HBO
The Last of Us Season 2: Here are the main differences in Joel and Abby’s scene between the show and the game
We analyze the key differences between Joel’s shocking death in The Last of Us series and the video game.
Like any good adaptation, there are details and moments that change. Either because of narrative adjustments or because something that works in one medium does not translate in the same way in the other. Since the first season, the adaptation of The Last of Us on Max has changed many details, but there are also moments that are a perfect copy. On this occasion, we review one of the key scenes that occurred this weekend, in a scene that, although it came to the same end, had certain adjustments.
Warning: Spoilers for The Last of Us Part II and The Last of Us—Season 2 below.
How does the scene between Joel and Abby change from the video game to the TV series?
The infamous scene between Joel and Abby, played by Pedro Pascal and Kaitlyn Dever, took place in the second episode of the new season, with many key differences. Both the series and the game start with the same basic premise: Abby Anderson kills Joel Miller out of revenge. Although the murder weapon in both cases is the same—a golf club—and Ellie witnesses Joel’s death, there are relevant changes that, intentionally or not, alter the tone and context of the scene in the series due to several key differences:
- In the game, it is Joel and his brother Tommy who find and rescue Abby from a horde of infected. Later, Abby leads them to a safe haven where the rest of her group is, and Joel is tortured and then killed. In the show, it is Joel and Dina who are on patrol and encounter Abby. In the game, Tommy is knocked out, while in the show, Dina is sedated; neither sees the death directly, though they are present at the scene.
- Early in the game, Joel confesses to Tommy what he did to save Ellie, potentially dooming the rest of humanity by preventing the possible development of a cure. This scene does not exist in the series; furthermore, since Tommy is not present during Joel’s murder and torture, his perception of Abby could be reduced to that of a cold-blooded killer without understanding her personal motivation.
- In the game, after considering himself safe and out of danger, Tommy offers to take Abby’s group to Jackson for supplies. In the show, however, Jackson is under attack by a large horde of infected, and since Tommy is not there either, the offer is not made.
- In the game, Abby tortures and kills Joel without revealing her motives. In the series, Abby elaborates, revealing her identity and why she wants revenge on Joel.
These changes, especially the identity of Joel’s companion and the absence of Tommy, have important narrative implications. In the game, the presence of Joel’s brother adds a layer of familial pain, reinforcing the bond between the two and contextualizing the confession about Ellie. By focusing on Dinah, the show underscores Joel’s connection to Ellie and the danger that lurks for Jackson but sacrifices this sibling dimension at this crucial moment.
It is clear that some of these changes are due to the need to condense an extensive video game plot into a more streamlined television format. With Neil Druckmann involved in the writing of both projects, these changes do not seem to be the result of a different creative vision but rather a natural adaptation to a different medium and even an opportunity to refine certain aspects of the original story.
Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!