'The Last Of Us' review: Season 2 is dark, violent, brilliant

WHAT IT'S ABOUT This second season opens five years after Joel (Pedro Pascal) has massacred the Fireflies who sought to remove Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) brain so they could replicate her DNA — recall that Ellie is the only known human immune to the fungus cordyceps, which has turned a vast swath of humanity into flesh-eating zombies, or "runners."

Both are now living in a walled-in community in Wyoming. (This was shot in the Rockies of British Columbia.) Ellie and Joel are having problems, and Joel needs a psychotherapist (Catherine O'Hara) to help explain her teen defiance.

Newcomers to this seven-episode second season include Kaitlyn Dever ("Last Man Standing") as Abby, a Firefly; Isabela Merced ("Alien: Romulus") as Bella's friend Dina; and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, a Federal Disaster Response Agency officer.

MY SAY Back in early 2023, the first season of "Us" landed on screens just as the '24 presidential campaign was about to turn into a cage match, with lines drawn and sides taken. This brutally nihilistic TV series also answered the bell, or at least it read the room. What deeply disturbing corner of the American psyche did this TV newcomer reflect? Some twisted yearning for the End Times, or perhaps a more twisted yearning for human target practice?

What in fact did "The Last of Us" say about the rest of us anyway? In hindsight, probably not much of anything at all. Based on the hugely popular 2013 "third-person shooter" video game, it was already primed to be loved (or loathed) by a worldwide community of fans. The show quickly secured their approval for all the usual (or right) reasons — fine leads, excellent chemistry and absolutely insane special effects. Here at last was a zombie slaughterfest with a whole lot of mayhem, but a lot of heart and soul too. Many had tried to adapt hit games to TV before, but this was the first to succeed, or at least achieve mass appeal. (And yes, this is one of the most popular shows on the planet.)

Now comes the second season, which in certain respects is richer, deeper, sharper and even more shocking. That it arrives in the midst of another cage match — this one worldwide — should only add to that reputation for perfect timing, or for perfectly tapping the zeitgeist. "The Last of Us" does indeed remain a terribly dark and disturbing enterprise, but the second may actually take us to places we may not want to go. At the very least, avert your gaze when your instincts tell you to.

Let's start with next Sunday's episode, a master class in direction and special effects that will churn your guts and scramble your brain. You will emerge out the other side a different person — which may not be what you're looking for but at least you'll know what it's like to be transformed by something as seemingly ephemeral as a TV show. This also happens to be one of the best TV episodes I've ever seen.

Do be aware, however, because the violence and horror of this season are extreme, absent any glimmer of light down that long, Stygian tunnel. Imagine the sign greeting those about to enter Dante's Inferno — abandon all hope, ye who enter here — and you will begin to get a sense of the journey you are about to continue on.

But that shouldn't detract from the genuine pleasures here either — the acting, the superlative craftsmanship, even the spectacular Canadian Rockies. You could do worse. You will rarely do better.

BOTTOM LINE Dark, violent, brilliant