focus on Ellie and Dina’s experiences in Seattle, making their search for Abby feel rushed.

Instead of delving into the aftermath of Joel’s death and Ellie’s story of vengeance, as portrayed in The Last of Us, it might have been more advantageous to focus solely on characters from Jackson. This way, viewers would not be overwhelmed with too much or too little information about the WLF and Seraphites, making it less confusing when crucial moments occurred during the season 2 finale. We could still catch glimpses of Seattle’s warring factions, but understanding their conflicts might have been more impactful if we learned about them simultaneously with the characters from Jackson, thus enhancing the TV adaptation experience.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Didn’t Spend Nearly Enough Time With Ellie & Dina In Seattle

Ellie & Dina’s Story Needed More Focus Before Switching To Abby’s POV

In the second season of “The Last of Us”, Ellie and Dina’s emotional climax in the finale lacked the anticipated impact due to the scarcity of episodes and frequent deviations from their narrative. Despite spending a considerable amount of time with them, the series didn’t delve deeply enough into their relationship given its importance in the show’s future plotlines. The rapid transitions between dialogue-sparse action sequences and story-advancing moments didn’t allow viewers to fully invest in their relationship.

In the same episode where they form a romantic relationship, Ellie tells Dina and Jesse that she will be the father of their unborn child. Soon after Dina is wounded by a Seraphite, Ellie discloses to her about Joel’s slaughter of the Fireflies. Although their story in Seattle unfolds over a span of only three days, the crucial character development scenes seem to occur rapidly due to the turmoil of the war and intermittent focus on other characters from The Last of Us series.

In the final season of “The Last of Us”, it’s likely that we’ll spend significantly more than a couple of hours delving into the relationship between Ellie and Dina in Seattle. To fully explore their bond, deepen their characters, and provide a richer understanding of the conflicts they face, either more episodes should have been included, or each episode could have been extended to allow for a more detailed narrative, or perhaps some scenes involving the WLF and Seraphites not directly connected to Ellie and Dina’s journey could have been omitted.

Season # Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score
1 96%
2 92%

In simpler terms, it seems that the stories and character developments for Ellie and Dina in The Last of Us are left unresolved by the end of season 2, as we’ll be focusing on Abby’s story in season 3 right away. This sudden shift could potentially weaken the emotional impact of Ellie and Dina’s fate and decisions following the season 2 cliffhanger, since their perspectives might not reappear until very late in season 3.

The Last Of Us Season 3 Showing Abby’s Side Sounds Like It’ll Be More Fulfilling Than Season 2

Abby’s Story Will Fill In All The Gaps

In the upcoming season 3 of “The Last of Us”, we’ll delve deeper into those crucial three days in Seattle, this time from Abby’s perspective. What sets this apart is that it will present a self-contained narrative. We’ll uncover the rougher aspects of Isaac, the WLF, the tensions in Seattle, and the true nature of the Seraphites. Abby’s tale will complement Ellie and Dina’s story by providing essential details, while also offering a more personal insight into her past and her moral outlook on the world of “The Last of Us” before that suspenseful gunshot ending.

As a devoted fan following the journey of The Last of Us, I can’t help but notice how, by the time season 3 reaches the heart-wrenching moment when Abby takes Jesse’s life, her story arc will undoubtedly reach a more comprehensive conclusion compared to Ellie and Dina’s. Since we’ve already been introduced to the intricacies of the WLF and Seraphites, Abby’s narrative won’t require extensive setup to flesh out the details of Seattle. Instead, the series can rely on subtle hints and allusions to suggest that Ellie and Dina are in Seattle.

Once both storylines converge, it appears that Abby’s tale will eclipse Ellie and Dina’s in terms of emotional depth and satisfaction. The anticipation is palpable!

Read More

2025-06-03 00:38