The Last Of Us: The Complete Second Season 4K Ultra HD (SteelBook)

In "The Last Of Us," after a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor (Pedro Pascal) takes charge of a 14-year-old girl (Bella Ramsey) who may be humanity's last hope. (Gary Reber)

Special features include include 15 featurettes: "Making Of The Last Of Us" (HD 30:13, "Growing The World Of The Last Of Us" (HD 03:24), "Welcome To Jackson (Set Tour)" (HD 03:24), "Battle Of Jackson: Deconstructed" (HD 11:13), "Joel's Journey To Season 2" (HD 03:39), "Ellie's Journey To Season 2" (HD 02:52), "Character Featurette" (HD 03:36), "Mushroom Taste Test" (HD 04:33), "Pedro And Bella Q&A" (HD 06:34). "Open Book: Isabella Merced And Young Mazino" (HD 05:07), "Stalker Showdown: Deconstructed" (HD 03:21), "Camera Roll: Bella Ramsey, Isabella Merced & Young Mazino" (HD 03:13), "In Action" (HD 04:34), "Ellie's Ultimate Revenge" (HD 16:39) and "Beneath The Surface: The Visual FX Of The Last Of Us" (HD 16:41) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10/Dolby Vision picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa 35 and Arri Alexa Mini camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is ripe with imaginary and realistic production design. The cinematography is wonderful. with perfect capture of the imagery throughout. Set work is incredibly crafted such as the gigantic Jackson, Wyoming village built for the series and other vandalized and deteriorated environments in Seattle. At times, the color palette is striking with warm hues throughout as well as cooler tones that evoke colder climates, such as the snowy mountainous terrain. At all times, colors appear perfectly natural. The forest scenes are rendered in natural greens, while the dark interior scenes appear grayish/greenish. Horses are beautifully brown hued. Flesh tones and complexions are completely natural and real. Nuanced hue shadings enhance the realism of the production design. HDR contrast is excellent. Blacks appear natural, shadows reveal depth, texture and detail, and white levels reflect differing climates with outdoor scenes naturally illuminated and interior spaces lit for dramatic effect. Resolution is superb, whether defining facial features and complexions, including skin pores, lines, beard stubble or hair, clothing fabric textures from footwear to caps, sets and structures, or object shapes and textures. Resolution especially is incredibly sharp during closeups. The infected appear ugly and horrific in their prosthetic facial makeup and bodily composition and present an ever present danger to the last human survivors. The gory violence, marauding infected, and the dead, all are visually horrific. This created for HBO television production is a graphic and compelling visual experience that is spellbinding in impact throughout. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is superbly crafted that delivers compelling sonics and height layer immersion throughout all of the season's episodes. Fidelity is excellent. While there are numerous quiet moments with nuanced atmospherics, three are abundant sound effects throughout, especially during scenes of assaulting infected attackers. There are massive firey explosions and gunfire, both intense rife and hand gun blasts, as well as intense battle sequences between the infected and the humans that excite the sound field. At times, atmospherics and sound effects both are directional in the surrounds and the sound field's frontal soundstage. Deep bass is a foundational sound element with instances of solid .1 LFE extension and bass transients. Foley sound effects are prominent and in perfect sync with picture, effectively enhancing the realism. The music is a mix of unusual instrumentation and synthesizer effects. The music spans wide and deep soundstage with extension to the surrounds. If there is one criticism it is the dialogue, which while intelligible throughout is often ADR produced, forward sounding and wanting in spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is nearly constant with both incredible atmospherics, both strong and nuanced, and the music extended to the height layer, as well as impressive sound effects for an amazing treatment that enhances the spatial dimensionality. The height layer is directional, with panned sound effects. Howling wind, birds, pounding bass effects, horses, gunfire, Intense lightening, thunder and pounding rain, infected screams and guttural sounds, warning bells, vehicle sounds, stream and much more appear in the height layer.

This is an incredible holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that packs a charged emotional impact. The sonics are compelling throughout and definitely raise the expectations for other filmmakers to follow suit. (Gary Reber)