Summary

  • Episode 3 of The Last of Us season two focuses on the aftermath of Joel's death and the infected riot.
  • The time jump in Episode 3 occurs three months later, showing Jackson being rebuilt and Ellie recovering.
  • The introduction of The Seraphites (Scars) in Episode 3 is portrayed peacefully, hinting at potential new narrative paths.

Episode 2 of The Last of Us Season 2 was action-packed, and the Episode 3 dialed things back a bit. It was definitely an episode living in the aftermath of a huge blowout, and there were some notable missing characters in it, including Abby and the rest of her group.

Joel with Ben and Abby in The Last Of Us Season 2
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Spoilers Ahead for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 3

6 The Aftermath Of Joel’s Death

And The Infected Riot

Tommy in The Last Of Us Season 2-1

There were a lot of little moments in Episode 3 that players didn’t get to see in the game. For example, they never show Joel’s body again following his death in the game, but in Episode 3, Tommy shares a small moment cleaning him in the morgue. While he does not shed tears, Tommy does tell Joel to say hi to Sarah, Tommy’s niece and Joel’s pre-apocalypse daughter.

The overall vibe of the episode is different since Joel wasn’t the only one to go. Tons of people have died or are in treatment, including Ellie, who wakes up in the hospital. She even gets treatment from Gail, who reappears after being absent from Episode 2.

5 The Time Jump

A Little Early On Three Months Later

Abby in The Last Of Us Season 2-1

After Abby’s attack, things move pretty quickly in the game. Ellie recovers off-screen, Joel is buried, and the mission proceeds, all within a couple of days. Once Ellie and Dina leave for Seattle, there is a time skip to bypass all of their road adventures.

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In Episode 3, the time skip happens first to show Jackson being rebuilt, the dead being buried, and Ellie recovering from her wounds. This is also when Dina reveals she was holding back on Ellie and the rest of Jackson. She’s the one who knows about Abby and the W.L.F., instead of Tommy, who was there with Joel during his final moments in the game.

4 The Seraphites (Scars) Appear

Not So Brutal In Their Intro

The Seraphites walking in The Last Of Us Season 2

There are two major factions introduced in The Last of Us Part 2. Abby is part of the W.L.F., which branched off from The Fireflies, or at least shared the same goals. Then there are the Seraphites, or Scars, who are a bunch of religious zealots.

The reveal of the Seraphites in the game is one of the most memorable and brutal scenes in the campaign. In Episode 3, though, they are shown much earlier than in the game. Here, the Seraphites are presented peacefully, but are afraid of who is out there hunting. Ellie and Dina discover their bodies later and assume the W.L.F. Was behind it, but that may not be the case.

3 The Town Meeting

Deciding Joel’s Fate

The town meeting in The Last Of Us Season 2

Ellie is determined to leave Jackson, in both the game and show, in pursuit of Abby for the sake of justice (or vengeance). In the game, she only confides in Tommy and Maria to get permission to leave with a small group. In the show, there is a giant town hall meeting to decide the fate of Jackson.

After hearing everyone out, it's decided that the governing council, which Jesse is now a part of, would hold a vote, and that is a bit different from the game as well. The verdict is almost unanimous that Jackson would stay out of a revenge kick. During the meeting, Ellie promises to abide by whatever they decide, but of course, that’s a lie since she is determined to head out.

2 Ellie And Dina Leaving

Seth Comes Through

Seth in The Last Of Us Season 2

In the game, Tommy promised to talk to Maria to straighten things out and get them approval to leave Jackson. When Ellie awakens the next day, Tommy has left without her knowledge. Furious, Maria gives Ellie the okay to pursue Tommy with the aid of one horse, Shimmer, and Dina to help guide her. Who voted yes and who voted no is not revealed during the council meeting in the show, but it seems like Tommy probably voted no. Unlike his character in the game, Tommy is not as rash a person in the show.

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He has a kid, which is a completely new element. Even though he loved Joel and wants revenge too, Tommy puts his wife and son above that desire. So, who helps Ellie and Dina leave Jackson? By the cover of night, Seth gets them a horse and weaponry as a make-good for the poor comments he made during the dance in Episode 1. Seth was almost a nothing character in the game, and now he’s trying to stand up for something righteous.

1 Ellie And Dina’s Relationship

Why Did Dina Come?

Dina and Ellie in The Last Of Us Season 2

Dina’s willingness to go with Ellie in the game was based on love. It blossomed during the dance as just a kiss, but then they spent a night together during their scouting mission, culminating in them sleeping together. At that point, it was official that they were an item. Because she becomes attached to Ellie, Dina goes with her to Seattle.

That moment hasn’t happened for them yet in the show, since Ellie went with Jesse to scout and Dina went with Joel. The new reason Dina joins Ellie is to get revenge for Joel, since she blames herself for what happened. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a love blossoming between the two, but Dina does tell Ellie in the tent that she went back to Jesse, which complicates things. Will their love not be a thing after all?

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Release Date
January 15, 2023
Network
HBO
Showrunner
Craig Mazin
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  • instar53504431.jpg
    Pedro Pascal
    Joel Miller
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    Bella Ramsey
    Ellie Williams

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Directors
Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Jeremy Webb, Ali Abbasi, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, Jasmila Žbanić, Liza Johnson, Nina Lopez-Corrado
Writers
Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, Halley Wegryn Gross
Franchise(s)
The Last of Us
Creator(s)
Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin