HBO`s acclaimed series, The Last of Us, has secured its first Emmy for its second season at the recent Creative Arts Emmys. The show was honored with the award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series, specifically for the episode titled `Through the Valley,` which is the second installment of the season and widely recognized as its most emotionally intense.
Beyond its win, the series garnered nominations across various technical and creative disciplines. These included nods for Best Production Design, Casting, Picture Editing, Contemporary Makeup, Prosthetic Makeup, Music Supervision, Sound Mixing, and Special Visual Effects. Notably, even a companion documentary exploring the show`s creation received a nomination in the Nonfiction Short category.
While its first season received 24 nominations, The Last of Us still earned a commendable 16 nominations this year. Lead actors Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie) were recognized with nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, despite Pascal`s limited screen time in only three episodes. Several supporting cast members also received acting nominations, including Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), Catherine O`Hara (Gail), Jeffrey Wright (Isaac), and Joe Pantoliano (Eugene). For the second year running, the series was also nominated in the prestigious Best Drama category.
Despite its successes, the show notably missed out on nominations for writing or directing. Some fans also voiced disappointment that Isabela Merced`s portrayal of Dina did not receive an acting nomination. Nevertheless, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann conveyed his appreciation to the Television Academy and commended the production team, stating, “It has been incredibly rewarding for our studio to witness the story of The Last of Us Part II being honored, gaining new life, and attracting new fans.”
Excitement is growing for the confirmed third season, which is expected to focus on Abby`s narrative, though a release date remains unannounced. The series` inaugural season achieved significant success, converting 8 of its 24 nominations into wins, notably including an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor for Nick Offerman. This year, HBO`s The Penguin and The White Lotus, alongside Apple`s Severance, were among the productions leading the total nomination count.