Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
2013’s The Last of Us changed the game—literally. It set a new bar for storytelling, character development, and emotional investment in video games. And then… The Last of Us Part II happened.
In this video, I finally sit down and play TLOU2, now that HBO’s next season is looming. I break down the good (art direction, gameplay, voice acting), the bad (the story, the structure, the pacing, Abby), and the pretentious (Neil Druckmann’s auteur complex).
This isn’t just a rant—though, yeah, there’s a bit of that too—it’s an honest look at why this game feels narratively hollow, morally confused, and emotionally manipulative, even while it looks stunning.
We also ask:
🎮 Why do some fans still defend this story?
📺 Can the HBO series fix what’s broken?
📉 Is this a classic case of a great concept ruined by bad execution?
🤔 And is it even possible to empathize with Abby without destroying Ellie’s arc?
Whether you loved or hated The Last of Us Part II, this one’s for you.
👉 Leave your theories in the comments—will the show course-correct or double down?
🔔 Subscribe for more honest, story-first reviews.
📣 And yes, I do make fun of Neil Druckmann, but with love. Kinda.
#TheLastOfUs #TLOU2 #LastOfUsPart2 #HBOTheLastOfUs #GamingCritique #NeilDruckmann #TLOUSeason2 #LastOfUsTVShow #Ellie #Abby #VideoGameStorytelling #TLOU2Review #CycleOfViolence #GamingNarrative #BellaRamsey #PedroPascal #JoelAndEllie
Thanks for Kitsch for sponsoring this video! Follow my link mykitsch.com/discount/greg?redirect=/products/rice-water-shampoo-conditioner-combo-pack&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=gregowen2022 or use my code GREG to get 25% off your order which will auto-apply at checkout!
I started recording this game, but that is cumbersome and I have the old game version. Fortunately, there are channels like Gamer's Little Playground @glp that have the remastered footage in 4k, so most of what is in this video is from there. They have whole games cut as movies, it's pretty cool.
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======Affiliate Stuff======
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Or my full Amazon affiliate store: amazon.com/shop/GregOwen
We have fun on this channel, but please invest in yourself with something like Udemy: click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.12755&type=3&subid=0
I learned C# programing with this one: click.linksynergy.com/link?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.3919714950147814191399887&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fcourse%2Fcsharp-tutorial-for-beginners%2F
I'm learning piano with this one: click.linksynergy.com/link?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.3919717276621419826813093&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fcourse%2Fpianoforall-incredible-new-way-to-learn-piano-keyboard%2F
Get a FREE month of Audible here: audibletrial.com/GregOwen
2013’s The Last of Us changed the game—literally. It set a new bar for storytelling, character development, and emotional investment in video games. And then… The Last of Us Part II happened.
In this video, I finally sit down and play TLOU2, now that HBO’s next season is looming. I break down the good (art direction, gameplay, voice acting), the bad (the story, the structure, the pacing, Abby), and the pretentious (Neil Druckmann’s auteur complex).
This isn’t just a rant—though, yeah, there’s a bit of that too—it’s an honest look at why this game feels narratively hollow, morally confused, and emotionally manipulative, even while it looks stunning.
We also ask:
🎮 Why do some fans still defend this story?
📺 Can the HBO series fix what’s broken?
📉 Is this a classic case of a great concept ruined by bad execution?
🤔 And is it even possible to empathize with Abby without destroying Ellie’s arc?
Whether you loved or hated The Last of Us Part II, this one’s for you.
👉 Leave your theories in the comments—will the show course-correct or double down?
🔔 Subscribe for more honest, story-first reviews.
📣 And yes, I do make fun of Neil Druckmann, but with love. Kinda.
#TheLastOfUs #TLOU2 #LastOfUsPart2 #HBOTheLastOfUs #GamingCritique #NeilDruckmann #TLOUSeason2 #LastOfUsTVShow #Ellie #Abby #VideoGameStorytelling #TLOU2Review #CycleOfViolence #GamingNarrative #BellaRamsey #PedroPascal #JoelAndEllie
Thanks for Kitsch for sponsoring this video! Follow my link mykitsch.com/discount/greg?redirect=/products/rice-water-shampoo-conditioner-combo-pack&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=gregowen2022 or use my code GREG to get 25% off your order which will auto-apply at checkout!
I started recording this game, but that is cumbersome and I have the old game version. Fortunately, there are channels like Gamer's Little Playground @glp that have the remastered footage in 4k, so most of what is in this video is from there. They have whole games cut as movies, it's pretty cool.
======Channel Membership======
You can support the channel by becoming a Gregular, or be a Share Owener to get access to a monthly private stream where YOU get to give input on a video we make together. Sign up here: youtube.com/channel/UC3SyoB0UuS2rsLWcU37eQ2w/join
======Affiliate Stuff======
Check out all my approved coffee and tea accoutrements: amzn.to/3IBDg5r
Or my full Amazon affiliate store: amazon.com/shop/GregOwen
We have fun on this channel, but please invest in yourself with something like Udemy: click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.12755&type=3&subid=0
I learned C# programing with this one: click.linksynergy.com/link?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.3919714950147814191399887&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fcourse%2Fcsharp-tutorial-for-beginners%2F
I'm learning piano with this one: click.linksynergy.com/link?id=ggV6gYqsOmM&offerid=1060092.3919717276621419826813093&type=2&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fcourse%2Fpianoforall-incredible-new-way-to-learn-piano-keyboard%2F
Get a FREE month of Audible here: audibletrial.com/GregOwen
