Before we get into this, I am a huge fan of the second video game, maybe even more so than the first game, despite that being an unpopular opinion. I’ve been looking forward to this season more than basically any other show out there at the moment.
Please note, if you haven’t played the game, then it may be worth clicking off this article as I’ll be referencing the game a fair bit during this.
The Last of Us has capped off a very subpar second season despite a largely successful first. There were moments in the second season that were very well done, but on the whole, it wasn’t impressive. If anything, it felt stupidly rushed.
Let’s discuss the issues of the second season for a moment, as they’ll link into what I’m hoping for.
Ellie’s death count needs to be discussed. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe she only killed around four people in the entire season. She killed a random guy at the TV station, Mel, Owen, and Nora. There may be more I’m missing, but her death count was so small compared to the game.
I don’t expect Ellie to be wiping out entire squads like we see in the game, but I felt like we didn’t get any of Ellie’s ruthlessness like we see in the game, maybe except for Nora’s brutal ending. That’s where one of my major issues is: Ellie felt relentless and fearless in the game. This was hardly shown at all in live-action, which is a letdown.
Then there are other problems that occur due to the rushing feeling of the season. 3 episodes were dedicated essentially to the prologue of the game. Jackson, Joel’s death, and the aftermath. We also had an entire episode dedicated to the flashback episode. This means only 3 of the possible episodes were Ellie’s 3 days in Seattle. This also means things have to be rushed to get to the point Ellie and Abby finally meet in the theatre, and it results in skipping out key events such as Manny’s death, Tommy’s rampage, and more.
The executives reportedly claimed they couldn’t wrap this entire story up in 3 seasons. Season 2 showed that the way things are going, you definitely can. You have an entire season now purely dedicated to Abby’s 3 days, which can be done in 6 episodes, and then the epilogue in 1 – if rushed the same way it has been, unless there are plans to change how the epilogue is.
This is where I’m hopeful they may get season 3 more on the better side. If there are 4 seasons to come, then they need to spend more time with Abby, Lev, Yara, and the WLF.
Abby is a complex character, and it takes some time to truly resonate with her after what she did to Joel. In the game, it took me a long time before it clicked, before I realized that she was right. As you play more with her, you realize deep down she’s a good person and she cares. For me, by the time the game ended, I saw Ellie as more of a villain than I did with Abby, especially after the epilogue.
Abby will clash with the Seraphites, she’ll be in the middle of the war between them and the WLF, she’ll come close to Lev and Yara, she’ll see the aftermath of what Ellie has done, and so much more.
It’s a full circle of revenge at the end of it as Abby turns her full attention to Ellie after her friends are killed. They need to ensure this is seen more. I want to see the aftermath, I want to see the war break out, I want to see Abby falling out of favor with Isaac, I want it all.
I believe the casting choice for Abby is perfect in Kaitlyn Dever. Abby is built like a machine in the game, and I think they’ve got it better here. It always felt a little unnatural in the game, and I believe Dever has smashed it in the episodes she’s been in. She genuinely looked like a threat in the theatre, and what she did to Joel was harrowing. Dever’s done a wonderful job with the character, so I hope the script blesses her even more as it needs to do.
I’m still glad this franchise has made its way to live-action. I believe they got so much right in the second season, but they also got so many things wrong. I’m hoping season 3 picks up from where the finale ended, with her walking out to the converted stadium. This sequence in the game starts around the same time Ellie is either heading out or getting ready to head towards Seattle.
I’m looking forward to it regardless. This is a franchise that also has its ups and downs during the games cycle. I’ll never forget the sheer hatred the second game received on release. It was a complete storm of anger to the point that the voice actresses were getting death threats – it was so bad. Thankfully, the game’s seen in a much better light now, so I’m hoping the directors can cap this off.
