Season 2 Episode 2 – As a storm brews in the mountains, the people of Jackson Hole prepare for the worst amid increased sightings of Infected. Meanwhile, Abby weighs her options.
Please note that our reviews are based on likes and dislikes. These contain significant spoilers and will contain references to the video game. If you haven’t already watched the episode, we recommend that you click off the article and come back once you have watched the episode. Enjoy!
What I Liked
1. So far, so good with the decor and the surroundings. They’ve got the mansion and the same squad there as they did with the game. Abby heads out on her own, I’m really looking forward to this because I know exactly what it’s leading to.
2. Abby stumbles down a hill and comes across a bunch of frozen infected, but they are still able to move. Honestly, that entire scene, watching Abby’s face, was utterly terrifying.
3. There’s a slight variation to the game when Joel and Abby finally meet. Joel saves Abby when Abby is struggling against the fence. In the game, though, it’s Joel and Tommy who are out in the field, whereas it’s Dina with Joel. I did like this scene, it’s so intense.
4. A horde breaks off from Joel, Abby, and Dina to head towards Jackson. This entire segment is scary. It reminds me a bit of the Days Gone game. Seeing a horde like that, which is probably in the hundreds, adds so much pressure. As I watch this now, I already feel that pressure. It’s like I can’t even take my eyes off the screen.
5. Jackson attempts to defend against the horde. Tommy leads the charge. He literally throws everything he has against the horde. Multiple people firing shots and even exploding fuel barrels. It feels bleak. The horde does manage to break through the walls, it gets to a point where it doesn’t matter how many shots are fired, how many infected are put down – it doesn’t seem to matter much.
6. Tommy and a flamethrower vs a breacher now. I can’t keep saying the word “intense,” but that’s all this entire episode is. That’s what that exact segment is. It’s intense. It’s got me on the edge of my seat constantly. Tommy does manage to take down the breacher after emptying all of the fuel he has at his disposal. What a moment.
7. The moment we gamers all knew was coming. Abby gets her revenge. It’s more drawn out than the game, it’s more brutal than the game, so fans of just the show have to sit through more than what the gamers had to experience. In all honesty, though, this scene was played out very well. It added dialogue that needed to be added more than anything. It made the scene a bit more difficult to watch.
8. Ellie reaches the mansion. What a heartbreaking moment as she watches the ending of the torture. The fear on Ellie’s face speaks a thousand words as she screams, pleads, and begs Joel to get up but knowing it’s game over.
What I Disliked
Nothing to report this week.
Favorite Moment
The moment we gamers all knew was coming. Abby gets her revenge. It’s more drawn out than the game, it’s more brutal than the game, so fans of just the show have to sit through more than what the gamers had to experience. In all honesty, though, this scene was played out very well. It added dialogue that needed to be added more than anything. It made the scene more difficult to watch. It’s a favorite moment simply because it’s the moment that had me truly on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t look away despite what was happening. The entire cast deserves something, anything, for that performance.
Standout Character
It’s a tough one to give this week. I’m torn between Tommy and Abby. If I am to choose, it’s got to be Abby. Kaitlyn Dever delivered one hell of a performance there. I never thought when I played through the game that I’d ever get to experience this in live-action, and I’m so glad I’ve been alive to experience this. Both Pedro and Kaitlyn deserve all of the props in the world.
Verdict
This was the episode we knew was coming. It’s been quite some time since I’ve watched an episode of anything that I haven’t been able to look away from. This was exactly that. I’ve been beyond excited for this season, and so far, we’re 2 episodes in, and it’s delivering far beyond my expectations. What an episode!
Rating 10/10
The Review
Story - 10
Action - 10
Characters - 10
Entertainment - 10
Quality - 10
10
PERFECT!
This was the episode we knew was coming. It's been quite some time since I've watched an episode of anything that I haven't been able to look away from. This was exactly that. I've been beyond excited for this season, and so far, we're 2 episodes in, and it's delivering far beyond my expectations. What an episode!
