Tommy’s Big Secret: Why He Didn’t Save Joel!

Actor Gabriel Luna discusses the significant shift in his character from the second season of ‘The Last of Us’, a popular HBO series based on Naughty Dog’s acclaimed video game franchise. In episode 2 of ‘The Last of Us’ season 2, titled “Through The Valley,” Joel, Ellie, and their companions face separation as infected enemies and former adversaries attack the settlement of Jackson Hole.

In an interview with Esquire, Luna expressed his thoughts on the alteration made in The Last of Us season 2 regarding Joel’s confrontation with Abby. Specifically, he had reservations about Tommy’s character revealing Joel’s name in such a situation since the beginning of season 1. Despite this initial uncertainty, Luna was satisfied with how the modification boosted Dina’s importance and provided an impactful moment for Tommy. You can find his complete response in the excerpt below.

Initially, during our first season’s production, I had discussions with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann about the character of Tommy. I pondered if Tommy, a seasoned veteran who was responsible for protecting the city and keeping it secure, would be so trusting towards strangers. Given his background, wouldn’t he have been more cautious, less likely to walk into an ambush and be vulnerable? This question about Tommy’s actions always lingered in my mind; I can’t say it was false, but I have doubts that he would have been that trusting to fall into such a trap.

Craig turned to me and said, “Don’t fret, I’ve got a plan.” Prior to the impending event, he was on the brink of revealing his plot twists. He shot over a lengthy message detailing where Tommy is hiding and what he’s up to instead. This information left me astounded. I was thrilled beyond words. Just thinking about it now gives me goose bumps. The concept he presented involved a role reversal, with Dina stepping in for Tommy, which seemed fitting given her affection for Joel and their family bond. The text from Craig continued, explaining that he would be in Jackson, facing off against a huge horde, and defending the town. I exclaimed, “This is incredible!” Then I discovered that Mark Mylod was set to direct. We were now part of a lineage of epic, blockbuster-worthy battle scenes. We had already been inspired by the ‘Battle of the Bastards’ from Game of Thrones for our own work.

What This Means For The Last Of Us Season 2

Tommy’s New TV Backstory Affects His Trajectory

In the series “The Last of Us Part II”, Joel and Tommy come across Abby during their patrol, aiming to escort her safely, while Ellie and Dina travel a separate route. An original feature of the show is the infected attack on Jackson Hole. The TV continuity includes a new aspect, as Tommy’s time in the military is now part of it, although his post-breakout journey aligns with the game. However, any mistakes made by Joel and Tommy can be explained by different circumstances found in the source material.

As a seasoned movie reviewer, I found myself immersed in the game world where the characters Joel and Tommy seemed surprisingly trusting towards Abby’s group. This trust could be traced back to Joel’s claim that he had eliminated all Fireflies, and their peaceful existence post-first game had seemingly numbed them to threats from fellow survivors. However, each unique situation ultimately steers Tommy down the same trajectory. With Joel captured by Abby’s thirst for vengeance, Tommy and Ellie are left wrestling with the question of whether they should perpetuate the cycle of violence further.

Our Take On The Last of Us Season 2’s Tommy Change

Small Details Are Being Kept In Mind

In episode 2, Tommy’s character development deviated from his video game counterpart, but Luna’s comments hint at the meticulousness in creating the show. Although it might seem like an insignificant detail in season 1 to establish Tommy’s post-Outbreak Day motivations and military background, both Luna and Mazin thoughtfully integrated this backstory into the series’ later events. This leads some viewers to ponder if other minor adjustments could influence future developments in The Last of Us season 2.

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2025-04-23 05:47