The season two finale of The Last of Us ended abruptly, leaving viewers wondering who won in the fight between Ellie and Abby. However, this cliffhanger is not a mistake – it’s part of the showrunners’ plan to preserve the aspects of canon from the games.
After the standoff, the scene cuts to a title card revealing that Seattle: Day One is about to begin, indicating a shift in perspective to Abby’s point of view. The narrative then jumps back in time, following Abby’s two days leading up to her confrontation with Ellie. This approach aligns with series co-creator Craig Mazin’s statement that the show aims to respect the game’s elements.
While season three is expected to focus on Abby’s story, some plot points have been altered or added for character development purposes. For example, Bill and Frank’s backstory has been expanded upon, as well as Eugene’s fate, which differs from the game. The adaptation process, according to Neil Druckmann, allows the show to evolve while maintaining its core elements.
The Last of Us’ unique blend of storytelling has led to a distinctive adaptation that deviates from other adaptations of novels and games. As series co-creator Craig Mazin puts it, “If you think about other adaptations, let’s say from a novel, we all have a different idea of what the characters are.” The showrunners aim to balance fidelity to the source material with creative interpretation, resulting in a captivating narrative that continues to evolve.
Source: https://www.eonline.com/news/1417752/the-last-of-us-season-2-finale-ending-explained