The Last of Us Season 2: A Mind-Blowing Twist to Amplify the Game's Epic Ending!

Summary

The Last of Us Part II strays from the vaccine narrative and focuses on revenge, leaving little room for a return to the immunity arc.

Keeping the search for a cure intact in The Last of Us season 2 would be necessary, considering the primary goal established in the first season.

It is essential for the TV series to maintain the search for a cure as a long-term objective, as there are indications of a potential alternative approach to the cure/immunity storyline in upcoming seasons.

Spoilers lie ahead for the conclusion of The Last of Us Part II, as well as possible future storylines in HBO's The Last of Us. To ensure the success of its second season, HBO's The Last of Us needs to make a significant alteration to the ending of the game. Similar to the first installment, Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) slaughters everyone in the facility and escapes with Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) after discovering that the Fireflies' doctors plan to kill an unconscious Ellie in order to create a cure. Fearing the loss of another child, Joel prioritizes Ellie above all else, although his actions also strip Ellie of her agency in deciding her own fate. Instead of being truthful, Joel deceives Ellie, though he does confess his actions to his brother, Tommy, at the beginning of The Last of Us Part II.

In the game's present-day timeline, Ellie (voiced by Ashley Johnson) learns the truth and their relationship with Joel (voiced by Troy Baker) becomes strained. Early in the game, Joel is killed by Abby (voiced by Laura Bailey), a former Firefly seeking vengeance for her fallen comrades. Consequently, Abby's actions propel Ellie on a path of revenge as she leaves the relative safety of Jackson, Wyoming for the militia-controlled streets of Seattle. Undoubtedly, The Last of Us season 2 will diverge significantly from its predecessor. One notable difference is that Ellie's vengeful quest leaves little room for the immunity plotline to resurface — a misstep that HBO's adaptation cannot afford to replicate.

The Last Of Us II Ends Ellie's Story Without A Cure

The Last of Us Part II initially delves into Joel confessing his actions to Tommy, but the game veers away from exploring the cure storyline. Instead, Joel's revelation sets the stage for the sequel's revenge-driven plot, which leads to some of the most intense scenes involving Ellie in The Last of Us 2. While the game doesn't focus extensively on the vaccine narrative, it draws upon the earlier incident to deepen Joel and Ellie's relationship. Ellie struggles to forgive Joel for robbing her of agency and the potential significance of her immunity. She discreetly conceals her bite mark with a tattoo and only shares her immunity with her partner, Dina, when it becomes unavoidable.

Perhaps gamers (and viewers) are meant to resonate with Joel and Ellie's perspective: the Firefly doctors represented the last hope for a cure, and now, that hope is gone. As the game reaches its conclusion, Ellie learns of Abby's whereabouts and leaves her family — Dina and their son — behind to confront Abby one final time. Following in Joel's footsteps, Ellie makes a devastating choice that has far-reaching consequences. Although Ellie spares Abby's life as a form of forgiveness resembling what Joel once did, she returns home to find herself alone. Some suggested changes for The Last of Us season 2 might exacerbate matters, but refocusing on the quest for a cure could instill Ellie with renewed purpose.

Why The Last Of Us Season 2 Shouldn't Drop The Vaccine Story

The Last of Us Part II delves into the consequences of a revenge quest, sacrificing any hope for a cure to explore something much more harrowing. However, if a third installment veers back to Ellie's immunity and the search for a cure, there won't be any material left for the HBO series to draw from regarding that storyline. Considering that the mission of Joel and Ellie in season 1 revolves around finding the cure, it would be odd to completely abandon that concept in a second season.

It remains unclear whether The Last of Us season 2 will follow the narrative structure of the second game or present Ellie and Joel's story chronologically. This decision will greatly impact the show's focus and conclusion. Nevertheless, at present, it would be wise for the TV series to maintain the search for a cure as an ultimate goal. The season 1 finale suggests that Ellie's immunity stems from her infected mother during pregnancy, a backstory absent from the game. This revelation hints at a potential divergence in the cure/immunity plotline in future seasons of HBO's The Last of Us.