Warning: Includes SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 2!
The Last of Usseason 3 facesa challenge that not only affects the HBO show but also affects almost all video game adaptations.The Last of Usseason 2’s endingcapped off a divisive television season with a major plot twist that saw the perspective shift from Ellie to Abby, setting up the season 3 premise.
It’s since been confirmed that Kaitlyn Dever, the actress who joinedThe Last of Usseason 2’s castas Abby, will be the series lead for season 3.The story is pivoting in a major way, with the focus being on Abbyand her companions from the Washington Liberation Front, re-examining the past few days from their side.
The pressure is already on forThe Last of Usseason 3, as the series will need to overcome the complaints that plagued season 2’s potential. Kaitlyn Dever is a fantastic actress, and Abby is a compelling character; however, there are still challenges that need to be addressed in the writers' room.
The Last Of Us Season 3’s Abby Focus Will Totally Change The Show
The HBO Adaptation Is Changing Leads Again
The shift in lead characters is going to be a tremendous hurdle forThe Last of Usseason 3, especially after the range of responses to season 2. The Seattle setting should be familiar to audiences at this point, and characters like Ellie, Jesse, Dina, and Tommy will still play critical roles as events unfold, but it will still feel different.
On top ofAbby leading the cast now, audiences will have to become acquainted with her friends, the constituents in Joel’s murder. Characters like Manny and Owen likely didn’t leave audiences with much desire to get to know them better, meaning a huge part of the challenge will be keeping viewers engaged with protagonists they hate.
This will be the most drastic shift the series has made yet, especially sinceJoel and Ellie were the marquee characters for seasons 1 and 2. The season needs to make a distinct effort to make sureThe Last of Usseason 3 still feels like the same series audiences loved the first time around.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Was Already A Major Shift From Season 1
Joel’s Absence Changed The Tone Of Season 2
AfterJoel’s death in episode 4,The Last of Usseason 2 was almost like watching a different show.Joel and Ellie’s relationship was the defining attribute of the series, especially since a significant portion of the audience pool came to the series due to a love for Pedro Pascal. His exit had an immediate, game-changing effect.
With Ellie and Dina taking over the series,The Last of Usseason 2 was centered around almost entirely new goals and themes. The season is built on season 1’s events, but the themes of revenge and Ellie’s mission to Seattle feel like a far cry from the previous story, which was focused more on Joel’s grief.
The Last Of Us Proves Why Video Games Are So Hard To Adapt
Video Games Are Rarely As Sequential As TV Seasons
Video game adaptations have consistently struggled in Hollywood, and one of the reasons is that games often aren’t as sequential as TV shows.Games are rarely written to tell a direct story acrossmultiple volumes, with exceptions likeGod of WarorDeath Stranding, as most franchises aim fornew releases to appeal to those who haven’t played them before.
The Last of Us Part IIcertainly requires audiences to play the previous game, but it still has a singular identity of its own.
When someone watches a show likeThe Sopranos,there’s a sense of stability, knowing that the core cast will remain present throughout most of the series. WithGame of Thrones, major characters are killed off, but there are always enough familiar faces around to maintain momentum and keep viewers wanting more.
Something likeAssassin’s Creedmight feel like an interesting title to adapt, but aside from the Ezio trilogy, every game has different characters and settings. The same could be set forGrand Theft AutoorThe Elder Scrolls, despite both titles being known for excellent storytelling.
The Last of Us Part IIcertainly requires audiences to play the previous game, but it still has a singular identity of its own.Ellie is the main character instead of Joel, but the game still shifts away from herto follow unfamiliar characters. The narrative continuation isn’t as direct as a typical TV show’s jump from season 1 to 2.
The Last Of Us Tried To Plan For Its Narrative Shifts In Season 1
The Last Of Us Laid The Foundation For Its Tone Change Early On
It’s rare that game sequels follow the story directly where the previous one left off. It requiresextra effort to fuse the overarching narrative together succinctly, whichThe Last of Usseason 1 attempted to do by exploring mini-storylinesabout cyclical revenge, such as the Kansas City arc.
No matter how much planning is done, killing off a lead character like Joel is going to have a drastic effect on a series that has two leads.
Kathleen and Perry were original characters created for the TV adaptation as part of an extended arc for Henry in Kansas City. Joel and Ellie found themselves mixed up in a conflict of revenge between FEDRA and a resistance group, with Kathleen ultimately giving her life in an attempt to get revenge for her brother.
No matter how much planning is done, killing off a lead character like Joel is going to have a drastic effect on a series that has two leads. To shift leads again inThe Last of Usseason 3 is a risky move, and the writers must ensure that this choice is justified.
