Couldn’t stop thinking about The Last of Us: Season 2 (Spoiler Talk)

theentropycode
Jun 23
2 min read

Updated: Jun 24

I had a feeling Season 2 would lose some viewers—after watching first-time reactions to Season 1, a common refrain was, “This show is too dark.” If they felt that way before, they’re definitely not ready for what came next.

In contrast, the original game carried a hopeful tone—an innocent road trip with the promise of a cure. Part II, however, trades that for a bitter cycle of revenge among emotionally stunted characters. Longer doesn’t always mean deeper.

So I decided to take familiar characters down a different path—kind of like how Episode 3 in Season 1 told a side story that felt human and grounded. Think of it as an alternate universe. Using game and show footage, select interviews, light hand-drawn animation, and yes—a little AI—I outlined a video essay that reimagines the story. No full screenplay here, just a narrative outline in video form, built over a few intense weeks.

Here, Joel emerges as the least selfish character in Part II. In a story riddled with petty squabbles and moral relativism, he becomes the one holding onto real empathy, survivor’s guilt, and meaning. Abby? Villain. Ellie? Torn between grief and rage. Joel? The anchor.

Mpostmodernism—and why I reject it

I sometimes call Part II postmodern—and it is, in the sense that it refuses to take a moral stand. But that refusal is cowardly. It’s like a chef who won’t season their dish because they're afraid someone might not like it. If you believe in your story, put the damn salt on the entrée.

I get that modern invention and trauma can make things messy—postmodernism was born from a sense of disillusionment after Hiroshima. But just because we've lost faith in progress doesn’t mean we should lose faith in principles. Complexity is fine. Ambiguity too. But shrugging and running away from moral perspective? That’s a failure of courage.

TL;DR

This is a companion piece—a narrative outline via video essay, not a traditional rewrite or screenplay.
Made with game/show footage, interviews, hand-light animation, and some AI to visualize ideas I couldn’t otherwise afford.
My goal: rebuild The Last of Us II around empathy, guilt, and meaning, not endless revenge.
Joel becomes the least selfish character, the one still rooted in moral clarity amidst chaos.
I reject postmodern moral shrug—creators must take a stand, season the story.
Did I miss anything?