The Last of Us Season 2 Sparks a Firestorm of Debate Over Alleged ‘Woke’ Overreach, Dividing Fans and Critics in a Post-Apocalyptic Clash—Uncover Why It’s the Hottest Topic in TV!
The premiere of The Last of Us Season 2 on April 13, 2025, on HBO and Max has reignited the cultural spotlight on Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic saga, adapting the divisive 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II. With 32 million viewers in its first season and 24 Emmy nominations, the show’s return was highly anticipated, but it’s now mired in controversy, with some fans and critics branding it a “woke dumpster fire” that prioritizes ideology over storytelling. Centered on claims of “girl power” overshadowing male characters, queer representation, and inclusive casting, the backlash has flooded X and review platforms, while supporters argue the show stays true to the game’s bold narrative. Drawing from online sentiment and industry insights, this article explores the uproar, the show’s creative choices, and why The Last of Us Season 2 is a lightning rod in 2025’s culture wars.
The “Woke” Backlash: What’s Fueling the Outrage?
The controversy erupted with the Season 2 premiere, which picks up five years after Season 1, following Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in Jackson, Wyoming. New characters, including Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and Dina (Isabela Merced), drive a story of revenge and survival, adapting Part II’s provocative plot. Critics of the show, like Cosmic Book News, slammed the premiere as “Hollywood garbage pushing an agenda,” giving it a 1/10 for “crappy writing and crappier characters” (). They argue the episode emphasizes “girl power” at the expense of male characters, with Joel depicted as “emasculated” and “weepy,” sitting on his porch like a “clinically depressed afterthought” (). Ellie and Dina’s defiance of authority, framed as empowerment, is criticized as “anti-male,” with scenes like Ellie taunting Dina about letting “the men handle” zombies cited as forced feminism ().
On X, the sentiment is intense. @gr21958 called the premiere a “total flop,” questioning the portrayal of Ellie, a “100-pound autistic gay girl,” as a fierce fighter, and mocking Pedro Pascal’s arc from “Game of Thrones martyr to gay cowboy” (). @Eme_Play_Climb labeled it a “woke feminist wet dream,” claiming it “destroyed the franchise” (). A specific scene at a New Year’s Eve dance, where Ellie and Dina kiss and face a homophobic slur from an “old white guy,” followed by Joel’s intervention, drew ire. Critics, including @WokeInfected, sarcastically noted the show “stays woke” by showcasing this moment, accusing HBO of pandering (). The inclusion of an ASL interpreter in the corner of episodes, enhancing accessibility, was mocked by @KnoxHarrington as “delayed sign language with dramatic faces,” questioning HBO’s reliance on subtitles ().
The backlash echoes Part II’s 2020 launch, which faced review-bombing on Metacritic (3.4/10 user score) over Ellie’s lesbian relationship, Abby’s muscular physique, and a trans character, Lev, misidentified by some as Abby (,). Posts on X, like @BasedMightyLuBu’s, trace the “woke” critique to the first game’s Left Behind DLC, claiming “gay feminists” ruined the series (). @Paisano criticized showrunner Neil Druckmann, alleging Part II sold “1/3 of the first game” due to its controversial choices, predicting worse for Season 2 (). However, Part II sold 10 million copies by 2022, per Naughty Dog, suggesting commercial success despite vocal dissent.
Counterarguments: Defending the Show’s Vision
Supporters argue the “woke” label misrepresents The Last of Us Season 2’s fidelity to Part II’s inclusive storytelling. The game was groundbreaking for featuring Ellie as a lesbian protagonist, a trans character in Lev, and Abby, a muscular woman defying gender norms, earning 300+ Game of the Year awards (). HBO’s adaptation continues this, with showrunners Craig Mazin and Druckmann emphasizing nuanced characters over agenda. MovieWeb notes the show’s diversity—LGBTQ+, disabled, and non-white characters like Henry (Lamar Johnson) and deaf Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard)—has faced minimal backlash compared to franchises like Star Wars, partly due to the game’s established fanbase (). The casting of non-binary actor Noah Lamanna in a supporting role signals ongoing inclusivity ().
The Ellie-Dina kiss, a pivotal Part II moment, was always part of the story, not an HBO addition. In the game, a bigot’s reaction to their dance prompts Joel’s defense, mirrored in Season 2 (). Supporters argue this reflects the post-apocalyptic world’s tensions, not a “woke” insert, as the game’s lore includes diverse identities like Argonians’ sex changes (). Abby’s casting sparked debate, with Kaitlyn Dever less muscular than the game’s Abby, but Druckmann justified this, noting the show’s reduced violence lessened the need for a “stacked physique” (). Critics who called Abby trans in 2020 were debunked, as Lev is the trans character, and pro-trans campaigners criticized Lev’s “deadnaming” as tokenistic, showing discontent from all sides ().
Forbes dismissed homophobic critiques of Season 1’s Bill-Frank episode as “vapid” and “bigoted,” arguing Season 2’s choices are artistically sound, not forced representation (). TheGamer notes The Last of Us is “too woke for some, not woke enough for others,” suggesting “wokeness” is a flawed metric for judging art (). Bella Ramsey, who uses she/her pronouns despite identifying as gender-neutral, told GQ she’s unbothered by hate, expecting fans to adapt to the show’s queer storylines, as they did with Part II (). On X, @AsurmenLord called the controversy overblown, urging focus on the story ().
The Show’s Context and Creative Choices
The Last of Us Season 2 adapts Part II’s colossal narrative, which takes 25-30 hours to complete, across seven episodes, necessitating changes like reduced violence and expanded roles for characters like Joel (,). The game’s controversial pacing—switching between Ellie and Abby—and Joel’s early death angered fans, prompting review-bombing (). Season 2 addresses this by alternating perspectives and clarifying plot holes, like who revealed Joel’s identity to Abby (). The show’s ASL inclusion, like Sam’s deafness in Season 1, enhances accessibility, with HBO releasing ASL versions, a move praised by disability advocates but mocked by some critics (,).
The “woke” backlash mirrors broader gaming controversies, like Oblivion Remastered’s body-type debate, where Nexus Mods banned a “male/female” mod (). Part II faced similar ire, with Naughty Dog issuing YouTube copyright strikes against critics discussing “progressive themes” like Ellie’s relationship or Abby’s design, escalating tensions (). Yet, the game’s critical acclaim and HBO’s Season 1 success—32 million viewers, 91% Rotten Tomatoes audience score—suggest the vocal minority doesn’t reflect the majority (). Druckmann’s comments that Season 2 is a “different version” of Part II’s story, retaining its “DNA,” indicate tweaks to temper fan fury, though major plot points remain ().
Cultural and Industry Implications
The “woke” label, often a code for discomfort with diversity, has been criticized as bad-faith rhetoric. Winteriscoming.net argues it masks bigotry, noting Bill and Frank’s gay romance was in the 2013 game, yet Season 1’s episode was review-bombed for “pushing an agenda” (). Elon Musk, who praised Season 1, has decried “woke” gaming, comparing it to the show’s Cordyceps virus, hinting he may criticize Season 2 if it leans into Part II’s themes (). However, Part II’s commercial hit status and Season 1’s resilience against backlash—despite homophobic comments like “Why do I need to see two men f***ing?”—suggest HBO can weather the storm ().
The controversy reflects gaming’s culture wars, amplified by figures like @cosmicbooknews, who called Season 2 “unwatchable” (). Yet, The Last of Us thrives by challenging norms, as Rolling Stone noted, calling Part II a “fearless vision” despite Abby’s misogynistic hate (). With The Elder Scrolls VI years away, HBO’s adaptation fills a narrative void, but its inclusivity—queer leads, non-binary casting, ASL—makes it a target. Supporters argue this mirrors the game’s intent, while critics like @HubBandar claim “going woke” kills brands ().
A Polarized Legacy
The Last of Us Season 2 is a paradox: a critical darling with a divided fanbase. Its commitment to Part II’s diverse characters and bold storytelling fuels both praise and vitriol. The “woke” backlash, centered on Ellie’s queerness, Abby’s role, and accessibility features, echoes Part II’s 2020 uproar, yet the show’s viewership and HBO’s track record suggest it will endure. As Joel and Ellie navigate revenge and loss, the real battle rages online, where “woke” remains a divisive buzzword. Whether you see it as art or agenda, The Last of Us Season 2 demands attention—tune in to decide for yourself.
