TEXT BY HBO.
The record-breaking first season of the HBO Original drama series The Last of Us balances the dark reality of post-apocalyptic survival with poignant moments of love and loss. Taking place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed, season one explores how the outbreak came to be, the build-up of Joel and Ellie’s relationship, the chilling discovery of the infection by Ratna Pertiwi (Christine Hakim) and a myriad of meaningful connections that resonate deeply with fans.
Before diving into The Last of Us Season two, let’s revisit some standout moments from season one.
NOT ALL WOUNDS HEAL WITH TIME
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The season delivered a range of heartfelt scenes, including episode one, as Sarah, Joel’s daughter, is shot and dies in his arms, defining his character as a hardened survivor and his subsequent actions in the series. As time goes by, Joel continues to hold on to his watch that Sarah fixed as a memory of her and their time together.
AND SO IT BEGINS
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Joel is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
‘SAVE WHO YOU CAN SAVE’
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Another skilled survivor, Tess, had lived through a tough life, adapting to hardship and personal tragedy. On a journey to smuggle Ellie with Joel, she is bitten by an infected, yet even with her impending death, she quickly devises a plan to buy Joel and Ellie some time to escape. Her words ‘save who you can save’ touched the hearts of many, as even a hardened survivor like Tess, with her final breath, chose to protect.
‘YOU WERE MY PURPOSE’
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Bill and Frank’s subtle yet powerful story showed us the promise of light and love even in the darkest of times. A simple and happy life of growing old together, enjoying art, home-cooked meals, gardening, and the possibility of hosting guests in a post-apocalyptic world was proof of hope, which extended even in death.
DOUBT
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Season one ends with Joel saving Ellie from the Fireflies. Yet Ellie detects that something is amiss and asks Joel to swear that everything he told her about the Fireflies was true. With Joel sticking to his lie, the series ends with the duo continuing on their journey and sets the tone of their relationship in season two.
The Last of Us Season two takes place five years after the events of the first season where Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.
Season two returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Previously announced new cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.
