The Last Of Us Season 2: Episode 2 (Through The Valley) 8 Ups & 1 Down

Where do you even start after something like that? The Last of Us has graced television screens once more this week with season two, episode two, 'Through the Valley', and it's a big one. Arguably, the biggest there has ever been or ever will be.

Last week, the show kicked off its second season with a solid outing that took a cautious approach, moving certain pieces into place. However, this episode was a far more explosive chapter, completely at the opposite end of the scale, that has already paid off some of the things set in motion earlier in the season.

There was a little fallout from Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel's (Pedro Pascal) antics the night before, while Jackson had its hands full with a growing Infected problem. But these aren't the things anyone is talking about come the rolling of the credits. We can't carry on as though we haven't just witnessed one of the biggest TV moments of the year.

Plenty of Ups to come as you might expect, ranging from moments that were brought directly to the show from the game, rectifying a Down from the previous episode, and of course the elephant in the room that will be addressed. It wasn't perfect, though, and there is just one gripe to start with.

Needless to say, heavy spoilers for 'Through the Valley' will follow.

The point was raised in the Ups and Downs column for episode one that it's important not to dwell too much on changes the show makes from the games. However, it is hard not to when said change does diminish a certain moment or a scene somewhat.

In reality, it's a minor change that didn't impact the episode on a huge level, but swapping who the characters were out on patrol with left audiences of the show with less of Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) together on screen.

While Dina was out with Joel, and Ellie with Jesse (Young Mazino) in 'Through the Valley', the game had Tommy with Joel, and Ellie with Dina (later to be joined by Jesse). Not only have Ellie and Dina already proven that they will be thoroughly entertaining when together across season two, there was some much deeper character and relationship development that was missed here.

That said, there was another effect of this change that actually helped the episode. So good was this chapter in the story that it only gets one Down, and this is kind of only half a Down...