Season 2 of The Last of Us kicked off with an episode that doesn’t rush to shock or overwhelm, but it simmers. Titled Future Days, the premiere picks up five years after the events of season one, and instead of diving straight into chaos, it takes a breath. But beneath that calm surface, you can feel the storm brewing.
Joel and Ellie are living in Jackson now, trying to make something like a life in the middle of a world that still hasn’t healed. The dynamic between them has matured, but also frayed at the edges. Joel’s lie from the end of season one, about there being no cure for Ellie’s immunity, is hanging heavy between them. You see it in the way Ellie pulls back, in the way Joel hesitates. It’s not explosive, but the tension is constant, like a held breath.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey both return with even more weight in their performances. Pascal plays Joel like a man who’s trying not to buckle under the pressure of guilt and love and fear. There’s a quiet desperation in him now, especially during one powerful scene where he confesses to a therapist, not just about what he did to save Ellie, but about why he had to do it. Ramsey, meanwhile, has evolved Ellie into someone fiercer and more skeptical, someone whose innocence has been slowly, painfully chipped away. She’s older, a bit rougher around the edges, and incredibly compelling to watch.
One of the biggest surprises this episode delivers is the early introduction of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. If you’ve played The Last of Us Part II, you’ll know just how significant this is. In the game, we don’t meet Abby until much later, but here, the show flips the script. Giving her backstory earlier changes the rhythm of the story, but in a way that actually adds depth. It doesn't feel like a gimmick, it feels like the writers are inviting us to understand her, not just react to her. It’s a bold move, and it pays off.
Even though the episode leans more on emotional setup than action, there’s still plenty of unease in the world around our characters. A new type of infected is introduced: One that moves with eerie silence, stalking Ellie through a scene that feels straight out of a horror film. It’s a reminder that even when things feel calm, the world of The Last of Us never truly lets its guard down.
Visually, the episode is stunning. The cold, muted tones of Jackson contrast beautifully with warmer, more intimate moments, like a New Year’s Eve party scene that’s been lovingly recreated to mirror the game’s aesthetic. It’s a subtle nod to fans, but it also stands on its own as great visual storytelling. There’s this undercurrent of nostalgia and dread running through the whole episode. You know something is coming, you just don’t know when.
What’s impressive is how the show manages to shift the narrative slightly from the game without losing the emotional punch. The changes aren’t for the sake of change. They seem designed to enrich the characters, to give us more time in their heads and hearts. That said, those changes are already sparking conversation, especially among fans who are protective of the original structure. But honestly? This episode makes a strong case that these tweaks are in good hands.
Episode 1 might not be packed with action or big reveals, but it sets the tone for the rest of the season. It’s intimate, quiet, and full of emotional weight. It’s the kind of episode that lingers, one that gives you time to sit with the characters before things inevitably spiral. And if you’ve been through season one, you already know: nothing in this world stays quiet for long.
The Last of Us airs Sunday nights on HBO.
