New Set Images from Season 2 of The Last of Us Reveal Story Coverage
Significant information about the story coverage in season 2 and its faithfulness to the critically praised video game, The Last Of Us Part II, has leaked images from the HBO set of filming revealed. Season 2 will not cover the whole second game while season 1 of the series covered the first game and its DLC. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann verified that it will take two or maybe three seasons to fully tell the tale of The Last of Us Part II.
Emphasizing Ellie's Trip
Two less than season 1's nine episodes, season 2 of The Last Of Us is expected to have—seven. Particularly the multifarious storyline in Seattle, fans have been keen to find out how the show will modify the intricate story of the game. Strong proof that season 2 will center Ellie's three-day trip in Seattle, as shown in the game, comes from the most recent set pictures Redditor u/O Owen Christopher NDA leaked a picture of Bella Ramsey and Young Mazino, Jesse's actress, on a Seattle street. This implies that the show will highlight Ellie and Jesse's trip to the aquarium from Seattle Day 3.
These set pictures, together with past images showing Ramsey and Isabela Merced in a scene reminiscent of the Capitol Hill section from Ellie and Dina's Seattle Day 1, confirm even more the show's adherence to Ellie's storyline. Furthermore, the lack of Kaitlyn Dever—who portrays Abby in the series—from any of the Seattle sets suggests that Abby's plot will be preserved for season 3.
Storyline Reserved for Season 3 Abby
Season 2's seven-episode schedule is inadequate to cover Ellie and Abby's Seattle narratives, thus Abby's viewpoint is probably going to be highlighted in season 3. A daring narrative decision is this mirroring of the game's structure, whereby players experience Ellie's three days before switching to Abby's viewpoint. Although the game needed a single-perspective approach, the TV series could have shown both points of view concurrently with cross-cutting. This might have, however, lessened the story's emotional power.
The intentional framework of the game was meant to control audience emotions. Joel's horrific death by Abby immediately makes the player hateful and drives a need for retribution. Then the game challenges players to face these feelings as they hunt Abby across Seattle. Abby stays a concept rather than a person throughout Ellie's path, letting the player project their grief, anger, and regret onto her. The change of viewpoint to Abby's challenges these emotions and forces players to consider Abby's motives and regret instead of their need for vengeance. If the show regularly cuts back to Abby's redemption arc while Ellie pursues vengeance, this emotional change would be less successful.
A cliffhanger finale
The season 2 finale of the show will probably end with a major theatrical confrontation. Ellie is about to give up on her search for Abby when Abby shows up, grabs Tommy captive, kills Jesse, and holds Ellie at gunpoint after realizing the people she spared have hunted down and killed her friends. At this point the game veers suddenly into Abby's narrative. Using this moment as a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, the TV show can leave viewers on the brink of their seats ready for season three.
The Hazards of Reproducing the Game's Framework
Although The Last of Us Part II's great impact is mostly attributed to its split narrative structure, adapting it for television runs great risks. Many players embraced the game's twists and came to value Abby, but others quit after having to play as Joel's killer. Likewise, some TV watchers may find the change in emphasis to Abby's storyline objectionable.
Player drop-offs were lessened by the financial model of the video game, in which players pay a set price independent of completion. TV shows, however, cannot stay profitable without regular viewers. Although the Ellie-centric approach of season 2 will probably satisfy viewers, an Abby-centric season 3 could turn off some of the audience, much as some viewers stopped watching The Walking Dead after Negan killed Glenn. This approach thus runs the danger of losing viewers and maybe influencing the performance of the show.
