I Totally Missed This Abby Detail That Sets Up The Last Of Us Season 3, But It Makes Ellie's Scars Story More Confusing

Abby made her return to The Last of Us season 2 at the end of the finale episode, which subtly set up a key scene in season 3. Kaitlyn Dever's character in The Last of Us season 2 played a pivotal role in the story despite her very limited screen time. After killing off Joel in The Last of Us season 2's second episode, Abby wasn't seen again until the finale. Based on where The Last of Us season 3's story is heading, there likely won't be a lack of Abby as long as the HBO show mostly follows The Last of Us Part II game.

While Ellie and Jesse were out looking for Tommy in season 2's finale, Nora's "whale" and "wheel" answers regarding Abby's whereabouts finally made sense. Ellie realized Abby was hiding out in Seattle's aquarium, so she ditched the mission with Jesse to head there instead. Despite not finding Abby, Ellie killed Owen and Mel at the Aquarium before Jesse and Tommy led her back to the theater, where they ended up encountering an angry Abby. The Last of Us season 2's ending sequence with Abby also included an interesting hint for next season.

Abby Has A Bruise Around Her Neck In The Last Of Us Season 2's Finale

Dever's Character Faced Other Enemies Before Going To The Theater

When Abby went to the aquarium, she found her allies dead, but she also found a map that revealed their killer's location. Though we don't know what Abby will do to Tommy and Dina, The Last of Us season 2 confirmed that Abby shot and killed Jesse just as she came face-to-face with Ellie. During the confrontation, Abby had a brief but heated conversation with Ellie, leading to Abby firing her gun again as the screen cut to black. With the intensity of the scene, many may have missed the fact that Abby had a bruise around her neck, seemingly caused by a noose.

Leading up to that point in the theater, not much was known about what Abby had been up to while Ellie and Dina were in Seattle. Granted, she felt the need to find who killed Owen and Mel to avenge the deaths of her friends, becoming more upset upon learning that Ellie was involved. Even though Abby was understandably furious at Ellie with the back-and-forth bloodshed, Ellie's group wasn't the only enemy Abby had been dealing with based on her neck injury, which set up a key moment for The Last of Us season 3.

How Abby's Neck Was Injured Will Likely Be Seen In The Last Of Us Season 3

Abby Faces The Scars In The Last Of Us Part II Game

Seeing as The Last of Us season 3 will be Abby's story, the show plans to fill in the gaps, presenting what was going on with Dever's character during those three days in Seattle. Following the cliffhanger encounter between Ellie and Abby, The Last of Us season 2 ended with the "Day One" tease, showing Abby waking up in the WLF's stadium compound while restarting that part of the story from Abby's POV. That said, those who played The Last of Us Part II would be familiar with Abby's side of the narrative, including how she acquired the neck bruise.

Like the show, Isaac had a plan for the WLF to attack the Seraphite Island, with the hope that Abby would help lead the assault. Abby, however, was preoccupied with finding Owen, who had gone missing after reportedly killing his patrol partner to save one of the Scars. While out looking for Owen, Abby was captured by the Scars and nearly killed during the Seraphites' ritualistic sacrifice. She was hanged with a noose and prepared to be disemboweled, which is the same method the cult uses to kill in The Last of Us season 2.

Before the Scars could go through with the ritual, two notable outcasts among the Seraphites, Yara and Lev, intervened. Abby was nearly suffocated by the noose around her neck, but the siblings cut the rope, allowing Abby to get away. That would not be the end of Abby's journey with Yara and Lev in The Last of Us Part II, though it's unclear how much of the sequel game will be used for the HBO show. Still, considering the bruises on Abby's neck implied that she was almost hanged, we can assume that part of the game's story will happen in season 3.

How Abby's Injury Makes Ellie's Encounter With The Scars Even More Confusing

Ellie Was Also Nearly Killed By The Seraphites In The Same Way

With the evidence suggesting that Abby was nearly hanged by the Scars prior to the theater confrontation, it's important to look back at Ellie's similar encounter on Seraphite Island. Before Ellie made it to the aquarium, she was forced to take an unwanted detour to the island, where she was taken hostage by the Scars. Technically, Ellie's Seraphite Island scene in The Last of Us season 2 was a cut moment from the sequel game. Still, the sequence itself didn't seem to serve any purpose to Ellie's story in the show, especially with Abby's neck bruise detail.

The Seraphites intended to sacrifice Ellie after stringing her up by the neck with a thick rope. Before they could carry through with the ritual, the WLF started attacking the island. Ellie then freed herself, reclaimed her boat, and headed back to the aquarium as if nothing had happened. Seeing as Abby also went through nearly the same thing with the Scars, season 2's choice to include Ellie's encounter with the Seraphites seems more baffling.

At least Abby's near-death encounter serves a bigger purpose, with the inclusion of Yara and Lev. The same can't really be said with the scene involving Ellie, unless there will be some kind of payoff with the Seraphites added to the show's narrative. Otherwise, maybe the show wanted to create something else that Abby and Ellie have in common. Either way, all signs are pointing to big moments between Abby, the WLF, and members of the Scars in The Last of Us season 3.