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The Last of Us 2x02 Full Reaction! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-21 18:15:29
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2026-06
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The Last of Us 2×02 Full Reaction

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Ryan

So we're all in agreement that Pedro Pascal needs to just completely stay away from mountains, right? Also, I'll never begrudge anyone seeing to their dog above all other concerns. I have to start this one with how much I appreciated the scene between Ellie and Seth, not just for Ellie refusing to forgive him, but more importantly not a single person trying to pressure her to forgive him. And they even spit on the old "I was just drunk" excuse, which certain people seem to genuinely think is an automatic get out of jail free card rather than making you more likely to say what you really think without worrying about society. Also nice touch with Ellie's disdain for the steak sandwich in reference to Bella's veganism. I knew Kaitlyn Dever was a great actress going into this season from Justified, Unbelievable, Booksmart, and Apple Cider Vinegar plus maybe some more I'm forgetting, and she still totally blew me away here. Starting with making it so believable how cold she was. I've been skiing in the Alps and know that exact feeling of your hands feeling like they're on fire from the cold, and she perfectly nails every bit of that physicality. Followed by some darn good stuntwork falling down the mountain, and to my delight a flawless recreation of the game segment where you crawl under the fence that had me shouting "Hit X! Hit X!" And at over 20 minutes into the episode Joel makes his first appearance, in a perfect way to make you say "Oh shit" and have no idea where this is going if we're already at this moment. And then the episode masterfully directs all your attention to the attack on Jackson, and whether Tommy and/or Maria might die here. This is an entirely new sequence for the show, and every bit of showing their battle plan is a delight, even more once an Infected horde that dwarfs anything last season shows up. A lot of people were complaining about how small a role the Infected had in that season, and throughout this whole thing I kept hearing Barry Levinson shrieking "HAPPY NOW? HAPPY? HAPPY NOW?" Also really dug the poke at the game's sometimes overlong death animations with Tommy suffering through several seconds of thinking he's done for before the Bloater expires. And that's a neat meta gag as one of them killed his game actor last season. But then there's the moment the episode truly exists for, the Red Wedding all over again. The Jackson attack really is a masterful storytelling stroke, as just about everyone will automatically assume there's no way one of the only two main characters will bite it, and the people in the town are who we should be worried about while whatever happens in the lodge, Joel will end up free to pursue a life of religious fulfillment. But this is where Neil Druckmann pulls out his massive gamble, and of course it was such a bomb tossed into the fandom that I'm amazed anyone is left who hadn't heard about it by now. Especially since someone at HBO got a little overzealous about building hype for the season and announced that Pedro had finished filming on it, a very suspiciously short amount of time after production had started, forcing the network to claim it wasn't true. As great as Kaitlyn was before this, I was mesmerized here as she manages to steal the scene from both Pedro and Bella, effortlessly commanding every second we get with her and letting us totally buy Abby as a character worthy of this moment. Plus, might I add, someone who managed to keep her entire team together through five years of searching for her revenge. Even John Wayne himself was only able to hang on to Captain Pike for that time. And we end with Ellie giving a disturbingly familiar vow of revenge, giving a solid idea of what the rest of the season will be (Dina got a pretty good look at their logo, after all). I've mentioned elsewhere on here that The Count of Monte Cristo is the greatest revenge story ever told because of how well it balances its moral judgement of its characters. The Last of Us 2 is the second best, and now you're starting to see why. Finally, some game comparison notes. I mentioned last time that this episode's events wouldn't have worked as well as a first chapter without the element of you personally controlling the action, and you might have noticed the reason for that when I talked about the fence: You're playing as Abby. So after a pretty intense action sequence where you get the idea the game will be about a new hero with Joel and Ellie dropping to supporting roles, the reveal of what you've actually been helping her do hits like a ton of bricks. But on a more critical note, there's the reason I wish we hadn't gotten the scenes with her in the last episode, and also some in this one. Despite playing as Abby up to this point, you're given zero idea why she's doing this, and thus it's very easy when you move to playing as Ellie again to just despise her as a cartoon monster who murdered Joel for no apparent reason, brushing off any attempts to defend her (sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?). It's not until fully halfway through the game that you take over as Abby again and learn she actually had a very compelling reason for her actions, and you're stuck dealing with that emotional fallout. The way things are here just feels like a much more safe way to structure this story, in a very negative sense, and I'll be very curious how the rest of the season goes to see if this decision makes more sense when we have the full picture. Oh, and I have to point out one of the nurses from that scene last season was played by Abby's game actress Laura Bailey, who it's kind of amazing was willing to return to the franchise in any form after all the horrible messages she got from fans unable to separate her from her character, including death threats. I'll be looking to see if these people are any better behaved about Kaitlyn.

Thomas Corp
>>171667091

I heard that about the mountain joke. Not bad. Nice that they proverbially spit on the homophobe’s “I was drunk” bullshit. Caught somebody brought up that Bella was vegan. Kaitlyn did sell well the bitter cold. Never been in those types of mountain colds. There’s been the polar vortexes and/or DEEP cold spells in Illinois over the years, so there was the feeling Abby’s pain there. The hands feeling like they’re on fire from the cold being very familiar. The comment on yelling the game control makes me curious what I’ll sound like if Disney ever tackles KOTOR. There was the gasp when Abby heard Joel’s name. Again, knew the death itself was coming. Was less clear on what led up to it, and when exactly it would happen, so there was that thing of was it already at the moment or not, and that was some good suspense. The big action set piece was something. Does feel a touch of pandering to everybody who cried about not enough action last season. I’m with Jess on loving and favoring the deep dive into the drama and character. Though I was aware that fans of the games got sick of it yelling about all the character scenes. Sounds funny about the death animations, and good recall about game Tommy last season. Everybody keeps saying the Red Wedding or the Snap anymore. For me, neither one of them surpassed or let alone matched Order 66 in the theater twenty years ago. The bomb that came from Joel’s death was big enough that word came my way. There were some words about that at work. They did sell it well of the townspeople are the ones in danger as much as the plane passengers having had the fish for dinner. Must have missed the memo about the suspiciously short amount of time that Pedro would have filmed for this. No, yeah, Kaitlyn commands everyone’s attention in that scene, good nod to The Searchers as well. And Ellie making her declaration of revenge, it repeats again and again and again. Praise indeed for the story if you’re directly holding it in the same quality as The Count of Monte Cristo. Having not played the games, I can’t speak to how the show compares to them, though that sounds a fantastic bait and switch. Again, there’s the pondering of KOTOR ever making it to Disney+, KOTOR II would be even trickier. You say the change of presentation of Abby and her motives feels safe. Perhaps. It also feels, from how you describe it, tricky to make the transition from game to show and keep that intact. Feels like the difference in medium is tougher with that. And oh yeah, I did hear that Laura had the cameo, as well as I’m aware of she received the appalling death threats worse than the ones Bruce Dern got to use a different John Wayne film reference. Sounds like Kaitlyn got much the same. In any event, we see how this goes for the rest of the season.

Saltire

And so it begins. Welcome to the madness of Last Of Us Part 2. Abby to herself at the start : "I don't know you", no but you will, and we see that Abby this episode... Some differences from the game straight off, less of a squad the Salt Lake Crew took, and they are a lot more reticent to go through with this, especially after seeing Jackson, than in the game - even Manny who is as gung-ho as it gets. Owen being the peacemaker, trying to stop Abby, but after 5 years and so close, she isn't going to turn back now. Loving Nora's look with the skinhead, she looks boss. There are other changes with characters and their dialogue, but I trust the makers here to follow through on those, and I'm fine with it (Dina being with Joel, not Tommy for instance), especially with the story that is to come. No "Bigot sandwiches" said by Ellie though after Seth gives her them, booo! :P We all love Jesse, he's a good egg. And Ellie tells him where things stand between her and Joel, showing us that though there is tension between the two, both will always look out for one another. This episode does raise the tension from the off however, and we feel this is going to be a big one - the storm coming is a big hint at that with what awaits Jackson and Joel. We didn't get this huge horde assault in the game, but its a change I applaud for a couple of reasons that I can't get into just now. We feel the dread in the pits of our stomach, and thats the feeling I got in the first few hours of the game. If they can have a modicum of the emotion the game has, we will be in for something special. Eugene had great fucking taste btw. Gasmask bong for his weed and a bottle of the fantastic Laphroaig (which I decided to then have a few drams of my own Laphroaig for this watchalong!) sitting there, which would pair up beautifully with his smoke. Shame we didn't also get to see some of his porn collection "Dong Of The Wolf" or "Smash Brandy's Cooch!". :D In the game we see by logs and from Dina (who was with Ellie for this part) that Eugene served with Tommy as a Firefly; so it fits in with that, but again they are sewing the seeds that Fireflies helped set up Jackson too... The bit where Abby wakes up the horde is great, but that fence scene thats in the game, is even more horrifying here, its so well done as we feel the desperation to get away from them by hook or by crook, and every nook and cranny is crawling with the infected! So well done, and then by fortune or not, who saves her - Joel! "It is called luck and IT IS going to run out!" Joel in the first game; his time is up, he just doesn't realise it yet. Kaitlyn Dever playing Abby knocks this episode out of the park - yet again. Not only is she carrying the emotion that game Abby has, but she even sounds like the VA from the game, Laura Bailey; so good! Haha seeing you stressed with Tommy fighting the bloater was fun, though not for you I'm sure Jess! You are concerned for the wrong Miller brother though, this one! :D Shame the bloaters in the tv series don't throw their acid spores, but that could be again done on purpose if they introduce another infected we got in TLOU 2. Lets see. Big boy took even more to get downed than the game though! And so we get to it, one of the stay or go sections of the story for many; Joel's death, so early, so brutal and so unheroic. Many hated it when the game came out, and I feel a lot who only watch the tv series, might feel likewise. Their loss however. You can feel the pain, hurt, anger and bile inside Abby as she sets about enacting her revenge. Mel and Owen are noticeably shocked by what they see as Abby turns Joel into a sirloin. There is a lot more monologuing here from her, which I'm not overly fond of, but I can see why they gave this exposition. In the game at this point we still don't really know who they are, though we can guess, and part of the game is uncovering who Abby and her Salt Lake Crew are. Joel telling her to get on with it, and I loved that they included the next line from the game "you STUPID old man... you don't get to rush this!". Bella's scream of "JOEL!!!!" goes right through you with pain, as she watches her paternal figure, the man who put her before the world, is killed. Yep, they nailed the scene. Then as we see Jackson clearing up after the invasion, we get Ashley Johnson - game Ellie - singing The Valley Of Death - too much! Yep, great touch to a very decisive episode. Joel is gone.

Thomas Corp
>>171695421

You should say that first part of the comment in a Theoden son of Thengel voice. Abby is a young woman that lives up to her reputation. Had caught word of the group being far more wary than in the game, which is a good human touch. Abby’s dead set on accomplishing her vengeance that she’s sought for five years. Seeing as it’s revenge for her dad, yeah, she’s NOT letting that one go. Can’t say I fault her for it. Nora does have a cool look. Saw people mentioning Tommy was with Joel in the game. That’s probably for the better as I don’t want to think about what guilt Tommy would have there. Rather nice we have the shared response to the bigot sandwiches. (Delicious though steak sandwiches are, I still bet he spit in them.) I didn’t even bring that up in my comment as it was minor in the grand scheme of the episode. Too much more to talk about. The thought when watching was, “Who gives a rat’s ass about your insincere apology!? You fucking homophobe!” Liking Jesse so far. He’s a good lad. The horde being something new to the show, so I keep hearing. Hell of thing that it was. Though I don’t indulge in weed, the gas mask was a novel thing. Nice to hear that Eugene and you have the favored label. I knocked back some beer last night after the episode. Did NOT know about the porn stash. They did establish Tommy was in the fireflies, and that would make sense if that’s where he met Eugene. The mention of Eugene being a Vietnam vet, given his age that likewise makes sense. The fence scene was great tension; Jess and I shared the reaction of the hand being split in half from the fence wire. Leading to how every story has some really big coincidence, and here is this one where after being Miller light for the episode up to that point, Joel pops up out of nowhere and saves Abby. Hear some fans note the improbability. You observe it is fortune or not, which is my thought. Like the first John Wick film where the audience is undoubtedly questioning the odds of the event that kicks off the plot, and the main villain lampshades it by musing that, “It seems to be fate or happenstance or just BAD FUCKING luck.” Feels like that here for Joel. Kaitlyn is getting at least some awards attention, if there’s any justice. Jess stressing over Tommy, the wrong Miller as you say, it would have been fun, were it not for my intestines clenching in anticipation for the inevitable reaction that Jess was going to have to Joel. Though it does really show how good a job they’ve done with Tommy if Jess is that invested in his survival at that part. Still think the bloater running looked goofy and a little too video gamey, but I move past that quickly by having a small laugh and pulling myself back into the episode. Coming to it. What I knew about during the first season even without having played the game. Joel’s death. People did surely express extreme chagrin over that development five years ago. Thought it was going to be late in the season, or maybe not until next season. It happened now, so at least partially the surprise remained intact. Oh, I felt everything that Abby said. Hardcore Joel fans are condemning her, I’m sure. She had a day. I can’t argue against the pain and grief from her dad’s death, that part I get. Hoo boy though, did she have her revenge. And it leads to, for want of a better word, kinship with her, much though you’re horrified by her actions. (Plus, I play full Dark Side in KOTOR, I’m in zero position to judge the horrifying revenge.) I believe you said about Kathleen last season how one can empathize with why she was on the path she was on, and putting oneself in her shoes, there is the question how we would act. Yeah, I’m not sure I’d do much differently than Abby did. Certainly, that line, “You. STUPID. Old man. You don’t get to rush this!” is something I felt. Just as it is felt the anguish that Ellie feels in that scene. To the point you give the pass for the accent slip, particularly prominent when Ellie is saying “Don’t”. The high emotion of that scene, you let that slide. And as Jess observes, they’re trapped in the cycle. As the Bible says, what is taken must be given. This for that. Closing out with Ashley making me break down. She maintains that reputation. Not sure if I play the game, would I be ready for how she’d rip my heart out there. She did one hell of a number with her turn as Terra years ago, and like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and the Joker, and her fellow cast members of Teen Titans, Ron Perlman as Deathstroke especially, you read the comics with Terra, her voice is heard, big as day. Christ, she is good.