The next season of the HBO hit The Last of Us The TV show is on the way and will apparently add additional context for certain characters from the games. This would reflect what Season 1 of The Last of Us made with Bill and Frank, characters whose story was only hinted at in the first game, but who got an entire episode to themselves in the adaptation.
One of the most significant advantages a TV show or movie has over a video game is its ability to switch perspectives and tell a story more efficiently: With no need to consider gameplay, a show can easily shift focus shift another character and take command of the viewer's attention without the need for interactivity. This is a big reason why the Bill and Frank episode of TLOU Season 1 works so well that the series was able to afford an hour-long detour to explore a more intimate, slower paced relationship between two characters in a way that the video game simply couldn't. It's likely that audiences will see more of this type of storytelling next season The Last of Us.
Further elaboration of The Last of Us universe in Season 2
Which characters could be fleshed out in The Last of Us season 2?
Although they may not get a full episode like Bill and Frank did TLOU Druckmann has stated that the upcoming season will provide additional backstories for certain characters for the first season. The Last of Us Part 2 The series' cast has been significantly expanded and a number of new faces have been introduced, whose pasts are merely hinted at rather than fully explained or objectively portrayed. Given the unique strengths of the TV show format and the show's planned multi-season run, many of these characters could benefit from additional context.
Supporting characters like Jesse, who is sociable and lovable in the second part, could perhaps be fleshed out in the TV show. But there are even more important characters, like Washington Liberation Front leader Isaac Dixon, who could become far more multidimensional and complex through this type of storytelling, helping audiences understand their motivations and personalities a little better. The series may also offer a more intimate look at factions like the Seraphites from the perspective of characters like Lev. There are a number of other supporting characters who could gain more prominence with additional backstory, including:
- Mary Miller
- Nora Harris
- Manny
- Mel
- Yara
Season 2's additional backstory wouldn't have to be limited to tertiary characters: more attention to Joel and Ellie's development in Jackson could paint a more complete picture of their changing emotional states between games.
How additional backstory could affect The Last of Us 3
If any of the above characters were to receive the Bill and Frank treatment TLOU Season 2 could dramatically change players' perceptions at the start The Last of Us 3. For example, new details about Lev's family history in the series could change his possible characterization in the next game, if only because the audience now knows more about his past. Likewise, revamping the WLF by humanizing characters like Isaac would open the door for more nuanced storytelling in the next game.
Video games can be powerful tools for evoking empathy – this is something that TLOU 2 with its multi-protagonist structure – but the limited perspectives also limit its emotional scope and only show certain characters from the protagonists' point of view, a limitation that television shows don't necessarily have to have. Therefore, The Last of Us Season 2 should harmonize with TLOU 3 by providing new backstories, expanding the franchise's narrative mosaic and forming new contexts for the future.
