Season 2 of The Last of Us captivates fans of the video game and those unfamiliar with it every Monday. This is indeed the case because the series has chosen to take several different directions from the original material. One of them was introduced in Episode 3, and it's very important because it concerns Joel and could well change the ending.
WARNING: SPOILERS FROM THE SERIES AND GAMES JUST BELOW
The Last of Us: A Season 2 Marked by Many Differences
The first season of The Last of Us stood out from the 2013 game by taking some liberties, notably by further developing certain elements and characters. The second made the same choice, but to an even greater extent. Indeed, while the series plans to further develop certain characters, such as Isaac Dixon, for example, it has also, and above all, added many new, never-before-seen elements.
Let's be clear: the first season brought new things. We're obviously thinking of the magnificent episode dedicated to Bill and Frank, however, the sequel goes even further by profoundly changing the narrative of The Last of Us Part II. Between the presentation of Abby, Jackson's tragedy, and the introduction of Gail, a character absent from the games, we find ourselves faced with an almost completely different work. It's so much so that one element of episode 3 could change the ending, but rest assured, it would be for the better.
This Joel Theory Could Change Everything
One of the major changes in season 2 concerns Tommy. He is presented as a man devoted to his community, ready to put the interests of his comrades before his own, and not as someone eager for revenge, as in the game. Episode 3 illustrates this character trait by specifying that the cemetery is not located in Jackson itself, but 16 kilometers from the city. This change from the game underlines the character's caution, but also seems to hide another meaning.
What hasn't changed from the source material is Ellie's thirst for revenge. One could even say that it is even more pronounced, because while in the game she sets off in pursuit of Abby almost immediately, in the series this only happens three months after the terrible events. Despite the passage of time, Ellie still hasn't accepted Joel's loss, and the series intends to further emphasize this aspect.
Before leaving for Seattle, Ellie pays her respects at Joel's grave. The scene is moving, but players noticed one detail that viewers missed: the location bears a striking resemblance to the farm where Ellie and Dina live at the end of the game. In the game, the two women settle away from Jackson to try to rebuild their lives. In the series, with a grave located 16 kilometers from the city, we can imagine that this will have the opposite effect. Ellie will likely want to live next to her spiritual father, a sign that she hasn't moved on and that she remains ready to set out on a quest for revenge. This is what happens in the game, and the series could make it even more poignant. Joel's ghost would literally hover around her, becoming the trigger for her departure for California, instead of Tommy, who seems to have moved on, as suggested by the absence of his brother's body at his side and his contemplation at the beginning of episode 3. Thus, when Ellie leaves the farm for good, the symbolism will be even stronger.
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