Being one of the finest live-action adaptations of a computer game series, The Last of Us is all set to return to the screens with its second season soon, bringing back all those chilly thriller post-apocalyptic vibes. Brought to life by co-creator Neil Druckmann, the series not only took over viewers’ hearts but also earned Pedro Pascal his first Emmy win. With such iconic performances and immaculate helming from the masterminds behind the project, the show is meant to spawn even more intriguing additions. But just how many stunning elements will this second season behold for fans? That’s a question many have been yearning to know since Season 2 got greenlit.
So far, only minimal details are known about how the second season, expected to premiere by April of this year, might be bigger and better than the first one. Among those details are seven important elements and arcs that Druckmann has already warned fans about to quench their curiosity a bit for Season 2. Dig in!
The Setting of Season 2
While the first season ended on an emotional note, following Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) trekking across a pandemic-scarred America, Season 2 will not pick up right from there. Instead, it will jump five years into the future, where they are settled in the Jackson, Wyoming commune run by Joel’s sister-in-law Maria (played by Rutina Wesley). Co-creator Neil Druckmann shared with Entertainment Weekly that Ellie will finally be living a normal teenager’s life, even developing a crush on Dina (played by Isabela Merced), who is the ex of her close friend, Jesse (played by Young Mazino). However, her relationship with Joel will still be fraught with tension as he grapples with the consequences of his actions from the Season 1 finale.
Introducing New Characters
The Last of Us Season 2 will debut a new character, Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. HBO pressers described Abby as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.” Though details about her character remain intentionally vague, there will be a noticeable difference in Abby’s appearance in live-action compared to her character in the game. The game features a towering, muscled woman, while the live-action version is expected to resemble Ramsey’s Ellie more closely. Craig Mazin pointed out, “I personally think that there is an amazing opportunity here to delve into someone who is perhaps physically more vulnerable than the Abby in the game, but whose spirit is stronger.”
The Episode Structure
For fans looking forward to an immersive experience in Season 2, they can rejoice as co-showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed that this season promises episodes that are high-calorie in content, enough to satiate viewers’ hunger for worthwhile storytelling. “Each episode is like a meal. You can have a light dinner or you can go to a 12-course French restaurant,” Mazin stated. “We have seven episodes; they are high-calorie, dense episodes. If you consider action and drama and scope to be the things that create an epic nature, each one of these episodes packs quite a wallop. You will not be bored.”
Character Developments
Another intriguing detail involves Gabriel Luna’s Tommy—Joel’s brother—who will now have a child with his wife, Maria, in whose commune they’ve settled after the events of Season 1. This addition to the cast will likely affect various dynamics in the forthcoming season.
Integrating Deleted Game Content
In an exciting twist, deleted material from The Last of Us Part II, originally planned for the game, will make its way into the live-action series as well. Druckmann teased that “some stuff that was presented for the first time in the remastered edition of Part II is pretty brutal, but I’m very excited for people to see it.” Besides this deleted material, a prominent character will also be introduced, with Catherine O’Hara set to appear in a role not previously seen in the games. There is also a significant character from the series who has been mentioned a lot in the games. Druckmann stated, “There is a pretty prominent character that is talked a lot about in the game, similar to what we did with Frank (Murray Bartlett) in Season 1. There’s a very, very cool casting that I hope we can talk about soon.”
Exploring Perspectives
Many deviations are expected in Season 2. A significant part of the theme revolves around perspective, illustrating how someone’s hero could be another’s villain and vice versa. Druckmann acknowledged, “A big part of the theme of the second game is about perspective; it’s weird to talk about a story where its structure could be a spoiler.” The show will deviate from the game’s approach, with Mazin commenting, “We certainly are going to mess around with time the way it was in the source material, but we messed around in ways that we felt were appropriate for the show.”
Pedro Pascal’s Fate in the Narrative
One of the most pressing questions among fans regards whether Pedro Pascal’s Joel will die in the second season. As gaming fans might already know, Joel dies in the second part of the game, but it seems the creators might have planned a different fate for his character in live-action. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Mazin was tight-lipped while discussing Joel’s fate:
Horowitz: “So, major spoiler alert going into Season 2, game 2, we’re facing a lot of major events but none more so than the death of Joel. Does that fit under the category of slavish interpretation, or does that feel like something that you can diverge from?”
Mazin: “I can’t tell you anything about that season. Joel dies? Okay. I’m not saying a goddamn thing. People will have to wonder. And you know what, good. Because here’s the thing: anytime you’re adapting something where there’s source material, there’s certainly an expectation that the adaptation will hit the main source material points and that is mostly what happens.”
Mazin emphasized that when it comes to character fates, “We will do what we want to do in a way that is best for the show that we’re making.” Since the show is “likely” to extend past a third season, fans shouldn’t presume Joel will be killed off so soon. He mentioned that they “know exactly what we’re doing,” leaving viewers with the hope of something unexpected.
Looking Ahead
The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere in April 2025. As anticipation builds among fans, inquiries regarding Pedro Pascal’s role and the overall storyline remain ever-present. Season 1 of The Last of Us can currently be streamed on Prime Video and Max, allowing fans to catch up before the new season arrives. With a myriad of new characters, intricate plotlines, and unexpected twists, Season 2 promises to be an exhilarating ride for viewers, ensuring Pedro Pascal’s Joel remains at the center of attention in this gripping narrative.
