The Last of Us episode 3 is going to make video game fans upset

The Last of Us episode 3 is almost upon us, but it sounds like it might result in some strong reactions from fans of the video game.

The Last of Us has only been on-screens for two weeks and many are already considering it one of the greatest video game adaptations of all time. It isn’t hard to see why. For starters, it’s actually a good TV series with a ton of potential to grow as it goes on. But it’s also – and this is the most important thing – a very faithful adaptation of its source material.

That’s obviously helped by the fact that the video game’s writer and director Neil Druckmann is heavily involved in the HBO series. But even Druckmann has acknowledged that there will be some changes where necessary to help the story evolve to the television format.

The changes have been subtle thus far, but that will end in the upcoming third episode in what The New Yorker calls “the show’s boldest departure from its source material”.

The Last of Us episode 3 will feature bigger changes to the video game’s story

“Long Long Time” is when we first meet Bill and Frank – two characters that the show has alluded to before, and ones that video game fans will be familiar with. But when speaking to The New Yorker in recent weeks, Druckmann revealed that their story on the show will diverge from the source material – something he acknowledges should only happen if the changes can justify their own existence.

Druckmann calls the episode “awesome” but adds that “there are going to be fans upset” by the changes because even the slightest of changes can be seen as infidelity to the source material. However, he believes that the new story was one worth telling, adding:

"“To me, the story we tell is authentic to the world. It’s authentic to the themes that we’re talking about.”"

That new story will involve Bill and Frank, as according to the interview, the pair’s history is seemingly explored in a much deeper way than it was in the video game. And honestly that sounds beautiful, especially when you have actors like Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett playing those characters.

Sometimes change is good, and this one sounds like it could be quite powerful. I can’t wait to watch it!

The Last of Us episode 3 airs on HBO and streams on HBO Max on Sunday, January 29 2023.

Are you looking forward to The Last of Us episode 3? Are you excited for Bill and Frank to make their long-awaited debut? Let us know in the comments below!