The Biggest Changes in ‘The Last of Us’ S2: Good or Bad?

The Last of Us (TLOU) season 2 has officially ended, and judging by the reactions online, the live-action adaptation could not escape the video game’s contentious legacy. In case you didn’t know, the video game was incredibly divisive upon its release in 2020. While some players praised it for exploring darker themes surrounding human nature, most felt the sequel was a betrayal of the first game due to its frustrating plotline and regressive character arcs. 

With the finale of The Last of Us season 2, the HBO series is ultimately proving to be just as divisive. The episode currently holds a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb, a significant dip compared to season 1’s 9/10 finale. On Rotten Tomatoes, the sequel has an audience score of 39 per cent versus 86 per cent from the widely-praised first season. Talk about life imitating art. 

Ahead, we glean the biggest key changes seen in The Last of Us season 2 versus the video game The Last of Us Part II to reflect how they positively or negatively impact the show and its direction moving forward in season 3.

[Warning: major spoilers ahead as we will be discussing events from each episode. No spoilers will be given outside of what is shown in the aired episodes.]

Episode 1- Future Days

Hello, Abby

In the series: The first episode of the season opens with a new character, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), with a group of surviving Fireflies at a makeshift graveyard. The mood is sombre as they look at the aftermath of Joel’s rampage in season one as Abby declares her revenge. She vows to find Joel to avenge the death of her fallen comrades and intends to kill him slowly.

In the game: Like the viewers, Abby is only introduced in the second instalment, but in this case, she remains a largely mysterious figure. While the show quickly establishes her motive to find and kill Joel, this is not revealed in the game. In fact, gamers don’t know that she is even a former Firefly and is looking for Joel. All they know is that she is hunting for someone in Jackson, and her true motivations are only revealed in the latter half of the game.

Good or bad? We think this is a great change from the video game, as it immediately cements Abby as one of the key antagonists of the show and a dangerous threat to look out for.

Her act of vengeance is a direct consequence of Joel’s actions. While we can’t say that what Joel did is entirely justified (he had to make an incredibly difficult decision), this opening scene is powerful as it sets in motion the key theme of The Last of Us: the never-ending cycle of revenge. 

Joel and Dina are besties

In the series: Speaking of new characters, episode 1 also introduced us to Dina (Isabela Merced). The HBO series is sure to show you that Dina has a strong connection with Joel, with the pair doing repair work together and talking about the tense rift that has recently formed between him and Ellie. Joel even says Dina feels more like his daughter than Ellie does.

In the game: Dina is an extremely integral character in The Last of Us Part II. Despite her relationship with Ellie, she actually doesn’t have a bond with Joel in the game. In fact, the two barely interact. 

Good or bad? Again, this is a good departure from the game as it expands on Dina’s character outside of just being Ellie’s love interest. In the series, she truly cares and loves Joel. Rather than this just being Ellie’s revenge mission that Dina tags along for in the game, both of them now have an emotional stake, adding more weight to their plan to find Abby.

Joel tries to find answers in therapy

In the series: In one of the most riveting scenes in the premiere episode of season 2, Joel (Pedro Pascal) is having a conversation with the resident therapist, Gail (Catherine O’Hara). From what we know, Joel has been speaking with Gail for several months on how to navigate his strained relationship with Ellie. He gets emotional towards the end when Gail tries to uncover what really is eating away at him (*cough* his mass hospital killing spree *cough*), to which he replies, “I saved her.” 

In the game: There is actually no such therapist character or similar scenes in the video game. Gail is a purely made-up role for the HBO series. However, it is mentioned that her husband is called Eugene, who is a character from the game. It’s also revealed that Joel was the one who had to kill Eugene whereas in the game, he dies of a stroke. 

Good or bad? We’re more than okay with this big addition to the show because Gail makes for an interesting character. Since she is a therapist, the series can use her in a variety of ways to better understand the psyche of other characters and include exposition. 

The cordyceps vines are everywhere

In the series: At the end of episode 1, we see an ominous shot of a pipe full of roots and vines in the Jackson settlement. Joel has previously mentioned that their pipes have been blocked and their water supply is limited. In the show, the vines work like a hive mind that all infected communicate with to find surviving humans.

In the game: Cordyceps vines are not a thing in the game. Rather than worrying about those, the game features spores as the main threat of infection by breathing them in. The main reason why this was left out of the first season was that the showrunners did not want characters in face masks all the time on TV.

Good or bad? It was a tough change to get behind in season 1, as it is such a major element of the gameplay. However, the hive mind-like nature of the cordyceps vines does present a very dangerous threat in the show as they can grow fast and reach across huge expanses of land. So, this gets a pass!

Episode 2- Through the Valley

Pairs get switched up for patrol

In the series: In episode 2, Joel is paired up with Dina whilst Ellie goes with Jesse (Young Mazino). Tommy (Gabriel Luna), the leader of the Jackson commune, stays behind. During their patrol, Joel and Dina encounter Abby after she has awakened a horde of infected under the ice and save her. The three of them return to her cabin, where Dina is drugged. 

In the game: Brothers Joel and Tommy are actually paired up, and it’s the two of them who discover Abby and save her in the same way as the show. In the game, he is knocked out by one of Abby’s friends before he can do anything to save his brother. On the other hand, Ellie is originally with Dina, and the two have some fun times with Eugene’s drug stash.

Good or bad? This change has massive implications for the rest of the show, specifically Tommy’s role in all of this, as he is the one who originally starts the path of revenge. For the most part, we don’t mind this switch-up. But Tommy’s new arc needs to be handled well for this change to be pulled off perfectly, and that remains to be seen.

Joel and Abby face off

In the series: The show lets Joel and Abby have a conversation before the bloody bludgeoning begins. Abby makes it clear exactly who she is and why she has come to kill him. In a stunning reveal, Abby tells Joel that one of the men he killed in Salt Lake was her father, the surgeon who was supposed to operate on Ellie. He doesn’t let her get that far with her monologue though, cutting her off with, “Oh, just shut the fuck up and do it already.” She grabs a golf club, and you know what happens next.

In the game: There is little dialogue between them before Joel is beaten to death. She never explains who she is or the reason she has it out for him, even in his final moments. All of this was done to keep the mystery going about Abby’s background and motivations. It is only when gamers play her character in the second half of the game that they find out about her father.

Good or bad? Putting the big reveal of Abby’s father so early on in the show is a big change. When the game first came out, fans were livid about a new face brutally killing off a beloved character for unknown reasons (even the voice actress received a ton of hate online).

The showrunners might have made this change to course-correct the video game to make viewers empathise with Abby earlier on. However, part of the mystery and intrigue around the character is now gone. In saying that, it does make the scene much more impactful instead of the cheap shock factor the game presented. 

The most traumatic scene (everyone cried)

In the series: This is one death we won’t be getting over anytime soon. Video game fans knew it was coming but we’re sure it was still just as heartbreaking to see it a second time. In the show, she is being held down by the W.L.F group and watches as Abby delivers the final blow to Joel by stabbing him in the neck. The group then leaves, and Ellie crawls over to grieve over his dead body.

In the game: The show pretty much replicates Joel’s death scene from the game, except for a few minor details. For one, Joel isn’t stabbed in the neck like the show and instead, gets his brain bashed in with the same golf club. Ellie also doesn’t get to crawl to Joel as she is knocked unconscious.

Good or bad? We have to commend the fans for keeping Joel’s death a secret this long from unsuspecting viewers. The scene is harrowing enough, and we’re glad that they stuck closely to the game to retain its emotional impact. The minor change of having Ellie awake to crawl to Joel was also a great touch that greatly enhanced the scene. 

Jackson under attack

In the series: After Abby accidentally awakens a horde of infected, the large frenzy makes their way towards the Jackson settlement. The survivors put up a good fight, but due to the overwhelming numbers (and a huge Bloater!), the horde breaks into the commune, and a huge battle takes place. Fortunately, Tommy roasts the Bloater with his flamethrower, and they manage to defend their home for another day.

In the game: There is no such attack that takes place on Jackson as the gameplay goes from Joel’s death to Ellie waking up in pain. 

Good or bad? A big resounding “Good!” from us because what a fantastic action sequence it was. From the design of the infected to the throat-biting hunt dogs and Tommy’s heroism, there was a lot to love about this change in the show. Apart from being a thrilling scene, it also further cements Tommy’s position as the town’s leader and why he is needed in Jackson.

Episode 3- The Path

The race to Seattle

In the series: Ellie is adamant about going to Seattle to find Abby and co. Despite the council voting against it, she and Dina sneak off with their horse, Shimmer. Seth, the bigot-turned-ally, preps their weapons and food for the long trip ahead. 

In the game: It’s Tommy who actually quietly leaves Jackson for Seattle first as he is consumed by revenge for his brother. Furious, his wife Maria, asks Ellie to help bring Tommy home. During their way to Seattle, Ellie decides that she too wants revenge for Joel and Dina agrees to help.

Good or bad? Now that the show has established Tommy as the leader of the town with a wife and son to think about, it actually makes sense that he stays in Jackson. This is a major deviation from the game but we’re excited to see how this will impact Tommy’s storyline. Having Ellie and Dina pursue this path of revenge on their own also makes them more active protagonists rather than followers. 

Episode 4- Day One

The hunt for Abby begins

In the series: It’s huge that Tommy isn’t in Seattle by now because it massively impacts Ellie and Dina’s actions. Upon arriving, they immediately get to work by trying to pinpoint Abby’s location. They have one mission and it is only to kill her. 

In the game: Because they are originally in Seattle to find Tommy, Ellie and Dina are more preoccupied with looking for clues to his whereabouts rather than Abby’s. They find letters by Tommy, hear about his killings on the radio, and track him down by following the trail of bodies he’s left behind.

Good or bad? Without the concern of finding Tommy, this change ultimately skips over many hours of gameplay. What took gamers nine hours to complete is now reduced to just less than an hour of screentime. Therefore, fans can feel that the episode is rushed. 

Ellie’s immunity reveal

In the series: TV Ellie has already been bitten more times than in the game, and episode 4 adds another one to the list. Ellie’s immunity is revealed here when she sticks out an arm to protect Dina from an infected about to bite her. They hole up in a theatre where Ellie explains that she is immune.

In the game: Due to the presence of spores in the game, Ellie is forced to reveal her immunity differently. While escaping the subway station, she breaks her face mask, leading her to breathe in the spores. Dina sees this and learns that she is immune.

Good or bad? There are no spores in the show (yet), so we can’t blame the show for making this change. Ellie protecting Dina from a bite once again shows her loyalty and love. We also like that the show is not afraid to show that Ellie is not infallible and does get bitten numerous times, making her a selfless and relatable heroine.

We’re having a baby!

In the series: After finding out that Ellie really is immune, Dina reveals that she has been pregnant this whole time, trading one big secret for another. The two share a passionate kiss and officially become an item. Further, TV Ellie is incredibly happy for Dina and even says, “I’m going to be a dad”. 

In the game: Dina is forced to reveal her pregnancy as she has been getting progressively tired and weak. Compared to the show, Game Ellie does not take the news positively. In fact, she is angry and calls Dina a “burden”. 

Good or bad? This change dramatically impacts Ellie’s character. In the game, Ellie calling Dina a burden further reflects how consumed she is by her revenge that she will stop at nothing to get it done. Having TV Ellie so ecstatic over the pregnancy dilutes this key trait and therefore, is not the same ruthless Ellie the game portrays. Hopefully, we see this lash out further on in the show.

Meet another new villain

In the series: The final big change in The Last of Us season 2 episode 4 pertains to Isaac (Jeffrey Wright). The opening scene is a flashback, showing Isaac as a former FEDRA soldier who kills his fellow soldiers and joins the resistance. In the present time, he is the leader of the W.L.F. 

In the game: In The Last of Us Part II, gamers are only told about Isaac’s story through expository dialogue and collectable notes. There is no mention of him being a FEDRA soldier, just that he was a former marine and resident of Seattle.

Good or bad? As one of the Big Bads of the show, it’s good that The Last of US season 2 is already expanding on Isaac’s character this early on. It’s important to know his motivations, and episode 4 clearly sets things up. 

Episode 5- Feel Her Love

Spores have entered the chat

In the series: The episode opens with a W.L.F. member recounting a mission to the basement of Lakehill Seattle Hospital. A group of soldiers make a horrifying discovery that they have all become infected by an airborne variant of the cordyceps virus. As a result, they made the gallant decision to lock themselves in. “He said it’s in the air,” the W.L.F. officer recalls.

In the game: There is no such scene because spores already exist in the game.

Good or bad? “Finally! The spores are here,” we all cheered. It is such an integral element to the game that we knew it had to appear on the show soon, and this is it! In the episode, it’s mentioned that the basement floors were ground zero for Seattle’s cordyceps infection. This could mean that the spores are a highly evolved form of the virus, making it an exciting element to look forward to in the show.

Murderous cult on the loose

In the series: After nearly getting killed by a group of Stalkers, Ellie and Dina are saved by the likeable Jesse. He reveals that he and Tommy travelled to Seattle together to bring the two girls back to Jackson. The trio enter the park, which belongs to the Seraphites, to escape the W.L.F. They witness a Seraphite disembowling a W.L.F. soldier, and Dina is shot in the leg with an arrow. Ellie distracts them with her gun while Jesse and Dina make their escape.

In the game: Jesse shows up to save Ellie when they’re about to get caught by W.L.F. patrol. Dina is not even supposed to be in any of this because Ellie left her at the theatre by herself. Ellie is the one who gets shot by the arrow in the game. Since Dina does not follow her, none of what is in the show happens.

Good or bad? While this was an entirely added scene for the show, it does a great job at showing that the Seraphites are not as powerless or weak as they were first portrayed in earlier episodes. Turns out, the infected are not the scariest things to look out for. 

Ellie and Nora’s showdown in St. Mary’s Hospital

In the series: Ellie sneaks up behind Nora and holds her at gunpoint. “The little bitch got what he deserved,” Nora spits out in a line pulled directly from the game. Ellie chases her through the hospital to a dead end. Nora opens an elevator shaft and falls to the basement floor. The entire place is full of spores and Nora finds out that Ellie is the rumoured immune girl. The episode ends with Ellie beating Nora with a metal pipe à la the Abby Golf Club Special.

In the game: The chase between Ellie and Nora goes for much longer before Nora is cornered. With the W.L.F soldiers closing in, Ellie grabs Nora and jumps into a giant hole in the ground, taking them into the spore-filled basement. Ellie has to fight off several infected down there, as opposed to the show, where she sees the group of W.L.F soldiers mentioned at the opening completely engulfed in cordyceps vines and breathing out spores. 

Good or bad? Overall, Nora’s death was done well as it clearly showcased Ellie’s descent into violence and aggression in pursuit of revenge. This is a pivotal turning point for Ellie’s character, and Bella Ramsey delivers one of her most riveting performances yet in the show. While the HBO series cuts to black quicker than the game, it’s a scene that will stick with you even after the credits roll. 

Episode 6- The Price

Joel and Tommy’s rough childhood

In the series: The episode opens with a new scene and character that aren’t in the game. It shows Joel taking the blame for something Tommy did in school and asking his little brother to hide when their father comes home. It is implied that Joel Sr. (Tony Dalton) is physically abusive towards his two sons, recounting that his own father broke his jaw once for stealing a candy bar. “When it’s your turn, I hope you do a little better than me,” he tells Joel.

In the game: Joel and Tommy never mention their father. Therefore, there is no such scene like this in The Last of Us Part II.

Good or bad: When the series is not overly concerned with following its source material, the addition of original scenes adds significant emotional depth to the show. While gamers did not know anything about Joel’s childhood, this scene explains his guarded nature and proclivity to violence.

However, it’s also a touching moment that showcases to audiences that Joel ultimately broke that cycle of violence with his adoptive daughter, Ellie. As if we couldn’t love you more, Joel!

The iconic space museum visit

In the series: Episode six is entirely made up of flashbacks, including several of Ellie’s birthdays. When she turns 19, Joel takes Ellie to the Wyoming Museum of Science and History. They come across a rocket shuttle cockpit, and Joel presents her with his second gift: a tape of a lift-off recording. When heading back, Ellie spots a tree surrounded by fireflies and looks on pensively. 

In the game: For fans, the space museum visit is a fan-favourite due to the tender moments between Joel and Ellie. The show is almost a 1:1 recreation of the original scene in the game. From the T-Rex and the lines they speak to the lift-off tape recording, both scenes are close matches. The biggest difference is a horrifying discovery that Ellie makes before leaving. She finds a dead Firefly soldier with a note that explains that the Fireflies have disbanded after they failed their mission to make the world better. 

Good or bad? For the most part, this beloved scene was recreated well and some much-needed father-daughter bonding time before everything went south. However, the firefly scene was far too subtle in the show for audiences without pre-existing context to catch.

In the game, Ellie’s discovery is one of the triggers that causes her to rethink Joel’s story of what happened at Salt Lake City. Without this, Ellie’s internal conflict is left too ambiguous and without any proper setup. 

The nature of Eugene’s death

In the series: Eugene’s (Joe Pantoliano) death was already mentioned in episode 1, where Gail explains that she was angry at how Joel killed him. We finally see what went down in this episode when Eugene is infected, and Joel and Ellie arrive as assistance. Eugene pleads to them to take him back to Jackson so he can say his final goodbyes to his wife before he turns. Joel is reluctant but agrees to do so under Ellie’s behest. While she goes to fetch their horses, Joel leads Eugene to a clearing and shoots him. Ellie feels betrayed, and she stops talking to him altogether.

In the game: As mentioned before, Eugene’s death in the game occurred off-screen, and he was said to have died from a stroke. Therefore, none of this happens in The Last of Us Part II. 

Good or bad? This original scene hit all of the emotional beats the games are known for. The tragic incident showcases important themes in the show, such as the consequences of one’s actions (in this case, Joel’s killings) and the devastation it brings to everyone around them.

It also causes Ellie to see a disparity between the father figure she looked up to versus the trigger-ready killer who was good at lying in front of her. This moral ambiguity of the characters is one of the reasons The Last of Us remains one of the most emotionally complex and compelling video games to exist.

The iconic porch scene

In the series: After the scuffle at the barn with Seth in episode 2, Ellie meets Joel on the porch and asks what really happened in Salt Lake City. Joel finally admits that he killed all the Fireflies because they were going to kill Ellie to make a cure. Ellie is angry that Joel robbed her of her “purpose”. Tearfully, Joel says that he would do it again because he loved Ellie in ways she could never understand. “I hope you’ll do a little better than me,” he repeats from his father. The episode ends with Ellie saying that she doesn’t know how to forgive him, but that they can try.

In this game: How Ellie finds out the truth goes down very differently. Due to her suspicions of Joel, Ellie secretly went to Saint Mary’s Hospital, where she found a recording in which a Firefly says that someone has killed the only person capable of making a cure. Joel arrives and admits to his actions. Ellie breaks down and declares she is done with Joel. The porch scene is actually the final scene of the entire game. After Ellie says she is willing to try to forgive Joel, the screen cuts to black. Joel responds that he’d “like that”, which is missing in the show.

Good or bad? It’s a relief to know that Joel and Ellie did not end on bad terms before his tragic death the next day. Unfortunately, the show falls into some bad habits in the handling of the iconic porch scene. While performed brilliantly by Pascal and Ramsey, it lacked the buildup and storytelling that made the original game sequence so unforgettable and gut-wrenching.

In The Last of Us Part II, players closely follow Ellie’s internal conflict as she despairs over empathising with Joel’s actions and hating his awful deeds. However, instead of cleverly weaving these flashbacks throughout the show, it breezes through them and clumps all the pivotal flashbacks into one episode, watering down their emotional impact.

Episode 7- Convergence

Abby is important to the WLF

In the series: Isaac is talking to the same WLF officer seen in the opening of episode 5 as they plan a huge attack on the Seraphites. Abby is noticeably missing, and the officer criticises Abby for her absence during this important mission. However, Isaac talks of her importance within the organisation. “There’s only one Abby,” he says. 

In the game: As The Last of Us Part II only allows gamers to follow the perspectives of its main characters, there are no cutaway scenes similar to these featuring Isaac.

Good or bad: This added original scene helps to further characterise Abby and hints at her significant role in season 3, whilst establishing Isaac as a cold and calculated leader. She is clearly an important and indispensable figure in the WLF, and viewers will be able to see how her story unfolds in the coming season.

Ellie’s journey to the aquarium

In the series: Around the midpoint of the finale, Ellie decides to separate from Jesse and heads to the aquarium to find Abby. At the dock, she avoids WLF soldiers, finds a boat, and traverses the surging waves during the storm. Her boat is overturned, and she washes up on the Seraphite island. Ellie is almost killed before their island is attacked. They leave Ellie, and she resumes her journey to the aquarium by boat.

In the game: It’s a much longer journey where Ellie has to do more to get to the aquarium. Players control Ellie in an intensive sequence where she faces several infected (including a Bloater!). She loses her boat and ends up swimming the rest of the way to the aquarium.

Good or bad: Unfortunately, the show’s adaptation is a major disappointment. Especially for a finale, it lacks the tense and foreboding element to drive up the stakes. Ellie’s sudden appearance on the Seraphite island is also extremely out of place, and it’s unrealistic that she was let go when it would’ve only taken a second to kill her.

The wasted narrative breath on this scene was clearly meant to set up Abby’s arc in season 3, but at the expense of the finale’s pacing. We also needed much more infected action—bring back the Bloater! 

Owen and Mel’s deaths go down differently

In the series: Upon arriving at the aquarium, Ellie finds Abby’s friends, Owen and Mel. She asks each of them to point to a map to indicate Abby’s location, but Owen reaches for a gun. This prompts Ellie to shoot Owen, and the bullet goes through his neck, killing Mel. Ellie finds out Mel is also heavily pregnant, and the WLF member asks her to help cut out the baby. Visibly distraught, Ellie is unable to do so, and Tommy and Jesse arrive to bring her back to the theatre.

In the game: It’s similar up to the part about the map. Then a tussle occurs as Owen lunges for Ellie. She manages to shoot him down. Mel also attempts to attack Ellie with a knife before she is stabbed by Ellie in the neck. After Mel dies, she realises she is pregnant and suffers some sort of panic attack before Tommy and Jesse arrive.

Good or bad? This is also another poorly executed adaptation of the original scene. We see instances of the show watering down Ellie’s revenge journey and bloodlust for Abby, but it leans into this bad habit the worst here. The controversial change to make Mel’s death accidental is an example of this. Not only do we not see Ellie’s combat skills shown in the game (she’s actually real tough in the game), but we are also given a more passive, fangless version of the character that is miles apart from the source material.

Abby and Ellie’s final confrontation

In the series: After shooting Jesse unceremoniously in the head, instantly killing him, Abby holds Tommy down and points her gun at him. Distraught from seeing her friend’s lifeless body, Ellie puts down her gun and surrenders. “I let you live,” Abby angrily says to Ellie, before pointing the gun. The screen cuts to black, and a gunshot is heard. The finale ends with Abby’s perspective on Seattle Day One.

In the game: The Last of Us Part II does not end with a gunshot sound. Rather, it only occurs when Tommy attempts to attack Abby, and the gun is fired. Instead of cutting to Abby during Seattle Day One, the game cuts to several flashbacks, including a childhood memory of Abby and her father, Abby discovering his dead body, and the aftermath of Joel’s killing. Only then does the Seattle Day One scene play.

Good or bad? The show seems to be saving scenes of Abby with her father for her upcoming arc in season 3. This is similar to the game, whereby players had to switch from playing as Ellie to Abby in the second half of The Last of Us Part II. Dever shines as Abby in this scene, although the character loses several cookie points for offing Jesse like that. It’s a thrilling yet aggravating finale to end things with.

With the show stumbling over its ambitious creative instincts (or in some instances, its lack thereof), the cliffhanger ending may cause even more frustration in viewers who will have to wait a few years before any questions are answered.

At the very least, season 3 promises to be more action-packed as we will find out what Tommy was up to in Seattle, the big battle between the WLF and Seraphites on the island, and more spores action. 

Final rating: 6/10

Watch The Last of Us season 2 on HBO and stream on Max.

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