HBO’s The Last of Us continues to infect audiences — and Emmy voters — with its apocalyptic impact, securing 16 Emmy nominations for Season 2, including the coveted Best Drama Series category. Although the series remains one of the most talked-about dramas on television, it also suffered some notable Emmy snubs that sparked backlash across social media.
Following its Season 1 success — with 24 nominations and 8 wins in 2023 — The Last of Us returned with high expectations, bolstered by its emotional storytelling, high production values, and standout performances. However, despite its strong showing, several critical submissions were overlooked, including actress Isabela Merced and the episode “Through The Valley” in both Directing and Writing.
Emmy Nominations for The Last of Us Season 2
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Best Drama Series: As expected, the fungal apocalypse drama made it to the top-tier category, joining titles like Severance, The White Lotus, Andor, Paradise, and The Pitt.
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Best Drama Actor: Pedro Pascal earned his second nomination for playing Joel, despite being killed off in Episode 2, “Through The Valley.” The decision to submit him in the lead actor category proved wise.
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Best Drama Actress: Bella Ramsey, at just 21, received a second nomination for playing Ellie. A win would make them the youngest Emmy winner ever in this category.
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Best Guest Actress: Kaitlyn Dever (Abby) and Catherine O’Hara (Gail) were both nominated. Dever’s portrayal of the revenge-seeking soldier added emotional intensity to the season, while O’Hara provided nuance as Joel’s therapist.
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Best Guest Actor: Jeffrey Wright (Isaac) and Joe Pantoliano (Eugene) earned nominations. Tony Dalton, however, was overlooked despite his role as Joel’s father.
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Craft Categories (9 nominations):
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Best Casting
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Best Makeup — Non-Prosthetic (“Day One”)
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Best Makeup — Prosthetic (“Feel Her Love”)
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Best Music Supervision (“The Price”)
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Best Picture Editing (“Through The Valley”)
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Best Production Design (“Day One”)
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Best Sound Editing (“Through The Valley”)
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Best Sound Mixing (“Through The Valley”)
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Best Visual Effects
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Major Emmy Snubs for The Last of Us
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Isabela Merced: The rising star delivered a memorable performance as Dina, Ellie’s love interest. Despite her substantial screen time, Merced was left out of the Supporting Actress race.
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Drama Directing: “Through The Valley,” a pivotal episode directed by Mark Mylod, was shockingly snubbed, despite its emotional weight and the death of Joel.
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Drama Writing: Showrunner Craig Mazin’s script for “Through The Valley” also failed to secure a nod — a surprise, given the episode’s acclaim and narrative impact.
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Supporting Actor: Submissions for Gabriel Luna (Tommy), Young Mazino (Jesse), and Danny Ramirez (Manny) failed to break into the category, which was dominated by The White Lotus, Severance, and Paradise nominees.
Critical and Cultural Relevance
Despite the snubs, The Last of Us remains one of the most influential adaptations of a video game in television history. Its ability to balance character development, emotional trauma, and world-building has kept it in the Emmy conversation and fueled passionate reactions from its fanbase. The series has become a benchmark for genre television, and its Season 2 accolades reflect both its artistic achievements and ongoing cultural relevance.
When to Watch the 77th Emmy Awards
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Nate Bargatze and air live on CBS on Sunday, September 14, from 8–11 p.m. ET / 5–8 p.m. PT. The broadcast will also be available on Paramount+ for live streaming and on-demand viewing.
