Season two of "The Last of Us" premieres on HBO on April 13, 2025, and it's been more than two years since fans were on tenterhooks as Ellie and Joel made their way across the United States in the face of a zombie apocalypse.
How did the first season start? In 2003, the world was falling apart. A mutated cordyceps fungus causes a global pandemic and turns humans into brainless, hyperaggressive remnants of their former selves. Joel (Pedro Pascal) loses his daughter Sarah during the chaos, and it ultimately becomes a devastating moment that transforms him into the emotionally imprisoned man fans come to know 20 years later.
Joel's life is turned upside down when he is tasked with driving Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the country. The 14-year-old girl is somehow immune to the infection from the cordyceps fungus, but a group of people called the Flashes believe she may hold the secret to curing the rest of the world.
As Joel and Ellie travel to get to the Fireflies, they encounter quite a few dangerous obstacles, including a detour through Kansas City where they are pursued by a group led by a woman named Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey).
Season 1 of "The Last of Us" also gave fans the heartbreaking story of Bill and Frank
In episode 3, fans were introduced to the story of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). When Joel and Ellie arrived at the couple's home, they hoped to find allies to join them on their trek, but instead discovered that they had both died. Frank had suffered from a degenerative neuromuscular disease, which, according to "The Last of Us" co-writer Craig Mazin, was intentionally left to viewers' imaginations.
Without access to modern medicine in a post-apocalyptic world and Frank's deteriorating condition, he decides to end his life on his own terms and asks Bill to plan one last day for them together. The two have a marriage ceremony and last supper, and Bill reveals that he also took a lethal dose of medication because he didn't want to live in a world without Frank.
In the letter left for Joel, Bill explains how caring for Frank has changed his outlook on life and urges Joel to protect the people in his life that he loves. This moment triggers a change in Joel as he realizes he has begun to love Ellie like a daughter.
How did season 1 of "The Last of Us" end?
When Joel and Ellie finally get to "The Flash", Joel learns that in order for the cure to be attempted, Ellie must die. He couldn't bear to lose her and instead brutally killed the entire hospital staff, then lied to her about what happened. In the final scene, Ellie asked Joel to swear to her that he was telling the truth, and he replied, "I swear."
The Last of Us season two premieres on HBO and the Max platform on April 13. | BGNES
