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In the latest episode of the Temple of Geek podcast, hosts Danielle and Olivia dissected the season 2 finale of HBO’s The Last of Us, titled “Convergence.” This final discussion brought a lot of emotions out for both hosts. And it concludes their seven-week coverage of the season. Spoiler warning for the episode, and game spoilers.

The Last of Us Season 2 Finale: Temple of Geek Podcast Dives Deep into “Convergence” and Looks Ahead to Season 3

Jesse’s Portrayal Sparks Debate on Show’s Adaptation Choices

A significant point of discussion was the portrayal of Jesse. In the game, Jesse is consistently understanding and supportive of Ellie, even stating he would have gone with her to Seattle if asked. The show presents a Jesse more focused on the Jackson community, who even voted against Ellie taking people to Seattle. Olivia found this change, particularly his voting no, to be almost too much, though she acknowledged that onscreen confrontations can make for more dynamic television. She felt his dedication to community was a good contrast but disagreed with him actively opposing Ellie. Danielle, while finding it hard as a game player, conceded that within the show’s narrative alone, Jesse’s arc was consistent. Both hosts agreed that while Season 2 was solid television, it wasn’t a great adaptation, with Jesse being a prime example.

Olivia emphasized that in the game, characters are the foundation, and small changes in the show fundamentally alter them, leading to a domino effect on the plot. She expressed frustration with what she perceived as a lack of respect for the source material in Season 2 compared to Season 1, suggesting Craig Mazin sometimes seemed to imply he could “do it better” than the original creators.

Danielle, a devoted fan of The Last of Us Part II, had anticipated fundamental changes and was surprised by how much was kept. Her main concerns were potential changes to Joel’s death and the simultaneous telling of Abby’s story alongside Ellie’s, neither of which occurred. She acknowledged the show might have played it safe due to production pressures.

Dissecting Show-Ellie’s Emotional Journey and Divergence from the Game

The hosts also touched upon Ellie’s characterization. Danielle planned a rewatch to assess if show-Ellie’s arc matched her Season 1 setup, as some viewers felt it didn’t. She noted that Bella Ramsey captures the heart of Ellie, but the material differs from the game. Olivia discussed the pivotal Owen and Mel death scene, where game-Ellie acts without remorse. While show-Ellie seems startled when she accidentally shoots Mel. This, for Olivia, summarized the changes to Ellie, making her more unsure and sensitive. Danielle interpreted the show’s version as a manifestation of Ellie’s internal emotions, noting that in the game, Ellie kills Owen and then Mel in self-defense after they attack her.

A significant difference is that Game-Mel dies immediately from a knife, and Owen reveals her pregnancy with his last breath, leading to Ellie’s horrified reaction, similar to the show. Danielle felt that Ellie’s outward distress over torturing Nora influenced this scene. A remorse not explicitly shown in the game at that point. Olivia agreed, finding this portrayal of Ellie slightly inconsistent after the Nora scene. However, Olivia praised the show’s depiction of Mel trying to save her child. Calling it “brutal and awful” but a powerful underscoring of the theme of parents wanting better for their children. Danielle concurred, finding the scene’s discomfort intentional and impactful, highlighting Ellie’s realization given Dina’s pregnancy.

Dina’s Evolving Role and Reaction to the Truth in Season 2 Finale

Ellie’s confession to Dina about Salt Lake City was another key point. This occurs earlier than in the game. Danielle felt the show sometimes over-explained things, indicating a lack of trust in the audience compared to the game. She argued Bella Ramsey could convey Ellie’s questioning of her actions without explicit dialogue. Olivia agreed, labeling it a “cycle of distrust” in the audience, story, and actors. Olivia found Dina’s reaction interesting: upon learning the truth, Dina seems to conclude Joel was wrong and they should go home, possibly because her pregnancy shifted her perspective on the world and the lost chance for a cure. While liking the show’s more prominent version of Dina, Olivia felt this Dina still largely served Ellie’s character development, though she appreciated Dina finally disagreeing with Ellie. Danielle agreed this version of Dina was more relatable but noted the “whiplash” of her reduced role in the finale after significant buildup.

The hosts pondered the impact of a female head writer, like Haley Gross, who co-wrote the game, on the show’s adaptation of female characters and their nuanced portrayals of rage and emotion. Olivia felt a woman lead might have better understood the nuances and the “domino effect” of changes.

Ending with Abby’s Perspective

The season’s ending focusing on Abby was generally well-received by the hosts. Danielle initially thought it would end with Abby shooting Ellie. However, she liked the shift to Abby’s perspective on Seattle Day One Olivia shared that non-game players had the exact shocked and reluctant reaction to this reveal as Olivia did when playing the game, highlighting it as effective television. She also noted a shift online, with even game players who disliked Abby now anticipating her perspective in the show.

Danielle theorized that Abby’s part of the story offers more payoff as it’s a “buildup of her character” and a “redemption arc.” Contrasting with Ellie’s arc in Part II, which she sees as more of a “devolution.” Olivia added that Abby’s storyline in the game has more plot support with the WLF/Seraphite conflict and more side characters with their intersecting plots.

Ellie on Seraphite Island

Speculation that Ellie’s brief visit to the Seraphite Island in the show, which felt somewhat pointless to some viewers, might be set up for Abby’s parallel journey. Danielle suggested the Seraphites might have spared Ellie because of something Abby was doing simultaneously. Meaning Abby might have inadvertently saved Ellie, allowing her to then kill Owen and Mel.

Another deviation from the game noted was the absence of animal deaths caused by the protagonists, such as Ellie’s horse Shimmer or the dog Alice. Danielle felt these deaths were important in the game to show what characters were willing to do. Mazin reportedly said some deaths go “too far,” which Danielle questioned, given other violent content. Olivia agreed it felt like playing it safe and another instance of distrusting the audience. Removing a tool for storytelling about the cycle of violence. The impact of killing Alice in the game, only to later play as Abby and bond with the same dog, was a powerful player experience the show might miss.

The conversation also touched on the writing process, with Danielle speculating that the writers’ strike might have impacted Season 2 finale development, potentially leading to a rushed process with a smaller team. They hoped Season 3 would benefit from more time and collaborative writing.

What the Hosts Hope to See

For Season 3, Olivia is most looking forward to Abby’s journey with Yara and Lev, praising its beautiful and multi-layered storyline, and is also excited to see more about The Prophet and the WLF, hinting at potential expansions or changes to The Prophet’s backstory. Danielle echoed excitement for the Seraphite exploration and particularly the Abby-Lev relationship, which she holds in very high regard. She also expressed hope for the protection of the actor who will play Lev and the possibility of seeing Lev and Yara before they meet Abby.

Danielle concluded she is both more and less wary for Season 3, now having a better understanding of the types of changes the show might make.

The HBO Original series THE LAST OF US continues to captivate a massive global audience. With viewership for Season 2 exceeding 90 million since the end of its first season. The second season is currently averaging nearly 37 million global viewers per episode, a number that continues to grow. In the U.S., the recent Season 2 finale garnered 3.7 million cross-platform viewers. This success builds on the first season, which concluded with 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers at 90 days post-premiere. Ahead of its Season 2 debut, the Emmy®-winning HBO Original drama series was renewed for a third season. The seven-episode second season of THE LAST OF US premiered on Sunday, April 13, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is available to stream on Max. Max has also announced that Season 2 is available to stream in American Sign Language (ASL).

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Temple Of Geek Podcast

Since 2012, the Temple of Geek  Podcast has enthusiastically explored the world of geek culture! Join us on our weekly adventures, discussing their passions and fandoms.

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