With another trailer releasing to commemorate the infamous ‘Outbreak Day’, or as some would say Joel’s birthday, on September 26th, there is no better time to discuss the prospects of season two of ‘The Last of Us’. With so many layers to such a short trailer, I’m sure a lot of game fans have numerous questions and concerns as to where this adaptation is heading. This article will attempt to discuss these theories, predictions and additions to the storyline itself.  If you are somebody that has tried to stay away from spoilers, or haven’t played the game yet, I would perhaps advise you to stay away from this article so as not to ruin some major key plotlines!  

The first thing that immediately draws our eye is the split-second introduction of new characters. The extended audio of an unknown character (perhaps a therapist) speaking to Joel is a particularly interesting new addition, as Joel’s character is closed off and secretive about his choice to take Ellie from the hospital at the end of the first season. The clock she sets at the start of the trailer suggests Joel’s time is running out. This conversation with the therapist, underpinning a trailer for the second time, frames the moral struggle Joel faces due to his decision, perhaps alluding to the dire consequences he will face because of it. Other characters seen in the trailer, such as Dina, Abby, and Jesse stay true to the game version. The way it’s structured, with brief shots of these specific characters, allows viewers that are familiar with the source material to further speculate the direction the TV adaptation may take. One thing that really stood out to me on first watch were the scenes that directly parallel the game. This includes when Ellie is playing guitar with Dina watching her, and the scene where Abby is trying to escape the infected in the snow when the fence falls on top of her. 

This adaptation seemingly attempts to stay faithful to the game, but perhaps irons out any mishaps or refine the structure itself. Controversially, I love the second game just as much, if not more than the first, due to its complex, multilayered story. However, there are certainly some structural flaws that could be sorted. That’s the main issue in my eyes. It starts out effectively. with the inciting incident (Joel’s death), and the direct impact of it following. The player then spends three days in Seattle, following Ellie’s pursuit of revenge. The game then resets the clock, and we experience those same three days, but from Abby’s perspective. I think this is where it becomes confusing, almost slightly overwhelming. Joel’s death is a chaotic catalyst and there is a lot of action that ensues because of it. Forcing the player to play as Joel’s murderer, directly after pursuing revenge as Ellie for hours, leaves a bitter taste. Abby ultimately mirrors Joel’s quest for redemption, but it’s structured sloppily. The benefit of a TV adaptation is that the viewer can follow both stories at the same time. In game format, this is tough to structure. But I am hoping that the show is structured to show what happens in these three days in Seattle for both Ellie and Abby alongside each other. I think this would effectively build more tension and make it suspenseful for the viewer as Ellie closes in further and further on Abby. It will also allow a bigger culmination of events when Ellie finally does catch up to Abby. This trailer is extremely promising, and though it seems faithful to the game, I’m hoping it fixes the structural issues, so it can entice new viewers who potentially gave up on the game when it released. 

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