The Last of Us Season 3 Needs to Embrace One of the Best Things About Its First Episodes

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Following the confirmation of a third season, “The Last of Us” could gain strength by replicating one of Season 1’s standout scenes, which spotlights Kaitlyn Dever’s character, Abby. The second season of “The Last of Us” wrapped up in late May, culminating an intense season that saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) meet his end in pursuit of revenge, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) embarking on a quest for her own vengeance. With the season finale delivering a significant cliffhanger, leaving the destinies of Ellie and Tommy (Gabriel Luna) hanging in the balance, “The Last of Us” is set to adopt a distinctly new strategy in its upcoming installment.

Enthusiasts of the video game “The Last of Us” are already familiar with the storyline that the third season of its live-action adaptation will delve into. In “The Last of Us” Season 3, Kaitlyn Dever is likely to take center stage as we journey along with Abby in the period leading up to her encounter with Ellie. By temporarily stepping away from Ellie’s narrative and focusing on Abby, The Washington Liberation Front (WLF), and the Seraphites, the series introduces a captivating opportunity to revisit one of “The Last of Us” Season 1’s most memorable scenes.

The Last of Us Season 1 Included A Brilliant Standalone Episode

In 2023, the debut season of “The Last of Us” was a massive hit upon its release. Although most of the season followed Joel and Ellie’s journey across the U.S. to locate the Firefly facility in Salt Lake City, one episode deviated from this narrative and served as a separate story that filled in important background details. This standalone episode, titled “Left Behind,” was an adaptation of the 2014 expansion pack for the original game, “The Last of Us: Left Behind.” So far, “The Last of Us” Season 1, Episode 7 is considered one of the show’s strongest episodes due to its compelling narrative.

In the past, before Ellie encountered Marlene, Joel, Tess, or even realized she was immune to the Cordyceps, “Left Behind” showed us a trip to the Boston Quarantine Zone. This occurred prior to the start of The Last of Us season 1, where Ellie is picked up from a FEDRA school by her friend Riley, who was part of the Fireflies. They spend their time enjoying amusements like escalators, carousels, photo booths, and arcade games at an abandoned mall. Their joyful moments are cut short when Riley reveals she’ll be departing Boston the following day.

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At first, Ellie gets upset and leaves, but then goes back to dance with Riley at a Halloween costume shop. They exchange a kiss after Ellie pleads for Riley not to go, and she relents. However, their sweet moment is disrupted when an infected attacks, biting both Ellie and Riley. While Riley wishes to transform together, Ellie refuses. The episode “Left Behind” was touching and significant, providing insight into Ellie’s past, so it would be advantageous for The Last of Us season 3 to replicate this narrative device.

How Can The Last of Us Season 3 Repeat This Great Season 1 Trick?

In simpler terms, instead of starting directly with Season 2’s finale showing Abby’s experiences on Day Three, the creators chose to go back in time a few days for us, taking us through Ellie and Dina’s journey on Day One (as depicted in Episode 4) to set up the storyline and provide context for what we’ll see in Season 2’s finale, which now focuses on Abby’s experiences during her version of Day One.

In Season 3 of “The Last of Us,” Ellie’s main narrative will diverge, offering insight into Abby’s personal motivations, similar to how the game allows players to control Abby. However, it would be advantageous to delve into side-stories as well. One potential standalone episode could focus on the Seraphites, a group governed by the mysterious Prophet, who we haven’t encountered yet. Such an episode would offer an ideal platform for introducing this intriguing character.

As Ellie and Dina approach Seattle, the city was already embroiled in a fierce conflict between the WLF, FEDRA, and the Seraphites. The trio’s struggle was so intense that by the time Ellie and Dina arrived, all they could see was the remnants of the battle. This confrontation ultimately led to the WLF launching a full-scale assault on Seraphite Island, a scene hinted at in the finale of The Last of Us Season 2. It’d be intriguing to delve deeper into the Seraphites and their individuals, maybe even introducing Lev and Yara from The Last of Us Part II, who develop a bond with Abby. This could pave the way for numerous exciting developments in The Last of Us Season 3.

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2025-06-16 04:13