For the third week in a row, the second season of The Last of Us continues to shock its viewers with unexpected plot twists — some were anxiously anticipated by fans of the game, while others came as a complete surprise. The series has repeatedly been accused of deliberately straying from the original story, often changing it for added dramatic effect.
Still, not everything the creators altered can be called bad — some changes genuinely worked better in a television format, while others remain distinct strengths of the game. In this breakdown, we cover the biggest story differences between The Last of Us and its source material.
Timeline Shifts
In The Last of Us, the events begin in 2013 and then make a time jump to 2033. In the series, however, the starting point is moved to 2003, followed by a jump to 2023; the second season takes another leap forward, moving to late 2028 and then 2029. One of the show’s creators, Neil Druckmann — who also worked on the game — said in an interview that the timeline shift was intended to keep the story fresh for both longtime game fans and new viewers of the adaptation.
New Characters
The first season of The Last of Us introduced several original characters not found in the game — like Professor Ratna Pertiwi, who informs authorities that there’s no vaccine for the virus, and that the situation requires radical action. In the second season, another new character appears — Gail, a psychotherapist Joel visits for sessions before his death.
Tess’s Death
In both the series and the game, Tess, Joel’s partner, leaves him and Ellie after realizing she’s infected. However, her death in The Last of Us is portrayed quite differently. In the game, Tess dies in a shootout with soldiers who have taken over a building. In the show, she essentially sacrifices herself, blowing up the building along with the infected.
Ellie’s Immunity to the Virus
In the game, Ellie’s immunity is never openly discussed, adding an air of mystery to the plot and to Joel’s decision to kill the hospital staff to save her. In the series, the topic is frequently addressed by the characters and receives a clear explanation — one entire episode in season one is nearly dedicated to this, showing Ellie’s mother fending off the infected while giving birth.
Tommy’s Role in the Attack on Jackson
Joel’s brother Tommy also has a significantly different arc in the series, where he stays in the town instead of joining Joel on what turns out to be his final patrol. While Joel meets a painful death at the hands of Abby, Tommy is left to defend Jackson from an incoming infected attack. According to the show’s creators, this attack will play a major role in the upcoming episodes, and they wanted to tie it to one of the key characters — with Tommy, as one of the town’s leaders, fitting the role perfectly.
