Warning: Spoilers Ahead for The Last of Us Part 2.The Last of Us on HBO has done a brilliant job of capturing the tone of the games, striking a perfect balance between creating new moments and retelling key sequences from the game. The latest episode that covered Bill and Frank’s story was the biggest departure from the games yet, and while it was beautiful, it suggests that more moments players remember fondly could be significantly changed to better suit the medium of television.
With The Last of Us confirmed to be getting a second Season that will jump right into the sequel’s story, fans of that game will undoubtedly be interested to see what is kept and what is altered. While Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have yet to make a mistake with the moments they have changed, and will surely deliver a great follow-up to the original Season, there are definitely a few scenes in the game that would be best to leave unchanged. Not only should Tommy and Dina’s roles remain the same, but a few standout parts of the narrative should be as close to a one-to-one translation as possible.
The Last of Us 2’s Museum Scene
Even the most passionate haters of The Last of Us 2 will point to this scene as something that the game did incredibly well, as Naughty Dog manages to perfectly illustrate Joel’s love for Ellie in just thirty minutes. Though the show will likely not have Ellie making funny faces in the mirror or jumping off a dinosaur statue, keeping the overall birthday gift is important, as for Joel this moment justified everything he did inside the Firefly hospital. Seeing Ellie genuinely happy inside her astronaut helmet is an unforgettable scene, and it highlights how happy the pair could have been together.
Joel’s Death in The Last of Us 2
Moving from something heartwarming to an incredibly tragic moment, Joel’s death has to be left alone, and it needs to be just as grueling to get through as it was in-game. A perfect Season 2 premiere endpoint (or finale depending on how the story is told), Abby killing Joel should play out just like it does in-game, golf club and all. Joel should not be given a heroic death that some have asked for, nor should Ellie get a moment to say goodbye. As shown by Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding, a series that also aired on HBO, the network is willing to take risks and deliver tragedy out of nowhere. That same approach can and should be taken, as Joel’s death being so realistic and quick is key. Letting players mourn with Ellie as she goes through Joel's house again would be a wise decision, too.
The Last of Us 2’s Rat King Sequence
Much like The Last of Us Episode 2’s spectacular Clicker sequence, the second (or third Season, depending how long the events take to play out) should deliver a truly intense infected moment. Though a Bloater fight or the introduction of Shamblers would be fun, letting Abby run from and battle the Rat King is something that could go down as a legendary action sequence. If practical effects are used to help create the monstrosity, the fight could look great, and the moment could serve as an excellent reminder of the world the characters live in.
The Last of Us 2’s Ending
Though some may beg for player choice and fail to grasp the meaning of The Last of Us 2’s ending, those who connected with the story would hate to see the moment changed. While the final act could be improved, such as more lore for the Rattlers or the use of another group more integral to the story, several things should stay the same. Ellie should let Abby go after their final fight, she should be unable to play the guitar after the loss of her fingers, and viewers should see her final conversation with Joel on the porch. The dialogue during that scene is brilliant, too, and hopefully it will remain unchanged just like Sarah’s line about selling drugs in the premiere. While the lengthy lead-up to Abby and Ellie’s final fight can be adjusted here and there, everything from that moment on should be identical.
The Last of Us is streaming on HBO Max.