After just seven episodes, The Last of Us Season 2 will end this weekend – but some big changes could be coming in Season 3, according to Craig Mazin.
The first season was mostly a faithful adaptation of The Last of Us, retaining the main beats of the story while expanding others; for example, the story of Bill and Frank in Episode 3, widely regarded as the best episode of the entire series so far.
Season 2 came out swinging (literally) with Joel’s death in the opening episodes, sending Ellie on a path of vengeance to Seattle to find Abby and her WLF crew.
It remains unclear if they’ll come face to face again in Episode 7, but you should prepare for a cliffhanger that tees up what’s coming in Season 3.
The Last of Us Season 3 could be longer and more expansive
Season 2 has made some small, notable changes to The Last of Us Part 2. For example, instead of Tommy, Dina was present at Joel’s death while Jackson fought off a horde of infected. Eugene’s death was the catalyst for Joel confessing the truth about what happened at the hospital, which is completely different from the game.
However, these haven’t been major detours like Bill and Frank’s episode, something Mazin is hoping to change in Season 3.
“The thing about Joel’s death is that it’s so impactful. It’s such a narrative nuclear bomb that it’s hard to wander away from it,” he told Collider.
“We can’t really take a break and move off to the side and do a Bill and Frank story. I’m not sure that will necessarily be true for Season 3. I think we’ll have a little more room there.”
Thankfully, Season 3 may be longer than seven episodes. “I think there’s a decent chance that Season 3 will be longer than Season 2, just because the manner of that narrative and the opportunities it affords us are a little different,” Mazin said.
Without any spoilers, let’s just say that Season 2 hasn’t even got halfway through the story of the game – and if things go to plan, the show will end with a fourth season.
“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. That’s the most likely outcome,” he added.
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