Will The Last of Us Season 2 Avoid the Controversy of the Games?

The Last of Us is a video game adaptation that exploded after its release on Max on January 15, 2023. Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (the creator of The Last of Us video game series), this post-apocalyptic series follows Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) as he takes charge of a 14-year-old girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Ellie, who is immune to the Cordyceps virus, embarks with Joel to potentially save humanity.

Fans of the franchise praised the show for how accurately it adapted the games, with many of the scenes being a near-perfect copy of the game. This praise also came from new fans, who knew nothing about the games, and the strong, compelling story allowed these new audiences to connect with the characters in the same way the game did. However, fans of the game are well aware of the events in The Last of Us Part II, and there is concern that the controversy surrounding the game's sequel may be repeated in TLOU Season 2. Season 2 will inevitably feature these controversial scenes in the show. Can Neil Druckmann learn from the game's backlash to avoid the same response from the new audience?

Joel Meets an Untimely Demise

• Ellie's tattoo in The Last of Us Part II is meant to cover up her bite mark as she is hiding her immunity from the Jackson settlers.
• The design of Ellie's tattoo is a reminder of Joel and the guitar he gifted her.

The biggest controversy to come from The Last of Us Part II is the death of Joel, which happens extremely early in the game. Fans watched as the main character of the first game was brutally murdered at the beginning of the sequel by the new character, Abby, who becomes one of the main protagonists in the game and a playable character. Naughty Dog's decision to have the player follow Abby's story after she killed Joel was an interesting choice.

Joel lies to Ellie about the cure not working and in The Last of Us Part II, Ellie finds out and hates Joel for his decision. As selfless as Ellie is, it is uncharacteristic for her to hate Joel over such a gamble that would have taken her life. Despite the unbreakable bond Ellie and Joel built and the countless murders Ellie commits throughout the game, Ellie decides to let Abby live at the end of the game. A decision that baffled fans: after countless attempts by Abby to kill Ellie, it confused fans who wondered why they should root for Abby to kill their fan-favorite.

This game became extremely controversial among fans because of these decisions. TLOU will inevitably feature the death of Joel at the hands of Abby, just like in Part II. With the approaching season, important decisions must be made, as Joel's early death may reignite controversy among new fans of the series. Druckmann should carefully develop the lead-up to this death to allow the series to continue telling the rest of the story. It's important not to waste Pedro Pascal's talent and the character of Joel with a death in the first episode. And in case there was ever any doubt about Joel's fate, Pascal has commented on what The Last of Us fans should expect in Season 2 with numerous cryptic messages. Meanwhile, Mazin has already prepared for potential backlash from fans and spoke on this in detail with THR in August 2023.

"I’m very studiously avoiding confirming anything even through a passive acceptance of a question. Anybody that has played the game and then watched the first season knows that sometimes we do exactly what happened to the game and sometimes we do something wildly different. We also don’t necessarily do things in the same order, or at the same time. In our first season, we repeatedly did things that were upsetting — everyone died except Joel and Ellie. People understood watching the show that this was a story where people aren’t safe. If you are planning on running a series for as long as it can, you put plot armor [slang for characters who repeatedly and inexplicably avoid harm or misfortune] on your main characters until such time the actors are asking for too much money or their Q score goes down or the ratings go down, and then you kill them. That’s not what we do or what HBO does. So anyone can die at any moment, as far as I’m concerned. As for backlash, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between emotion because they care and backlash. But neither I nor Neil make things with that in mind. There are also times during the season where we think they’re probably gonna be annoyed with us, but later they’ll get it. Like until you saw Ellie and Joel properly fuse, a lot of viewers were like, “Uh, she’s annoying.” And I’m like, “Yeah, exactly! She’s annoying and you don’t like her — just like Joel finds her annoying and doesn’t like her.” Until he does, and would now kill everyone for her, just like how you feel at the end, because that’s how good Bella is."

Keeping it 1:1 No Longer

Druckmann will have a difficult time when it comes to keeping the game and the show 1:1 without making Season 2 repeat Part II's controversy.TLOU will have to approach the story of the game, where they can expand the storyline to explore Abby, as well as Joel and Ellie's relationship after the truth was revealed about Joel's decision.

Pedro Pascal is such a high-profile actor to have, just to have him appear for an episode or two before his death. Druckmann will surely capitalize on the flashbacks that are seen in the game to explore Joel and Ellie's relationship. The creators will most likely expand on the story to adapt to television as well as engage the new audiences that have come with the show's debut. These new fans do not have the background knowledge that fans of the games would have. This is a method that allowed Season 1 to be so successful among the fans and general audiences. It also allowed for numerous The Last of Us fan theories to surface, which Mazin commented on heading into Season 2.

Ellie's relationship with Joel seemed extremely out of character after she learned the truth. At the end of the first game, Joel goes on a rampage and saves Ellie's life, risking the chance for a cure for Cordyceps to exist. Ellie is selfless, but it is almost uncharacteristic for Ellie to abandon her relationship and love for Joel because he wants to save her life. Ellie would understand that although it was a selfish decision, it was not a guarantee that this cure would have even worked.

Season 2 Cannot Focus Too Much on Abby

"Some odd priorities, excruciating pacing, and weak character writing keep this intriguing game from being excellent, even if its gameplay and presentation have received large improvements." - Francis Kenna, GameGrin.

Abby Anderson was introduced in The Last of Us Part II and became the game's dual protagonist. More controversy arose after she murdered the fan favorite and beloved first-game protagonist Joel. Then Naughty Dog had the player spend a significant portion of the game playing as Abby. This was an interesting attempt to make players empathize with her after starting the game, making her one of the biggest villains among fans. While some appreciated the complex narrative, many couldn’t get past their anger. And if the creators of TLOU series aren’t careful, this debate can be repeated with new fans who fell in love with the series and know nothing about the games.

Spending too much time with Abby in the show can also be costly. Giving Abby the same screen time in the show as she gets in the game would not only cause controversy with the new audience but also confusion. This is a new random character to many, and to have the majority of Season 2 focus on her and her story will confuse fans and potentially feel like a completely different show. There must be a good balance between telling Abby’s story and giving Ellie her spotlight. General audiences are looking forward to following the story between Joel and Ellie heading into this new season. Unfortunately, Joel’s demise is inevitable, but if they play it right with all the tools at their disposal, it can be a heart-wrenching experience that truly captivates fans.

The show has the opportunity to expand on Abby's backstory in ways the game couldn't, perhaps making her more sympathetic right out of the gate. However, this should be done cautiously and without overshadowing Ellie’s arc. The intricate storytelling and character development that made the game famous needs to be preserved, while using careful consideration of the new audience the show garnered. Fans are eager to see Ellie’s journey continue, and while Abby’s character adds depth and complexity, her introduction and development should enhance the main narrative rather than divert from it. Balancing these story elements will be crucial for the success of The Last of Us Season 2.