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The Last of Us Season 2 dropped an action-packed new episode on April 21, ending with a shocking and heartbreaking twist – especially for those unfamiliar with the game. While the main storyline closely follows The Last of Us Part II – on which the second season is based – Episode 2, titled “Through the Valley”, features several key changes where the series diverges significantly from the game. ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Episode 2: ‘Don’t Send Threats to Kaitlyn Dever’! Pedro Pascal’s HBO Series Recreates Game’s Most Shocking Moment and Fans Are Heartbroken.
SPOILERS AHEAD… Some major elements from the game are retained. Joel (Pedro Pascal) rescues Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) from a vast horde of the undead, unknowingly sealing his own fate. By the end of the episode, he is no longer alive, paying the price for a critical mistake made in the previous season. Just like in the game, Joel’s death sets his foster daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey) on a path of vengeance that drives the story forward.
However, how these plot points are handled involves notable creative liberties that alter the narrative to some degree in the show.
Here are five major ways The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2, diverges from the game:
1. Horde Attack in Jackson
A Still From The Last of Us S2E2
In the show, after chasing Abby and failing to capture her – thanks to Joel’s intervention – the horde redirects its attention to the Jackson commune. The infected breach the community’s defences and kill many residents, forcing Tommy (Gabriel Luna) to step up as a leader and fight off the invaders. This entire sequence is not present in the game.
2. Sex Scene Between Ellie and Dina Cut
A Still From The Last of Us Part II game
Like the game, the previous episode featured Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) expressing their feelings with a kiss at the New Year’s ball. In the game, they later go on a patrol where they take shelter in a library during a blizzard. Here, they talk about their previous night’s kiss, become more intimate and have sex. However, in the series, Ellie goes on patrol with Jesse (Young Mazino) instead, leading to a different set of emotional exchanges. So what was Dina up to in the show? Well, that’s a very interesting change for her character’s arc…
3. Dina Replaces Tommy
A Still From The Last of Us S2E2
In the game, Joel rescues Abby and takes her back to her group, where he is ultimately killed. Tommy is present with Joel during this encounter and is incapacitated by Abby’s friends. Witnessing Joel’s death drives Tommy into a revenge-fuelled mission, where he even kills Manny.
In the show, however, Tommy remains at Jackson leading the defence against the horde, while Dina accompanies Joel on the patrol and is the one overpowered by Abby’s crew. Since Dina now has seen Joel’s killers, we wonder if she will take on Tommy’s role from the game – perhaps even being the one to kill Manny (Danny Ramirez). While Dina served as Ellie’s emotional anchor in the game, encouraging her to abandon her destructive path, we hope that dynamic isn’t entirely lost in the show.
4. Abby’s Monologue
A Still From The Last of Us S2E2
In the game, Abby wastes no time. Upon bringing Joel in their group’s midst, she attacks, tortures, and ultimately kills him without explaining her motives. In the series, however, Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby delivers a monologue justifying her actions before killing him. While this shift allows Dever to showcase her acting range, it’s a surprising departure from the game’s cold-blooded brutality. ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Premiere: From Isabela Merced’s Dina to Catherine O’Hara’s Gail, 8 New Main Characters Introduced in Episode 1 – Who’s Straight From the Game?
5. Joel Gets Stabbed As Well
A Still From The Last of Us S2E2
In the game, Joel is killed by a brutal swing of Abby’s golf club. In the show, however, after enduring a savage beating, he is also stabbed in the neck—this added detail becomes the fatal blow. It’s a small but notable difference that adds another layer of violence to his demise.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 21, 2025 11:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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