I can imagine myself in The Last of Us world...

The Last of Us Season 2 is complete. How do I feel about it since I enjoyed the games and the first season of the series? I absolutely enjoyed every episode and the changes they made for season 2. And I understand fully that this season has its discourse, just like the game. So, I expected the reviews to be divided, regardless of what the creators tried to avoid. I sometimes think the heavier stance is always going to have better results than those who try to soft-blow or dodge backlash. At least to me, it shows a creative, bold stance, and usually I ire that approach more than the other. Therefore, I enjoyed both the series and the games equally, despite what changes they made, and what I didn’t like about what they did with Abby in the series versus the game Abby.

I enjoyed the changes to Ellie in the series to make her appear more realistic as a 19-year-old. I told my friend older adults like me who are civil aren’t gonna straight-up tell young adults that they are annoying, arrogant, naïve, impulsive, or anything of the sort because, at least I’m aware, or I didn’t forget the experiences of that age, that is a more accurate depiction of a young adult.

Even my friend and I agreed because we worked in retail for so long that we see people in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s, acting like a bunch of young adults negatively. Not even in the positive. I mean, straight-up, you want to bite your tongue. Or like my friend, he balls his fist, thinking, who wants to knock out that person? Usually a guy. Women are annoying to handle, but dealing with guys is the scariest, because they can do a lot of damage if they lose control of their composure. People just don’t know until they know. Really… all those jobs didn’t pay me anywhere near enough to deal with people’s issues.

And this brings me to the reason I enjoyed the games so much and the series, which displayed what I enjoyed about that world. Surprisingly enough, I am one of those people who can imagine myself in that world. But not for what people would think. Of course, an apocalypse, even regarding fungus taking over a human body, is frightening as hell, but it’s more about the aftermath of the collapse of societal structures and the destruction of the capital-C-ism. It also showed how individualism is a made-up concept, and it doesn’t work at all in nature. I always told people the lone-wolf concept is toxic by nature, because they would be dead earlier than the pack working together to protect each other and thrive. A lone wolf is a dead wolf, and a lonely one.

It shows with Bill. He could get around alone for a while, but he was miserable, and of course, in that episode, it showed what happens if he can’t fend off the raiders alone, and he gets seriously injured. The show doesn’t explicitly show it, but from my perspective, Bill survives his injuries because of Frank. It puts a lot more meaning behind why Bill died along with Frank. Even though I wouldn’t do it the way the show displayed it, because there are things wrong with it, I can acknowledge what they were trying to convey in this somewhat romantic act. But as a partner, I wouldn’t trust that way to make sure they have a peaceful death. That’s when the sacrifice comes into play in my peaceful way of going to make sure my partner gets the best treatment. Because in reality, whoever es first, is gonna get the best treatment by their legitimate loved ones in of their ing, and probably get the better arrangements. In the Last of Us world, there’s no one else if you live alone like that with only one other person. So, I replayed the scene in my mind, playing as Bill, giving Frank the drugs so he can fall asleep and be unaware of things. Take my pistol and make it clean and quick, and give them the luxury of being buried with absolute care. Then I would go off into the wild in Bill fashion and do a lot of good by thinning out the infected along with the raiders. Nothing is more dangerous than a man who no longer fears death, because they would welcome it so they can be reunited with their loved ones. But that’s just me if I were in that world.

However, there’s some beauty in that world, regarding Jackson. That’s what I was referring to with that I could imagine living in that world. Everyone in that town works as a collective, relying on each other. Every person is important to the livelihood of Jackson. Even Joel, being an experienced killer, could be a contractor again, and help build up Jackson, by fixing and creating new homes as well as using his experience with weapons to protect the settlement with his brother Tommy. I can imagine myself, with the unique skills I have, contributing a lot better in that world and having that sensation of purpose because all the things I do would have true meaning. Because everyone has to work as a collective to survive as well as thrive in that world. And even in Fedra, which is a representation of the F-ism, it still relied on collectivism versus individualism, except it’s forced onto the people to submit and comply. WLF is no different, except there’s the illusion of democracy and freedom, when in reality it still relies on military control and so many more issues. I mean, take your pick on issues, but the best outcome of building a new life post-apocalypse is the Jackson Community.

In the series, you get to see more in-depth how Jackson functions as a collective society. They have a council and town hall meetings to discuss things. You get to see how they handle a crisis together through the stampede of the infected. Therefore, I viewed it as more compelling than the game, because I wanted to see how Jackson would handle threats as such. And I kinda smacked myself in the head when Ellie told Gale the truth, instead of playing into Joel’s white lie, because she was so mad at Joel, and she doesn’t understand how much more devastating things are if you say the exact truth. Lies have their purpose, regardless of what people believe. Gale is practically the worst psychotherapist now, and I don’t know how she was beforehand, but she’s the type of person who needed that lie to keep herself grounded and going. Because the last session with Joel was the worst scene to stomach when you are a patient who needs help, but the therapist weaponized their abilities to hurt people mentally and emotionally.

Despite what people think of the show, throwing in their identity politics and subjective opinions on the series or even the game, both the series and the game are phenomenally done, regardless of expectations. The series includes many well-thought-out details that are impossible to ignore; for example, the way they created Jackson, Fedra, the WLF, and the Seraphite. The series displays how a threat, such as the Fungus infection, evolves based on spreading. When something wants to spread, it will evolve and adapt to do so. And I enjoy seeing that on the show.

Now I want season 3, please.