Since its debut as a critically acclaimed video game in 2013 and its subsequent television adaptation in 2023, ‘The Last Of Us‘ has gripped audiences with its brutal emotional honesty, morally complex characters, and hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic landscapes.
Now, with Season 2 nearing its end and Season 3 officially greenlit, showrunner Craig Mazin has revealed something fans have long suspected: the series will need a fourth season to do justice to the complete arc of its characters.
Why ‘The Last of Us’ Needs More Time To Tell Its Full Story
In a recent interview with Collider, Craig Mazin candidly explained that the complexity of ‘The Last of Us Part II’, the game on which Seasons 2 and 3 are based, simply can’t be condensed into a single season beyond Season 2. “There are natural perforations in the narrative where you can go, ‘Okay, let’s tear it here,’” Mazin said. “But certainly, there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth.”
This statement offers more than just a peek into behind-the-scenes logistics, it gives fans reassurance. Moreover, Season 2 has focused heavily on the aftermath of Joel’s shocking and violent death, an event ripped straight from the game and one that serves as the catalyst for Ellie’s descent into grief, rage, and obsession. As fans know, ‘The Last of Us Part II’ doesn’t just belong to Ellie; it shares the narrative spotlight with Abby.
Though Abby has remained largely in the shadows throughout Season 2, her presence is a crucial part. Mazin hinted that Season 3 will delve into her story more fully, likely exploring her time in Seattle and her journey of vengeance. However, even that won’t be the final chapter, not if the show wants to deliver a conclusion that matches the game’s emotional and narrative intensity.
There’s a lot left to explore. This includes the crumbling world of the WLF and the rise of the Seraphites, the fragile dynamics between Ellie, Dina, and the rest of Jackson’s survivors, and the emotionally grueling final confrontation between Ellie and Abby. Trying to wrap all that up in one season would almost certainly rob the story of its nuance and emotional pacing.
Why Joel’s Death Was Necessary
While much of the conversation has revolved around future seasons, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Joel’s death. Speaking with Rolling Stone, Neil Druckmann addressed the internal debates the creative team had over whether Joel should survive. It turns out the conversation was brief. “We even discussed, could we prolong this moment?” Druckmann revealed.
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“But the more we discussed it, the more it just felt wrong. It felt like we would only be doing it for business reasons… The inciting incident, the origin of this story, is Joel’s death. Any inciting incident, you have to get to it as soon as possible.” And he’s right. As heartbreaking as it was to see Joel die so brutally and early in the story, it was a necessary evolution for the narrative.
Ellie’s journey, her descent into revenge and eventual confrontation, only holds emotional weight if it’s rooted in real, irrevocable loss. Druckmann and Mazin didn’t take that decision lightly, and neither did fans. It’s a moment that still lingers, influencing every action Ellie takes and every moment the audience experiences alongside her. But just like in the game, the story doesn’t end with that loss; it evolves. And that’s exactly what Season 3 and the anticipated Season 4 aim to do: show us the consequences.
