SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 1 of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” which is currently available for streaming on Max.

The premiere episode of Season 2 of “The Last of Us” dedicates much of its runtime to reestablishing the lives of Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) five years after the events of the first season. Both characters have found their places within the walled community of Jackson, Wyoming, a settlement led by Joel’s brother, Tommy (played by Gabriel Luna), and his wife Maria (played by Rutina Wesley). Joel is actively involved in overseeing the construction of new living quarters in Jackson, addressing the influx of new residents seeking shelter from the ongoing fungal apocalypse. Despite his efforts, Joel is concerned that Maria is allowing newcomers to enter the settlement too quickly for comfort. Meanwhile, Ellie, now a 19-year-old young adult, is honing her combat and marksmanship skills alongside Tommy and fellow residents, including her close friend Dina (played by Isabela Merced) and Dina’s occasional boyfriend Jesse (played by Younger Mazino), as they patrol the dangerous wilderness surrounding Jackson in search of the infected.

Since their last appearance, Ellie’s relationship with Joel has soured; she has moved into a garage adjacent to their home, and their communication has dwindled to almost nothing. This strained dynamic has deeply troubled Joel, prompting him to seek help from a therapist named Gail (played by Catherine O’Hara) in an effort to mend his relationship with Ellie and understand the emotional distance that has grown between them.

“It’s important to note that the five years between the events of Season 1 and Season 2 haven’t been entirely negative,” explains Craig Mazin, co-creator and executive producer of the series, who also directed the episode. “In fact, a significant portion of that time has been positive, and we’ll explore that as the season unfolds. However, when we find them again, they are both entrenched in their respective corners.”

Mazin, along with co-creator and executive producer Neil Druckmann, and star Bella Ramsey, shared insights with Variety about the Season 2 premiere, the developing relationship between Ellie and Dina, the intricate construction of the Jackson set, and why Joel’s therapy session stands out as one of Mazin’s favorite scenes in the series.

Exploring Joel’s Therapy: A Concept Brought to Life

As Mazin revealed to Variety in early March, the idea of a scene featuring Joel in therapy was initially conceived for the first episodes of Season 1, prior to his departure from Boston.

“In any closed economy, certain skills tend to be valued more than others,” he explained. “For example, if you were adept at shoe repair, that would be useful. If you taught physics, however, that might not hold the same value anymore. Now, what if you were a therapist? That would be incredibly valuable. Every single individual has experienced trauma. No one can honestly say, ‘I’ve had a good time.’ I believe therapy serves as a profound mirror that helps reveal not just, ‘What are your true thoughts?’ but also what individuals are often reluctant to discuss.”

These therapy scenes were ultimately cut for time before the show began production; however, Mazin resurrected the concept for Season 2. In the premiere episode, Joel’s therapy session starts with him expressing frustration over Ellie’s emotional withdrawal, but Gail swiftly interrupts him. It happens to be Gail’s birthday, the first one she’s spending without her husband, Eugene, in 41 years, and she has little patience for what she deems “the world’s most boring problem.” She tells Joel she knows he’s withholding something, saying, “You’re lying to me, and it’s exhausting.”

In a bid to draw the truth out of him, she presents him with a painful truth of her own. “I’m afraid to say this, but I have to: You shot and killed my husband,” she declares. “You killed Eugene. And I harbor resentment towards you for that. Perhaps even more than that, I hate you for it. Yes, I understand that you had no choice! I know that! I should forgive you, but I’ve tried, and I can’t, because of the way you did it. Seeing your face in our home fills me with anger.” She pauses, leaving Joel silent.

“There it is,” Gail continues. “I’ve said it now. I’m ashamed, but it’s out in the open, and I can’t take it back. Maybe now there’s a chance for me to make things right with you. Your turn. Say what you’re afraid to say. I can help you. Did you do something to her? Did you hurt her?”

As viewers are aware, at the end of Season 1, Joel committed a massacre against a group of Fireflies to prevent them from subjecting Ellie to a lethal operation that would determine how she is immune to the fungal pandemic. This was despite the fact that Ellie wanted to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Joel lied to Ellie about his actions, and as Gail presses him for honesty, Joel’s expression turns cold and his eyes well up with tears.

“I saved her,” he tells Gail before abruptly leaving her house.

In an interview regarding this storyline, Mazin expressed a desire for this scene to ultimately feel akin to “an action sequence—like a struggle, a showdown.”

“It’s amusing until it’s no longer funny at all,” he reflects. “I’ve participated in enough therapy sessions to understand how quickly emotions can shift, from laughter to tears to anger, as deeper issues are revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, filming it, and editing it. It stands as one of my favorite scenes across both seasons, largely because I had the privilege of watching these two incredible actors at the peak of their abilities interact.”

Druckmann, however, is quick to clarify that Gail’s conversation with Joel isn’t entirely original. “Their dialogue mirrors a conversation that Joel has with Tommy at the beginning of the second game, but we shifted it to a different character to evoke a slightly different emotional response,” Druckmann elaborates. “Every time we make a change [from the game], I appreciate having a guiding principle to determine, ‘What can we gain from this alteration?’ I want to consider how this change fits within the overall narrative and then compare it to our previous approach. If the answer is yes, we absolutely should proceed with it; if no, then why alter it?”

Gail is also connected to the game through her deceased spouse. In “Part II,” Eugene is dead; Ellie and Dina reminisce about him while looking at a photograph of him. However, the character will reappear later in Season 2, portrayed by Joe Pantoliano, in a flashback sequence that promises to further illuminate the conversation between Joel and Gail.

“Without delving too deeply into spoiler territory, I am particularly enthusiastic about extracting those subtle elements from the game that may not have been fully developed,” Mazin states. “We discussed how Eugene may connect back to a completely new character, but more importantly, how their story directly influences Joel and Ellie’s narrative. That’s where the excitement lies for us. Our goal is to avoid simply dropping in ‘Easter eggs’ for the fans; instead, we aim to weave them into the story meaningfully.”

The Infected: Evolving Threats in the Apocalypse

During a patrol with Dina, Ellie accidentally falls into an abandoned grocery store, where she encounters an infected individual who stalks her with unnerving strategy, contrasting the typical mindless aggression exhibited by the infected in previous encounters.

“In the game, as the challenges escalate, players experience the same adrenaline rush that the characters feel,” Druckmann states. “We aimed to avoid repetitive encounters with the same infected enemies. Thus, we developed different classes of infected, one of which, the clicker, behaves as a stalker that doesn’t charge directly at you. They hide and hunt, making them significantly more terrifying.”

Game players experience this evolution as part of the natural increase in difficulty that occurs throughout the gameplay, but translating this concept to a scripted drama is more complex. “We believed it was crucial to showcase this advancement and to focus on a single encounter where one of them behaves in an unexpectedly disturbing manner,” Mazin explains. “Neil and I discussed how various emotions and sadness intertwine with this behavior, suggesting that there’s still a part of them that is aware of their past humanity, yet helpless to control their actions.”

The Authentic Construction of Jackson: A Remarkable Achievement

When asked about the extent of the physical construction that took place for Jackson, Mazin chuckles. “Far more than anyone else would have permitted us to build,” he laughs. “The initial design was grand. Then the budget team stepped in and said, ‘You can’t actually construct an entire city, dude.’ So it became a bit more cinematic, but we aimed to ensure that the elements that mattered most were as authentic as possible.”

The town was constructed in a small Canadian community known as Minaty Bay, located north of Vancouver. “It was my favorite set,” Ramsey remarks. “The level of detail is astounding. Every storefront was fully realized; for instance, there was a Starbucks that had been converted into a workshop. Our green rooms were located in these repurposed shops constructed by the set and construction team. It was incredibly immersive, making it feel like we were in a little village.”

The authenticity particularly impressed those who had worked on “Part II” alongside Druckmann. “I knew those layouts inside and out,” recalls Halley Gross, co-executive producer who co-wrote both the game and the final two episodes of Season 2. “Walking in felt like I was stepping into Joel’s house. There was Joel’s jacket hanging in his closet. There was that specific cup he uses. It was a surreal moment where I thought, ‘Oh, I’m in the simulation.’ I think my mind had a little black hole moment for a second.”

Creating a Memorable First Kiss Between Ellie and Dina

As the episode nears its conclusion, the residents of Jackson gather at the local church for a New Year’s Eve celebration, where Ellie and Dina share a dance that culminates in their first kiss—a heartwarming moment that echoes a scene from “Part II.”

“There are elements from the game that I know I want to incorporate directly [into the show], because I love them and believe they will translate perfectly,” Mazin shares. “There’s a particularly stunning shot inside the church where we see Ellie from behind, illuminated by beautiful lights and surrounded by dancing people. It’s strikingly similar to a moment in the game.”

While Ramsey isn’t an avid gamer, they did watch numerous gameplay walkthroughs available on YouTube. “I remember stepping onto set and thinking, ‘Wow,’” recalls Ramsey. “This truly feels like I’m in the game, even though I hadn’t actually played it.” The production design team had full access to extensive concept art and visual schematics from the game’s developer, Naughty Dog, which is led by Druckmann.

“I consistently connect them with the original creators so they can access the source material,” he explains.

This meticulous attention to detail enabled Ramsey to deeply engage with the complex emotions swirling in Ellie’s mind as Dina begins to elucidate her feelings for her.

“Ellie believes that Dina is straight and involved with Jesse,” Ramsey explains. “She’s terrified of her feelings for Dina and fears ruining a friendship that holds significant value to her. There’s definitely an element of self-preservation at play, as she needs clarity on Dina’s feelings before making any move. Even when Dina begins to lean in for the kiss during their dance, Ellie is still questioning, ‘Is this really happening?’”

For both Ellie and Ramsey, this moment also represented a rare instance of joyful companionship. “There aren’t many moments in the show where a group of people come together to enjoy themselves,” Ramsey notes with a wide smile. “It felt wonderful to have so many people in the room sharing a good time on the set of ‘The Last of Us.’”