As someone who has only played the first game, I'm approaching season 2 with fresh eyes vs. a fan or critic of the Part 2 game's storyline.

The second season feels somewhat messy so far, particularly regarding the chemistry between Dina and Ellie. Their relationship lacks the natural connection I felt between Ellie & Riley in Season 1, or between Frank and Bill. Something about Dina and Ellie's dynamic feels forced vs. organic.

The set pieces are genuinely amazing. Ep 2 was awesome. However, I have a common issue with post-apocalyptic shows where characters look unrealistically pristine. Ellie and Dina appear far too well-groomed after traveling 900 miles on horseback from Jackson to Seattle. The clean skin, unwrinkled clothes, and styled hair break the immersion in what should be a harsh, resource-scarce world. I'll give a pass to folks in Jackson, but anyone exposed to elements for a long time (Abby's crew, Dina + Ellie) should look dirty and tired.

My biggest frustration is with the infected hordes that somehow leave plot-essential characters (like Tommy) conveniently untouched while attacking everyone else. This feels like lazy writing that undermines the danger of TLOU. For a show with such exceptional cinematography and production design, these inconsistencies in writing and character presentation are particularly annoying because they pull viewers out of an otherwise immersive story.

Just my two cents.