The Last of Us season 2 trailer: Viewers are probably not prepared for this

Joel and Ellie return, but we also get glimpses of Isaac and Abby.

Today marks the debut of the first full trailer for the second season of The Last of Us, the grim but compelling post-apocalyptic drama on HBO that's based on the popular video game of the same name.

The trailer revisits the first season's two protagonists—Joel and Ellie—five years after Joel's fateful choice. Here's the simple, straightforward logline HBO provided:

After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.

In addition to returning characters, we get some glimpses of some new characters and the actors who will play them. Jeffrey Wright (Westworld, American Fiction) will reprise his role as Isaac from the game, while Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart, Justified) will play Abby, a key character in the sequel.

Just as season one retold the story of the first The Last of Us game, season 2 will retell 2020's The Last of Us: Part II. Those who've just been following the TV show know to expect something grim, but those of us who have played the game (or followed its controversies in gaming communities) know that non-gaming TV fans are probably not prepared for what's coming.

If that describes you, you fortunately have some time to steel yourself. The show is slated for a 2025 premiere, but there has been no official marketing to narrow that window any further. That said, HBO content chief Casey Bloys recently hinted that the network plans to air The Last of Us's second season soon enough to position it for the next Emmy Awards, which means it's likely to arrive in the first half of the year.

Listing image by HBO