Latest news with #TheLastofUsPartII
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The Last of Us Season 2 is brutal, beautiful, and burdened by its own ambition
The Last of Us stormed onto screens last year with a rare mix of prestige-drama emotion and genre spectacle, proving that a game adaptation could sit comfortably among television's finest. Set in a United States crippled by a brain-altering fungal pandemic, the show followed weary smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and immune teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) on a cross-country trek that ended with Joel's morally catastrophic decision to save her life at humanity's expense. While its second is gorgeous, gripping, and well acted, its truncated scope and fixation on vengeance blunt the emotional power that made the first run unforgettable. Five years after the Salt Lake City massacre, Joel and Ellie have tried to build a life behind the fortified fences of Jackson, Wyoming. Their fragile détente is strained by Joel's secret—he lied about why the Fireflies abandoned a cure—and by Ellie's ordinary-but-extraordinary passage into young adulthood. Meanwhile Abby, daughter of the surgeon Joel killed, scours the country for payback, and two rival militias close in on the mountain settlement. Tensions inside and outside Jackson ignite a chain of violence that forces Ellie onto her own path, shadowed by Joel's example and haunted by questions of what justice really costs. The production values remain staggering: snow-caked streets, candle-lit cabins, and the show's signature nightmare fungi give every frame a painterly bleakness. Directors Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann still know how to wring dread from a creaking floorboard or a distant clicker's rasp. Performances are uniformly stellar. Pedro Pascal deepens Joel's weary regret, and Bella Ramsey excels as a 19-year-old Ellie whose sarcasm now guards genuine fury and confusion. Newcomers bring welcome texture: Kaitlyn Dever's Abby is a coiled spring of grief; Isabela Merced's Dina supplies warmth and gentle humor; Jeffrey Wright radiates chilly authority as militia leader Isaac; and Catherine O'Hara steals scenes as a therapist whose professional façade cracks around old wounds. When the season leans into intimate moments—Joel's halting therapy sessions, Ellie and Dina's mixtape-trading banter, Abby's whispered vows—the series feels as insightful as ever. Trimming The Last of Us Part II to seven episodes leaves the narrative stretched and oddly rushed. Crucial new players, especially Abby and Isaac, get sketch-note introductions when they deserve full-color portraits. Thematically, the script circles the idea of revenge until it begins to feel like lecture: every confrontation ends with a variation on 'hurt people hurt people,' yet the show seldom digs deeper than that slogan. Set-piece zombie battles, while technically impressive, occasionally resemble bonus levels inserted to pad run time. The absence of standalone detours—Season 1's most affecting hours—makes the pacing feel uniform and, paradoxically, slower. And the finale arrives so abruptly that it registers less as a climax than a mid-season pause designed to justify a third installment. Season 2 is still head-and-shoulders above most genre television, thanks to top-tier craft and performances that breathe life into every blood-spattered corner. Yet its narrower focus and didactic approach to vengeance mean it never reaches the cathartic highs or devastating lows of the debut run. Fans craving more time in this ruined America will find plenty to admire; those hoping for the next leap forward may leave feeling, like Ellie herself, hungrier than before.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Craig Mazin Says We ‘Overestimate' the ‘Allegorical Connections' Between TV Shows and Real News
'Some of us just can't be saved.' Whether you caught that line on 'The Last of Us' Season 2, Episode 3 — or said it to yourself at some point during the 2024 election — showrunner Craig Mazin isn't drawing all the parallels you think. Asked about the impact real news can have on a narrative TV audience, Mazin told IndieWire, 'Well, it's hard to tell sometimes.' 'I think we overestimate how much people apply what's happening in the world around them to their experience watching a television show or going to see a movie,' he said. 'It feels like a natural thing to imagine that they're making those allegorical connections, but the truth is I'm not sure we're making them that much and I'm not sure they're watching them in that way that much.' More from IndieWire 'Harry Potter' Series Star Paapa Essiedu Signs Open Letter Supporting Trans Rights in the U.K. 'The Better Sister' Trailer: Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks Are Estranged Siblings Investigating a Murder He continued, 'People often do connect to these things on their own terms. What I do know is that when times are hard, our business has always provided people joy, an 'escape.' People call it 'an escape.' I don't think it's an escape. I think it's a reminder of all those feelings that we feel, even if it makes us cry or if it makes us laugh. It gives us a chance to feel things safely in a place where there aren't permanent consequences, but we can kind of connect with each other and have a joint experience. That's what culture does. That's what art has always done, so I'm hopeful that that's how people come to this season.' A legendary title in the video game world, 'The Last of Us Part II' won hundreds of Game of the Year accolades after hitting consoles in June 2020. Simultaneously, the COVID-19 lockdown helped fuel several controversies around Naughty Dog's bold sequel — including the decision to kill off a beloved character (Mazin unpacked that bombshell for IndieWire separately) and giving hero Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey for HBO) a queer love interest (Isabela Merced). Speaking with IndieWire before 'The Last of Us' Season 2 premiered on April 13, Mazin defended his love of the source material. He also explained how thoroughly imagined characters can make an apocalypse feel more epic. Even adapting historical events for 'Chernobyl,' HBO's Emmy-winning miniseries from 2019 about the infamous Ukrainian nuclear disaster, Mazin said his instinct 'was to drill into the real, human relationships.' 'It's not the event ultimately that draws us dramatically towards it,' he said. 'What draws us is in is witnessing people and how they relate to each other in ways that are universally resonant with who we are.' Seemingly alluding to American politics (but, hey, maybe not!), Mazin continued, 'None of us are living in a mushroom apocalypse — not yet. Feels like we're teetering, but we're not there yet. But we connect with the story of Joel and Ellie because we understand their story isn't about a mushroom apocalypse. Their story is about fatherhood. It's about childhood. It's about love and loyalty. It is about the links we go to keep the people we love safe and the ways in which we damage them by trying to keep them safe.' He concluded, 'These are themes that we all deal with as children, as parents, as friends, as partners, all of us, and this season goes a little bit deeper down the path of what that means when you start to think of yourself and the people you love as 'us,' which naturally starts to create a boundary beyond which is 'them.' Well over there on 'them'? They're 'us' and we're 'them.' And now, when we are in opposition, how do we get out of this and how do we resolve things?' 'The Last of Us' Season 2 airs new episodes on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max. Best of IndieWire Christopher Nolan's Favorite Movies: 44 Films the Director Wants You to See The 25 Saddest TV Character Deaths of This Century Quentin Tarantino's Favorite Movies: 64 Films the Director Wants You to See
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THE LAST OF US Season 2 Showrunner Was 'Terrified' to Film Joel's Brutal Death; 'What Bella Did There Was Pretty Shattering' — GeekTyrant
If you've played The Last of Us Part II , you probably still carry the emotional scar of Joel's brutal death at the hands of Abby. It's one of the most talked-about moments in gaming, and as you know, it made its way into HBO's second season of The Last of Us . Showrunner Craig Mazin recently spoke about the pressure of bringing that moment to life for the screen—and the emotional gravity it carries. He said: 'I think the one that I was the most eager to create on screen and terrified to create on screen was Joel's death, and specifically, really, when I think about it, it wasn't so much the mechanics of Joel dying—you don't want to recapture what somebody did, but what Ashley Johnson did in the game is heart rending. 'Something like that is so traumatic and binds you to this character in a way that you weren't bound before... you were bound in a different way to that character before—you were bound to Ellie in season one in the first game, as the person that Joel loved after being unable to love for so long. 'Well, here we're bound to Ellie now in a very different way. And what Bella did there was pretty shattering.' The emotional weight Bella Ramsey brings to Ellie is meant to reshape how we connect to the character on screen. While some game-to-screen adaptations soften their edges, The Last of Us has leaned in on the intensity, knowing that this is a turning point not just for Ellie, but for the entire story moving forward. In the game, Joel's murder is jarring partly because of how little explanation the player gets. Abby's rage is felt, but not fully understood until later. On the show, the pacing shifts. The adaptation leans into clarity, with Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever) revealing her motives as she stands over Joel. She tells him about the 18 soldiers—and the 'unarmed doctor' he killed. That doctor was her father. And with chilling calm, she lets Joel know exactly what's about to happen. Joel's death lands in Episode 2 of The Last of Us season 2, now streaming on HBO and it's a gut-punch, but it's also the narrative fuel for everything to come. So, how did you feel seeing that scene play out on screen? Did it hit you the same way as the game—or differently? Via: GamesRadar+
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Harry Potter fans annoyed about casting detail no one's got right in 25 years
Following the announcement of who will be playing Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in HBO's upcoming reboot of the popular book series, fans are still unhappy about one forgotten detail. Earlier this week, Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout were revealed as the three children who will be portraying the golden trio in a TV adaptation of JK Rowling's books. The youngsters are joining the likes of John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu and Nick Frost, who have already been cast to play Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and Hagrid, respectively. Following the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, countless spin-offs and royalties have made Rowling one of the richest authors in the world. But the franchise has not come without controversy, after Rowling's views on trans rights caused many to boycott the new HBO series. Yet, following the latest cast announcement, it appears there is now even more contention after fans slammed the show's makers for overlooking one character's eye colour. Taking to social media, a number of fans pointed out how one of Harry Potter's most mentioned physical traits in the book has been forgotten. Writing on X, @cozyY29 said: 'Dominic McLaughlin, who will play Harry Potter. This is perfect, just one thing. They eyes Harry is meant to have green eyes. But in this picture, it looks blue.' @YosefPiperno added: 'Black hair. Green eyes. How is this so hard?' @italkmusicfilm also questioned: 'Where's his green eyes? 😳' Our TV reporter Milo Pope shares his thoughts… Accuracy is everything when it comes to a TV series adapting a famous book series. Whenever you have a loyal fanbase involved, the attention to detail on the little things is what's so critical in keeping them on board for later reboots or new adaptations. Think The Last of Us Part II, countless fans of the original video game have crucified showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for deviating from some character traits and plot points in the latest series. But, as Craig and Neil have explained, it all comes down to how faithful a new show or adaptation wants to be to the original material. If the new Harry Potter series wants to update certain elements from the books, Harry's eye colour certainly won't be a problem. But, if everything is created to be an exact replica, it's certainly understandable for die-hard Harry Potter fans to be frustrated by the little details not being included. With that being said, Dominic McLaughlin – along with Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout – looks pretty perfect for the role in my mind. I assume the search for the next Harry was hard enough for the producers who probably had to trawl through countless hours of audition footage to find the nearest match. After the credits roll for the first episode of this new reboot, I'm not sure anybody will be too focused on a character's eye colour. The heavy criticism stems from the fact that Harry's green eyes are a key link to his mother, Lily Potter. These sorts of details are especially important in scenes when Snape admits he is hard on Harry because his eyes remind the professor of his former love. @JohnXADX added on X: 'Far from being precious about the books, one thing I hope is that Harry gets his green eyes back.' The same issue occurred when Daniel Radcliffe, who had blue eyes, played Harry in the original films. According to a producer, Harry tried wearing green contact lenses when the first film was being shot, but had an allergic reaction to them and had to stop. Despite the controversy, Rowling wrote on X after the news of the castings broke: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' More Trending Discussing the new cast, executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said of the casting: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' View More » The Harry Potter TV show will stream exclusively on Max in 2026. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Here's why fans think Arabella Stanton as new Hermione is 'perfect casting' MORE: The truth behind claim Harry Potter TV show will cost hefty £75,000,000 MORE: The new Harry Potter child stars have confirmed my worst fears
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'The Last of Us' season 3: Everything we know so far
With 'The Last of Us' season 2 now finished (and leaving fans divided in its wake), attention has quickly turned to what's next. The second season picks up with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) living in Jackson. But that peace is short-lived, as Ellie sets out on a brutal path after a devastating loss. Along the way, we're introduced to new characters, including Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever), whose connection to Joel changes everything. Season 2 adapts only the first portion of 'The Last of Us Part II,' ending on a major cliffhanger that leaves much of the game's narrative still to be explored. With HBO confirming the show's renewal and even teasing the possibility of a fourth season, the adaptation is clearly far from over. Below, we break down everything we know so far about 'The Last of Us' season 3, including casting, possible story direction, release speculation, and how it all ties into the source material. Since 'The Last of Us' season 1 debuted in 2023 and season 2 followed in 2025, it's reasonable to assume season 3 might arrive after another two-year gap. In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, co-creator and lead writer Craig Mazin confirmed that writing for season 3 hasn't started yet. With season 2 now wrapped, the writers' room is expected to kick into gear soon, but as of now, nothing is set in stone. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If the production follows a similar schedule to previous seasons, a 2027 premiere seems like a realistic estimate. Season 3 is expected to dive into Abby's storyline in Seattle, unfolding her perspective during the time Ellie and Dina were tracking her. That means we'll likely see members of Abby's original crew again, which includes Owen (Spencer Lord), Mel (Ariela Barer), Manny (Danny Ramirez) and Nora (Tati Gabrielle). Two key figures in Abby's storyline from the second game are Lev and Yara, siblings from the Seraphite faction who play a major role in her arc. While their inclusion in season 3 hasn't been officially confirmed, it would be surprising if they were left out given how integral they are to Abby's development and the emotional weight of her journey. Bella Ramsey (Ellie) and Isabela Merced (Dina) are almost certain to return, along with Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, whose presence in the show has been expanded, making him a more prominent (and intimidating) figure than in the game. Tommy (Gabriel Luna) is also guaranteed to return. As for characters like Joel and Jesse (Young Mazino), who didn't survive season 2, there's a chance they could show up in flashbacks, but don't get your hopes up. Here's a speculative list, which we'll continue to update over the coming months: Catherine O'Hara, who portrayed Gail in season 2, recently told Variety that season 3 will be the 'Abby story.' This aligns perfectly with what fans have long anticipated, as the game itself is divided into two distinct parts, each following Ellie and Abby on their respective journeys before their fateful reunion. With season 2 concluding on their intense confrontation, season 3 is set to explore Abby's journey leading up to the moment she finds Ellie in the theater. The season 2 finale rewound to 'Seattle Day One,' so season 3 will likely follow Abby as she navigates the aftermath of killing Joel and her role within the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). Season 3, like the game, will dig deeper into Abby's side of the story, showing what drives her, what she's lost and the battles she's fighting, inside and out. As we get to know her and see the people she cares about, it gets harder to see her as just the villain. You might find yourself unexpectedly rooting for her, or at the very least, understanding her in a way you didn't before. Viewers can also expect to see the complexities of the WLF's conflict with the Seraphites (also nicknamed "Scars") and gain insights into the origins of the cult-like group and the motivations of key figures like Isaac. If the show closely follows the structure of the game, Ellie's screen time in season 3 may be limited. However, given Ramsey's central role in the show so far, it's possible the showrunners could include additional scenes or flashbacks to keep her involved in some capacity, even if she's not the main focus. With the pacing of the show and how season 2 only covered half of the second game, it's likely that the game's intense third act (including Ellie and Abby's emotional journeys after the theater showdown) will be reserved for season 4. This would allow season 3 to fully explore Abby's side of the story without rushing key developments, and give the final chapter the space it needs to land with the same emotional weight as it did in the game. A fourth season of 'The Last of Us' is not only likely but has been deemed essential by the show's creators. Co-showrunner Craig Mazin told Collider that completing the narrative of the second game would be impossible within just three seasons: 'There's no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we'll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth.' He also said: "We thought ahead to season 3 and season 4, to try to get as much visibility as we can, so that we don't end up in a situation where we're sitting down and getting into details for a season and then going, 'Oh, man, if only we hadn't had that person say that one line or be in that spot or wear that jacket, this would be so much cooler.'" While HBO has officially confirmed season 3, a formal announcement for season 4 has yet to be made. However, the show's creators have expressed their intention to extend the series to a fourth season to ensure a comprehensive adaptation of the game's storyline. Therefore, while awaiting official confirmation, it's clear that the creative team envisions a four-season arc to faithfully bring the game's narrative to the screen.
