I understand The Last of Us season 2’s biggest Abby change, but I still disagree with it. HBO‘s The Last of Us received mixed reactions on its second season, with video game fans critiquing the numerous changes made from the source material. While pivotal moments, such as Joel‘s death, remained in place, many of the smaller story beats along the way were altered. With The Last of Us season 2’s ending in mind, we now have a better idea of why many of these changes were made, but it still doesn’t mean we have to agree with them.
Season 2 is based on The Last of Us Part II, a 2020-released video game that was divisive in its own right. The death of Joel Miller is a pivotal moment in both versions of the story, but it was especially shocking for video game players, as it was unprecedented for a video game franchise to kill off its lead character. Unlike in the show, when Joel is being mercilessly beaten to death in the video game, audiences have no idea why. There are hints to Abby’s agenda, but her reasoning for killing Joel isn’t revealed until later.
The Last Of Us Shouldn’t Have Revealed Abby’s Motivation So Early
The Last Of Us Gave Away Its Most Thrilling Mystery Instantly
Rather than keeping Abby’s motivations a secret like in the video game, The Last of Us season 2 revealed precisely who she was in one of its opening scenes. I criticized the choice following the season 2 premiere, believing it would detract from the shock value of Joel’s death. Joel’s death was still surprising for TV viewers who weren’t aware of game spoilers; however, I thought it weakened one of the boldest moves executed by the video game. Instead of embracing a truly assertive storyline, I felt that the writers underestimated their audience by providing too much information too early.
Perhaps it’s partly due to my general aversion to exposition, but Abby delivering a full-on villain monologue before killing Joel felt atypical for this franchise. The Last of Us Part II even makes a joke about her practicing a speech in its version of the Joel death scene, subverting this tired trope. Killing off Joel was always going to deter some of the show’s viewership due to the Pedro Pascal factor, but I think there’s something to be said about keeping audiences hooked with a mystery. If fans hadn’t known why he was killed, it might have piqued some curiosity.
Abby’s Reason For Killing Joel Needed To Be Revealed In Season 2
Her Motivation Should Have Been Saved For Season 2’s Finale
Image via Max
Now that we know Abby will be the main character in season 3, with The Last of Us Part II being divided into three television seasons, it makes more sense why this choice was made. Killing off Joel in season 2, then making audiences wait years to reveal the reasoning behind the death, would have been a terrible move. Keeping mysteries going between seasons worked for titles like Lost, when shows aired annually, with only months between a season’s ending and the beginning of a new one. However, with The Last of Us, it would be torture.
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The Last Of Us Season 2’s Big Death Was Hard To Watch, But As A Fan Of The Game, I Thought The Twist Was Underwhelming Due To The Show’s Abby Change
The Last of Us season 2, episode 2 saw one of the most shocking moments in video game history play out on screen, and I have some nitpicks.
Waiting for season 3 to reveal Abby’s reasoning wasn’t an option, but that still doesn’t mean they had to do it instantly. Having her first appear like she did in The Last of Us season 2, episode 2, seeming like a new ally, then turning on Joel out of nowhere once they arrived at the lodge, could have been a fantastic plot twist. Ellie could have followed her to Seattle regardless, and much of the season could have gone the same, saving the eventual reveal for the very end.
Keeping TV audiences in suspense as Ellie traveled to Seattle, picking off Abby’s friends one by one in a trail of seemingly mindless violence would have been bold, but ultimately much more impressive. Imagine, in that scenario, rather than end season 2 with Abby waking up on Day One, they could have ended it with the flashback to Salt Lake City from Abby’s perspective, showing her father and the brilliant scene with the zebras, slowly allowing audiences to piece it together with The Last of Us season 1.
