Summary
- A major narrative deviation in The Last of Us season 2 finale was originally a scene cut from the game.
- The season 2 finale saw a decline in viewership, drawing mixed reactions from fans.
- The show's diversion from the games' original narratives has sparked strong reactions, possibly affecting viewer engagement.
HBO's The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann revealed a major narrative deviation added to the show's season two finale was originally a scene cut from the game. The television adaptation of developer Naughty Dog's award-winning game series wrapped up its second season on May 25, covering Ellie's (Bella Ramsay) first three days in Seattle in just seven episodes. The Last of Us has introduced multiple changes to the original story told by the games, expanding upon some aspects with varying levels of success in the eyes of fans.
The newest season of HBO's post-apocalyptic drama series has drawn mixed reactions from fans of both the show and its source material, with The Last of Us season 2 finale suffering a significant decline in viewership. With a third season already in production, adding new scenes to The Last of Us Part 2's already impressive length could see Ellie and Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever) story continuing well into a fourth.
The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Really Didn't Need To Include This One Scene
A potential new subplot with Ellie in uncharted territories unfortunately went to waste and took up unnecessary time in the finale episode.
During a press conference for The Last of Us season 2 finale, Druckmann revealed that the scene depicting Ellie washing up on a Seraphite island and nearly hanged had been cut from The Last of Us Part 2 for "production pacing purposes." Although Ellie's run-in with the cult seems mostly inconsequential in the context of the episode and the season overall, it is still one of the biggest changes in The Last of Us season 2. The scene is extremely similar to a major point in the game, but it's Abby who narrowly escapes a Seraphite noose, not Ellie. In the finale's climax, a thin bruise can be seen around Abby's neck, hinting that the game's version of events may still occur, but viewers will have to wait until next season to find out.
The Last of Us Season 2 Makes Major Changes to the Game's Story
So, here that sequence where Ellie like drifts to the Seraphite Island and almost gets lynched herself was something we used to have in the game and cut it for just production pacing purposes. And then now- now we had like three horrible things in a row, we had like that sequence, Alice and then Mel. And in our conversation, we're like this, probably one, one too many.
Druckmann's explanation of Naughty Dog's decision to remove the scene from the game is strikingly similar to one given by showrunner Craig Mazin on why Alice's death was cut from The Last of Us season 2. The show has previously received praise for its efforts to divert from the games' original narratives, particularly in its first season.
Overall, season 2 of The Last of Us was a mixed bag, with many deviations eliciting strong reactions and confusion from series faithfuls. Even players of the original games may need the ending of The Last of Us season 2 explained to fully understand what was changed before season 3 airs. With season 2 marking a transition to Abby's perspective in the upcoming season, there's still an opportunity for Ellie's strange encounter with the Seraphites to pay off. If showrunners Mazin and Druckmann take audience feedback regarding season 2 and apply what worked in season 1, it's possible they can win back viewers, just as Abby did for skeptical players of The Last of Us Part 2.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Network
- HBO
- Showrunner
- Craig Mazin
Cast
-
Pedro PascalJoel Miller -
Bella RamseyEllie Williams
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on Naughty Dog's popular PlayStation game, HBO's The Last of Us takes place decades after a fungal infection eradicated most of humanity. When a teenage girl named Ellie is found to be immune to the disease, Joel agrees to smuggle her across the United States.
