During a press conference for The Last of Us season 2 attended by ScreenRant, Druckmann and Mazin teased a handful of stories that follow in the footsteps of Bill and Frank's romance in season 1, episode 3, "Long, Long Time". While neither showrunner went out of their way to specifically write bottle episodes during the writing process for the new season, Mazin stated a specifically "gorgeous" episode directed by Druckmann would please viewers in search of similar tales, while Druckmann hinted that there would be smaller moments throughout the season in the episode's vein. Check out the showrunners' comments below:
Craig Mazin: One thing that Neil and I talked about was just making sure that we didn't just say, "Oh, that Bill and Frank episode. People really like that. Let's do a very special episode of The Last of Us Season 2." It just has to happen as it happens.
But I will say that there is a gorgeous episode this season directed by Neil that is different than [anything else]. It's not Bill and Frank, but it is, in its own way, its own thing. Because it needed to be. And just you wait. Just you wait.
Neil Druckmann: There's a lot of those moments throughout the season. Like every episode has those moments interwoven.
What Mazin and Druckmann's Reveal Means For The Last of Us Season 2
The Season Will Build On What Made Season 1 An Excellent Adaptation
While a stark deviation from the source material, The Last of Us season 1's "Long, Long Time" has become one of the most beloved episodes of the series. The episode not only expanded on both characters' lives before the events of the game, from the early days of the outbreak to Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) arrival at their home, but changed their fates, giving them a peaceful, bittersweet, but wholesome end. Though a change, Bill and Frank's television ending was both a beautiful queer love story and a tale that fit the game's messages.
The Last of Us Part II is a much darker affair with a drastically different ending tone. Nevertheless, Mazin and Druckmann's tease does reveal that the series won't be abandoning the elements that made season 1 successful, and instead seeks to strike a balance between faithfulness and storytelling. Alongside new characters, the time skip and new settings and factions will offer plenty to explore onscreen. As such, more standalone character tales can truly enrich the wider world of the series with standout character drama.
Our Take On The Last of Us Season 2's Potential Character Expansion
Smaller Moments Will Benefit The Season's Vastly Expanded Cast
With confirmation that The Last of Us season 2 will expand beyond the next chapter of Ellie and Joel's journey and the dueling narrative of newcomer Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever) quest, many may wonder who will receive a new twist on their stories. Between Abby's team, the citizens of Jackson, and the warring factions of the WLF and Seraphites, there are plenty of characters worthy of expansion and development through the promised smaller moments. As both showrunners didn't name the leads of the episode, viewers will have to wait to find out which episode they were referring to in their comments.
