The Last Of Us Season 3 Is Doubling Down On One Story Aspect That Makes Video Games Almost Impossible To Adapt

The Last of Us season 3 faces a challenge that not only affects the HBO show but also affects almost all video game adaptations. The Last of Us season 2's ending capped off a divisive television season with a major plot twist that saw the perspective shift from Ellie to Abby, setting up the season 3 premise.

It's since been confirmed that Kaitlyn Dever, the actress who joined The Last of Us season 2's cast as Abby, will be the series lead for season 3. The story is pivoting in a major way, with the focus being on Abby and her companions from the Washington Liberation Front, re-examining the past few days from their side.

The pressure is already on for The Last of Us season 3, as the series will need to overcome the complaints that plagued season 2's potential. Kaitlyn Dever is a fantastic actress, and Abby is a compelling character; however, there are still challenges that need to be addressed in the writers' room.

The Last Of Us Season 3's Abby Focus Will Totally Change The Show

The HBO Adaptation Is Changing Leads Again

The shift in lead characters is going to be a tremendous hurdle for The Last of Us season 3, especially after the range of responses to season 2. The Seattle setting should be familiar to audiences at this point, and characters like Ellie, Jesse, Dina, and Tommy will still play critical roles as events unfold, but it will still feel different.

On top of Abby leading the cast now, audiences will have to become acquainted with her friends, the constituents in Joel's murder. Characters like Manny and Owen likely didn't leave audiences with much desire to get to know them better, meaning a huge part of the challenge will be keeping viewers engaged with protagonists they hate.

This will be the most drastic shift the series has made yet, especially since Joel and Ellie were the marquee characters for seasons 1 and 2. The season needs to make a distinct effort to make sure The Last of Us season 3 still feels like the same series audiences loved the first time around.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Was Already A Major Shift From Season 1

Joel's Absence Changed The Tone Of Season 2

After Joel's death in episode 4, The Last of Us season 2 was almost like watching a different show. Joel and Ellie's relationship was the defining attribute of the series, especially since a significant portion of the audience pool came to the series due to a love for Pedro Pascal. His exit had an immediate, game-changing effect.

With Ellie and Dina taking over the series, The Last of Us season 2 was centered around almost entirely new goals and themes. The season is built on season 1's events, but the themes of revenge and Ellie's mission to Seattle feel like a far cry from the previous story, which was focused more on Joel's grief.

The Last Of Us Proves Why Video Games Are So Hard To Adapt

Video Games Are Rarely As Sequential As TV Seasons

Video game adaptations have consistently struggled in Hollywood, and one of the reasons is that games often aren't as sequential as TV shows. Games are rarely written to tell a direct story across multiple volumes, with exceptions like God of War or Death Stranding, as most franchises aim for new releases to appeal to those who haven't played them before.

When someone watches a show like The Sopranos, there's a sense of stability, knowing that the core cast will remain present throughout most of the series. With Game of Thrones, major characters are killed off, but there are always enough familiar faces around to maintain momentum and keep viewers wanting more.

Something like Assassin's Creed might feel like an interesting title to adapt, but aside from the Ezio trilogy, every game has different characters and settings. The same could be set for Grand Theft Auto or The Elder Scrolls, despite both titles being known for excellent storytelling.

The Last of Us Part II certainly requires audiences to play the previous game, but it still has a singular identity of its own. Ellie is the main character instead of Joel, but the game still shifts away from her to follow unfamiliar characters. The narrative continuation isn't as direct as a typical TV show's jump from season 1 to 2.

The Last Of Us Tried To Plan For Its Narrative Shifts In Season 1

The Last Of Us Laid The Foundation For Its Tone Change Early On

It's rare that game sequels follow the story directly where the previous one left off. It requires extra effort to fuse the overarching narrative together succinctly, which The Last of Us season 1 attempted to do by exploring mini-storylines about cyclical revenge, such as the Kansas City arc.

Kathleen and Perry were original characters created for the TV adaptation as part of an extended arc for Henry in Kansas City. Joel and Ellie found themselves mixed up in a conflict of revenge between FEDRA and a resistance group, with Kathleen ultimately giving her life in an attempt to get revenge for her brother.

No matter how much planning is done, killing off a lead character like Joel is going to have a drastic effect on a series that has two leads. To shift leads again in The Last of Us season 3 is a risky move, and the writers must ensure that this choice is justified.