The Last Of Us Season 2 Is Teasing A Massive Deviation From The Game That Would Change Everything

After a faithful first season, HBO's The Last of Us season 2 has hinted at some potential deviations from the source material, and its latest tease could completely change the series. Given The Last of Us is one of the most critically acclaimed video games of all time, most viewers were pleasantly surprised by how well HBO adapted the story. Alongside the excellent cast and pacing, the show brought in some original ideas, like the Bill and Frank episode, while perfectly replicating moments from the game, suggesting The Last of Us season 2's most important scenes will do the same.

Although the hype is high for the show's return, the divisive nature of The Last of Us Part II's story means season 2 is bound to be surrounded by controversy. As a result, it seems like HBO will make a few more adaptations to the narrative this time around, and while it will still be fundamentally faithful, there already appear to be some interesting tweaks on the cards. The Last of Us season 2's timeline confirmed that the show will take place a year later than the game, but a far bigger alteration has been teased which could change everything.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Images Suggest Dina Will Be With Joel When He Dies, Not Tommy

Dina Seems To Have Replaced Tommy In Joel's Controversial Death Scene

By far the most talked-about moment from The Last of Us Part II is Joel's death, something HBO is certain to adapt, but there already looks to be a major change regarding the incident. Considering the brutal moment is crucial to Part II's story, Joel's death will undoubtedly be TLOU season 2's most heartbreaking scene whenever it happens, but it seems like Dina will be there rather than Tommy. In the game, Tommy and Joel are out on patrol where they come across Abby, a survivor in distress who they opt to save before Tommy reveals their names.

During Joel's rampage to rescue Ellie in the first game, he killed numerous fireflies, one of which was Abby's dad. As a result, Abby and her group pretend to be friendly before catching the Miller brothers off-guard, resulting in Tommy being incapacitated while Abby brutally murders Joel. Dina arrives shortly after to find the duo alongside Ellie, who tried to save her father figure while begging Abby to stop. The scene is by far the biggest moment in the entire franchise, but an early image shows Dina riding alongside Joel before the big incident, indicating she may take Tommy's place.

Considering Joel's death sparks the entire plot of the game, it seems like a bold mood for HBO to replace Tommy with Dina. Of course, this could all be a red herring or an attempt to explain how Dina finds the trio after Joel is killed, but the image certainly seems to hint at Dina taking Tommy's role during this iconic moment, which could have a huge impact on how the rest of the story plays out.​​​​​​

Tommy’s Guilt Over Joel’s Death Plays A Huge Role In His TLOU Part 2 Story

Avenging His Brother Consumes Tommy's Life In The Last Of Us Part II

Just like Ellie, Tommy spends most of The Last of Us Part II trying to get justice for Joel's death, but his story is driven by guilt. Naturally, losing his brother had a huge impact on him, especially as he was in the same room when it happened, completely powerless to help. This fact alone likely made him feel some guilt about what happened, but Tommy was also the one to introduce himself and Joel to Abby, which exposed his brother's identity and ultimately led to his murder. Even though no one blames Tommy, he clearly feels partly responsible.

He chooses to leave his community and go on a solo revenge mission in the hopes that avenging his deceased sibling will give him some sort of closure and clear his conscience. Simply being his brother means Tommy's story can still remain the same, even if he plays less of a direct role in Joel's death, but it would remove a huge part of the guilt that he feels throughout the game.

Tommy having a child in TLOU season 2 will also add more stakes to him leaving on his own since he wasn't a father in the source material. However, if HBO goes through with removing Tommy from Joel's notorious death scene, it could result in his journey being completely different in season 2 compared to the video game, creating a completely new experience for the audience.

What Dina Replacing Tommy In The Last Of Us Season 2 Would Mean For The HBO Show

Dina Witnessing Joel's Murder Could Make Her Story Darker In The Video Game Adaptation

Dina and Tommy swapping places during Joel's death could potentially change both of their stories and drastically alter the show. Based on season 2's trailer, Dina looks like she will be by Ellie's side during her hunt for Abby - just like she is in the game - but witnessing Joel's murder could give her an extra edge. In The Last of Us Part II, Dina mainly wants to support Ellie to help keep her safe, but she understandably doesn't have the same personal investment in the mission as Tommy or Ellie, despite thinking fondly of Joel.

However, assuming she was there when Joel died and potentially gave Abby his name, she may feel some guilt of her own, giving her a darker storyline that potentially makes her involvement more pivotal. Dina could end up having a more direct contribution to the violence and action in The Last of Us season 2, and the added stress may add even more weight to her pregnancy later in the series. Likewise, Tommy's part in the story would also change, as he'd be purely motivated by vengeance, rather than regret.

Tommy commits some extremely ruthless acts in the game and adopts a much colder personality, which is understandable given what he witnessed. While hearing about the acts wouldn't be much easier, his potential violence in season 2 may feel less justified if he wasn't present for Joel's death, adding to the moral questions The Last of Us often raises. Therefore, Dina replacing Tommy would likely create a more somber atmosphere than the games and introduce new character dynamics, continuing to make the show's return all the more must-see.

Dina Being The One To Reveal Joel’s Name Would Add Another Layer To Her Relationship With Ellie

Inadvertently Causing Joel's Death Would Drive An Even Bigger Wedge Between The Couple

Assuming Dina does replace Tommy when it comes to Joel's death, she would likely be the one to reveal Joel's name to Abby, potentially harming her relationship with Ellie. Dina and Ellie's romantic bond already undergoes a lot of friction based on the extreme events of The Last of Us Part II, but the added baggage of Dina unintentionally causing Joel's death may do irreparable damage. It could be the sort of secret Dina withholds all the way until season 3, a reveal that would undoubtedly destroy Ellie, who will already be fueled by rage and anguish.

The Last of Us season 2 will premiere on April 13, 2025.

Even if Dina tells Ellie right away, it could become a lingering issue that eventually reaches a boiling point. With Ellie failing to let go of her grudge against Abby in the video game, it is implied that she and Dina break up when the protagonist goes to Santa Barbra, but despite the bleak ending, there is still hope they can work things out in the future. However, The Last of Us season 2 may potentially remove any optimism around them getting back together if Dina exposes Joel's identity, proving just how significant this change could be.