9 Biggest Game Changes The Last Of Us Makes In Season 2 Episode 4

The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 is finally here, and the episode makes nine big changes to the video game that it is based on, The Last of Us Part II. The Last of Us season 1 was incredibly faithful to the source material, with most of its changes being additions to the story rather than alterations of the existing content. However, the same can't be said for The Last of Us season 2. The newest season of HBO's hit adaptation has significantly altered The Last of Us Part II, with season 2, episode 4 offering another batch of changes.

The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 picks up right where The Last of Us season 2, episode 3 ended, with Ellie and Dina having finally made it to Seattle. Episode 4 sees Ellie and Dina journey through the city, with them locating a WLF base in a satellite TV station. Upon their arrival, they find the remnants of a Seraphite massacre. They are then pursued by WLF forces and, later, an Infected horde, forcing them to flee. They find themselves in an abandoned theater, with them discovering that they are far off course.

9Ellie & Dina Are Hunting Tommy In The Game

Rather Than Just Hunting Abby

The biggest change in The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 has to do with the reason that Ellie and Dina are in Seattle. In the game, Tommy goes after Abby first. Maria then sends Ellie and Dina to find Tommy, although they decide to get revenge on Abby along the way. Because of this, Ellie and Dina's journey in the game is motivated by the various clues they find as to Tommy's whereabouts. They hear news of Tommy on the radio, find letters about Tommy, and even find the remnants of Tommy's interrogations.

However, none of this exists in the HBO show. As of The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, Tommy is still in Jackson. Ellie and Dina aren't sent to Seattle, with them instead sneaking out themselves. They are purely there to kill Abby. Thus, their actions are motivated by clues regarding the whereabouts of the WLF, not the whereabouts of Tommy.

8The HBO Show Cut A Lot Of Ellie & Dina's First Day In Seattle

Since They Aren't Looking For Tommy

Ellie's Seattle journey in The Last of Us Part II is divided into three days, with each one covering several hours of gameplay. Interestingly, all of Ellie's first day is contained in episode 4. A lot of day one from The Last of Us Part II was cut from the HBO show, streamlining things. Ellie and Dina pretty much go straight to the satellite station in the show, whereas this is the end of their day one journey in the game.

In the game, Ellie and Dina first go to a hotel that is being used as a WLF base. They discover that an electric gate must be opened in order to get inside, with them then going to a synagogue to find fuel for the gate's generator. They then fight Infected in a parking deck before going back to the hotel, discovering the remnants of Tommy's interrogation of Nick. The duo is then captured by WLF forces and held hostage in a school. They then hide out in an apartment complex. There, they find a letter telling them that one of Abby's friends is posted in the TV station, with them finally going there.

7Shimmer Dies In The Last Of Us Part II

When Ellie & Dina Are Kidnapped By WLF Soldiers

Ellie and Dina ride a horse to Seattle, and her name is Shimmer. In The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, Ellie and Dina simply stash Shimmer away in an abandoned building, with them presumably coming back for her later. However, she meets a much sadder fate in the show. Before being kidnapped by the aforementioned WLF soldiers, Ellie and Dina hit a land mine while riding Shimmer. This wounds Shimmer, with a WLF leader named Mike then shooting Shimmer. This kills Shimmer, meaning that The Last of Us season 2 has avoided any horse death so far.

6Ellie's Immunity Is Revealed When She Breathes Spores In The Game

But Spores Don't Exist In The HBO Show

Ellie has already been bit several more times in HBO's The Last of Us than in the games, and this trend continues in episode 4. In the episode, Ellie sticks her arm out to protect Dina, with an Infected biting her. This forces Ellie to reveal her immunity to Dina. While this happens in the game, it plays out differently. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie falls during the subway station escape sequence. Ellie's mask then breaks, exposing her to spores. Dina sees this, learning that Ellie is immune. Since spores don't exist in HBO's The Last of Us, the show had to change how this reveal plays out.

5Dina's Sickness Originally Forces Her To Reveal Her Pregnancy

But She Doesn't Get Sick In The HBO Show

Dina's big reveal in The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 also plays out differently. In the HBO show, Dina reveals her pregnancy after hearing about Ellie's immunity. It is played as a positive thing, almost as if Dina is revealing her secret in order to make Ellie feel better about her immunity secret.

However, this is not how Dina's pregnancy reveal played out originally. In The Last of Us Part II, Dina gets sick during the subway escape sequence. Ellie has to save her, with the two then heading to the theater to take refuge. There, Ellie makes Dina tell her what is going on. Dina reveals that she is pregnant, explaining why she is so sick and tired.

4Ellie Is Much Angrier About Dina's Pregnancy In The Game

But She Is Overjoyed In The HBO Series

After learning about Dina's pregnancy, Ellie has a very different reaction in HBO's The Last of Us than in the game. In episode 4, Ellie is incredibly happy about Dina's pregnancy. While she is concerned for Dina, she says that she is excited to be a dad. The duo then has sex, proving how happy Ellie is about the pregnancy. In the game, however, Ellie is much less positive. When Dina reveals her pregnancy, Ellie is angry. She says that this will be a burden, with Ellie being upset that Dina didn't mention her suspicions before she left Jackson.

3Ellie Plays Guitar Before Getting To The Theater (& The Song Is Different)

She Doesn't Play Pearl Jam This Time

Ellie playing guitar is a fun scene in both HBO's The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II, although it plays out differently in both versions. In season 2, episode 4, Ellie and Dina explore a music store early in the episode, with Ellie finding the guitar there. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie's guitar scene takes place at the theater, after she learns about Dina's pregnancy. Furthermore, Ellie sings Pearl Jam's "Future Days" in the game. In the show, Ellie sings A-ha's "Take on Me," most likely because the HBO show's outbreak took place in 2003, 10 years before "Future Days" was released.

2Ellie & Dina Have A Different Destination In The Game

Lakehill Appears Earlier In The Show

The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 ends with Ellie and Dina hearing about the WLF's whereabouts on the radio. They head to the roof of the theater, seeing the scene of the battle that is being discussed. This location is Lakehill, a hospital that doesn't appear until later in The Last of Us Part II. In the game, Ellie and Dina hear about Hillcrest, with the radio discussing that a trespasser is there. Believing that the trespasser is Tommy, Ellie heads there. It isn't until she gets back to the theater that Dina mentions that Lakehill is being discussed over the radio.

1Isaac Wasn't A FEDRA Soldier In The Last Of Us Part II

The HBO Series Has Expanded On His Character

The final major change in The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 has to do with the backstory of Jeffrey Wright's Isaac. The episode starts with a flashback scene, showing Isaac as a FEDRA soldier. Isaac chooses to kill his fellow soldiers and join the resistance, leading to his role in the WLF. In The Last of Us Part II, Isaac's story is only told through dialogue and various collectible notes. In the game, it is never mentioned that Isaac was a FEDRA agent, with him simply being a former marine and resident of Seattle. Thus, The Last of Us season 2 is already expanding his character.