One of the best TV series adaptations of video games is almost back for round two. HBO’s Emmy-awarded drama, The Last of Us (2023), is set to premiere its second season on April 14, 2025. The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic TV drama based on the video game of the same name that was released in 2013. Season one follows Joel played by Pedro Pascal, a smuggler tasked with escorting immune teenager Ellie played by Bella Ramsey across a post-apocalyptic United States.
Most movies and TV shows based on video games have been underwhelming, uninspired, or simply for departures from the source material they were based on. However, this HBO hit breaks the mold and proved to be a masterpiece that hits emotional highs that the video game did but in a whole new way. Of course, season one does put its own spin on certain characters and plot points, but overall it is an excellent adaptation to its critically acclaimed source material. And with the release of season two on the horizon and being an adaptation of the second game, The Last of Us Part II (2020), many are wondering what changes will be next. Craig Mazin is one of the creators of this highly rated TV drama alongside co-creator, Neil Druckmann, who is also the creative director of Naughty Dog, the video game developing company of The Last of Us. Based on several articles and interviews with the creators, there are elements in season two fans can expect to be different from the sequel game.
Timeline: Change in Structure
“I think that’s part of the fun for people familiar with the game to see how we approached that challenge in the show.” Neil Druckmann said in an Entertainment Weekly interview.
He added, “I will just say that we gave it a lot of thought and tried different things. There are some deviations of where we place things.”
One of the first deviations from the game that fans will notice is the timeline. Based on recent trailers, fans can expect there to be a five-year time skip between season one and two. Whereas, The Last of Us Part II took place four years after the events of the first game. This may not seem like a big difference to some, but hardcore fans know that The Last of Us franchise is very character driven. This means that this extra year will likely play a big role in season two, showing the dramatic difference between Joel and Ellie from where they left off in season one.
“We certainly are going to mess around with time the way it was in the source material, but as Neil said, we messed around in ways that we felt were appropriate for the show,” Craig Mazin added. “When I say ‘messed around,’ I mean scientifically determined in a narrative way what we thought would be most impactful.”
However, some fans are concerned about the deviation of the timeline. The coming change in events and story structure have many worried that the overall story may fall apart. Fans on Reddit have expressed their concerns believing that the change in the timeline goes against what Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin originally set out to do. Some fear that the change might be stepping too far away from what the games had built. On the other side of the spectrum, this deviation in the timeline can lead to new story possibilities and more character developing moments. The time adjustment can give us more flashbacks and showcases on characters such as Abby.
Abby: Most Controversial
One of the major character additions to The Last of Us franchise is Abby, another main character you play as in The Last of Us Part II. In season two, Abby is set to be played by Kaitlyn Dever. There is a lot of buzz about Abby being introduced in season two considering Abby is one of the most controversial video game characters in recent years since the release of The Last of Us Part II. Abby’s role within the story created an uproar within the gaming world. Some found the addition of this polarizing antagonist to be refreshing while many have had a very negative reaction to the character and the overall direction of the second game. With season two bringing new changes to the story, it is only natural to wonder what new elements will be added to Abby’s character.
A key difference that fans will immediately notice based on casting choice is Abby’s physical physique. In The Last of Us season two, Abby will be significantly less muscular than her video game counterpart. In recent interviews, showrunners have expressed that for the show, Abby’s character will focus more on her mental strength rather than physical attributes.
Neil Druckmann stated to Entertainment Weekly, “We value performance over anything else. We need someone to really capture the essence of those characters…. We don’t value as much, ‘Do they look exactly like the character with their eyebrows or their nose or their body?’ Whatever it is. It’s not nowhere on the priority list, but it’s below a bunch of other things that we consider.”
This TV drama’s version of Abby focuses less on capturing video game counterpart’s persona and more on the character’s mindset and essence. The reimaging of this character seems like a smart decision from the creators since this popular HBO series focuses more on drama over action. Since brute force won’t be Abby’s biggest strength within the series, it is interesting to think how certain key future events will play out.
Story-changing Death
Without giving much away, there is a death that plays a significant role within the story of The Last of Us Part II. This is a shocking and emotional scene that occurs early in the game. There is no confirmation of when or even if this event will be adapted in the TV series. If it does happen, it is likely this heart-stopping scene will play out significantly different within the show. The Internet is swarming with theories of how this crucial moment will play out. Some fans speculate that the TV series will last faithful to the game, making the death happen at the end of the first episode. Others believe that the showrunners will send gaming fans for a loop and save this character’s demise towards the end of the season. It is even possible that this death might not even happen until season 3. It has been confirmed that the events of the second game would span more than one season. So this noteworthy moment is something that fans may possibly have to wait much longer than they think for it to be adapted.
One thing we can be certain of is that season two will shake up everything we know about The Last of Us TV series so far. Based on trailers, the emotions, drama, and horrors will be intensified. New characters like Dina, a cult group known as Seraphites, and Abby will bring a new layer of drama, danger, and surprise to the show. And with season two planning to make significant alterations, even gaming fans will have to stay on their toes for what the new season has to offer. Once again, The Last of Us season two is set to premiere on April 14, 2025.