‘The Last Of Us’ fans praise “heartbreaking” season two: “So fucking GOOD”

Fans of The Last Of Us have heaped praise on the show’s season two debut, sharing their emotional reactions to the rift between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal).

• READ MORE: Here’s what we know about ‘The Last Of Us’ season two

Season two episode one, titled Future Days, picks up five years on from the events of the first season. Ellie and Joel live in a settlement in Wyoming, but their relationship has become strained as she suspects that he wasn’t totally truthful about how he saved her at the end of season one.

Joel struggles to understand the distance, and his over protectiveness leads to an outburst from Ellie toward the episode’s conclusion.

On X (formerly Twitter), viewers posted their enthusiastic reaction. “Actually speechless with episode 1 of The Last of Us” wrote one. “It was so fucking GOOD!! My heart’s gonna be ripped out again”.

Actually speechless with episode 1 of The Last of Us. It was so fucking GOOD!! My heart’s gonna be ripped out again

— Heidi (@Hammbizkit27) April 14, 2025

Joel dealing with a therapist, played by Catherine O’Hara, struck one viewer as the episode’s highlight. “The therapy scene with Catherine O’Hara in The Last of Us was so heartbreaking and painful to watch” they wrote. “Imagine a more impossible conversation to have”.

The therapy scene with Catherine O’Hara in The Last of Us was so heartbreaking and painful to watch cuz imagine a more impossible conversation to have

— Jordan (@Jordanbloked) April 15, 2025

A key part of the episode is the growing romance between Bella and Dina (Isabela Merced), who eventually kiss at a dance. One user wrote “I fucking love Dina” after watching the episode; while another said “the dance scene being a 1:1 from the game oh EXACTLYYY they’re so cute”.

mood after watching the first episode of #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/jdeTHEvEhh

— valeria (@kateofbish) April 14, 2025

the dance scene being a 1:1 from the game oh EXACTLYYY they're so cute #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/rS6XKb8dzk

— chris (@chrisdadeviant) April 14, 2025

The couple’s bliss is interrupted by a homophobic comment from a bartender, which leads to Joel pushing him over. It’s a slight departure from the game, with a user quipping “the way TV Joel just straight up pushed him to the ground”.

the way TV Joel just straight up pushed him to the ground #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/amnOqdfVVx

— chris (@chrisdadeviant) April 14, 2025

Bella’s subsequent rebuke of Joel hurt some fans, with one writing “NOOOOOO ELLIE NO WE DONT FIGHT JOEL”; and another adding: “seeing Ellie being so mean to Joel breaks my heart fr”.

“i dont need your fucking help” NOOOOOO ELLIE NO WE DONT FIGHT JOEL #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/oS3EZQ09Dq

— may tlou spoilers (@dn4lover) April 14, 2025

seeing ellie being so mean to joel breaks my heart fr like he goes to therapy he uses glasses he saved ellie he defends his little girl from homophobia YOUR HONOR HE’S JUST A DAD !!! YOU’RE GONNA REGRET THIS#TheLastOfUsSeason2 #thelastofus

pic.twitter.com/WBTa5crw4y

— lulo | daredevil spoilers (@mishajackles) April 14, 2025

The closing of the episode introduces Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who intends to get vengeance on Joel for his actions in the last season. “’when we kill him we kill him slowly’ that’s just a joke right guys?” asked one viewer. “Joel will be okay right?”

"when we kill him we kill him slowly" that’s just a joke right guys? joel will be okay right? #thelastofus #TheLastOfUsSeason2
pic.twitter.com/KWgysn4qVn

— emma⟢ (@cosmicoraline) April 14, 2025

The new season has already been declared a “knockout” by critics, who say it “feels like something special”. The first episode also made some changes from the plot of the original game, which can be seen here (spoilers ahead).

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