224 - The Last of Us Season 2 – Double Episode Special!

Gaming The System - The Feminist Gaming Podcast

After two long years of anticipation, The Last of Us is back – and so are we! In this extra-long, spoiler-packed premiere special, Matt and Jem dive deep into the first two episodes of Season 2 in a raw, emotional, and fiercely analytical conversation that kicks off our brand new series.

This double-length special sets the stage for the rest of our TLOU coverage, which will continue exclusively on Patreon. So if you’re as obsessed with this show as we are, head over to patreon.com/gamingthesystem to stay with us every step of the way.

In this episode, we cover:

• The controversial casting and portrayal of Abby: What were the showrunners thinking?
• Why Abby and Ellie must be two sides of the same coin – and what’s lost in the adaptation.
• Jackson as a utopia? Exploring its scale, symbolism, and fragility.
• The introduction of new threats and what they do to the show’s tension.
• Therapy, community, accountability, and what Jackson tells us about hope.
• Ellie’s rage and recklessness - Bella Ramsey’s incredible performance.
• That brutal final scene… and what we think Joel wanted to say before the end.

From reckoning to revenge, tenderness to terror, we dissect the character arcs, worldbuilding choices, and emotional beats that make this series so powerful – and so devastating.

Moments:

“She’s like a scrappy little dog”
“Jackson is the proof that a better world is possible.”
"In another telling, Joel would be the bad guy and Abby the hero"

Want more? This was just the beginning.

We'll be releasing the rest of the series fortnightly on our Patreon, diving further into the shifting morality, brutal storytelling, and gut-punch moments that make The Last of Us one of the most brilliant game adaptations on TV.

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Thanks for listening, and remember – there’s always another game to play that isn’t full of nonsense. 🎮✨

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