Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal discuss father-daughter relationship
“The Last of Us” stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal reveal they didn’t enjoy their character’s estrangement in season 2.
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Here’s an outstanding BOGO: Not only can you see a great Michael B. Jordan performance in “Sinners,” you get another one for free!
Jordan pulls double duty as gangster twins taking on vampires in 1930s Mississippi in director Ryan Coogler’s musical horror mashup. But don’t just limit yourself in your screen monsters, fam: Those fungal zombies are back and still freaky in the second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us.” (OK, yeah, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey return as well and they’re pretty cool.) It’s also getting kind of scary for TV shows out there, with cancellations on the horizon. We’re giving y’all to a chance to let your voice be heard to keep your favorites before it’s too late!
Now on to the good stuff:
See Michael B. Jordan battle vampires in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’
It took a few months, but the movie season’s really revving up these days: “Warfare” came out last week and this week brings “Sinners,” the year’s best film to date. Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown to open up a juke joint, and they recruit their talented cousin (Miles Caton) to sing the blues on opening night. However, their party’s crashed by a vampire (Jack O’Connell) and this fangtastic menace threatens their entire community. It’s a frightfest that’s musical and meaningful, mesmerizing and memorable. (Peep my ★★★½ review.)
I talked with Coogler and Jordan about the inspirations behind the surreal horror movie. To build out his dual roles, the scheming Stack and the more serious Smoke, Jordan thought about how “their earliest childhood traumas” informed their personalities and coping skills. “Two survival instincts, but just approached differently.”
Stream ‘The Last of Us’ for an emotionally wrought Pedro Pascal
The first season of HBO’s “The Last of Us” was a great, emotionally complex and super-gory adaptation of the survival horror video game, and the new second season (streaming now on Max) finds Joel (Pedro Pascal) and surrogate daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey) trying to make a life for themselves in a post-apocalyptic world.
My colleague Bryan Alexander interviewed the stars about Ramsey (and her new jiu-jitsu skills) taking on more of an action role this season, Joel having a new therapist, and Joel and Ellie’s newly estranged relationship. “I want to take it all back. Go back to Season 1 and just stroll through the apocalypse. Together,” he says. For more “Last of Us,” check out TV critic Kelly Lawler’s ★★½ star Season 2 review and my fellow horror nerd Brendan Morrow’s breakdown of the biggest changes between the show and game.
Don’t forget to vote in USA TODAY’s Save Our Shows poll
The deadline is quickly approaching on the end of our Save Our Show poll this year, and if you haven’t yet, pick your favorite among 17 “bubble” TV dramas and comedies as the networks weigh their fates. (You have until April 30!) One of the leading vote-getters already received its lifeline, as ABC renewed the Tim Allen comedy “Shifting Gears” after the poll launched April 2. Two dramas have also proven popular among readers: NBC’s “The Irrational,” starring Jesse L. Martin, and CBS’ remake of “The Equalizer,” starring Queen Latifah.
The endangered crop also includes my pick, ABC’s “Doctor Odyssey,” plus the new spinoff “Suits LA,” Fox’s long-running “The Cleaning Lady,” and two NBC sitcoms, “Lopez vs. Lopez” and a “Night Court” revival.
Even more goodness to check out!
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on the socials: I’m @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
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