In the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us, survival is never guaranteed, and neither, it seems, is critical or audience acclaim. The second season of HBO’s adaptation of the beloved video game series has sparked a firestorm of controversy, with its audience approval ratings plummeting to a shocking 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to the first season’s 86%. This dramatic fall has reignited debates that began with the release of The Last of Us Part II in 2020, when gamers voiced concerns over narrative choices that many felt betrayed the essence of the original story. Now, as the TV adaptation mirrors those divisive decisions, it appears that gamers’ early warnings were not only valid but prophetic. What went wrong with The Last of Us Season 2, and why are so many pointing to the gaming community as having seen this coming?
The Roots of Discontent: A Controversial Game Sets the Stage
To understand the current backlash against The Last of Us Season 2, we must first revisit the release of The Last of Us Part II. The 2020 video game sequel was a technical masterpiece, lauded for its graphics, gameplay, and ambitious storytelling. However, it was also one of the most divisive titles in gaming history. The game’s narrative, centered on themes of revenge, empathy, and moral ambiguity, took bold risks that alienated a significant portion of its fanbase. Without delving into spoilers for those yet to experience the story, the game’s early narrative pivot shocked players, prompting accusations that it disrespected beloved characters and prioritized ideological messaging over emotional resonance.
This dissatisfaction manifested in a massive review-bombing campaign on platforms like Metacritic, where the game’s user score dropped to 4.8/10 despite a 94/100 critic score. Social media platforms, including Reddit and Twitter (now X), became battlegrounds for heated debates. Some criticized the game for its pacing, arguing that its lengthy flashbacks and dual-protagonist structure diluted the emotional weight of the story. Others felt the game’s attempt to humanize its antagonists was heavy-handed, forcing players into perspectives they weren’t ready to embrace. While these critiques were often drowned out by accusations of bigotry—some detractors did target the game’s diverse cast with hateful rhetoric—many gamers articulated thoughtful objections to the storytelling choices.
Fast forward to 2025, and HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 has brought these same narrative elements to the small screen, reigniting the same debates but on a larger scale. The show, co-created by game writer Neil Druckmann and Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin, promised to adapt the complex story of Part II while making adjustments for television. However, the execution has left audiences divided, with many echoing the gamers’ original grievances.
Season 2’s Stumbles: A Faithful Yet Flawed Adaptation
The Last of Us Season 1 was a triumph, praised for its faithful yet innovative adaptation of the first game. It balanced fidelity to the source material with changes that enhanced the story for TV, such as the expanded backstory of Bill and Frank. Fans and critics alike hailed it as the gold standard for video game adaptations. Season 2, however, has struggled to maintain that magic. The decision to split The Last of Us Part II’s sprawling narrative across two seasons (with Season 3 already greenlit) has led to pacing issues, with some episodes feeling like filler. The show’s attempt to flesh out certain characters and events has often resulted in what critics describe as “empty calories”—moments that add little to the emotional or thematic core of the story.
Casting choices have also drawn scrutiny. While Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie was divisive in Season 1 due to her youthful appearance, Season 2’s older, hardened Ellie has failed to convince some viewers. Posts on X and Reddit highlight complaints that Ramsey’s performance lacks the grit and emotional depth of the game’s Ellie, with one user noting, “She’s trying to be badass, but it feels forced.” Similarly, Kaitlyn Dever’s casting as Abby, a pivotal character from Part II, has been criticized. In the game, Abby’s physicality and emotional complexity were central to her arc, but the show’s depiction has been accused of softening her edge, with some changes to her dialogue and demeanor undermining the raw intensity of her story.
Perhaps the most significant point of contention is the show’s handling of a major narrative event early in the season, which mirrors a controversial moment from the game. This moment, designed to shock and propel the story forward, was a lightning rod for criticism in 2020, with gamers arguing it felt like a betrayal of the characters’ established arcs. The show’s adaptation, while slightly altered to soften its impact, has failed to quell the backlash. Social media reactions indicate that casual viewers, unaware of the game’s plot, feel blindsided, while gamers who anticipated the twist are frustrated by its execution. One X post summed it up: “They had years to fix what the game got wrong, and they still messed it up.”
Why Gamers Saw It Coming
The gaming community’s reaction to The Last of Us Part II was not merely a knee-jerk response to a surprising plot twist. Many fans invested deeply in the original game’s characters and world, spending dozens of hours exploring their journey. When Part II took risks that some felt undermined that investment, the backlash was rooted in a sense of narrative betrayal. Gamers criticized the game for prioritizing themes of forgiveness and moral complexity over the emotional bonds that made the first game so beloved. These critiques were often dismissed by critics and developers as the ravings of an entitled fanbase, but the reaction to Season 2 suggests that gamers were articulating a broader truth about the story’s accessibility and emotional impact.
The show’s declining audience scores—now lower than the game’s Metacritic user score—reflect a disconnect between the creators’ vision and audience expectations. While critics have praised Season 2 for its ambition and technical achievements, with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, the audience’s 39% tells a different story. This gap mirrors the divide seen in 2020, where professional reviews lauded Part II’s boldness while players felt alienated. Gamers, having already grappled with the story’s polarizing choices, were uniquely positioned to predict that adapting it verbatim would not resonate with a wider TV audience.
The Broader Implications: Storytelling in Adaptations
The controversy surrounding The Last of Us Season 2 raises questions about the challenges of adapting complex, divisive source material. Video games, with their interactive nature, allow players to form deep emotional connections to characters, making narrative risks more personal. When adapting such stories for television, where viewers are passive observers, those risks can feel even more jarring. The show’s creators faced the daunting task of translating a 25-hour game into a seven-episode season, requiring cuts and changes that inevitably altered the story’s rhythm.
Some argue that HBO and the showrunners underestimated the mainstream audience’s appetite for the game’s darker, more challenging themes. While The Last of Us Season 1 succeeded by focusing on the intimate bond between Joel and Ellie, Season 2’s broader scope and moral ambiguity have left some viewers cold. Posts on X suggest that casual fans, drawn to the show for its zombie-thriller elements, were unprepared for the heavy emotional and philosophical weight of Part II’s story. One user wrote, “I signed up for infected and action, not a lecture on revenge.” This sentiment echoes gamers’ complaints about the game’s shift from the first game’s straightforward survival narrative to a more introspective, divisive tale.
Can Season 2 Recover?
With several episodes left in the season and a third season on the horizon, there’s still hope that The Last of Us can course-correct. The show has demonstrated strengths, particularly in its production values and performances from supporting actors like Catherine O’Hara, who brings a fresh dynamic to the story. Flashbacks, a staple of the game, offer opportunities to deepen character arcs and provide context that might win over skeptical viewers. However, the show must address the pacing issues and ensure that its emotional payoffs land with the same impact as the game’s best moments.
For gamers, the reaction to Season 2 is bittersweet vindication. Their criticisms, once dismissed as overreactions, have found an echo in the broader audience’s response. Yet, this validation comes at the cost of seeing a beloved franchise struggle to maintain its cultural dominance. The challenge for HBO and the creators is to honor the game’s ambitious vision while crafting a narrative that resonates with both fans and newcomers.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Adaptations
The Last of Us Season 2’s rocky reception underscores the perils of adapting a polarizing story for a mass audience. Gamers, with their intimate knowledge of the source material, foresaw the challenges of translating Part II’s complex narrative to television. Their warnings, rooted in a deep connection to the original game, highlight the importance of balancing fidelity with accessibility in adaptations. As the season progresses, the show has a chance to redeem itself, but its struggles serve as a reminder that even the most acclaimed franchises must tread carefully when navigating the expectations of a diverse audience.
In the end, The Last of Us Season 2’s turmoil is not just a story of a show faltering but a testament to the passionate community that first sounded the alarm. Whether the series can reclaim its former glory remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the gamers were right all along.
