Episode 4 - “Day One”

Host Troy Baker, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, and co-writer of this episode as well as The Last of Us Part II game, Halley Gross, discuss the epic season finale. The group chats about the showdown we’ve all been waiting for between Ellie and Abby, what the cliffhanger tells us about Season 3, and what excites them most about making the next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are joined by special guest and co-writer of this episode, as well as The Last of Us Part II game, Halley Gross! The group chats about why they decided to structure this episode around Ellie’s birthdays, why they didn’t want to change a thing about the Apollo 15 launch scene, what brought two Naughty Dog colleagues to tears on set, and why Neil considers the porch scene the most important moment of the entire story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann unpack the latest episode. They share how they made spores more menacing than in the game, which happy accident made its way into the show, how the game’s audio team developed an entire whistle language for the Seraphites, and why the showdown between Ellie and Nora is one of Craig’s favorite scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann unpack this action-packed episode. How did the explosive opening scene come about? What went on behind the scenes while shooting the subway station sequence? And what crucial scene did the team feel pressure to get exactly right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann discuss the aftermath of Joel’s death and the attack on Jackson. How do characters like Ellie and Tommy pick up the pieces? Who decides what justice looks like? What’s next for Dina and Ellie’s relationship? And what new dangers await them in Seattle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann take a deep breath and get into the shocking events of Episode 2. This spoiler-filled conversation involves how they approached bringing one of the most controversial moments of the game to television, if they ever considered changing Joel’s fate, behind-the-scenes stories from the Jackson battle, and whether we’ve seen the last of Joel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann unpack the Season 2 premiere. What’s going on between Joel and Ellie? What do new characters like Abby, Dina, and Gail bring to the story? And why were Craig and Neil scared after the success of Season 1? Listen and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go deeper into HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 with the official companion podcast! Each week, host Troy Baker sits down with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann to take you behind the scenes and unpack every new episode right after it airs. You can stream The Last of Us Season 2 starting April 13th on Max. A new episode of the podcast launches that night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are joined by special guest Ashley Johnson, who played Ellie in the game and plays a pivotal character in the finale episode of the season. The group unpacks the origin of Ellie’s immunity and the story of Joel’s scar. They also debate the morality of Joel’s decisions at the end of the show and what his actions do to his relationship with Ellie. HBO’s The Last of Us podcast is produced by HBO and Pineapple Street Studios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Troy Baker and Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann unpack the episode in which Troy has an on-screen role. They break down the character of David and how this narcissistic predator tries to manipulate Ellie. They discuss one of the darkest moments of the show so far, and Neil says why it was so important to a subvert typical narrative. HBO’s The Last of Us podcast is produced by HBO and Pineapple Street Studios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices