Editor’s Be aware: The next accommodates spoilers for The Final of Us Half I and Half II video games.With the early renewal for the hit HBO collection The Final of Us coming in simply after its second episode aired, it is leaving many individuals questioning what to anticipate in Season 2. With a sequel to the sport already launched, and with phrase that the primary season will seemingly inform the entire story of the primary recreation, The Final of Us Half II looms giant. The sequel is a totally totally different beast from the unique, with its size being practically double that of the primary, because it tells a way more narratively complicated story. With the best way the primary season has proven thus far that it isn’t afraid to broaden and alter story beats, it’ll be attention-grabbing to take a position on what audiences can anticipate to see in a sophomore season.
The Second Season of The Final of Us Can Develop on Abby and Ellie’s Backstories in Vital Methods
As the primary season has already proven in solely its first three episodes, sure elements of The Final of Us Half II appear to be excellent candidates to be expanded upon. Although they will not grow to be a significant focus till what’s almost definitely Season 3, the Seraphites, a spiritual cult, play a significant function all through each of our protagonist’s campaigns within the recreation. Although we be taught way more about them by means of Abby’s journey, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) nonetheless encounters them in quite a few totally different occasions. The sport’s writers, Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross, have talked about sure reduce parts of the sport, corresponding to Ellie exploring the Seraphite’s island, which we solely see close to the tip of the sport by means of Abby, Lev, and Yara’s eyes. This specific facet of the sport may lend itself tremendously to getting a greater deal with on who they’re.
A significant enlargement on this regard may additionally see doable flashbacks to higher perceive the Seraphite’s prophet, who we solely hear and see about by means of writings and numerous inventive depictions unfold throughout Seattle. This might probably act as an awesome setup for the eventual introduction of each Lev and Yara, two younger Seraphites who Abby runs into. Their assembly would almost definitely find yourself happening in Season 3 of the present if it follows an identical path to the sport, however the groundwork for whom the Seraphites are and a deeper dive into their day by day routine may make the inevitable assembly much more impactful.
A few mentions all through the sport additionally consists of Ellie and her ex-girlfriend Cat, who occurs to have drawn Ellie’s outstanding tattoo that’s current within the recreation. We hear about her by means of character moments between Ellie and Dina, in addition to pocket book entries. These appear to be prime candidates to be fleshed out in a second season, because it may showcase Ellie’s rising independence in relation to her reference to Joel (Pedro Pascal). These could possibly be used by means of flashbacks and even by means of linear development if the present doesn’t comply with the identical blueprint as the sport, as we may see her find yourself getting her tattoo, because it clearly holds significance because of their relationship and the best way it covers up her chunk mark.
When a present goes from its first to second season, there’s all the time the chance, and excessive probability, that new supporting characters will probably be launched. What one in all probability wouldn’t anticipate is for that character to take a big portion of the highlight. That’s simply what occurs in The Final of Us Half II, and doubtless one in every of its larger criticisms amongst some followers. Abby, a personality that you simply’re launched to and allowed to play as early on within the recreation’s sequel, rapidly turns into one of many collection’ most vital characters, as her actions kick off all the recreation. Although she won’t play the largest function as an energetic participant within the recreation’s first half, her presence is one that may proceed to hold over each Season 2 and what almost definitely will probably be Season 3. Exploration of not solely herself however lots of her WLF (Washington Liberation Entrance) companions may act as nice potential areas to broaden upon in a second season.
A Fractured Joel and Ellie Relationship Looms Giant in The Final of Us Half II
Very similar to the TV collection and the primary recreation, The Final of Us Half II opens rapidly with a time soar, although this one is far shorter in that it solely takes us 4 years after the tip of the primary recreation, as we discover Joel and Ellie residing a extra peaceable life in Jackson, Wyoming. For folks coming to the sequel from the unique recreation, the thought of one other journey with Ellie and Joel was a component that many have been wanting ahead to. That is an thought that’s almost definitely going to be amplified even additional with television-only watchers when the second season comes round.
An attention-grabbing facet of the sequel is that it truly takes a extra cinematic model of storytelling, because it makes use of flashbacks in a method that we’ve already seen happen within the present. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if co-creators Craig Mazin and Druckmann proceed to make use of these concepts within the second season, whereas even presumably increasing on them in important methods. Very similar to the primary recreation and the primary season of the present, the core of what the second season goes to revolve round is the connection between Ellie and Joel. These are characters that players have identified for the previous 10 years, and though that very same size will not be relevant to TV-only viewers, their relationship is one thing that’s going to be on the forefront of the second season.
It is a relationship that’s clearly strained from the second we see the 2 on-screen collectively, and it’s one thing that’ll keep behind your thoughts the entire time, attempting to unravel what occurred between them. Although Joel is lacking for a a lot bigger portion of the sport than he was within the first, a second season of the present may make the most of this in a solution to drive house the rising divide within the relationship between himself and Ellie, and the way a part of her guilt about that finally ends up driving her revenge.
The Final of Us’ Second Season Will Introduce a A lot Extra Advanced Narrative
When evaluating the narrative buildings of The Final of Us and its sequel, they nearly really feel generations aside in the case of their tales. A lot in the best way the gameplay is in comparison with Half II, the unique’s story is a a lot less complicated one which’s straightforward for many individuals to get behind. Half II doesn’t comply with that lead, as at occasions its nearly alienating nature places a lot emphasis on the participant having to comply with these extremely flawed characters. It is a story that Druckmann and Gross have compiled in such a method that should you don’t purchase in on what the sport is promoting you, likelihood is you’ll have a tough time connecting with it.
A lot has been made about how cinematic a narrative all the Final of Us collection has been, however that’s doubly true for Half II. Its narrative is structured in such a method that at occasions it really does really feel like a TV present or film. The sport’s dialogue of trauma, loss, and revenge are parts which can be no stranger to status TV, and these are concepts imbued closely throughout the DNA of what the second season will probably be.
Not like the primary recreation, The Final of Us Half II makes use of flashbacks as a narrative-driven instrument. These are instructed by means of Ellie’s POV, as we’re given a clearer perception into the fractured relationship between her and Joel. One of many nice elements of the present thus far has been its means to broaden on concepts already current within the authentic recreation, and with a second season, there are a selection of nice routes that could possibly be taken when exploring the sequel.
A lot of the dialogue in regards to the authentic Final of Us following its preliminary launch revolved across the implications of its ending. With that, many individuals additionally puzzled whether or not the sport truly wanted a sequel. It’s an thought that you simply don’t actually hear a lot these days within the gaming house, as greater than something so many individuals need extra of a selected property. Nonetheless, again then it labored so properly as a finite ending that the thought of constant the story felt nearly detrimental.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if this identical line of considering follows go well with, or if it would change since audiences will already know {that a} second season is on the horizon. Season 2 of The Final of Us is probably going solely going to cowl half the sport’s sequel, making a possible roadmap tougher to parse than its preliminary season, however nonetheless leaving lots of room for doable expanded concepts. It is a recreation that covers lots of concepts, however one which additionally has lots of room for enlargement.