The Last of Us second season is a victim of review bombing: viewers are disappointed, but critics are delighted

The second season of HBO's The Last of Us, which received rave reviews from critics and the status of one of the best game adaptations at the start, is currently experiencing a real wave of review bombing. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' score reaches 95%, while the audience rating has fallen to 42%. This is even lower than The Last of Us Part II, which also divided fans. But why is this happening?

Here's What We Know

The first season of the series was universally recognised for its fidelity to the original and strong acting, and its audience rating was almost on par with critics - 87% vs. 96%. However, with the second season, the situation changed: despite the enthusiastic reviews from critics, fans massively lowered the show's ratings. A similar situation has already happened with The Last of Us Part II, which received 93 points from critics but only 5.8/10 from users.

The reasons for dissatisfaction are diverse. Some viewers did not accept the changes in the plot structure, especially regarding Abby's arch, which was revealed differently in the series than in the game. Some believe that events unfold too quickly, and important plot points have lost their emotional depth. The image of Ellie, played by Bella Ramsay, is particularly controversial: fans of the game believe that the series Ellie has lost the complexity and internal struggle that was key to the character in The Last of Us Part II. Instead of a gloomy, broken character, the audience sees a more lighthearted and emotionally restrained Ellie, which does not always meet their expectations.

We should also mention the wave of toxic comments directed at the actresses and the subject matter of the series. Some of the negativity relates to the portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and Bella Ramsay's appearance, which, unfortunately, has become a common problem for modern major releases.

Nevertheless, critics continue to praise the second season for its drama, cinematography and acting.

It is worth reminding that the premiere of episode 5 of the second season of The Last of Us took place and it may change the viewers' attitude to the show.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes