Summary
- Fans of The Last of Us are split on Abby's changed appearance for Season 2.
- The decision to alter Abby's physique could jeopardize a key part of her character as seen in the game.
- Despite concerns over Abby's new look, the adaptation of Season 1 has instilled faith in fans for the upcoming season.
The Last of Us Part 2 and Abby spoilers ahead.
In just a few short months, HBO's The Last of Us will be returning with its much anticipated season 2, which will be adapted from Naughty Dog's plot of the second game. While much of season one of The Last of Us was faithful to the original game, viewers got a surprise edition with a look into Frank and Bill's love story and how they survived, something that was only hinted at briefly in the 2013 PlayStation title.
However, when it comes to The Last of Us season 2, fans can expect quite a few changes to its narrative with the likes of a never-before-seen character played by Catherine O'Hara and another pretty big change coming for the character of Abby Anderson. Even though co-creator of the series, Neil Druckmann, previously explained that Kaitlyn Dever wouldn't look exactly like the muscular character due to Abby's mechanics and motivation changing this time for the show, die-hard fans of The Last of Us Part 2 seemingly have a very different opinion, believing this change could be a risky move.
Catherine O'Hara Reveals More About Her Character in The Last of Us Season 2
The Last of Us Season 2's newest cast member Catherine O'Hara has shared some more hints about her original character in the HBO series.
Last of Us Fans Are Split About Abby’s Appearance for Season 2
As Last of Us Part 2 players will remember all too well, Abby Anderson is a new character that came into its compelling storyline due to Joel's actions regarding her father in the first game. Serving as Ellie's nemesis and a playable protagonist, Abby wasn't particularly liked by some of its player base because of that Joel scene. Ironically, at the time, Abby also received quite a lot of hate regarding her muscular physique, leading to criticism that Naughty Dog was shoehorning an "unrealistic" body type on the character. However, the tables have seemingly turned quite dramatically for many regarding her physical changes in season 2 of The Last of Us.
On Reddit, one Last of Us fan asked whether it was a good thing that Abby’s bulkiness was removed for season 2, due to it being a huge part of her character throughout the second game. Most opinions in the comment section agreed that taking away Abby's muscular physique was almost like removing her identity completely, as it was such an important catalyst for her quest for revenge and also seeing the dramatic differences her body went through regarding how players then saw her at the very end of Part 2.
"Abby’s muscles were absolutely a character trait in the game. Let’s not justify the existence of Abby’s extreme muscular frame in the game, and then discount it because the show is going a different route." Said one commenter, while another exclaimed, "Honestly, I'm tired of the people who won't let themselves acknowledge that her physicality was a key part of her character." However, another fan of the game said, "I don't think it's better or worse necessarily. Abby's obsession can be shown in other ways, but either way, it can't be fully judged until we see the performance," with another agreeing that until people see season 2 for themselves, they should give Abby a chance, "Kaitlyn Dever is a multitalented actress who has excelled at multiple genres, and the role of Abby is right in her wheelhouse."
When Bella Ramsey took on the role of Ellie in HBO's The Last of Us, some fans believed that they couldn't fill the shoes of the beloved character as they looked nothing like them. Thankfully, they had to eat their words as Ramsey swooped in and portrayed an excellent version of the protagonist, receiving an Emmy nomination for their role in the process. While many fans will have their opinions about whether Abby's muscles are important or not, it goes without saying that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann adapted an incredible season one, so there is a lot of faith there that the same will be applied this time around too.
The Last Of Us Season 2 does not yet have an official premiere date as yet, but it is currently set to debut its first episode in April 2025 exclusively on Max.
Why The Last of Us’ Latest Adaptation Deviation is Its Toughest Pill to Swallow
The Last of Us' HBO series has explained why Abby will not be muscular and such a choice now jeopardizes a considerable part of her character.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Network
- HBO
- Showrunner
- Craig Mazin
Cast
-
Pedro PascalJoel Miller -
Bella RamseyEllie Williams
WHERE TO WATCH
- 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
Source: Reddit