As a series, the challenge has just begun for The Last of Us. “Losing” Pedro Pascal right off the bat in season 2 leaves the weight of success on the shoulders of Bella Ramsey, who has not been unanimous so far. And, for that reason, the third episode was a bit tense.

The changes made to the story have only been identified by those who know the game, and they seem very correct to me. One example? Ellie only manages to leave the hospital three months after Joel’s brutal execution, but her desire for revenge has only grown. With the beautiful soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla, Bella was perfect in her pain, but honestly? It only confirms how much Pedro is already missed.

Even so, the consequences of the attack on Jackson, as well as Joel’s death, are still present in everyone’s lives. Ellie only thinks about “justice”, but many don’t want to expose themselves for revenge, even though they love Joel. Of course, that doesn’t stop Ellie from going after Abby, and Dina is the one who helps her. The two of them plot a route to Seattle, chasing the wolves of the Washington Liberation Front.

Dina, we discover, has gotten back together with Jesse (and the nausea is a not-so-subtle teaser that she’s pregnant), and the two underestimate the difficulty that lies ahead. And it sounds strange, but practically nothing happens in the episode with Ellie and Dina’s trip to Seattle so fast that we barely understand the real risk of the wolves, who the prophet is, or the group that was following her, and who is massacred on the road. Ellie and Dina find the bodies and think it was Abby and her friends, but is that really true?

One of the big differences from the 1st season is the less frequent use of pop songs in the episodes, and they are missed. They are saving the moment from Future Days, and no other songs get in the way, which is missed.

Jeffrey Wright‘s entry in the next episode promises to divert Ellie’s path to revenge, but it’s a welcome addition of a big-name actor in times when it makes less of a difference to watch an episode of The Last of Us.