Curious about which storylines were cut from The Last of Us Season 2? As HBO’s adaptation tackles the complex events of the second game, some scenes and character arcs from the original source didn’t make it to the screen. From missing characters to altered relationships and skipped infected encounters, the changes have not gone unnoticed by fans.
Here’s a breakdown of the key storylines removed or changed in The Last of Us Season 2.
List of key changes made and storylines cut in The Last of Us Season 2
Missing Members in Abby’s Group
Abby arrives in Jackson with Mel, Nora, Owen, and Manny. However, other characters from the game, including Jordan, Leah, and Nick, do not appear in the show. The early scene in Salt Lake City shows Abby’s crew visiting Firefly graves, but the absent members are not referenced again in Seattle. Their storylines were cut from The Last of Us Season 2.
No Bloater Encounter for Ellie
In the game, Ellie faces a bloater in an arcade while heading to the aquarium. The series skips this encounter and instead shows Ellie being captured by Seraphites. This change removes one of the key infected fights from her storyline.
Synagogue Visit Left Out
The game includes a scene where Ellie and Dina explore a synagogue, during which Dina talks about her Jewish heritage. The show removes this segment and briefly references Dina’s background through dialogue without the exploration scene.
Tommy’s Trail Erased
In the game, Ellie follows Tommy’s path across Seattle by recognizing his interrogation tactics. The show changes this by delaying Tommy’s departure from Jackson. Instead of finding his trail, Ellie hears about his actions over the radio.
Abby and Owen’s Confrontation Cut
Before meeting Joel in the game, Abby finds out that Mel is pregnant with Owen’s child, which leads to a confrontation. The show skips this plot point. Abby leaves on patrol without learning about the pregnancy, removing a layer of tension from her character arc.
Boris’ Storyline Removed
The game features Boris, a former resident of Seattle, who turns on his neighbors and becomes infected. Ellie discovers his fate through notes and environmental clues. The show omits this side story, likely due to time constraints.
Maria’s Decision Rewritten
In the game, Maria supports Ellie and Dina’s journey to Seattle. In the show, the Jackson council refuses to back the mission, and Maria disagrees with Ellie leaving. Tommy departs alone, filling the role Seth played in the game.
