The Last of Us

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Caution: Potential spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 ahead. A full week has passed, yet it’s hard to believe (unless you’ve played the game, in which case, I hope you’ve had sufficient time to process). Joel is no more, and The Last of Us will never be the same moving forward. This past Sunday brought us episode “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”, picking up where we left off – following Joel’s death and the infected assault on the Jackson hideout. After a three-month time leap, Ellie’s thirst for vengeance remains undiminished. With Dina’s knowledge about Abby and her group, Ellie plans to track them down in Seattle and exact her revenge.

Similar to many episodes in Season 2, this installment delves deeper into the game’s narrative, revealing that the townsfolk are divided over whether to send hunters after the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) or risk leaving Jackson undefended while they rebuild. Many of these alterations improve the storyline and underscore Ellie’s motivation for embarking on her solo journey, but one departure from the original seems unnecessary.

‘The Last of Us’ Makes a Big Change to Tommy

In the game The Last of Us Part II, Joel’s brother Tommy appears to be just as determined for revenge as Ellie, if not even more so. Initially hesitant about leaving Jackson undefended, especially given his lack of knowledge about the WLF attackers, Tommy swiftly concludes that seeking vengeance for his slain brother outweighs the potential dangers and sets off alone to track down these Seattle-based adversaries.

It turns out that Tommy had already started on his journey before Ellie and Dina arrived in Seattle, as evidenced by the trail of destruction he caused which led them to Abby and her team. A subsequent level in the game shows the events unfolding in Seattle from Abby’s viewpoint, where the player faces a deadly sniper attack, unaware that Tommy was the one pulling the trigger until much later.

Initially portrayed as Joel’s moral guide, it’s disconcerting and saddening to watch Tommy slide deeper into vengeance. Although I won’t reveal too much about the game’s concluding events, it’s evident that his thirst for revenge remains unquenched for months, causing a destructive impact on the other characters.

Instead, Episode 3 further portrays Tommy as the closest character resembling an unblemished hero. He actively advises Ellie against impulsive actions, encourages her to abide by the town council’s decision, and even voices worries about her health with Gail. If the show intends for Tommy to maintain a similar role as in the main game, something significant is likely to occur soon.

‘The Last of Us’ Changes Tommy in Unnecessary Ways

So far, the TV adaptation of “The Last of Us” has made several adjustments to the original story, most of which are reasonable or even defensible. However, we can’t shake off the feeling that the modifications made to the character Tommy are unnecessary. While it’s possible these changes could lead to something interesting later on, it seems like some engaging drama might be being sacrificed in the process.

In essence, the fundamental narrative doesn’t shift significantly in any other impactful aspects, as the core of the episode continues to revolve around Ellie stubbornly resisting advice in favor of seeking revenge. It’s puzzling why this didn’t play out if all key plot points remained consistent. This is even more perplexing because Tommy, who has a stronger motive than anyone else except for Ellie, to avenge his brother’s death, seems to be the one who would seek revenge most eagerly. The show hasn’t hesitated to portray Tommy as ruthless when it comes to safeguarding his loved ones, despite his essentially gentle nature.

It’s reasonable to assume that Gabriel Luna has been exceptional in his role since the start, and perhaps Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann felt that bloodlust contradicted his overall portrayal too much. Once more, Luna delivers a stunning depiction of Tommy’s internal struggles, making us believe him completely as he shows his newfound protectiveness towards Ellie and his increasing worry about her. In fact, it speaks volumes about Luna’s talent that we find ourselves slightly disappointed by the suggested changes to Tommy in the latest episode.

If Tommy doesn’t join Ellie in her quest for revenge, it seems there wouldn’t be much left for his character to explore. Granted, he might still decide to follow Ellie to Seattle, which would only slightly modify his overall storyline. However, at this point, such a change appears superfluous and, more significantly, a missed opportunity to provide one of the show’s less recognized actors with compelling content. Tune in to “The Last of Us” on Max every Sunday for new episodes.

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2025-04-28 04:45