Kaitlyn Dever Reveals What Fans Constantly Complain About Regarding ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
The second season of The Last of Us received high praise from critics, but not everyone was happy. The show faced “review bombing” on Rotten Tomatoes, starting with a 61% approval rating after the first episode and dropping to 49% after the third and 39% after the sixth.
Metacritic showed a similar trend, with user scores falling to 3.6/10 and 62% of reviews marked as negative. Many fans were unhappy with the casting of Ramsey and Kaitlyn Dever, who played Abby, arguing they didn’t look like their video game characters. Some also criticized how Joel’s death was portrayed and the changes made to the story, including Abby’s arc.
One of the most shocking moments in the season came in the second episode. Abby brings Joel and Dina to a lodge, sedates Dina, and confronts Joel. She reveals that the Firefly doctor Joel had killed was her father. Abby shoots Joel in the leg, then beats him with a golf club before stabbing him in the neck and killing him while Ellie watches helplessly. This scene left a lasting impression on fans and sparked a lot of discussion online.
Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, recently opened up about how fans still react to that moment. Speaking to Deadline, she said, “It’s been months since the episode aired … Someone came up to me the other day like: ‘Why’d you have to do my boy like that?’”
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In a separate interview, she explained that while people were upset, she was never afraid to take on the role.
“Of course, this was something I thought about when I signed on to The Last of Us. It was also a topic of conversation when I was in my meeting with Craig and Neil,” Dever said. “And in no way did it make me afraid or scared to take on the role. I would’ve never not done it because of the fear of reading the internet after the show comes out, or what people might think of me and my portrayal of Abby, because I loved the role so much that it outweighed all of that.”
Dever also shared that the support from the cast and crew made her feel safe while filming. “In Season 2, I felt so taken care of and so supported just by the crew and everybody that I was working with, so that gives me a sense of safety,” she said. She added that the positive reception of the season helped ease any worries about returning for Season 3. “I just have to trust my instincts and trust myself moving forward. The scripts, the dialogue, and the story is so amazing that I’m not at all going into Season 3 with any sort of fear or hesitation. It’s pure excitement to be part of such a cool show,” Dever concluded.
Even with all the controversy, it’s clear that Kaitlyn Dever embraces her role and the intense reactions it brings. Fans may still be upset about Joel, but Dever is ready to continue Abby’s story in the next season.
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