HBO’s critically acclaimed adaptation “The Last of Us” has found itself at the center of a growing controversy as Season 2 continues to face relentless review bombing, pushing its Rotten Tomatoes audience score below 50%. This stark contrast between critical acclaim and audience reception mirrors the divisive response to the video game “The Last of Us Part II,” on which this season is based. While professional critics have praised the second season for its complex storytelling, emotional depth, and outstanding performances, a vocal segment of viewers has flooded review sites with negative ratings.
The backlash primarily stems from two major factors: the controversial death of a beloved character and persistent criticism of Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of an older Ellie. This disconnect highlights the challenges of adapting beloved source material, particularly when it involves significant narrative shifts and time jumps. Despite the review bombing campaign, HBO remains committed to their creative vision and cast, with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann defending their artistic choices and expressing confidence that viewers who continue watching will appreciate the season’s emotional journey and character development.
Table of contents
The Last of Us Season 2: Review Bombing Phenomenon
The review bombing of “The Last of Us” Season 2 represents a concerning trend in audience engagement with media. According to recent reports, the show’s audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has plummeted to around 53%, a stark contrast to the critical score of 95%. This disparity between critical and audience reception mirrors what happened with the video game “The Last of Us Part II” upon its release.
The negative reviews primarily focus on two major aspects of the show. First, many fans express outrage over the death of Joel Miller (played by Pedro Pascal), a pivotal moment that occurs early in the season. This narrative choice, while faithful to the source material, has prompted some viewers to declare they’ll stop watching the series altogether.
“Critics of Part 2 would have you believe it derailed the original game and there’s no point watching the rest of the series,” notes Cameron Frew from Dexerto. “In truth, the original game was still enormously acclaimed and amassed millions of sales while this small-scale, yet incredibly vocal backlash took place.”
The second and perhaps more persistent criticism centers on Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie. Season 2 features a five-year time jump, with Ellie aging from 14 to 19. Many negative reviews specifically mention Ramsey, claiming they don’t physically embody the older version of the character.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | Main Controversy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 96% | 89% | Minor casting debates |
| Season 2 | 95% | Below 50% | Joel’s death and Bella Ramsey’s portrayal |
The Bella Ramsey Controversy
A significant portion of the negative reviews specifically target Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of the now 19-year-old Ellie. When filtering Rotten Tomatoes reviews by mentions of “Bella Ramsey,” the results reveal a pattern of criticism focused on their appearance and perceived suitability for the role.
“Casting Bella as Ellie however, will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in casting history. [They don’t] embody the character or spirit at all,” reads one review highlighted by Dexerto.
Another common complaint centers on Ramsey’s physical appearance: “It’s a skill issue and a big problem that they didn’t recast Bella, who was largely fine in Season 1, but going from 14 to 19 with literally no appearance or personality changes is jarring.”
Ramsey themselves has expressed frustration with the constant focus on their appearance and the age gap between seasons. During a press tour, they shared: “I’ve been on a three-week press tour, and this is the most common question I get asked: ‘So, Bella, Ellie was 14 in Season 1, she’s now 19 in Season 2, there’s a five-year age gap, how did you prepare to play an older Ellie in Season 2?'”
Their response highlights the absurdity of the question: “I’ve grown up! Ellie’s grown up! There’s nothing to tell! I’ve got nothing to say to you!”
The Creators’ Defense
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have stood firmly behind their casting and narrative choices. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin addressed the criticism of Ramsey’s appearance:
“Ellie in the game looks much older. Some people do change quite dramatically and some people don’t,” he explained. “I’m not interested in the physical aspect – although I’ve been looking at Bella’s face for years while editing, and I can see that she’s certainly grown. I’m interested in the emotional maturity, and the change in personality.”
Mazin further elaborated on the emotional journey that matters more than physical appearance: “I’ve watched Bella grow and become independent and start to find their own two feet separate and apart from their parents, who are amazing – how do I figure out how to be my own person now and test that full independence? And I feel that in Ellie completely.”
Critics who have reviewed the full season tend to agree with this assessment. Eric Deggans of NPR noted, “The show’s producers seem to delight in presenting situations which look like one thing, only to shift the dynamic as circumstances change and new facts emerge, like turning a crystal in a shaft of light.”
Similarly, Jack Seale from The Guardian awarded the season 4 out of 5 stars, stating, “It’s all about Ellie becoming her own person, which happily means a lot more of Ramsey’s wonderfully punchy portrayal of a damaged young soul fighting for autonomy.”
The Broader Context of Fan Backlash
The review bombing of “The Last of Us” Season 2 fits into a larger pattern of fan backlash against creative decisions in popular franchises. This phenomenon has become increasingly common in the age of social media and user review platforms.
What makes this case particularly interesting is how closely it mirrors the reception to the video game. When “The Last of Us Part II” was released, it faced similar review bombing despite critical acclaim and commercial success. The game went on to win numerous Game of the Year awards despite the vocal minority’s objections.
This disconnect between critical reception and audience scores raises important questions about the value and purpose of user reviews. When review bombing occurs, it becomes difficult to distinguish between genuine criticism and coordinated attacks motivated by specific grievances.
Despite the negative audience score, “The Last of Us” Season 2 continues to perform well for HBO, suggesting that the vocal minority expressing dissatisfaction may not represent the broader viewing audience. As more episodes air, it remains to be seen whether the audience score will recover or if the review bombing campaign will continue.
Celebrity MasterChef: Gaurav Khanna Unexpected Culinary Journey to Victory
FAQs
The Last of Us Season 2 is facing review bombing primarily for two reasons. First, the controversial death of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) early in the season has angered fans who were attached to the character, despite this plot point being faithful to the source material.
Second, there’s significant criticism of Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of the now 19-year-old Ellie, with many negative reviews claiming they don’t physically embody how the character should look after the five-year time jump.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have strongly defended Bella Ramsey’s casting and performance. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin addressed the criticism directly, stating: “I’m not interested in the physical aspect – although I’ve been looking at Bella’s face for years while editing, and I can see that they’ve certainly grown.
I’m interested in the emotional maturity, and the change in personality.” Mazin emphasized that he’s watched Ramsey grow and develop independence, which perfectly mirrors Ellie’s journey.
