Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey return in a haunting Season 2 opener that delivers heartbreak, controversy, and cinematic brilliance—leaving the fandom both shattered and split.
April 14, 2025 | The apocalypse has returned—and so have the tears, tension, and Twitter wars. The Last of Us Season 2 has finally premiered on HBO, and if you were hoping for an emotionally gentle return, think again. Set five years after the events of Season 1, the premiere transports us to a snow-blanketed Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are trying to live a life of peace amidst a crumbling world. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t last.
Set on New Year’s Eve 2029, the episode opens with an air of quiet hope—glowing lights, laughter, a town trying to move forward. But beneath the surface, cracks form fast. And just like that, the show reminds us why it’s known for tearing hearts apart with chilling precision.
Fans React: Emotional Overload or Overhyped Mess?
Social media was quick to explode. For some, Episode 1 was an emotional gut-punch in all the right ways.
“No spoilers but ep 1 had me like… damn. The weight of it all??? They really said: let’s open the season w feelings, and I ate it up,” wrote one fan.
“Cinematography? Gorgeous. Tension? Palpable. Acting? Next level.”
With the embargo now lifted, many positive reviews are being posted for The Last of Us season 2! pic.twitter.com/gdHCdx5TDF
— The Last of Us Source (@TLOUSource) April 7, 2025
Others, who previewed the full season, doubled down on praise:
“This season rips your heart out, stitches it back in, and then yanks it again. It’s brutal and beautiful.”
first episode of the last of us season 2 has already exceeded my expectations this season is going to be so fucking good
— em 🌿 (@emthewilds) April 14, 2025
Craig Mazin’s signature style—echoing his work on Chernobyl—was another highlight. One viewer put it simply:
“Pedro and Bella bring the soul, Craig Mazin brings the shadows. Devastatingly good.”
But it wasn’t all praise. Some fans felt the episode tried too hard or moved too fast.
“The Last Of Us SEASON 2 premiered tonight — and it’s complete garbage! Crappy writing, rushed pacing, zero soul,” one critic fumed on X (formerly Twitter).
Another said: “This needed room to breathe. Instead, it felt like a sprint through what should’ve been a slow burn.”
Just turned off The Last of us season 2. It's absolutely horrible. Worst acting ever.
— Levi 🇺🇲🏈 (@MadewithSteel99) April 14, 2025
For video game loyalists, reactions were mixed. While some appreciated the adaptation’s bold choices, others felt it lacked the game’s raw depth and pacing.
Final Verdict? Still Brutal, Still Addictive.
Episode 1 of The Last of Us Season 2 proves one thing: the show isn’t here to play it safe. It’s tragic, tense, polarizing—and entirely on brand. Whether you’re crying, cringing, or rage-tweeting, it’s clear HBO’s apocalyptic drama still knows how to command attention.
So grab a blanket, hug your emotional support clicker, and buckle up—because if this is just the beginning, we’re all in for a wild, heart-wrenching ride.
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The Last of Us Season 2, Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, HBO series, The Last of Us Episode 1 review, Craig Mazin, Joel and Ellie, The Last of Us Twitter reactions, TV series adaptations, video game to TV adaptation, The Last of Us criticism, apocalyptic dramas, HBO 2025 shows, Pedro Pascal HBO, emotional TV series