Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us Part II.The television version of The Last of Us has already set itself apart from the video games it’s based on, and a new update for season 2 proves it will avoid one of The Last of Us Part II‘s biggest mistakes. The Last of Us season 2 has been one of the most anticipated upcoming television shows for a long time. That’s mainly because The Last of Us is one of the best video game TV adaptations ever. The series has found great success, and one update means The Last of Us season 2 could become an even bigger hit.
The Last of Us season 1 mostly followed the original game’s storyline. Like the games the show was based on, it followed Ellie and Joel’s journey across post-apocalyptic America. Where the show really shined, however, was in the changes The Last of Us made to the games. The Last of Us season 2 is continuing that trend of altering the original game’s story, and its changes seem to be avoiding a major problem with The Last of Us Part II.
The Last Of Us’ 4-Season Plan Means Season 2 Won’t Move As Fast As Part II
The Last Of Us Part II Had A Lot Going On For Just One Game
The criticism of The Last of Us Part II‘s pacing is fairly valid, as quite a bit happens in the game. The Last of Us Part II‘s main story lasts about 24 hours, compared to the first game’s duration of about 15 hours. Though the sequel was only nine hours longer, it encompassed quite a bit more story. The Last of Us Part II covers everything from Ellie learning about Joel’s attack on the Fireflies to her growing up, Abby killing Joel, Ellie seeking revenge, and her finding a new family in Dina. There’s an incredible amount of character development and important events for such a short story.
Conversely, it seems The Last of Us show is making a very wise decision. By splitting the events of The Last of Us Part II into three separate seasons, all the game’s important moments and developments will have time to breathe. Instead of watching Abby kill Joel mere moments after meeting her, the show can introduce her and her friends to the audience. From there, they can build some type of empathy for Abby, and make Joel’s death even more difficult to handle. The Last of Us‘ pacing should also help make Ellie’s story feel less frantic.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Moving Slower Than The Game Also Has Downsides
Though The Last of Us‘ four-season plan will certainly help fix the game’s pacing problems, it will also have its own challenges to overcome. Quite a bit happened in The Last of Us Part II, but it’s hard to say if it will be enough to fill three full seasons of television. Splitting the second game into three parts could, instead of letting each of the story’s plot beats breathe, threaten to make them overstay their welcome. It’s very easy for something that seemed rushed to become overly long, and it’s currently unclear whether The Last of Us will be able to strike a good balance.
Four seasons of The Last of Us may present quite a few issues with pacing, but it could also undermine the game’s story. A major reason The Last of Us Part II had such quick pacing was to illustrate the pressure and anxiety Ellie was experiencing. If her story is drawn out into three seasons of television, the show could fail to express her anxiety and the stakes of her revenge mission. Instead of being a frantic tale of Ellie trying to find Abby and get retribution for Joel’s death, The Last of Us could become a protracted slow-burn drama.
The Last of Us’ most recent change is still a great sign, and it could make the show even better than the game.
Luckily, despite all the potential pitfalls of drawing The Last of Us Part II out, the show has proven it is more than capable of interpreting its source material. Some of the best parts of the show, like Bill and Frank’s relationship, were completely different from the games. The television series has proven that it’s more than capable of changing aspects of the games’ story and making them even more suited for television. The Last of Us‘ most recent change is still a great sign, and it could make the show even better than the game.
