HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 was poised to build on the monumental success of its first season, which captivated audiences with its heartfelt adaptation of Naughty Dog’s beloved video game. Instead, the sophomore season has spiraled into a maelstrom of controversy, with its premiere drawing a measly 39% audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes—a stark contrast to Season 1’s 86%. The early death of Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, in episode 2 shocked viewers, and the recent episode 6, heavily centered on Joel flashbacks, has only deepened the divide. Fans are calling it a “sh*t show,” accusing showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin of mishandling the story, sidelining key characters, and failing to recapture the magic of the original. What’s behind this dramatic fall from grace, and can The Last of Us Season 2 recover from its disastrous trajectory?
A Premiere That Shocked and Divided
The troubles began with the Season 2 premiere, which introduced a bold adaptation of The Last of Us Part II’s divisive narrative. The game, released in 2020, polarized players with its brutal early twist—Joel’s death at the hands of Abby Anderson, played by Kaitlyn Dever in the show. While the game’s story eventually won over many with its emotional depth, the show’s decision to mirror this plot point in episode 2, “Through the Valley,” alienated a significant portion of its audience. Social media erupted with dismay, with X posts like one from @J0hnADouglas lamenting, “I figured they would stretch that shit out, but nah. Congrats, now your only ‘Star’ is…this.” The sentiment reflected a broader frustration: without Joel, the show felt rudderless.
The premiere’s pacing and character focus drew further criticism. Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, took center stage as she grappled with grief and vengeance, but some viewers found her arc less compelling without Joel’s grounding presence. Ramsey’s casting, already contentious due to debates over her youthful appearance, faced renewed scrutiny, with fans on Reddit arguing her performance lacked the grit of the game’s Ellie. Meanwhile, Abby’s introduction was polarizing, with Dever’s portrayal criticized for softening the character’s raw intensity from the game. The season’s early episodes struggled to balance these perspectives, leading to accusations that the show was rushing a complex story meant to span multiple seasons.
Episode 6: Flashback Joel Fails to Salvage the Wreck
Hoping to quell the backlash, episode 6, “The Price,” directed by Neil Druckmann, leaned heavily on flashbacks to reunite Joel and Ellie, chronicling their five years in Jackson, Wyoming, through Ellie’s birthdays from ages 15 to 19. The episode, aired on May 19, 2025, featured poignant moments, such as Joel’s surprise trip to a space museum for Ellie’s 16th birthday and a tender scene where he customizes a guitar for her. These flashbacks, drawn from The Last of Us Part II but consolidated into one episode, aimed to flesh out their deteriorating relationship, revealing how Joel’s lie about the Fireflies drove a wedge between them.
Despite the emotional weight, the episode failed to win over critics and fans. On X, @YellowFlashGuy declared, “Flashback Joel FAILS to save Last of Us season 2! Hyping the ghost of Pedro Pascal gets ZERO hype!” The structural choice to pack all Joel flashbacks into a single episode, rather than spreading them across the season as in the game, was a major point of contention. Neil Druckmann explained to GamesRadar that this consolidation avoided a repetitive “template” of weekly flashbacks, allowing viewers to “really miss” Joel before delivering a “whole bunch” of him. However, critics like Slate argued that placing the flashback-heavy episode so late disrupted the season’s momentum, leaving it feeling like a “standalone” detour rather than a cohesive part of Ellie’s revenge arc.
The episode’s deviations from the game also sparked debate. In the game, the museum flashback is an hour-long, player-driven exploration filled with dinosaur exhibits and space memorabilia, but the show cut the dinosaurs, focusing solely on space. ScreenRant noted that this change streamlined the narrative but sacrificed the game’s playful depth. Similarly, a new flashback involving Eugene, played by Joe Pantoliano, introduced a tragic event where Joel kills the infected veteran, straining his bond with Ellie when she reveals the truth to Eugene’s wife, Gail. While IndieWire praised Pantoliano’s brief but classy performance, some fans felt these additions cluttered the episode, diluting the focus on Joel and Ellie’s core dynamic.
Fan Outrage: A “Sh*t Show” of Missed Opportunities
The fan reaction to episode 6 has been visceral, with many labeling the season a “disaster.” The 39% Rotten Tomatoes audience score reflects a growing disconnect between the show’s ambitions and viewer expectations. Posts on X, such as @Vara_Dark’s claim that the season “tanked to 54%” after Joel’s death, underscore the perception that the show has lost its way. Fans who loved Season 1’s intimate focus on Joel and Ellie’s father-daughter bond feel shortchanged by Season 2’s broader, darker scope. One Reddit user summed it up: “They killed Joel too soon, and now they’re throwing flashbacks at us to fix it. It’s not enough.”
Casting choices have fueled the fire. Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, while praised by some for her raw emotion, has been criticized for lacking the physicality and intensity of the game’s older, hardened version. Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, meanwhile, has drawn mixed reactions, with fans on X arguing her softened portrayal undermines the game’s morally complex antagonist. The introduction of new characters, like Catherine O’Hara’s Gail, has been a highlight for some—Mashable lauded O’Hara’s nuanced performance—but others see these additions as distractions from the core story. The chemistry between Pedro Pascal and Ramsey, a cornerstone of Season 1, remains a high point in episode 6, with Buzzfeed noting their “once in a lifetime” connection, but its fleeting presence only highlights what the season lacks.
The show’s handling of Joel’s legacy has also drawn scrutiny. Episode 6’s flashbacks, while heartfelt, were seen by some as an attempt to “reframe” Joel’s character in a less heroic light. X user @marisolwrites observed that the flashbacks “paint him as ‘not as good as you thought,’” contrasting with the game’s nostalgic tone. This perception aligns with broader criticisms that the show is deconstructing Joel’s heroism to justify its focus on Ellie and Abby, a move that has alienated fans who view him as the heart of the series.
Structural and Thematic Missteps
The decision to adapt The Last of Us Part II’s sprawling narrative across two seasons (with Season 3 already greenlit) has led to pacing issues. RollingStone highlighted how the show’s flashbacks, unlike the game’s interspersed memories, feel disjointed, with episode 6’s placement as the penultimate installment stalling the revenge plot. ScreenRant echoed this, noting that while the flashbacks build out Joel and Ellie’s past, they don’t “naturally lead” to the finale’s expected action. The show’s attempt to expand minor game characters, like Eugene, and introduce new scenes, such as a 1983 flashback with Joel’s abusive father (Tony Dalton), has been praised for depth but criticized for diverting focus from the present-day stakes.
Thematically, Season 2 grapples with the game’s heavy themes of revenge, forgiveness, and moral ambiguity, but some argue it lacks the emotional resonance of Season 1. The Guardian criticized the season’s reliance on “acoustic sing-alongs” and standalone moments, suggesting it’s “spinning its wheels” since Joel’s death. The flashback episode, while a “stunning, heartbreaking story of parenthood” per The New York Times, feels detached from Ellie’s current journey, leaving viewers like those on X questioning its relevance. The show’s darker tone, exemplified by Ellie’s violent interrogation of Nora in episode 5, has also alienated casual fans who preferred Season 1’s balance of action and tenderness.
The Broader Context: A Franchise in Crisis
The backlash to The Last of Us Season 2 reflects broader challenges for HBO and Naughty Dog. The game’s divisive reception in 2020, driven by Joel’s death and Abby’s prominence, foreshadowed the show’s struggles. Fans who criticized Part II for betraying the original’s emotional core see the show as doubling down on those flaws. The 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes contrasts sharply with the audience’s 39%, mirroring the game’s critic-user divide on Metacritic (94/100 vs. 4.8/10). This gap suggests a disconnect between the creators’ vision and audience expectations, a recurring theme in Naughty Dog’s recent projects.
HBO’s investment in The Last of Us is significant, with Season 2’s production costs reportedly exceeding $200 million. The early renewal for Season 3 indicates confidence, but declining viewership—down 15% from Season 1’s average of 8.2 million viewers per episode—raises concerns. Social media sentiment, captured in posts like @SaidWhatWeSaid’s review praising episode 6’s emotional weight, shows pockets of support, but the overwhelming negativity threatens the show’s cultural dominance. The decision to hide audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, as noted by some X users, has only fueled perceptions of damage control.
Can Season 2 Be Saved?
With only the finale remaining, The Last of Us Season 2 faces a daunting task. The trailer for episode 7 teases a return to Ellie’s revenge mission in Seattle, but the flashback episode’s mixed reception suggests it may be too late to win back disillusioned fans. The show’s strengths—Pascal and Ramsey’s chemistry, stunning production values, and moments of tenderness—shine in episode 6, with IGN calling Pascal’s performance “pitch-perfect.” Yet, these highlights are overshadowed by structural flaws and fan discontent.
To salvage its reputation, the finale must deliver a compelling resolution to Ellie’s arc while setting up Season 3’s focus on Abby. Expanding on game moments, like the museum flashback, shows the creators’ willingness to innovate, but they must balance fidelity with accessibility. Addressing fan concerns, perhaps through more Joel-centric content in Season 3, could help, but the damage from the premature death and uneven pacing may linger.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Adaptations
The Last of Us Season 2’s disastrous premiere and the polarizing Flashback Joel episode underscore the perils of adapting a divisive source material. The show’s bold choices—killing Joel early, consolidating flashbacks, and expanding minor characters—aimed to capture the game’s ambition but alienated viewers craving the Joel-Ellie dynamic. Fan outrage, reflected in abysmal audience scores and scathing X posts, highlights a disconnect that Naughty Dog and HBO must address. As the season concludes, The Last of Us stands at a crossroads: it can either reclaim its former glory or cement its status as a cautionary tale of squandered potential. For now, the “sh*t show” label lingers, a stark reminder of the high stakes in bringing a beloved game to the screen.
