With the successful first season of The Last of Us, HBO explored new ways to differentiate itself from games. Season 2 will follow the same path on several levels.
Fans may have noticed in the first season of The Last of Us: the timeline is shifted 10 years compared to Naughty Dog’s masterpieces. Joel’s age is also incorrect. Choices adopted by HBO that seek to address themes little explored in the games from which the series is adapted.
The difference game in The Last of Us series
As a reminder: Season 1 of The Last of Us was already characterized by a different temporality of the games. The beginnings of the mushroom apocalypse began in 2003 and not 2013. A first freedom that allowed the showrunners to portray the world in a different way before. That’s why Joel and Ellie meet in 2023 instead of 2033 in Naughty Dog’s first work. A way like any other to mark the dystopia of this universe, since the series was also released in 2023. Joel is then 56 years old, compared to 52 in the game.
The gruff but very lovable character that Pedro Pascal plays on the small screen will therefore be 61 years old in Season 2 of The Last of Us, and not 57 years old in Part 2. We will also meet in the Year of Grace 2028 are series. This age difference would also be a way for HBO to treat Joel differently than in the original work. These extra years would make Tommy’s big brother appear more balanced, but also more emotionally and physically vulnerable. We had already seen cracks in this hard shell in Season 1 that the protagonist tries to preserve to protect himself from too many post-apocalyptic horrors. Season 2 aims to push this dynamic even further.
Another way to approach Joel and Ellie’s relationship
This would make the relationship between Joel and Ellie different from the one we know from the games. Played by Bella Ramsey, she will also be 19 years old in the adaptation of The Last of Us. The young woman is therefore faced with her own problems, with an adoptive father who wants to be more protective and considerate towards her. In any case, there is something to be excited about the result. However, we will have to wait until the first half of 2025 for HBO Max.
