Summary
- Season 2 of The Last of Us altered scenes from the game, like Ellie's interaction with Owen at the aquarium.
- Emotional moments like Joel's death and Ellie's retribution set the tone for fans.
- An alternative version of Owen and Ellie's confrontation in the game was not as intense in the series.
HBO's The Last of Us has now wrapped up season 2, leaving fans on a cliffhanger about what will be in store for Abby, Ellie, and Dina when the post-apocalyptic adaptation makes its way back for season 3. The show depicted plenty of key moments from the Naughty Dog sequel, however, some scenes have been changed from the video game, like the interaction between Ellie, Dina, and Owen at the aquarium. But in a new behind-the-scenes clip from The Last of Us season 2, an alternative version of this event is much closer to the game's traumatic scene than what was shown in the series.
Just like the game, season 2 was an emotional experience for fans, even when they knew what was coming next. Joel's untimely exit in episode 2 differed slightly from Part 2 in terms of how the hardened survivor met his end, opting to let Abby kill him with the shaft of a golf club to the neck rather than bashing his brains in. This horrific event, which Ellie witnessed, saw the teenager set out on a path of retribution to hunt down Abby and the rest of the WLF. Fans had already seen what Ellie was capable of doing after witnessing her torturing Nora (Tati Gabrielle) for information about Abby's whereabouts, but the scene where she faces Owen and Mel could be considered one of season 2's most heartbreaking moments.
The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Featured Yet Another Big Continuity Error Thanks to Its Altered Timeline
The Last of Us season 2's final episode included another big continuity error due to the show's timeline change.
The Last of Us BTS Footage Shows an Alternate Scene With Mel and Owen
In a new behind-the-scenes clip from the official Twitter account of The Last of Us, fans get a look at the details and preparation that went into the making of season 2. From Abby getting chased by a horde of infected, Ellie getting attacked by a stalker, to that iconic and terrifying subway scene with Dina and Ellie, a very short glimpse at the end of the video shows how Owen and Ellie actually had an altercation, which differs from what was shown to viewers.
At the 4.19 mark, which only lasts for a few seconds, Owen and Ellie can be seen struggling over a gun. This scene is more in tune with the game as Ellie shoots Owen in the stomach after he tries to take Ellie's weapon, but in The Last of Us season 2 finale, this doesn't happen as, instead, Ellie gets trigger-happy after seeing Owen reach for his gun, shooting him in the throat and accidently killing Mel with the same bullet. Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Craig Mazin said that there was a valid reason for this particular scene to be cut from the TV show. "Ellie is not really capable of killing Owen – you look at Bella [Ramsey] and you look at Spencer Lord, he's 6'4" and just incredibly imposing," Mazin continued. "A physical struggle wasn't going to go well, and she's not there to kill them. She just wants to kill Abby."
For some fans, this scene may have felt a bit underwhelming, as in the game, even though Ellie had a strong reaction to killing Mel, her main goal was to get straight back on the horse and find Abby. She didn't feel particularly bad about Mel's death, as she was so cloaked in anger and revenge, and felt that the pair had it coming to them, so it was their own fault. However, even though the confrontation was somewhat watered down, it was still a highly traumatic moment, mostly because of Mel's innocent unborn baby, who was left to pass away with its dying mother.
A release date for The Last of Us Season 3 hasn't been revealed by HBO as yet, but if the series follows the same structure as 1 and 2, the next installment could begin shooting in 2026 and premiere sometime in early 2027.
‘We’re Tormenting The Audience’ The Last Of Us Show Runner Reveals Why Controversial Scene Was Cut
The Last of Us show runner Craig Mazin has lifted the lid on why they cut a controversial scene from the second season.
- 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
- Creator(s)
- Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin
Source: HBO The Last of Us X/Twitter