Mind-Blowing Game Updates: The Ultimate Guide to What's Coming in The Last of Us Season 2

Summary

Adapting The Last of Us Part II for television will require major changes and reconfigurations, given its expansive world and nonlinear narrative.

The TV series must enhance Abby's likability from the start since the audience won't be able to experience playing as her, unlike in the game.

The on-screen portrayal of Joel's death will be particularly heart-wrenching, intensified by the vulnerability displayed by the actors, thereby intensifying the emotional impact of the scene.

Major changes may need to be made to adapt The Last of Us Part II for The Last of Us season 2. This game is much larger than its predecessor, with a bigger cast and a more expansive world. It will be a massive challenge to translate the sprawling nonlinear story to television, and the creators may have to reconfigure the structure and narrow down the scope.

The first season of The Last of Us remained relatively faithful to the story of the first game, but there were still changes along the way. Characters like Bill and Frank had larger roles in the HBO series, and new characters like Kathleen were introduced to focus on other people. The ability to cross-cut between different storylines will be beneficial in adapting the massive narrative of The Last of Us Part II into hour-long television episodes. Plot points may need to be altered, action scaled back, and a controversial character reimagined.

10 Making Abby More Sympathetic From The Beginning

9 Joel Will Play A Different Song For Ellie

Immediately Alienates the Audience, but Efforts Must be Made to Make Her More Sympathetic in The Last of Us Season 2.

In The Last of Us Part II, Joel fulfills his promise to Ellie by imparting his guitar-playing skills to her. The initial choice for their first musical encounter is Pearl Jam's “Future Days” from their album Lightning Bolt, released in 2013. However, modifications will be required when this poignant moment is adapted for the TV series, as the outbreak depicted in the show takes place in 2003. Consequently, Joel could opt to play an earlier track by Pearl Jam predating 2003, or perhaps showcase a song by a completely different artist.

8 Joel's Death Will Be Even More Heartbreaking

7 Giving The Crooked WLF & Seraphite Leadership More Focus

The most heart-wrenching moment in The Last of Us Part II occurs when Joel endures a painfully protracted death orchestrated by Abby. Comparatively, Pedro Pascal's portrayal of Joel in the TV show renders him more vulnerable and less hardened than his video game counterpart, heightening the sadness upon his demise. Although the CGI sequence in the game is already devastating, witnessing the genuine emotions etched on the faces of Pascal and Bella Ramsey incites a level of devastation that surpasses all prior measures.

To enhance the understanding of the motivations and power dynamics of the WLF and the Seraphites, who relentlessly pursue the main characters, it would be advantageous for the TV series to showcase scenes featuring the corrupt leaders of these groups. Similar to the approach taken in Season 1, where the introduction of Kathleen, the leader of the group hunting Sam and Henry, provided valuable insight into the narrative, this strategy would serve as a platform for acclaimed guest stars like Melanie Lynskey.

6 Smaller Hordes Of Infected

After the disappointingly low presence of infected individuals in The Last of Us season 1, season 2 holds the promise of showcasing the infected in a more prominent manner. However, the game includes scenes featuring massive and uncontrollable hordes of infected that are not practically feasible to reproduce in a live-action format. Utilizing CGI would prove to be overly expensive, while attempting to capture these scenes with real individuals would require an excessive number of extras. Consequently, it is likely that the hordes depicted when Joel and Tommy rescue Abby or when Ellie and Dina escape from the subway will be considerably smaller when portrayed in the second season of the TV series.

5 Stretching Joel & Ellie's Flashbacks To Full Episode Length

In The Last of Us Part II, amidst the gritty revenge storyline, there are intermittent flashbacks that delve into Joel and Ellie's lives over the past four years. Some of these flashbacks, such as Ellie's birthday visit to the aerospace museum and their unsuspectingly perilous quest for guitar strings, could easily be extended into full-length episodes for season 2. Notably, the standalone flashback episodes in episode 3, titled "Long, Long Time," and episode 7, titled "Left Behind," received considerable acclaim. This success further implies that the second season will likely adhere to the same format.

4 Seeing More Of Tommy's Vengeful Rampage

Before Abby became the target of Ellie's quest for revenge, Tommy had already embarked on his own mission. As a result, Tommy constantly stays a few steps ahead of Ellie until their eventual reunion at the aquarium. Although the game primarily focuses on Ellie's perspective, it follows the aftermath of Tommy's path of vengeance, with Ellie following in his footsteps. With each key location Ellie arrives at, she witnesses the havoc left behind by Tommy's relentless, off-screen rampage. Through the art of skillful editing, the TV show ingeniously portrays Tommy's vengeful crusade across Seattle, creating a compelling B-plot.

3 Making Nora's Torture Scene More Graphic

One of the most impactful (and shocking) developments in The Last of Us Part II is Ellie's ruthless interrogation of Nora to obtain Abby's whereabouts. This pivotal moment marks a turning point for Ellie, plunging her into deep trauma and intensifying her determination to hunt down Abby. While the game opts not to depict this traumatizing event, it is highly likely that The Last of Us season 2 on HBO will portray the torture in all its disturbing and gut-wrenching detail.

2 Cutting Between Ellie & Abby During The Three Days In Seattle

1 Scaled Back WLF & Seraphite Battle Scenes

The game showcases three consecutive days in Seattle from Ellie's perspective. However, when she comes face to face with Abby at the theater, the game takes a shift and presents the same three days from Abby's viewpoint. This fragmented structure adds to the immersive nature of the gameplay, but it's unlikely that the TV series will dedicate several episodes solely to Abby. Instead, the series is expected to utilize its ability to seamlessly switch between the two characters throughout the three days. By intertwining Ellie and Abby's journeys, the series can effectively highlight the similarities between them and the challenges they face.

As Abby and Yara venture to the island inhabited by the Seraphites in their courageous quest to rescue Lev, they find themselves thrust into an immense conflict between the attacking WLF troops and the defending Seraphites. The devastation that unfolds is staggering, with entire villages reduced to ashes as hordes of Wolves engage in an epic battle against countless Scars. Even with the considerable resources allocated to the television adaptation of The Last of Us, it remains uncertain if the series will be able to fully capture the grandeur and magnitude of these extraordinary warfare sequences, potentially necessitating some slight reductions when the time comes.