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Stepping into the realm of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” it’s challenging to locate moments of delight amidst a world ravaged by the Cordyceps outbreak, which in turn leads to society’s collapse, leaving humanity with no choice but to succumb to their most primitive urges. Joel, having witnessed the depths mankind can sink to, maintains a firm grip on his journey companion, Ellie, always steering her away from mischief. Over time, however, her playful antics gradually erode his resolve, transforming him into a laid-back paternal figure by the onset of Season 2. Regrettably, this brief respite is short-lived as Joel meets an untimely end at the hands of a band of former Fireflies, snuffing out any hope for prolonged camaraderie.

Joel’s demise underscores the scarcity of joy in the world, and while Ellie attempts to evade this reality for some time, it eventually overtakes her in the Season 2 finale. In a tragic turn of events, she ends Mel’s life, who was pregnant at the time, and loses Jesse shortly afterward when Abby storms the theater to neutralize any threats to her companions. Despite the prevailing gloom, The Last of Us Season 2 manages to insert a comical Easter egg in its final episode.

The Last of Us Won’t Let Abby Find Peace at Home

Following the deaths of Owen and Mel, Ellie isn’t doing well at all. She’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that her pursuit of vengeance is leading her down a dangerous path. When Tommy and Jesse propose returning to Jackson Hole, she eagerly agrees. Ellie harbors resentment towards Abby still being alive, but the tension in Seattle has become too intense for their small group, and staying any longer could prove fatal. However, Ellie doesn’t manage to escape unscathed; Abby tracks them down at the theater, shoots Jesse dead, takes Tommy hostage, and points the gun at Ellie. Before The Last of Us can show the consequences of Abby’s final shot, it fades to black and we catch a glimpse of Abby’s activities three days prior.

After completing her mission in Jackson Hole, Abby resumes her normal duties with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). As she takes a brief rest, Manny enters and informs her that Isaac desires to discuss something important. However, Abby can’t jump up immediately due to a book, “Thieves of the City” by Ben Davidoff, resting on top of her. This moment briefly focuses the scene on the book, hinting at deeper mysteries within it.

There’s Something Wrong With Abby’s Book in The Last of Us Season 2

Performing a Google search won’t find “Thieves of the City” since it’s not an actual book. Instead, you’ll discover “City of Thieves,” written by David Benioff, which is set in Leningrad, Russia during World War II. Two young individuals, initially very different from each other, find themselves in a predicament where they must locate a dozen eggs after an unfortunate encounter. The book gains attention due to the characters’ transformation as they develop affection for one another following a distressing event. Remarkably similar, you might recognize this plotline from “The Last of Us,” and there’s no mistake about it – Neil Druckmann, creator of the game, acknowledges that “City of Thieves” was one of his inspirations.

Neil Druckmann deeply values “City of Thieves” and incorporates it into “The Last of Us Part II” by having Abby rest on a couch with the book nearby. However, in the live-action version, Abby reads a book that nods to Benioff’s work without directly using “City of Thieves.” It seems HBO may not have been able to obtain the rights to use the book, which is amusing given that Benioff co-created one of HBO’s most successful shows ever, “Game of Thrones.” Yet, when it comes to financial matters, personal connections only stretch so far, causing HBO to construct a narrative of their own. This tale likely follows the same structure as the original but introduces significant alterations along the way.

The Last of Us Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

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2025-05-27 19:40