The Last of Us was one of HBO's biggest hits ever, and in the two years since its first season aired, it has been regarded as perhaps the best ever live-action adaptation of a video game - and for good reason, too, as it was nothing short of incredible, receiving positive reviews from audiences around the world.
Season 2 of the series is right around the corner and the trailers should have gotten people pumped for its arrival. So far, we have seen hordes of infected attacking, new characters arriving, and an improved look. However, no matter how many trailers you see, you can’t be prepared for things to come. Hopefully, this article will help get you ready for what’s going to happen.
*** WARNING! POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 ! ***
7. It will be different from the game
One constant we see when TV shows and movies adapt books, comics and video games is change from the source material. Characters will look different, dialogue will be altered, and new storylines will be added. This often happens to help the story fit the new platform and also add a touch of original content to the adaptation, allowing it to appeal to new fans too.
For example, the trailer (that you can see above) showed Joel seemingly talking to his nephew. Joel’s brother Tommy didn’t have a kid in the video game. Even if it isn’t his nephew, the scene has a purpose. It was done to make one of the saddest moments in video game history even worse when it happens on the screen.
6. Joel’s death is likely coming
There are two major spoilers from The Last of Us game that are impossible to escape. One is Joel killing the Fireflies and the other is him being killed (which will probably happen in season 2). The ironic thing about this is that they’re connected.
Joel is killed because he saved a life. This leads to Ellie’s journey for revenge and will really push her story forward as she takes center stage. Speaking of which, that brings us to what I think is the deepest part of the game.
5. The price of payback
Most movies and shows have the hero get vengeance for the loss of a loved one without repercussions. That’s not the case in real life. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; that isn't just Newton's Third Law of Motion, it relates to people too. However, what's equal to one person may not be for the other and The Last of Us showed it.
Ellie, Abby, and everyone else involved in the video game lose something dear to get the people who hurt them and their loved ones. This will force viewers to rethink their ideas on revenge and determine if it’s worth the eventual cost. If the audience is like the people who played the game, look for fans to be divided on whether they think Ellie or Abby was in the right.
4. Abby
Abby Anderson (played by Kaitlyn Dever) won’t be the built and physically strong character she was in the game. Co-creator and writer of The Last of Us video game and writer on the show Neil Druckmann said “It’s more about the drama” and where Abby’s strength comes from will be a key to her personality on the program. So, if you’re looking for Abby to have arms like tree trunks, you’ll be disappointed. But, it won’t ruin the character.
Abby's size may be a big part of her appearance in the game, but this isn’t the game and it allows the show to succeed with its own, potentially deeper, adaptation. Kaitlyn Dever will show why Abby’s character is more than her physical appearance, highlighting her inner strength. And since Neil Druckmann is the one who approved the change, we should have faith in what’s going on. The franchise is something he's proud of and he wouldn't do anything to ruin it.
3. Sped up time
This writer assumed that the events of season 2 would be split into separate parts. Going by what’s seen in the trailers, it’s likely that the entire game will be one season. Yes, trailers can be deceiving and the scenes shown could be part of the second half of the season, but still - it seems like we'll be taking some time-jumps, or at the very least pacing things a bit quicker.
First, most of the time in The Last of Us campaign is walking, collecting things, and fighting the infected. You’ll see the latter, but the other two don’t make for exciting television. So cutting that out will drop the run time and allow for the events of this particular story to fit into one season. But, if you’re thinking this means the show will end, you could be wrong.
Second, Game of Thrones finished before the source material was completed. The same can happen for The Last of Us. There's also the idea of prequels and stories from other characters. I for one would like to see what happened in the twenty-plus years between Outbreak Day and when Joel met Ellie.
2. More Heartbreak
There's a golden rule in post-apocalyptic or mythical TV shows: Don’t get comfortable with - or too attached to - any character because they could die at any moment. Like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, no one is immune to death or the infected in The Last of Us except Ellie. So prepare for anything.
What’s worse is the story will have you smiling one minute and yelling “NO!” the next. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that has more downs than ups. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
1. The new Ellie
Ellie isn’t a child anymore. That means you’re going to see a more portrayal of Ellie - an Ellie who falls in love, experiences a more adult life, and does things that are unlike the young person you saw in season 1. Sadly, some of what they do could also divide audiences.
Ellie’s journey will have you looking at her in a different light. Yes, Ellie was protective and passionate about things and people she loved before, but this isn’t the same. There’s a darkness this time around that you didn’t think was possible. This writer has played the second game more than a few times and some stuff in there still shocks me. It'll be even shocking seeing it in live-action.
The Last of Us season 2 premieres on April 13, 2025.
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