What Does The Last of Us Do Now?

Ahead lies a spoiler for the season-2 finale of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” which is based on the video game of the same name, so proceed with caution if you haven’t finished them both yet.

The hit series The Last of Us concluded its intense and controversial second season, failing to provide the resolution found in the HBO adaptation’s highly praised first installment. Instead, it ended abruptly, roughly halfway through the video game sequel on which it is based, leaving many unanswered questions regarding the destiny of Ellie, Dina, Tommy, Jesse (with less uncertainty about Jesse), and particularly Abby, who resurfaces in the final moments of “Convergence” to deliver a cliffhanger and then return the timeline to “Seattle, Day One.

For those who have experienced “The Last of Us Part II”, they will likely anticipate where the story might go with the confirmed third season, while also harboring their own questions due to changes and exclusions observed in season two. As before, we’ll segment our major queries about season three into sections for individuals familiar with the source material and those who are not; be aware that game spoilers increase significantly in the second half.

Let’s start off with the big question dangling over the finale’s closing credits…

Is Ellie dead?

The storyline concludes with Abby firing at Jesse, striking him in the face, igniting a tense standoff between her and Ellie. Through clenched teeth, Abby remarks, “You squandered the chance I gave you,” aims her gun at a defenseless Ellie, and fires as the screen fades to black. Surely, Ellie can’t meet such an end, right? Fans of The Last of Us Part II are already aware of the outcome, as this scene closely mirrors events from the game. However, viewers who haven’t delved into the game’s details will have to wait to discover Ellie’s fate – likely for most of the third season, since this cliffhanger remains unresolved while the finale transitions back a few days to follow Abby’s journey in Seattle. This brings us to…

Is this just Abby’s story now?

Following Abby’s significant involvement in the first two episodes, her absence throughout the rest of the season loomed heavily, almost as if a tense secret was being kept. Her sudden, violent return at the end of the finale left many questions unanswered, particularly about what she was doing between Joel’s death and her encounter with Jesse. The upcoming season seems poised to delve into Abby’s activities, especially her connections with the Washington Liberation Front. Catherine O’Hara’s recent confirmation suggests this will be a key focus. It remains to be seen how Ellie’s experiences in Seattle will factor into this narrative thread, but it’s clear that we’ll be spending more time with the WLF. As for them…

What’s Isaac’s deal?

As a film enthusiast, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by Jeffrey Wright’s captivating performance this season. He made a subtle yet impactful appearance in the fourth episode, and once again shined in the finale, where we witness Isaac, the WLF leader, meticulously preparing for a mission he believes will be his last.

It’s hard not to wonder about what Isaac is up to, and why he seems so fixated on Abby. Is there something more to this obsession? What exactly does he aim to achieve in the broader scheme of things? In his final scenes, he declares that Abby will lead the WLF into the future, but we’re left guessing as to why Isaac is willing to make such a significant sacrifice and what precisely he envisions Abby inheriting.

The game aficionados are privy to much more about Isaac than the show has disclosed so far. They know that his motives and background have been purposefully shrouded in mystery until the third season, where we can anticipate uncovering a lot more about this enigmatic character. And speaking of enigmas…

Will we ever see Joel again?

Fans are still grieving the departure of Pedro Pascal’s character, Joel, following episode six, titled “The Price.” This installment expertly wove together most of the flashbacks from the second game. One notable scene missing in the show is when Joel, accompanied by Ellie, goes on a quest to find guitar strings and slays a bloater with a machete during their journey. This scene was particularly cherished by gamers, leading some to ponder if the showrunners, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, intentionally omitted it or perhaps have plans to bring Pascal back for season three. It’s conceivable that this scene might reappear in a similar fashion as a flashback chapter this season, serving as a poignant reminder of the series’ purpose as we approach the end of its third year. Additionally, there’s no denying that the writers could create new flashbacks to bring Joel back for more scenes. Many fans would welcome such a development. Thus, the question remains…

How long will we have to wait?

Will fans of The Last of Us (TLOU) exhibit similar patience as they wait for the resolution of the cliffhanger from a season that received less acclaim than its predecessor, which ended midway through the game? Given the unprecedented critical and commercial success of the first installment, there may be more tolerance for delays in the sequel. To maintain viewer interest, HBO should move swiftly to continue this storyline. However, productions of this magnitude, with a budget comparable to a feature film per episode, do not typically progress at a rapid pace, and showrunner Craig Mazin has indicated that season three will be longer than season two. Furthermore, Isabela Merced, who portrays Dina, mentioned that filming wouldn’t commence until next year. If the third season primarily takes place in and around Seattle locations previously introduced in season two, this could potentially speed up production. Consequently, it seems reasonable to anticipate a return within approximately two years – perhaps even specifically that timeframe to avoid missing another Emmys season. If forced to speculate, a likely release window would be March-April 2027.

Game-spoiler questions

When will we meet Lev?

In the world of “The Last of Us,” a significant character yet to appear on HBO’s adaptation is Lev, originally Lily, a refugee from the Seraphites, a cult involved in Seattle’s war with the WLF. Born as a woman and forced into an arranged marriage, Lev transitioned before escaping the Seraphites. Becoming Abby’s closest ally, he mirrors the Joel/Ellie relationship in that Abby must make difficult decisions to protect her new charge. The show plans to incorporate him to develop Abby’s character, especially since viewers may be less familiar with her. It is possible he will debut early, possibly even in the third season premiere. As for his dialogue, while quiet in the game, he might speak more on the show for better audience understanding.

How loyal will season three be to the game?

In the upcoming season, there are significant scenes from the game that will be featured, such as the burning village. However, a crucial concern for fans of the source material is whether the adaptation remains faithful to the original. Mazin and Druckmann may not have deviated as much from the game’s narrative in season two as some anticipated; they kept most of the major plot points, with minor adjustments like who was present when Joel died or who went to Seattle when. The finale included familiar scenes at the aquarium and theater. Will this pattern continue in season three? Will it maintain focus on Abby and Lev’s story, or introduce elements from Ellie’s or even Joel’s story (through flashbacks) that weren’t present in the game? Ultimately, it boils down to the question of…

What’s the show timeline going to be?

Craig Mazin hinted that the narrative may not be fully concluded in three seasons for the show, suggesting it might not wrap up the story of the second game in the third season. However, he emphasized that the show won’t extend its narrative beyond the source material like “Game of Thrones” did. To address this apparent contradiction, they could stretch the third season to resemble the second half of the game, delving into Abby’s story, followed by a fourth season that brings together Abby and Ellie’s stories as they clash in the final chapters. This collision might not be extensive enough for a full season, but Mazin and Druckmann could expand it, fleshing out Abby and Ellie’s climactic encounters and even the sequences involving Dina and Ellie when she faces the choice between pursuing revenge or maintaining a peaceful family life. Given how rushed parts of this season felt, a character-driven fourth season leading to the brutal finale of the second game sounds appealing. Whether this plan materializes remains uncertain.

Will they take any feedback from the mixed response to season two?

The shift from the game’s narrative to the show’s second season sparked much online debate. Some criticism, though partially fueled by a troll community, can be disregarded. However, there are legitimate concerns, primarily revolving around the pacing of this season which seemed to cram 12 episodes worth of plot into a seven-episode series. Even the finale felt hurried, packing a lot of story in less than 50 minutes. It remains uncertain if Mazin and Druckmann will take any feedback on board or continue their current course, aware that the vocal minority of disgruntled fans still represents only a fraction. For now, at least.

2025-05-26 06:59