This Monday, April 21, 2025, the public was finally able to discover episode 2 of season 2 of The Last of Us. A remarkably effective episode that ends with the tragic death of a universally beloved character - this scene sparked strong reactions on social media. As with the first episode, we revisit the major differences between the video game The Last of Us Part II and its HBO adaptation.
#1 Dina replaces Tommy
At the beginning of episode 2, Ellie is awakened by Jesse, who reminds her of her obligations to the city of Jackson. As the young girl prepares to patrol with Joel, she learns that he left earlier with Dina; In the end, she will fulfill her duty alongside Jesse. This is obviously a major change compared to the video game; in The Last of Us Part II, Ellie patrols with Dina, while Joel leaves with his brother Tommy. This change allows Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to give Dina more importance, by digging into her relationship with Joel on the one hand, and giving her an additional reason to accompany Ellie in her quest for revenge, but also to give Tommy a spectacular action scene. Everyone wins, except poor Joel!
#2 The Attack on the City of Jackson
In episode 2 of season 2 of The Last of Us, the city of Jackson is attacked by an army of infected who awaken. A spectacular and very tense sequence, but completely new compared to the video game. Indeed, in The Last of Us Part II, the city of Jackson remains this haven of peace spared by cordyceps. This is a wise choice by the series: not only does this sequence come across as a statement of intent to the reluctant fans who criticized the lack of infected in the first season, but also this battle offers a clever counter to the disaster that is unfolding in parallel (Joel's death). And then, how can we not have some reminiscences of Game of Thrones with these infected waking up in the snow? Let's also note that the episode fully exploits an invention of the series already mentioned in the pilot episode: the connection between the infected and cordyceps. We were able to see the full relevance of this addition!
#3 The reconciliation between Joel and Ellie
The first episode of season 2 revealed how much Joel and Ellie's relationship had deteriorated since the end of the first season. In this, the series followed the evolution of their relationship in the games. However, episode 2 reveals that Ellie is seeing a true reconciliation with the man she still considers her adoptive father, as demonstrated by her introductory dialogue with Jesse. In the video game, it is only in the penultimate scene of the game, during a flashback, that we learn that Joel and Ellie spoke to each other and discussed the potential for reconciliation. This change in the narrative structure allows the series to increase sympathy for Ellie as she helplessly witnesses Joel's death. Some fans will nevertheless find that this makes Joel's death less tragic in the sense that Ellie will be less confronted with regret. To be continued!
#4 A more enraged Abby
While Abby's plans for Joel were revealed in the first episode of Season 2—a choice that can be explained in part by the avalanche of spoilers that have been swarming the internet since the release of The Last of Us Part II in 2020—the young woman was finally able to exact her revenge against her father's murderer in Episode 2. And the character is likely to make many enemies as she appears even more enraged than in the video game. This is due in part to Kaitlyn Dever's impeccable performance, and in part to certain additions and changes. First of all, Abby is much more threatening since she threatens Joel to kill Dina if she doesn't get the truth from him. Then, she hits the old man so hard that she snaps the golf club in two. That's how angry she was!
#5 Joel's Death
This is of course the most significant event of the episode, the one that all fans of The Last of Us feared: at the end of episode 2, Abby kills Joel Miller in front of Ellie. While in general, her death is very similar to the video game, there are several very different details. First of all, Joel and Dina accompany Abby after saving her not to escape the blizzard but to get weapons to help the town of Jackson, besieged by the infected. Then, Ellie's adoptive father confesses to Abby that he was indeed present in Salt Lake City, thus confirming that he is indeed her father's murderer. Finally, Abby finishes him off not by smashing his skull with a golf club, but by planting one of the pieces of the broken club in his head. Also note that in the game, the WLF members knock Ellie unconscious, after she swears that she will kill them all; in the series, she manages to slip up to Joel's lying body.
And you, what did you think of this episode 2? Don't hesitate to tell us in the comments section.
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