"The Last of Us" is back... And you're going to hate it.

After a wait of almost two years, the first episode of the second season of The Last of Us, the exclusive HBO project adapting the video game of the same name created by Neil Druckman, finally premiered.

After a more than adequate first season that managed to bring the content of the first video game to the small screen with a couple of rather pleasant additions (which ironically ended up being the best part of it), things weren't exactly easy for Season 2, starting with the fact that they would (obviously) adapt the first half of the story of the second video game, one of the most controversial pieces of media in recent decades.

Personally, I've always had mixed feelings about TLOU Part II, since beyond the bitterness of the depicted events there, I can't help but respect the raw and organic nature with which a story was explored that did nothing more than portray the price of revenge, something that contrasted brilliantly with the redemption arc that characterized Part I, showing how Joel found a reason to live in the eyes of Ellie, a girl to whom he was initially forcibly linked, but who ended up being his main motivation to move forward.

For this same reason, after watching this first episode, I'm glad to see that the philosophy of Season I (respecting the story by adding other elements so it works better in a non-interactive format) will be maintained, embracing the more bitter aspects of the playable sequel, even though for more casual viewers it may generate a strong feeling of rejection. Beyond this, the virtues we saw in early 2023 remain, starting with the excellent performances of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who this year will be joined by a solid cast of supporting characters that will make each episode a richer experience.

The Last of Us continues to be a very well-written series, with excellent special effects, a beautiful soundtrack, and overall, a solid representative of the level of quality that only a production house like HBO can deliver, reaffirming why it remains the right place to adapt a work as beloved as these PlayStation-exclusive video games.

Are there any seams? Of course there are. It's too early to judge, and whatever course the story you decide to take will be difficult to navigate. However, I have great faith that regardless of whether we like the final result or not, at least it won't leave us indifferent.

As a port, it's decent, and while I miss the immersion that comes with directly controlling characters with a gamepad, I love the idea of being able to immerse myself in this apocalyptic world again.