Living With B

If you haven’t watched Episode 2 yet and want to stay unspoiled, now’s your cue to tap out!

As a storm brews in the mountains, the people of Jackson Hole brace for the worst. Infected sightings are on the rise. Tensions are high. And while the town prepares for a potential siege, Abby is weighing her next move.

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episode summary & my thoughts

I knew this episode was coming. I knew my heart was going to get wrecked eventually. But this soon? Ugh. My little heart!

We open with Jackson in full prep mode. After Ellie reveals that some Infected are evolving—getting smarter—the town rallies under Tommy’s leadership. He’s no longer just a brother or a friend; he’s a commander now, rallying civilians together to fight for their home. It’s terrifying. But even more chilling? What’s happening just up the mountain, where Abby and her crew are holed up.

This episode gives us deeper insight into Abby’s trauma—especially around her father’s death. In a haunting dream sequence, she tells her younger self to stop, to look away. But young Abby doesn’t listen. She sees the aftermath of Joel’s brutal decision, and in doing so, seals her path. As long as she refuses to face her grief and pain, she’ll keep chasing revenge like a ghost she can’t let go.

That moment told me everything. Abby isn’t just angry—she’s stuck. Her and Joel’s stories will collide again. And time is running out.

Meanwhile, the Infected are getting scarier. We’ve seen Stalkers before, but now they’re using corpses as camouflage to hide beneath the snow. That’s nightmare fuel!

Back in Jackson, Ellie and Joel seem to be mending things. During a conversation with Jesse, Ellie states she wants to go on patrol with Joel again. The town may be gossiping, but Ellie’s loyalty is crystal clear. And as someone who grew up in a small town myself—yeah, the rumor mill is real.

While Abby’s team tries to find a way to convince her to leave (it’s cold, Jackson is big, they’re scared), fate intervenes. Abby spots Joel. My heart immediately went from “Yes! Just leave!” to “Oh no. Oh no, no, no.”

Abby doesn’t realize it’s Joel. But I do. And once again, that clock is ticking.

After Joel rescues her from a terrifying horde of Infected, she’s grateful for a second. Then she hears his name—and everything shifts. Fear. Rage. Recognition. She invites Joel and Dina back to a lodge under the pretense of warmth and shelter.

And then… everything breaks.

She drops the act. Blasts Joel’s knee. Drugs Dina. And Joel ultimately meets his end while Abby beats him to death. My heart was in a million pieces!

As if that weren’t enough, Jackson is dealing with a full-blown assault from the Infected. It’s chaos. Snow. Blood. Panic. This moment wasn’t in the game, but it adds a new layer of dread. If I had to survive an apocalypse, I’d want to be in Jackson. Even after this episode, they rally together to defend their own!

Ellie makes it to Joel, and without a second thought, she enters the home. And what she witnesses breaks her—and us. That moment? That’s the scariest I’ve ever seen her. Her rage is cold and sharp. “I’m going to fucking kill you” isn’t the most terrifying line ever spoken, but the way she says it? It cuts deep. Negan might’ve had the theatrics, but Ellie’s pain is raw and personal.

I watched Denver play The Last of Us Part II. I knew this was coming. But that didn’t prepare me for the gut punch. The heartbreak. The anxiety.

And I hate to say it. I do, but damn, it’s good!

final thoughts

MAX is coming out swinging! Their fists are rated E for Everybody and I’m getting hit repeatedly. It is a beautiful episode with horrifying twists, turns, and anxiety. I am pumped to see how next week’s episode stands up to this. From now on, this is a revenge story.

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Watch New Episodes on MAX Every Sunday at 8pm Central Time.