If you’re not caught up on The Last of Us, turn back now. Episode 2 of Season 2, titled Through the Valley, doesn’t just shake the table – it flips it.
HBO promised Season 2 would go darker, but nothing could prepare fans for what went down this week. The episode opens with haunting echoes of past trauma, a creeping snowstorm, and a city under siege by the infected. But beneath the chaos lies something far more devastating – a reckoning years in the making.
Abby, played with chilling precision by Kaitlyn Dever, takes center stage in a story that blends grief, vengeance, and betrayal. Her past isn’t just haunting her – it’s controlling her. We see it unfold in eerie flashbacks, tense interactions, and a trap that’s set so well, even longtime fans didn’t see the exact twist coming.
Meanwhile, Ellie and Jesse are navigating their own battles in Jackson, blissfully unaware of what’s coming. The infected breach the town’s defenses in a stunning action sequence, but the real monster is miles away, wearing human skin and driven by rage.
By the time the snow settles, one of the series’ most iconic figures has been silenced in a moment that feels both inevitable and unbearable. It’s not just about who dies – it’s about why. And what comes next.
The blow doesn’t just land hard, it rewrites the rules of the show. What was once a survival story has now become a revenge saga – and Ellie is no longer the girl we met in Season 1.
With the fanbase still catching its breath, the fallout from this moment is guaranteed to echo through every episode moving forward. If the showrunners were looking to honor the emotional gravity of the game, they’ve done that – and then some.
The Last of Us airs Sundays on HBO and Max. Buckle up. The valley is only getting deeper.
