What Lies Ahead for The Last Of Us Season 3? Speculating on Part II’s Adaptation and Potential Changes

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II and The Last of Us HBO series, including major plot points and character arcs. Proceed with caution if you’re not caught up!

The Last of Us Season 3 is poised to continue HBO’s gripping adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II, a game renowned for its polarizing narrative and emotional depth. With Season 2 covering Ellie’s initial revenge quest in Seattle, fans are eager to see how the show will tackle the latter half of the game’s story.

This article dives into speculative territory, exploring how The Last of Us Season 3 might adapt the remaining portions of Part II, potential changes to the source material, and structural shifts to suit television. From Abby’s perspective to the climactic Santa Barbara showdown, here’s what could be in store.

How Will The Last Of Us Season 3 Handle Abby’s Perspective?

The Last of Us Part II famously shifts midway to Abby’s viewpoint, forcing players to empathize with her motivations and her role within the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). The Last of Us Season 3 is expected to mirror this, focusing heavily on Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have hinted at a significant narrative pivot, with Catherine O’Hara confirming Season 3 as “the Abby story.”

This shift could begin with a flashback to Abby’s life before Joel’s death, detailing her bond with her father, the Firefly surgeon Joel killed. The show might expand on her relationships with Owen, Mel, and the WLF, giving viewers a deeper look into her world. Unlike the game’s rigid split between Ellie and Abby’s Seattle days, The Last of Us Season 3 could interweave their perspectives earlier to maintain viewer engagement, avoiding long stretches without Ellie.

Potential Change: The show might soften Abby’s physicality, as Mazin has suggested a less muscular Abby whose strength lies in her spirit. This could alter how her combat scenes are portrayed, emphasizing strategy over brute force.

What Role Will the Seraphites and WLF Conflict Play?

The WLF-Seraphite war is central to Part II’s Seattle setting, and The Last of Us Season 3 is likely to delve deeper into this conflict. Season 2 introduced the Seraphites and WLF leader Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), setting the stage for a broader exploration of their ideological clash. Mazin has teased questions about the Seraphites’ origins and Isaac’s ambitions, suggesting Season 3 will expand the lore.

Expect scenes in the WLF’s stadium base, showcasing their militarized society, contrasted with the Seraphites’ cult-like rituals. The show could add new characters or backstories to flesh out these factions, making their war a backdrop to Abby’s personal journey. For instance, Lev and Yara, the Seraphite siblings, may get more screen time to highlight their bond with Abby, potentially appearing earlier than in the game.

Potential Change: The show might streamline the WLF-Seraphite conflict to fit a seven-episode season, focusing on key skirmishes rather than the game’s sprawling battles. This could mean fewer action sequences but more dialogue-driven tension.

Will Ellie’s Role Be Reduced in The Last Of Us Season 3?

A major concern for fans is Ellie’s potential sidelining in The Last of Us Season 3. Bella Ramsey’s Ellie dominated Season 2, but the game’s structure reduces her presence during Abby’s arc. To balance this, the show might include flashbacks to Ellie’s time in Jackson or new scenes showing her recovery after Seattle.

These could explore her guilt, trauma, and strained relationship with Dina, keeping her emotionally central.

Alternatively, The Last of Us Season 3 could alter the timeline, cutting between Ellie and Abby’s perspectives more frequently. This would maintain Ramsey’s screen time while preserving the game’s thematic duality.

However, sidelining Ellie too much risks alienating viewers invested in her journey, so the showrunners will likely tread carefully.

Potential Change: The show could introduce a new subplot for Ellie, perhaps involving her interactions with Jackson’s community or a side mission, to keep her active during Abby’s arc. This would deviate from the game but enhance the TV narrative’s flow.

How Will the Santa Barbara Epilogue Be Adapted?

SPOILER ALERT: The game’s Santa Barbara epilogue sees Ellie tracking Abby one last time, leading to a brutal beach confrontation. The Last of Us Season 3 might save this for the finale or push it to a potential Season 4, given Mazin’s comments about needing multiple seasons to cover Part II.

In the game, Ellie leaves Dina and their baby to pursue Abby, who’s enslaved by the Rattlers. Their final fight ends with Ellie sparing Abby after a moment of reflection. The show could recreate this faithfully, leveraging Ramsey and Dever’s performances for maximum emotional impact.

However, the TV medium might demand a more cinematic buildup, with added scenes of Ellie’s journey or Abby’s captivity to heighten stakes.

Potential Change: To avoid ending on a bleak note, the show might expand Ellie’s return to the farm, showing hints of reconciliation with Dina or her path to healing. This could soften the game’s ambiguous ending, appealing to TV audiences.

What Structural Changes Could The Last Of Us Season 3 Make?

The Last of Us Part II’s nonlinear structure, with its flashbacks and perspective shifts, poses a challenge for TV. The Last of Us Season 3 might linearize the story, placing flashbacks—like Ellie’s museum birthday with Joel—earlier to ground viewers emotionally. This would make the narrative more accessible but could dilute the game’s disorienting impact.

Another structural shift could involve pacing. The game’s 30-hour runtime includes gameplay that won’t translate to TV, so the show might condense Seattle’s events, focusing on key moments like Abby’s aquarium flashbacks or Ellie’s theater confrontation. Mazin and Druckmann’s writers’ room will likely prioritize character-driven scenes over action, aligning with Season 1’s approach.

Potential Change: The show could add original episodes, similar to Season 1’s Bill and Frank story, to flesh out side characters like Jesse or Tommy. This would enrich the world but risk diverting from the game’s core narrative.

Could New Characters or Storylines Be Introduced?

The Last of Us Season 3 has already shown a willingness to expand beyond the game, with characters like Gail (Catherine O’Hara) in Season 2. Season 3 might introduce new WLF or Seraphite members to deepen the faction conflict or give minor characters like Manny or Nora larger roles. These additions could provide fresh perspectives while staying true to the game’s themes of tribalism and trauma.

There’s also speculation about a Tommy-focused storyline, as Druckmann mentioned an outline for a post-Part II story centered on him. While not a full sequel, this could be woven into The Last of Us Season 3 as a flashback or side arc, exploring his life after Seattle.

Potential Change: A new character tied to Ellie or Abby could serve as a narrative bridge, offering an outsider’s view on their conflict. This would be a bold deviation but could refresh the story for TV.

Some Closing Thoughts:

The Last of Us Season 3 faces the daunting task of adapting The Last of Us Part II’s complex latter half while keeping fans and newcomers invested.

By focusing on Abby’s arc, expanding the WLF-Seraphite conflict, and carefully balancing Ellie’s role, the show can honor the game’s legacy while carving its own path.

As we await Season 3, one thing is clear: HBO’s The Last of Us will continue to push boundaries, delivering a story that’s as heart-wrenching as it is unforgettable.