HBO is home to some of the most intense drama shows ever made, making it no surprise the studio nailed the first season of its post-apocalyptic video game adaptation. However, despite getting off to the best possible start, The Last of Us has struggled to maintain this momentum, with season 2 accidentally setting the series up for failure.

After those first nine episodes, The Last of Us became one of the best gaming adaptations of all time, competing with the likes of Netflix’s Arcane. Given HBO managed to make such a faithful adaptation while adding in some unexpected twists, all eyes were on the show’s 2025 return, as it had the chance to cement its legacy even further.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite so smoothly as The Last of Us season 2 divided viewers and felt like a real step back from that exceptional first outing. Now, it seems like the project is set up for failure, but it’s not too late to turn things around, despite how complex the future looks for this once great series.

The Last Of Us Season 1 Was A Perfect Start For The Show

Considering The Last of Us is one of the most popular video games of the 21st century, turning this into a live-action TV show felt like a massive risk, as it was bound to be judged harshly. The game was praised for its revolutionary narrative alongside its memorable soundtrack and atmosphere, leaving questions about how well it would transition to the small screen.

Amazingly, HBO nailed all of this, recreating the story in a way no one could have imagined. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal were perfect fits as Ellie and Joel, striking up an excellent chemistry that resembled Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s voice acting performance, and this dynamic continued to evolve throughout the season.

Certain scenes felt like they were ripped straight from the video game, such as Joel trying to save his daughter at the beginning of the apocalypse, the sequence with the giraffes, and many more. The creative team clearly understood what made people fall in love with TLOU originally and made sure to bring all these great attributes to the show.

The adaptation also made some bold tweaks and additions, which went down well for the most part. Episode 1’s explanation of the virus was something we didn’t get much of in the game, instantly adding a feeling of tension, while the Bill and Frank episode beautifully expanded their under-explored relationship.

Season 1 essentially provided everything gamers could’ve dreamed of while giving new fans a strong understanding of what made this story so beloved. As a result, HBO’s The Last of Us earned its masterpiece status, yet it couldn’t quite live up to it with season 2.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Made Some Questionable Choices

Carrying so much momentum into season 2 should’ve made The Last of Us‘ return a slam dunk, but some questionable choices alongside the delicate source material caused countless problems. With the second game revolving heavily around Joel’s death, seeing this moment on TV was always going to cause controversy, but HBO only made things worse.

In the game, Joel’s killer is practically a stranger when the player meets her, making this betrayal all the more shocking. However, once her reasoning became clearer, some players were able to sympathize with her. The Last of Us adaptation instead reveals Abby’s motivations right from the start, creating less shock or suspense, while making her come across as a straightforward villain.

Even though there is still time to develop the character on TV, many fans will have already made their minds up about Abby, which suggests that her side of the story will be even more divisive than in the game. Season 2 also made some mistakes regarding Ellie, as HBO’s version of her felt nothing like TLOU Part II‘s protagonist.

In the source material, Ellie grows a lot more vicious and capable during the second game, fighting off waves of humans and zombies entirely by herself. She comes across as a savage at times, blinded by revenge, with almost no thoughts other than killing Abby, yet in the show, she’s completely reliant on other people.

Jesse and Dina are constantly coming to her rescue, and this take on the fan-favorite simply doesn’t feel like the ruthless survivor that she is supposed to be.

Add in the fact that Tommy’s story has been significantly altered due to the attack on Jackson, and it’s no surprise that season 2 faced a lot of criticism — the type that could have been avoided. Now, season 3 has a lot of work to do if The Last of Us wants to get fans back on side.

How The Last Of Us Season 3 Can Put The Show Back On Track

With The Last of Us‘ reputation taking a sizable hit, it’s crucial that season 3 gets things back on track, especially since it could be the last. In order to do so, The Last of Us season 3 has to avoid the mistakes of the previous installment by getting the tone right, meaning we need to see a darker side of Ellie.

Even though season 2 featured her brutal moment with Nora, the show held back regarding Owen and Mel’s deaths. However, when it comes to the Santa Barbara arc, we absolutely must see that killer version of Ellie from the game who wants nothing else but to finish her feud with Abby, no matter the cost.

Likewise, after season 2 placed a huge importance on Jackson, season 3 must pay this off by doing more with the community, since it’s a bit of an afterthought throughout most of The Last of Us Part II. Abby’s story should also stay faithful to the game, since Kaitlyn Dever is the perfect fit for bringing this journey into live action.

Overall, HBO’s The Last of Us season 3 can’t shy away from being as dark and brutal as its source material. The series has already committed to Joel’s death, and that bleak feeling should set the tone going forward. There may still be time for tender moments, but TLOU Part II‘s narrative is sinister, which the show must reflect.

Release Date

January 15, 2023

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Craig Mazin

Directors

Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Jeremy Webb, Ali Abbasi, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, Jasmila Žbanić, Liza Johnson, Nina Lopez-Corrado

Writers

Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, Halley Wegryn Gross