The Last Of Us fans losing their minds over surprise new trailer

When I woke up this morning, I screeched.

Why? Because HBO has confirmed that The Last of Us will return to our screens this April, dropping a new trailer for season two.

It narrows down the previous launch window of ‘spring’, but we’re still without a precise date.

I’m imagining the show will air on a Sunday, as it did during its first season - which unfortunately translates to the very early hours of Monday morning here in the UK.

You can view the new trailer below.

Before I unpack the trailer, I want to issue a spoiler warning because I will be doing this from the point of view of someone who’s familiar with the games.

If you haven’t played The Last of Us Part II, you may want to look away now.

The trailer opens with a fresh look at Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, walking down a very familiar hospital corridor while alarms sound out.

I’m wondering if this is the moment she discovers what’s happened to her father, Jerry.

It would be a small change as although Abby lives this nightmare sequence several times in the game, she’s actually informed of this news outside of the hospital.

It’s not clear if what we’re seeing here is the discovery of Jerry’s fate itself or that all-familiar nightmare version.

We then see a few brief glimpses of Tommy defending the walls of Jackson, so I can only presume the opening horde sequence is going to be brought right to the town’s gates.

There’s then a shot of a scythe (Hello Seraphites), before we see Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac in action, followed by what appears to be a burning Seraphite (Has Ellie finally started using Molotovs?), and a crawling infected of some kind. Perhaps a Stalker?

Next up, Dina and Ellie can be seen running away from an unknown threat. There are flashing lights, so I’m thinking it’s human more so than the Infected.

This could be the end of the Seattle Day One sequence, where Dina and Ellie escape from the school to the sewers.

We then get a quick look at a much happier Dina and Ellie at the Jackson dance, before we flash to Abby sitting in front of a grave (presumably her father’s), and a frantic Dina during that aforementioned subway sequence - Clickers banging on the windows of the subway car.

It’s a wistful Joel who appears next, with this shot likely taken from that scene with Catherine O’Hara’s therapist character featured in the season’s first trailer.

It’s time for another round of rapid fire glimpses. We see Joel slamming a door, I’m guessing just before or after he meets Abby, followed by a screaming Ellie (Informed of Joel’s fate?), and Maria and Tommy sharing a fraught moment of connection.

These flashes are only getting more rapid. Ellie’s wearing boxing gloves, a window is shattering, while the Infected horde seemingly reaches Jackson’s walls.

The trailer ends with a single red flare which is once again likely referencing that subway segment which I’m starting to think is going to be the big action sequence of this season.

It does appear as if a ton of Abby content has been held back for a potential third season, which does explain the lack of casting for Lev and Yara.

I’m presuming that we’ll get her introductory sequence with Joel and a flashback explaining her motivations only.

I was somewhat afraid that might happen, simply because Abby is my favourite character and I’m desperate to see her story air as soon as possible but if this trailer has assured me of one thing, it’s that this TV show is in safe hands.

What I can’t put my finger on is who exactly is providing that voiceover? I’m leaning towards Abby here too, but I’m a tad uncertain.

Regardless, The Last of Us Season II looks fantastic, and we’re only a few short months away from enjoying it in all of its glory.