The Last of Us Season 2 Finale: Why Did They Include This Pointless Scene?

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Summary

  • Ellie briefly washes up on the Seraphite Island in a scene that lacks significance or payoff.
  • The deviation from the game’s canon did not add value to the storyline, leaving many fans perplexed.
  • The showrunners’ decision to include the island detour raises questions about continuity errors or storytelling choices.

Following the seventh episode of its second season, HBO’s “The Last of Us” has come to an end. The finale was filled with the happenings of Ellie’s third day in Seattle, leading up to her encountering Abby. The episode concluded on a suspenseful note, leaving us hanging as Abby aims her gun at Ellie’s head when the screen fades to black, and a gunshot echoes ominously.

In the closing moments of the episode, we’re taken back to the first day Abby arrived in Seattle, mirroring the structure of “The Last of Us” game. This means viewers will experience Abby’s three-day journey before learning about the theater events. Unfortunately, this implies a temporary absence of Ellie, a beloved character and franchise emblem. Overall, the Season 2 finale effectively concludes Ellie’s storyline. However, one scene seemed incongruous and might have been better omitted entirely.

The Last of Us Season 2 finale Sees Ellie Wash Up On The Seraphite Island

In the climactic scene of the finale, Ellie and Jesse journey through Seattle in search of Tommy, but Ellie learns Abby’s whereabouts from Nora. This discovery leads to a disagreement between them about whom they should pursue – Tommy or Abby. Unable to let Abby escape, Ellie is determined to find her, while Jesse remains focused on helping Tommy. As a result, the two strong-willed individuals decide to split up and follow their separate leads. Ellie eventually manages to board a WLF boat secretly and sets off for the aquarium.

So far, almost everything had closely resembled scenes from the video game series. However, the HBO show often deviates from the games’ storyline, yet it consistently incorporates specific moments from the games. This finale seemed like it would be no exception, as events were aligning with those in the game, but when a massive wave capsizes Ellie’s boat, she ends up on an unfamiliar coastline instead.

In the video game, you can only visit The Seraphite’s Island on day three belonging to Abby’s storyline, when she and Yara journey there to rescue Lev during a conflict between the Seraphites and the WLF on the island. If, in the TV series, Ellie lands on this island at the time of this war, it could have created intriguing new plot twists. However, deviations from the game’s canon are usually where the most fascinating and memorable moments arise, as neither the show creators nor gamers would anticipate such changes. Yet, in this instance, the series remains faithful to the original storyline.

The series has hinted at combining Ellie and Abby’s storylines earlier on, as suggested by the Episode 5 teaser where Ellie is in a hospital basement while a WLF agent says, “…not even rats.” This has sparked speculation among fans that Ellie might encounter the rat king before or instead of Abby. The possibility of this change from the original plan actually excited fans rather than causing doubt. It also underscores the idea that if Ellie were on the Seraphite island, she could have encountered characters like Yara, Lev (Abby’s WLF allies), or even Abby herself in The Last of Us: Part 2, potentially offering fresh viewpoints on the story.

Essentially, Ellie’s stay on the island is short and insignificant. Upon arriving, she’s captured by two Seraphites and led into a forest illuminated by torches. A noose dangles from a tree ahead, and one Seraphite brandishes a scythe. This scene recalls Episode 5, where Ellie, Dina, and Jesse stumbled upon a Seraphite ritual sacrifice, involving hanging a WLF soldier with a noose and disemboweling him with a scythe. The phrase “they are nested with sin, free them so they may feel her love” was spoken during this gruesome act. It seems Ellie is about to endure the same ordeal, as her neck is placed under the noose. However, just then, a horn sounds, prompting the Seraphites to return to their village. Conveniently, a boat suitable for sailing is found on the shore right in front of Ellie, allowing her to flee the island.

Following this sequence, Ellie heads back to the aquarium where she encounters Owen and Mel. This brings the storyline in sync with the game’s events, with the exception of the side trip to the island. The reason for this diversion is unclear. If this scene was omitted from the episode, there would be no inconsistencies as it isn’t referenced again, and its significance appears to have been overlooked by Ellie. There’s also no scene showing another character noticing the rope marks on Ellie’s neck, possibly because they are absent. This raises questions: Was this a continuity issue or did the producers add this scene later during post-production? If so, their intention was likely to include it, but its purpose remains unclear.

Ellie’s journey to Seraphite island left many viewers feeling underwhelmed during an otherwise well-crafted and impactful finale for The Last of Us Season 2. This unexpected twist may have left fans puzzled, as it seems unlikely that this scene will contribute significantly to Abby’s character development in the upcoming season. It will be intriguing to learn the reasoning behind incorporating this seemingly unrelated scene into a pivotal moment of the finale from the showrunners.

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2025-05-27 21:12