In just a few short weeks, " The Last of Us " will return to HBO and Max with its much-anticipated second season on Sunday, April 13, and according to the showrunners, the new installment is going to raise the bar in terms of scope, story and, yes, zombies.

When The Last of Us premiered on HBO, it was a carefully crafted gamble that was beautifully made and emotionally resonant. It had every chance to fail and instead became one of the best shows on TV.