The Last Of Us Game Vs. Show: 7 Massive Changes In Season 2 That Shocked Fans

The debate between The Last of Us video game and its critically acclaimed HBO series adaptation continues to rage, especially with the release of Season 2 in 2025. While the first season was lauded for its faithful yet expanded take on the original The Last of Us Part I, the second season, based on the divisive Part II, has taken more substantial creative liberties. Fans are scrutinizing every episode, comparing the emotional beats, character arcs, and narrative structure between Naughty Dog’s masterpiece and the television epic crafted by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. This deep dive compares the two mediums and highlights the most significant, and often controversial, deviations in the show’s latest outing.

The core intention of the HBO series remains the same—to tell a powerful, character-driven story of survival in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Cordyceps brain infection. However, the move from a 15-20 hour interactive game to a multi-season television format necessitates changes. These adjustments often aim to deepen the emotional connection, streamline action sequences, or simply adapt the story to the non-linear demands of a television audience, leading to some surprising plot twists and character modifications in The Last of Us Season 2.

The Last of Us Season 2: Biggest Deviations from Part II Game

The second game, The Last of Us Part II, is known for its brutal narrative, shifting perspectives, and complex themes of revenge and forgiveness. The HBO adaptation has embraced the challenge but has not shied away from altering key elements to enhance the television experience. Here are the seven biggest changes observed in Season 2 so far, as of late 2025:

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1. The Extended Time Jump and Joel's Emotional State

In the original Part II game, the narrative jumps forward four years after the events at the Firefly hospital. The HBO series, however, opts for a five-year time jump. This seemingly small change has significant implications for the maturity of Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey) and the psychological state of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal). The show uses this extra year to establish a deeper, yet more strained, relationship between Joel and Ellie in Jackson, Wyoming. Furthermore, the series introduces a key new detail: Joel has been attending therapy sessions to process his trauma and the moral weight of his actions at the hospital, a detail entirely new to the show that adds a layer of complexity to his character before his tragic demise.

2. Dina’s Expanded Role in the Journey to Seattle

Dina's character (played by Isabela Merced in Season 2) has a much more active and immediate role in the show's narrative compared to the game. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie and Dina initially set out to track down Tommy, who had gone ahead. In the series, the motivation for their journey to Seattle is more directly driven by Ellie’s immediate need for revenge following the pivotal event involving Abby Anderson. Moreover, Dina is shown accompanying Ellie and Jesse much earlier and more consistently in their exploration of various areas, such as the initial Seattle patrol, making her a more central figure in the action sequences from the start.

3. Tommy and Maria’s Family Life

A significant, yet subtle, change that grounds the Jackson community further is the status of Tommy and Maria. The HBO series reveals that Tommy and Maria have a son. This addition profoundly raises the stakes for the characters. Tommy's decision-making, particularly his drive for revenge or his desire to stay safe, is now complicated by the presence of a child, adding a new emotional dimension to the W.L.F. conflict that unfolds in Seattle. This change is an example of the show expanding the world-building in ways the game's linear structure could not.

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4. The Cordyceps Spore vs. Tendril Debate

While the first season already made a major change by replacing the airborne Cordyceps spores with the underground fungal tendril network, Season 2 continues to lean into this adaptation. The show emphasizes the interconnectedness of the infected via the mycelial network, making the threat feel more organic and less reliant on gas masks. This change was implemented by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann to create a more terrifying, silent-horror atmosphere where the ground itself is a potential threat, and to avoid the logistical issues of constantly showing characters wearing respirators.

5. Abby’s Introduction and the Hospital Flashback

The pacing and structure of Abby Anderson’s introduction are handled differently in the show. In the series, the audience sees Abby’s intention to kill Joel outside the hospital, and then the narrative jumps forward five years. The game’s structure, however, keeps the time jump at four years and manages the revelation of Abby's motivations slightly differently. The show's choice to immediately establish Abby’s post-hospital trauma and singular focus on revenge sets a different tone for the opening of Season 2, immediately centering the plot on the cycle of violence.

6. The Focus on New Characters and Backstories

The HBO series excels at giving screen time to characters who were primarily encountered in notes or optional side stories in the game. Characters like Bill and Frank in Season 1, and new additions like Tommy’s son in Season 2, are examples of the show using its episodic format to expand backstories. The adaptation, helmed by the creators, prioritizes character development and emotional resonance over pure action, which means certain side-characters get more complete, often tragic, arcs. This technique allows the show to explore the humanity of survivors beyond Joel and Ellie, enriching the overall thematic depth of the post-apocalyptic world.

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7. Ellie's Emotional Expression

While the show strives for fidelity, the portrayal of Ellie Williams by Bella Ramsey has subtle differences from her game counterpart. In certain key moments, the show's version of Ellie is depicted as more openly animated and emotionally expressive, especially in her conversations with Dina. The game’s Ellie, particularly in the darker moments of Part II, is often more reserved, stoic, and internal in her processing of trauma. The show's choice to externalize some of this emotion is a necessary adaptation to communicate internal conflict to a passive viewing audience, though the differences in character nuance remain minute in most instances.

The Critical Reception of The Last of Us Season 2

The initial critical reception for The Last of Us Season 2 has been notably more mixed than the near-universal acclaim of the first season. The original The Last of Us Part II game was already one of the most polarizing titles in video game history, praised for its technical achievement and narrative ambition but criticized by some for its controversial plot points. The television show, despite its massive budget and talented cast, has faced similar, if not harsher, scrutiny from both critics and a segment of the audience.

Many reviewers acknowledge the brilliant performances by Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever (as Abby), and the rest of the ensemble cast. However, the show's structural changes, particularly the pacing of the narrative and the handling of Joel Miller’s fate, have led to a more contentious debate. The creative decision to expand on the story's emotional weight, sometimes at the expense of the game's action-heavy sequences, is a recurring point of discussion. The showrunners have defended their choices, maintaining that the core themes of the source material—revenge, loss, and the nature of love—remain intact, even if the path to exploring them has been altered for the medium of television.

Verdict: A Masterful Adaptation, Not a Carbon Copy

The comparison between the The Last of Us game and the HBO show is less about which is "better" and more about how a narrative can evolve across different mediums. Season 1 proved that a near-perfect adaptation was possible, while Season 2 demonstrates the necessary evolution required to adapt a much more challenging and divisive source material like The Last of Us Part II.

The HBO series, under the guidance of Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, is not a shot-for-shot remake. It is an expansion—a richly textured, character-focused drama that uses the video game’s narrative framework as a foundation. The changes, such as the extended time jump, Joel’s therapy, and Dina’s heightened involvement, serve to deepen the emotional stakes for the television audience. Ultimately, the show delivers a unique, compelling experience that honors the spirit of Naughty Dog’s work while carving its own path in the annals of great television adaptations, ensuring the discussion of "game vs. show" remains a vibrant part of the fandom for years to come.