"The Last of Us", episode 2: Through the valley - and right into the heart

Luca Fontana

22.4.2025

Translation: machine translated

Explosions, zombie armies, avalanches of corpses - episode 2 of "The Last of Us" doesn't slow down, it revs up. And at a production level that is so spectacular that even HBO would be envious of itself.

Part two, second escalation stage: «The Last of Us» unleashes a chaos of snow, pain and shockwaves in episode 2 - «Through the Valley». What begins as a dark character moment ends in a flaming state of emergency. And in the middle of it all: Characters who go through more than some series do in eight seasons.

In the Spoiler Factory, Michelle, Domi and I talk openly, critically and emotionally about the current episode as always - with spoilers up to this point, but without a preview of what's to come.

Here's a little sneak peek:

If you haven't seen our first episode, you can catch up here:

If you haven't seen the second episode yet and still want to know what it was like, here's a short summary of our impressions - without spoilers.

The apocalypse knows no mercy

If you thought «The Last of Us» would take it easy after the emotionally stirring opening, you'll be proven wrong in episode 2 - and with a vengeance. «Through the Valley» not only strikes mercilessly in terms of narrative, but also in terms of staging.

What particularly impressed Michelle was the interplay between humanity and madness. A scene that seems almost everyday at first glance becomes an emotional powder keg - not because of what is said, but because of what cannot be said. These nuances, this tension in the silence, this is exactly what makes «The Last of Us» so special for her.

Domi, our walking «TLOU» wiki, was also overwhelmed. Not only by the pace of this episode, but also by the force with which it combines emotion and escalation. Despite all the action, this series remains intimate, vulnerable and human. And that is one of the greatest strengths of «The Last of Us».

And me? I loved how the creators not only know the dramaturgical rules like Chekhov's Gun, but celebrate them - and still deliver real surprises. Plus the direction by Mark Mylod, who knows how to utilise HBO's budget so effectively that other studios would dream of it.

What remains is not a breather, but a dull reverberation. A feeling that this was just the beginning. And that there is more to come. «The Last of Us» has come to hurt - and be great at the same time.

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Hosts

Luca Fontana

Luca is living proof that our parents were lying: There are no square eyes from watching too much TV. Rumour has it that he was already watching «Star Wars» films and reading Marvel comics in his mother's womb. Today, after many years of field research, he knows his way around the Disney universe better than Al Capone in 1930s Chicago. He uses the same password for his 14 streaming subscriptions because otherwise he would forget them. The only people who are allowed to disturb him in his «work» are his two cats.

Michelle Brändle

While others break into a sweat just drawing a stick figure, Michelle uses every tablet test as a template for digital artwork. Somewhat more tangible are those from the 3D printer, which regularly model her smartphone reviews. The gadget enthusiasm that almost every new member of the editorial team succumbs to can be seen on their desk, which is flanked by a home-made RGB keyboard and matching RGB mouse. She only feels even more emotion, which even gets under her skin in the form of tattoos, for Pokémon.

Domagoj Belancic

If anyone games more than Phil, it would be Domi. If his dog didn't regularly drag him out into the sunlight, he would have long since collected all the platinum trophies on the Playstation. His heart also burns for another well-known Japanese company, Nintendo. This is proven by the various retro consoles that adorn his office, as well as his encyclopaedic knowledge of all Pokémon - even those that have yet to be invented.

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more

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