Through the Valley

Episode 1 of Season 2 was a solid though largely sedate affair. It was clearly there to set the scene rather than move the plot forward in a big way or provide much action. With background to two sub-plots provided I expected these sub-plots to come to fruition over the remainder of the season.

Turns out we didn't have to wait long for stuff to get real.

Episode 2 is an absolute humdinger of an episode, quite the most action-packed, drama-packed episode of the show so far. No gradual buildup to a season climax, this feels like a season finale there's so much going on, and so much finality in some respects.

Such is the outcome of the episode there are a multitude of plot-lines open to the series, making the next episode very intriguing.

Note: I haven't played the game nor have any inkling of the plot, before this episode aired or from here on out, so my views are entirely based on what has happened thus far in the TV show, not on any other sources.

This second episode of the new season of The Last of Us left me stunned, not just because of what happens story-wise, but because of how it was executed. Unlike the video game, the writing in this episode makes much more sense. The characters' decisions feel more human, more emotionally driven, and therefore, more believable. What leads up to that scene-such a controversial and pivotal moment-feels far more real and justified in the series than in the game, thanks to a much stronger narrative build-up.

The production and acting were, without exaggeration, sublime. Pedro Pascal delivers one of his best performances as Joel, showing a moving vulnerability. The level of detail in the setting, the tension in each frame, and the emotional weight of every scene all reflect top-tier filmmaking.

What stood out the most to me were the new elements and action additions not present in the game or reimagined for the show. Everything feels more organic, more intense, and at times, heartbreaking. The Jackson part, for instance, adds a brutal sense of urgency to the episode and keeps the viewer on edge.

In summary, this episode doesn't just honor the source material-it improves upon it, adding coherence, emotion, and stronger narrative structure. It's an adaptation that dares to go further than the game and succeeds brilliantly.

For die hard GoT fans, we all get the jist of why and how series like these thrive. It's all about the living versus whatever curse has come to wipe out all humanity. This episode was the equivalent to GoTs "Hardhome", S5, episode 8. This episode reveals how the "infected" are evolving and finding ways to increase their "hive" exponentially compared to the non-infected ranks. GoT did the same with the "Army of the Dead" overunning outpost after outpost until "The Night King" was finally defeated. It all boils down to how crazy killing the living for no reason always sounds. Madness never makes sense, but usually has a goal. The game itself has not revealed how this will all end. But with this episode being so similar to the game, I can only think an enemy of the non-infected has not revealed itself. Basically an enemy that can be the key into eliminating the infected once and for all.

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Through the Valley", a second episode of LTOU season 2 was everything i hoped for it to be, and then it delivered more, way more. I played Part 2 literally 4 times, and consider it to be an absolutely incredible video game. This particular episode elevated the material even further. Won't going to go into spoilers or anything, but "Through the Valley" is by far the best episode of this series yet. VFX were incredible here, acting is top notch, editing, directing were superb. This episode also shows of just how HBO does care about this series and its content.

Overall, with only two episodes into season 2, we are already got an amazing episode. This one is going to be hard to top.

This episode was absolutely phenomenal, easily a 10/10. The pacing was perfect, and the emotional weight hit hard in all the right places. Bella ramsey delivered an incredible performance, capturing every subtle nuance of their character's pain and growth. Pedro pascal, as alwys, was outstanding. His presence alone adds so much depth to every scene.

The dream scene added so much emotional richness and context, making the story even more compelling. The scene at the end (no spoilers!) genuinely left me speechless. It was raw, gut-wrenching, and brilliantly executed

visually, the episode was stunning. The attention to detail in the environment, lighting, and cinematography made the world feel more alive and immersive. The music, too, was perfectly timed and emotionally resonant (i loved the ashley johnson cameo at the end!)

if the rest of the season maintains this level of quality, it might surpass season 1 and even be slightly better than the game.