Season 2 of The Last of Us was short, but it packed a big punch.
Episode 2 alone had enough drama and action to fill an entire season of a lesser show, and its ramifications rippled across the season in satisfying ways. When the season finally wrapped up, Ellie was not only at a loss for how to avenge Joel’s death, but also grappling with her newfound role as a romantic partner and possible co-parent for Dina. The final moments of the season really kicked things up a notch: After fatally wounding Jesse (Young Mazino), Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), also shot Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in close range, placing a massive question mark next to her character’s fate.
It’s highly unlikely that The Last of Us will kill off Ellie — the show wouldn’t kill both of its protagonists, would it? But if The Last of Us Part II (the original game upon which Season 2 was based) is any indication, then viewers are in for an even more stressful ride in Season 3.
Here’s what could happen.
HBO
It would be the pivot to end all pivots, but The Last of Us could actually kill off Ellie and then replace her with Abby as the protagonist. Why not? This show has already bucked structural clichés in its first two seasons, so such an earth-shattering move wouldn’t be too out of place. Plus, this is what happens in the game. Sort of.
While Ellie ultimately survives her encounter with Abby, the game does shift to humanize Abby and tell her side of the story. A respected member of the WLF, Abby has a lot of personal and professional support surrounding her, and a lot of depth to her character. In this way, Season 3 might explore how Joel’s death has affected both Abby and her friends, even as they wind up in conflict with the Seraphite cult (those disconcerting religious folks who almost scythed Ellie). Abby might even get her own love triangle plotline that involves Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer).
And yes, we’ll probably get more insight into Abby’s relationship with her father. In the game, the two are together just hours before Joel’s tragic rampage through the Fireflies complex.
Eagle-eyed viewers might notice that Abby has some bruising on her neck when she shoots Ellie in the theater in the Season 2 finale. If the show follows the game, this is likely because she was almost hanged by the Seraphites, who are also the WLF’s sworn enemies. However, Abby also inadvertently becomes attached to a couple of Seraphites after they save her from being barbarically sacrificed to the Seraphites’ Prophet. This generates even more tension among Abby and her friends, especially when they perform an emergency surgery on one of the Seraphites that saved Abby. Indeed, that’s what Mel and Owen are arguing about in the Season 2 finale when Ellie ambushes them in the aquarium and shoots them both.
As The Last of Us is based on a game, it has also heavily drawn on said game’s most epic moments. In this vein, Season 3 might turn into a mixtape of impressive visuals. Here are just a handful of incidents that might wind up on the small screen in Season 3:
The showrunners for The Last of Us have mentioned that they might need two more seasons to wrap up their story, which suggests that Season 3 might not cover all of the above. Conversely, it might cover all of the above and then some so that viewers don’t feel the absence of Ellie too strongly. This could mean following Ellie and Dina as they build a future together. These two will need to decide if it’s worth pursuing their revenge upon Abby.
And for viewers, it will likely become even harder to decide who to root for in all this. Honestly, considering everything the characters in this show have put each other through, it might be time to start rooting for the zombies.
Episode 2 alone had enough drama and action to fill an entire season of a lesser show, and its ramifications rippled across the season in satisfying ways. When the season finally wrapped up, Ellie was not only at a loss for how to avenge Joel’s death, but also grappling with her newfound role as a romantic partner and possible co-parent for Dina. The final moments of the season really kicked things up a notch: After fatally wounding Jesse (Young Mazino), Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), also shot Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in close range, placing a massive question mark next to her character’s fate.
It’s highly unlikely that The Last of Us will kill off Ellie — the show wouldn’t kill both of its protagonists, would it? But if The Last of Us Part II (the original game upon which Season 2 was based) is any indication, then viewers are in for an even more stressful ride in Season 3.
Here’s what could happen.
Abby replaces Ellie as protagonist
HBO
It would be the pivot to end all pivots, but The Last of Us could actually kill off Ellie and then replace her with Abby as the protagonist. Why not? This show has already bucked structural clichés in its first two seasons, so such an earth-shattering move wouldn’t be too out of place. Plus, this is what happens in the game. Sort of.
While Ellie ultimately survives her encounter with Abby, the game does shift to humanize Abby and tell her side of the story. A respected member of the WLF, Abby has a lot of personal and professional support surrounding her, and a lot of depth to her character. In this way, Season 3 might explore how Joel’s death has affected both Abby and her friends, even as they wind up in conflict with the Seraphite cult (those disconcerting religious folks who almost scythed Ellie). Abby might even get her own love triangle plotline that involves Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer).
And yes, we’ll probably get more insight into Abby’s relationship with her father. In the game, the two are together just hours before Joel’s tragic rampage through the Fireflies complex.
The Seraphites and WLF become even more of a headache
Eagle-eyed viewers might notice that Abby has some bruising on her neck when she shoots Ellie in the theater in the Season 2 finale. If the show follows the game, this is likely because she was almost hanged by the Seraphites, who are also the WLF’s sworn enemies. However, Abby also inadvertently becomes attached to a couple of Seraphites after they save her from being barbarically sacrificed to the Seraphites’ Prophet. This generates even more tension among Abby and her friends, especially when they perform an emergency surgery on one of the Seraphites that saved Abby. Indeed, that’s what Mel and Owen are arguing about in the Season 2 finale when Ellie ambushes them in the aquarium and shoots them both.
Epic visuals
As The Last of Us is based on a game, it has also heavily drawn on said game’s most epic moments. In this vein, Season 3 might turn into a mixtape of impressive visuals. Here are just a handful of incidents that might wind up on the small screen in Season 3:
- Abby and the Seraphite named Lev as they traverse a sky bridge to acquire surgical equipment for the Seraphite named Yara
- Abby, Lev, and Yara take on Seraphite leaders in a massive and bloody battle
- The WLF invades the Seraphite island, causing dramaaaaa (we don’t need to spoil everything here)
And that’s all?
The showrunners for The Last of Us have mentioned that they might need two more seasons to wrap up their story, which suggests that Season 3 might not cover all of the above. Conversely, it might cover all of the above and then some so that viewers don’t feel the absence of Ellie too strongly. This could mean following Ellie and Dina as they build a future together. These two will need to decide if it’s worth pursuing their revenge upon Abby.
And for viewers, it will likely become even harder to decide who to root for in all this. Honestly, considering everything the characters in this show have put each other through, it might be time to start rooting for the zombies.