The Last of Us Season 2 Premieres with New Faces, Emmy Buzz, and High Expectations

The Last of Us Season 2: A Fresh Start in Jackson

If you thought the first season of The Last of Us set the bar high, season two has blown past every expectation. Premiering on April 13, 2025, the show landed on HBO and MAX right in prime time. Once again, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are back as Joel and Ellie, but it’s not just more of the same — this chapter picks up five years later, with our heroes trying to build a real life in Jackson, Wyoming. Life here isn’t just about survival; it’s about finding purpose in a world where things never really calm down.

The seven-episode season adapts the emotional first half of the hit video game The Last of Us Part II. That means big changes for Joel, Ellie, and everyone in their orbit. One of the biggest shakeups is the official arrival of Abby — a highly divisive character for fans of the game. Though longtime gamers knew what was coming, casual viewers got their first look at this new figure, played by Ashley Johnson. Meanwhile, familiar faces get more screentime: Tommy (Gabriel Luna) finds renewed importance, and Ellie’s bond with Dina (now played by Isabela Merced) edges into the spotlight with real depth.

Production, Pacing, and Early Hype

Behind the scenes, the showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann teamed up with director Kate Herron to keep the quality sky-high. Filming shifted to the forests and towns around British Columbia between February and August 2024, and you can feel that atmosphere onscreen — damp streets, icy rivers, and those eerie, ruined buildings. Whether it's quiet moments in Jackson or chaotic set pieces, the production just looks phenomenal.

Season two took a bit of a risk with only seven episodes — trimming the run from season one's nine. Each hour had to count, juggling flashy action with quieter, often heartbreaking character scenes. Some critics have pointed out a few slow stretches here and there but, for the most part, the pacing kept viewers on their toes.

The payoff? Just about everyone agrees the performances are next-level. Pascal and Ramsey pack in more nuance, especially as their characters wrestle with tough choices and new relationships. The new cast, especially Johnson as Abby and Merced as Dina, brought plenty of intensity. By the time the season finale aired on May 25, 2025, The Last of Us had averaged almost 37 million viewers per episode worldwide — numbers that would make any network boss grin.

Episodes aired weekly, keeping anticipation high.
Stunning visuals and action scenes drove much of the buzz.
Strong ensemble cast drew praise for chemistry and emotional impact.

The response didn’t just come from the fans. Across the board, awards buzz picked up, with the show snagging 17 Primetime Emmy nominations — a big step up for a series in its second go-around. Viewers and critics may grumble about the pacing, but most agree: season two raised the bar for post-apocalyptic drama once again.