Exploring 'The Last of Us' Season 2
A conversation with Neil Druckman, Craig Mazin, Bella Ramsay, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino and Isabela Merced.
If you’ve ever played The Last of Us, the hit video game from Naughty Dog and Sony Computer Entertainment, you remember it. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you — for its characters, its emotional depth, and how it hits you straight in the heart.
Set in a world ravaged by a strain of the Cordyceps fungus that infects humans and turns them into ravenous monsters, the game follows Joel and Ellie as they struggle to survive in a brutal, post-apocalyptic America.
In 2023, HBO adapted the first game into a television series — one that quickly became the most successful and most-watched debut season on the platform. Now, Season 2 is here, and the cast and creators recently sat down to talk about returning to this world and continuing the story.
The press conference, which I tuned into via Zoom, was held at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on March 24, 2025. In attendance were Young Mazino (Jesse), Isabela Merced (Dina), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Neil Druckmann (writer, executive producer), and Craig Mazin (writer, director).
Oh, and before we begin—fair warning: this article contains very mild spoilers for Season 2 of The Last of Us (thanks, Isabela!), and more than one well-placed f-bomb (thanks, Craig and Pedro!)
Proceed accordingly.
The Long Road to Season 2
Kicking off the event with visible enthusiasm, co-creator Craig Mazin was energized by the return of the show and the presence of the press. “Oh, my God, this is — this is fantastic,” he said. “We’ve been working really hard for about two years now. We don’t really take a break — season one ends, we start writing season two. Prep. Shoot. Post.”
He paused to acknowledge the strange yet satisfying feeling of remembering that the show is, in fact, meant to be watched: “It’s been awesome to remember that people are going to watch it. We’re just very excited to start showing people what we’ve done because we’re extraordinarily proud — especially of what these guys have done. They’re amazing.”
Neil Druckmann echoed that excitement while reflecting on the long road to the premiere. “Oh man. Someone just asked me if I’m excited for the premiere. I’m like, I don’t think that far ahead. Like, first we got to finish this thing, then we get to worry about that.
Still, as the launch drew nearer, the anticipation was growing: “It feels now it’s close enough where you could start visualizing and thinking about people watching this show, engaging with it, talking about it.” He highlighted the massive scope of the production, from the ambitious sets and elaborate prosthetics to what he described as “nonstop VFX.” Druckmann promised, “We got a wild season in front of you.”
Familiar Faces
Bella Ramsey admitted to feeling a bit nervous ahead of the show’s return. “It’s a little bit scary. When season one came out, it was this huge thing,” she said. “I’m just so aware of season two coming out and everybody looking at it — and looking at me. It’s quite scary, but it’s exciting.”
Still, she framed the experience in a positive light. “It’s nice to be here, and it’s trying to see it as a celebration of all the hard work that we did.” She credited the cast and crew for creating a supportive environment. “We all went into it with complete trust for them. And we’ve been literally carried and protected the whole way. So it’s pretty exciting, and I hope that people will watch it.”
Pedro Pascal echoed the sense of reunion and evolution within the cast. “It’s so special to be back. And also, with a broader sense of identity, if that makes sense. Because there are new people and there are old people. Not that you’re old, Gabriel.”
Gabriel Luna shot back, “I look younger now that I shaved my mustache.”
Pascal laughed, “Yeah. You do… you’re looking good.” He continued, “I think there’s something really exciting about basically giving everyone another season of a show that everyone loved and that everyone has worked so hard on and has put so much into.”
Gabriel Luna reflected on returning to the series. “I feel good. It’s good to be back,” he said. “Just to see Bella and Pedro and Rutina Wesley — to just get the family back together.” He was also enthusiastic about the new cast members: “They brought new strength to the story in exciting ways and carried a great love for the source material right into it.”
Wolves and Fireflies
Kaitlyn Dever described her introduction to The Last of Us as a mix of nerves and excitement. “Oh, boy. It was all of the feelings. The reach of this world is so big. You feel that, even in wardrobe fittings, during prep, and especially once you’re on set.”
Despite the pressure, she credited the environment for putting her at ease. “I felt less nervous once I got onto set just because of this wonderful group of people. It really felt like I was being taken care of in a way that I haven’t ever really experienced before.”
The experience was all the more meaningful given her earlier brush with the franchise — more than a decade ago, Dever had participated in a table read when The Last of Us was still being developed as a film. “It was sort of surreal because I had since become such a huge fan of the show.”
“I loved what Craig and Neil did in the first season. It was just pure magic. I was a fan of the game — it was a real bonding moment for me and my dad playing it together. When it came back around more than ten years later, it felt surreal — like something meant to happen. Abby felt right.”
Craig Mazin praised Dever’s dedication: “Kaitlyn did things that I’m not sure she even should have done. We knew her talent, but then you meet the person and you’re like, ‘What are you comfortable with?’ And Kaitlyn would just never say no.” He added, “Just how physically tremendous her performance is. It’s kind of insane. So far we just haven’t fucked up in casting.”
Neil Druckmann interjected with a perfectly timed: “Yet!”
New Faces
Keeping with the theme of welcoming new cast members, the spotlight shifted to Isabela Merced and her role as Dina. “It was really cool,” she said. “I just kind of felt like the new kid at school. I think Dina and I have a lot in common in the sense that I have this random confidence for no reason. I really appreciated that they embraced me for who I was, and I felt seen through Craig and Neil’s eyes.”
Young Mazino said he felt incredibly fortunate to be part of the second season, especially given how well-established the show was from the beginning. He spoke about how open and welcoming everyone had been, and how much he appreciated the trust Craig and Neil placed in him.
“I remember getting more nervous when I stepped onto set and saw the sheer scale of the town — this massive gate they built,” he said. “That’s when I started to feel a little tripped out.” But those nerves didn’t last long. “The energy was so warm and inviting. There was no ego on set, and I think that’s rare, especially the bigger a production gets. I had a great time. It was a really rewarding experience.”
He also reflected on his character, Jesse, describing him as someone shaped by his relationships with Ellie and Dina. “His priorities, ideals, and what he cares about all get put to the test because of those connections,” he said. Jesse also feels a strong obligation to the community that looked out for him when he needed somewhere to stay.”
Five Years Later
When asked how they approached playing their characters five years older in the new season, Bella Ramsey answered: “We just had to not like each other for a bit.”
Pedro Pascal jumped in: “You had to not like me, which came easy.”
“So easy,” Ramsey agreed, smiling. “Obviously a lot has changed over those five years. Ellie was like 14 and now is 19. Those are some of the most formative years in any teenager’s life, so that definitely informed it. But there’s also deeper reasons for their little rift. I didn’t enjoy the feeling of being estranged from Pedro within a scene — it wasn’t a nice feeling.”
Pascal added dryly, “When the cameras were rolling.”
“In real life,” Ramsey continued, “we still kind of like each other — just about.” She glanced over at Pascal. “So it was definitely interesting. What would you say to that?”
Pascal reflected on his own return: “On a practical level, my first day on set was beautifully set up by Craig and Neil. The first thing I got to shoot was just Bella and I in kind of an intimate setting.”
“There’s an incredibly painful distance between the two of them in the scene,” he continued, “but we still got to be on set and fuck around and laugh and stuff like that, and that was incredibly comforting. That was like coming home.”
“I don’t remember what the question is at all,” he admitted, before continuing: “My mindset was grateful to being back and yet at the same time, it’s this experience — more than any other I’ve had — that’s hard for me to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel. In a way that isn’t very healthy. And so, I kind of feel their pain and, I suppose, I was in an unhealthy mindset.”
A Reflection of the Real World
Despite its post-apocalyptic setting, the show doesn’t just serve as an escape. For many involved, it also reflects the world we live in now.
Pedro Pascal continued. “I think that storytelling is cathartic in so many ways — it always has been. It’s how human beings have made testimony to life, whether it was handprints on cave walls or a story shared onscreen.”
He spoke about the deeper role of art in shaping identity: “All of my development is based on the books I’ve read, the movies I’ve seen, and the television I’ve watched. It’s always going to reflect the human experience.”
He added, “Under such extreme circumstances, there’s a healthy — and sometimes sick — pleasure in that kind of catharsis, in a safe space to see human relationships in crisis and in pain, and to draw political or societal allegory based on the world we’re living in — very beautifully and very intelligently.”
Gabriel Luna agreed. “I think he spoke so eloquently, beautifully about it. And I think there’s a huge catharsis element to it all.”
He reflected on how Season 1 coincided with the world’s own pandemic fears. “We made a story about a pandemic, fearing there might be fatigue, but everyone’s experience gave them an entry point to what we were doing.”
Turning to Season 2, Luna added: “The second game — and now this second season — is about conflict. Where does it start? Who started it? All over the world, people are stuck in a wheel of vengeance. Can it be broken? Will it be broken? That’s where we are. So catharsis is a big element to both seasons, I think.”
Changing the Timeline
Neil Druckmann addressed the creative choice to introduce Abby’s backstory earlier in the show than in the game. In the original gameplay, players begin by controlling Abby, creating immediate empathy through interactivity. “You’re running through the snow, you’re fighting infected, and we can withhold certain things and make it a mystery that will be revealed later in the story.”
“We couldn’t do that in the show because you’re not playing as her,” he explained. “So we need other tools. And that context gave us that shortcut.”
Druckmann pointed to a similar adaptation decision from Season 1, noting how players control Sarah during the outbreak to forge a quick emotional bond — something that had to be rebuilt from scratch on screen.
Timing also factored in: “If we were to stick to a very similar timeline, viewers would have to wait a very, very long time to get that context. You would probably get spoiled between seasons, and we didn’t want that. So, it felt appropriate to move that up and give viewers that context right off the bat.”
Spoiler Groans
Isabela Merced described Dina as an extension of herself. “If I were in sort of like an apocalyptic situation, I would try to lighten it up a bit. I think that’s our superpower as humans — we really have the power to shift our perspective and make our own reality.”
She described Dina as both a compass and a light for Ellie, someone still grieving herself. But just as she was about to say more, she stopped herself — groaning audibly. “Spoilers,” she muttered.
Craig Mazin immediately jumped in: “Can you make that sound again?” Merced obliged, and Mazin responded with a dramatic groan of his own: “Spoilers!” — a running joke was born.
Later, when talk turned to emotionally resonant “slice-of-life” moments in the upcoming season, the cast couldn’t help but slip into it again. Mazin teased a beautifully distinct episode directed by Neil Druckmann, saying only, “Just you wait.” Luna warned, “Don’t get Bella started on Hamilton,” only for Bella to break into song with Craig right behind her.
Druckmann tried to refocus the conversation: “There’s a lot of those moments throughout the season. Like, every episode has those moments interwoven.”
Immediately, Pedro groaned: “Spoiler!” Mazin joined him: “Spoiler!”
Pedro leaned into the bit: “We discovered today the noise for spoilers. Spoilers have been around forever, but today, we discovered the noise.” He demonstrated with a long groan.
“You gotta roll one eye back,” Druckmann added, performing the newly discovered “spoiler groan.”
The New Family
Gabriel Luna spoke about how much had changed for Tommy in the five years between seasons. His family is growing, he’s reunited with his brother, and he’s now a father. “The only real turbulence,” Luna said, “is the way that you raise a son and how you raise a daughter.”
Luna reflected on the challenges of raising children in a dangerous world: “Who we let in, how we protect those that we love, how we allow those that we care for and the children that we’re rearing… what elements of danger are we allowing them to encounter so they can develop their skills?”
Luna sees Tommy’s relationship with Ellie as one of trust and recognition: “I see her capabilities as a warrior. While Joel would like to keep her close and protected, I think as the uncle, I’m allowed to give her a longer leash — one that can be snapped at any moment, because Ellie’s a very convincing person.”
Tommy’s role as a parent, uncle, and leader is evolving: “You see the growth of this small nuclear family and also his maturity as the leader of the Security Council and the responsibilities he holds for the safety of the community.”
Chemistry
Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna reflected on how their relationship — on and off screen — shaped the evolving bond between Joel and Tommy in Season 2.
“I think there was just a very, very well-placed arc for us,” Pascal said. “We started season one together on D-Day. There was a kind of bonding initiation process. We had our rehearsals and in pre-production we went river rafting.”
Pascal continued, “Then we were separated, and then put in the snow together. And we had a real kind of intimate… I had you there when I feel like a lot of the flesh of my character started to display itself and got to be played.”
The experience led to a natural continuation into season two. “It felt like a real building of what we had already established as characters and scene partners.”
Luna recalled their early connection. “When we first started, we had a really nice FaceTime call, and I felt this uncanny familiarity with you. There’s a sweetness… it just felt like family.”
Luna said a key moment came while rehearsing a pivotal bar scene with director Jasmila Žbanić. “We didn’t change a single word — we just re-jumbled the whole thing.”
Mazin praised their instinct. “That was amazing. Everyone is respectful of the writing, but also of each other. Sometimes a director will ask if we need a line, and I’ll say, ‘I guess not.’ But Pedro will come over and defend the script, and I love that. Then they bring me a rearranged version, and I’m like, fuck me, that’s so much better. That scene is beautiful — it’s a beautiful moment between the two of you.”
Luna nodded: “And just listening to him pour his heart out… it really fused us. We’ve carried that into the second season.”
Those Scenes
Craig Mazin and Bella Ramsey reflected on the kinds of scenes that stood out to them while adapting the second season.
Without revealing details, Mazin hinted at a moment in the season finale. “There was a scene in the final episode, and we can all come back here and discuss it when the season is over,” he said. Bella immediately chimed in, “I know the one.”
Mazin continued, “It’s quite impactful in the game, but there was this kind of evolution of it as we put it on film that kind of blows me away.”
He also pointed to a scene featured in the trailer: Pedro and Bella by the space capsule in the museum. “That scene is the first thing Neil ever showed me from The Last of Us Part Two. It’s beautiful. Watching them inhabit that and make it their own was pretty spectacular.”
Ramsey agreed. “Yeah, the later episode stuff — some of the stuff in the last episode, particularly the last two — were my favorite things to film, and hopefully to watch.”
Final Words
Before closing, each cast and crew member was asked to describe season two in a single word.
Young Mazino: “Explosive.”
Isabela Merced: “Grief.”
Gabriel Luna: “Vengeance.”
Kaitlyn Dever: “Gripping.”
Pedro Pascal: “Snowy.”
Bella Ramsey: “Rainy.”
Craig Mazin: “Beautiful.”
But it was Neil Druckmann who may have said it best: “Love.”
You can read my review of The Last of Us season 2 here:
Review: 'The Last of Us' (Season 2)
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