I'm Excited For Abby's Story In The Last Of Us Season 3, But The Show Shouldn't Have Followed The Game's Structure

I'm very excited to see Abby's side of the story in The Last of Us season 3, but following the game's structure could end up being a risky move for the HBO series. Before the follow-up season even debuted, HBO renewed The Last of Us season 3. It's unclear how long viewers will need to wait for the show's return, though The Last of Us season 2's ending set up Abby as the central figure of the show's next chapter, falling in line with how the game played out.

Kaitlyn Dever joined The Last of Us season 2 cast as Abby, the divisive figure who would go on to be the one to kill off Pedro Pascal's Joel. Granted, before the show expanded on Abby as a character, season 2 kept Ellie, Dina, and other Jackson residents at the forefront. By following The Last of Us Part II's game structure, it paves the way for Dever's Abby to be the star of season 3, even if that comes with added risks.

The Last Of Us Season 3 Will Follow Abby's Time In Seattle

The Show Is Switching To Abby's POV

Abby's "Day One" scene in The Last of Us season 2's ending is significant evidence that the show is set to follow the sequel game's structure. Once Abby ambushed Ellie and her group in the theater hideout, The Last of Us Part II's playable character switched from Ellie to Abby, focusing on the latter's time in Seattle over the same timeframe. Like the game's POV change, The Last of Us season 3 is confirmed to be Abby's story, meaning viewers will get a chance to see what Dever's character was up to while Ellie and Dina were in Seattle.

After killing Joel in The Last of Us season 2, episode 2, Abby was absent until her reappearance in the finale's concluding sequence. We knew that Abby and her group of WLF members returned to Seattle, but rather than flip back and forth between Ellie and Abby, the show decided to mirror the game's narrative format. Though season 2 introduced Jeffrey Wright's Isaac and revealed the fates of Nora, Owen, and Mel, Abby's role in Seattle during the rising conflict between the WLF and Seraphites will be a primary focus in season 3.

Based On The Game, I'm Eager To See Abby's Story Play Out In The Last Of Us Show

Abby's Story Takes A Few Interesting Turns In The Sequel Game

Since The Last of Us Part II released in 2020, Abby's role has been controversial in the franchise. While many were upset at the fact that the character killed Joel, it was made worse by the fact that Joel's killer became a primary playable character about halfway through the game's story. Granted, after getting over the Joel aspect, I found Abby's POV to be an interesting way to learn more about her trauma, while further explaining her motivations for killing Joel. In doing so, many parallels between Ellie and Abby emerge, which I'm interested to see continue in the show.

There are also several moments from the sequel game that I can't wait to see in live-action. With Abby's story on display, there will be more insight into the WLF's war against the Scars. We'll also get a better understanding of her group dynamic, as well as an introduction to new characters like Lev. If you're familiar with The Last of Us Part II, you are probably already gearing up for the Rat King in The Last of Us season 3, which might take the cake for the show's wildest infected variant.

Focusing Too Much On Abby In Season 3 Could Hurt The Last Of Us

More Abby Means Less Ellie & Dina In Season 3

While Abby's addition to The Last of Us season 2 warrants more focus on her story, the switch to her POV in season 3 also carries a lot of risk. After setting up Ellie and Dina as the main characters in season 2, we might have to wait until season 4 before we see them back as the core figures of the show again. Unlike the games, where the switch in POV could last a few hours' worth of storytelling, using the game's structure means it could take several more seasons before the show pays off certain storylines.

Even if season 3 goes back to the theater ambush sequence, Ellie and Dina will most likely have drastically reduced roles next season, which is a shame after Isabela Merced became a highlight of The Last of Us season 2. After spending so much time on Ellie's journey for revenge and growing relationship with Dina, swapping them out for Abby might not sit well with all viewers, especially those who have criticized the pacing of season 2. What's more, Abby is already at a disadvantage with The Last of Us viewers for being the one to kill off fan-favorite Joel.

Why The Last Of Us Should Have Combined Ellie & Abby's Seattle Story

TLOU Could Have Avoided Key Pacing Issues In Season 2

Whether you fully accepted the change of lead characters in season 2, The Last of Us season 3 is introducing another main character change with Abby's story focus. Abby might be the "hero of her story," but it's a tough ask for viewers to instantly feel that way by using an Abby-centric season rather than a structure that gradually uncovers her view of the narrative. Instead, The Last of Us should have avoided the game approach and combined Ellie and Abby's stories by jumping back and forth between their respective POVs in Seattle.

Not only would the combined approach have fixed The Last of Us season 2's pacing issues, even with a shortened season, but it would have avoided some of the criticism surrounding Abby and the WLF. Without Abby's increased involvement, there wasn't much of a payoff regarding the WLF, Isaac, and the Seraphites. The structure also weakens the impact of The Last of Us season 2's cliffhanger in the theater, since we likely won't see the rest of Ellie and Abby's encounter until late into season 3 or beyond.

What The Last Of Us Showrunners Have Said About Season 3's Plans

The Show's Creators Are Keeping Season 3 Details Under Wraps

Following The Last of Us season 2's ending, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann haven't confirmed that season 3 will be Abby's story. During a press conference that ScreenRant attended, Mazin and Druckmann played coy when asked about following the game's structure by transitioning to Abby's POV in season 3. Though Mazin stated that he's "not answering" with a laugh, he also had this to share:

"All I can say is we haven’t seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever, and we haven’t seen the last of Bella Ramsey, and we haven’t seen the last of Isabela Merced, and we haven’t seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story."

It's difficult to believe that The Last of Us season 3 has any other options to tell Abby's side of the Seattle story without primarily focusing on Dever's character. Season 2 already showed what happened to Ellie and her Jackson allies during those three days, so all that's left is Abby's whereabouts and filling in the blanks regarding the WLF's war with the Scars. There are certainly arguments to be made for separating Ellie and Abby's stories, but with today's long production timelines, it's difficult to justify using the same structure for live-action.