HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2, “Through the Valley,” delivers a heart-wrenching moment that fans of The Last of Us Part II know all too well. While the episode stays true to the game’s core, it makes bold changes to characters, scenes, and pacing. Here’s a look at how the show reshapes the game’s story, keeping things fresh for fans and new viewers alike.
THE LAST OF US EPISODE 2 CHANGES EXPLAINED
1. Swapped Patrol Partners
In the game, Joel patrols with his brother Tommy, while Ellie teams up with Dina, sparking a romantic moment at Eugene’s weed den. The show flips this: Joel pairs with Dina, and Ellie rides out with Jesse. This swap removes the Ellie-Dina romance for now and keeps the focus on Ellie’s friendship with Jesse, where she shares her strained bond with Joel.
Why the change? It sets up Dina and Joel’s encounter with Abby and delays the Ellie-Dina romance for later drama. It also keeps Tommy in Jackson, which makes sense for his next big role.
2. ABBY’S NIGHTMARE
One big addition is a dream sequence where Abby sees herself at the Firefly hospital in Salt Lake City, reliving her father’s death. The scene includes a haunting moment where she tries to stop her younger self from entering a room where “his brains are on the floor.”
This was not present in the game, and it gives viewers early insight into Abby’s trauma and motive, long before it’s explained in full.
3. EARLY REVEAL OF ABBY’S FATHER
In the show, Abby reveals during her confrontation with Joel that her father was the unarmed Firefly doctor Joel killed in the first game. She says, “I was 19. I saw him.”
In the game, this emotional moment happens much later, after the player has spent time playing as Abby. The show brings that reveal earlier, deepening the impact of Joel’s death and Abby’s reasons.
4. Tommy Stays in Jackson
In the game, Tommy is with Joel when Abby ambushes them, getting knocked out and unable to help. The show keeps Tommy (Gabriel Luna) in Jackson, rallying the town against infected hiding in the snow. Actor Gabriel Luna suggested this change, noting that Tommy, a cautious ex-soldier, wouldn’t trust strangers or fall into a trap so easily.
This tweak, crafted by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, makes Tommy a strategic protector of Jackson and sets up his future story.
5. WLF PLANNING TOGETHER
Another shift: in the game, the plan to track down Joel is mostly between Abby and Owen (Spencer Lord). But in the series, more of the WLF (Washington Liberation Front) members are shown discussing how to find Joel. That includes Mel, Nora, Manny, and others. It’s a way for the show to develop those characters earlier.
Notably, a few WLF members from the game—Nick, Leah, and Jordan—are not shown in the TV version of the lodge scene.
6. ELLIE ARRIVES TOO LATE
In the game, Ellie arrives just after Joel is attacked, but her confrontation with the group plays out slightly differently. The series increases the emotional impact by showing Ellie’s complete heartbreak, crawling toward Joel’s body after he is killed by Abby with a broken golf club.
7. Joel’s Death Gets a New Twist
Joel’s death is brutal in both versions, but the method differs. In the game, Abby ends Joel with a final golf club swing to his skull. The show has her stab him in the neck with a broken golf club after a savage beating. The shift keeps the violence raw but tweaks the visuals, possibly to stand out from the game or emphasize Abby’s personal fury.
8. Easter Eggs for Fans
The show sprinkles in easter eggs that nod to the game. Eugene’s weed den, a brief stop in the game, gets extra flair with a firefly pendant and a gas mask bong. The episode ends with Ashley Johnson, the game’s Ellie, singing “Through the Valley,” a song from the Part II trailer. These touches delight fans while tying the show to its roots.
The show’s tweaks serve both new viewers and game fans. Swapping patrols and keeping Tommy in Jackson align with character traits and streamline the story for TV’s shorter runtime. Abby’s earlier reveal and vivid dream make her motives accessible, while the streamlined WLF crew avoids clutter. The altered death scene keeps the shock value high, and easter eggs reward loyal fans.
These changes show Mazin and Druckmann’s care in adapting The Last of Us Part II for a new medium, balancing fidelity with fresh storytelling.
What’s Next for Ellie?
Since the series began, The Last of Us has been the story of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). With Joel’s death in Episode 2, fans are wondering: Is Pascal leaving the show? How will the story continue? tvline asked co-showrunner Craig Mazin, who offered reassuring words.
“There’s a good amount of Pedro and Bella together” in Season 2, Mazin said, despite Episode 2’s events, “because we all want it.” He called Pascal and Ramsey an “iconic duo,” like Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson in the game, and promised “we do get to see them quite a bit together this season. And we also get to see interesting things happening with them—more, I think, than what we saw in Season 1.”
Mazin elaborated: “Season 1, it’s a beautiful relationship and a wonderful journey. But in its own way, it’s very simple. And this one is way more complicated—and, in its conclusion, just very resonant. It gives you a lot to think about and also has a beautiful note of hope running through it.”
For fans of Joel and Ellie, Mazin smiled and said, “On behalf of all the Bella-and-Pedro stans out there, I’m here to say: Yes. A good amount is heading your way.” This suggests flashbacks or other narrative devices will keep Joel and Ellie’s bond central, exploring their complex relationship with deeper emotional stakes. Catch new episodes Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO or stream on Max.
“Did we miss a change you noticed? If you caught another key difference between the game and the show, drop it in the comments!”
Be sure to visit tvacute.com again for more updates, insights, and full episode recaps for The Last of Us Season 2.
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 EPISODE 2 “THROUGH THE VALLEY” – TITLE & NEW PHOTOS REVEALED
The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2: Abby’s Revenge Explained!
The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: Abby’s Revenge and Joel’s Tragic Ending in Through the Valley
The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who Is Manny and Who Plays Him?
WHO IS EUGENE IN ‘THE LAST OF US’? THE TRUTH BEHIND JOEL’S KILLING
ELLIE AND DINA’S FIRST KISS IN THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 EXPLAINED
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2: WHO IS ABBY? AND WHO PLAYS HER?
THE LAST OF US (FUTURE DAYS) RECAP: SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 — EXPLAINED
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2: WHO IS ISAAC AND WHO PLAYS HIM?
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2: WHO IS NORA AND WHO PLAYS HER?
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 – WHAT DOES ‘FUTURE DAYS’ MEAN?
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