Highlights
- Fans are eagerly anticipating the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, which is expected to closely follow the game’s sequel.
- Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as Abby, hinting at potential story developments in a third game in the franchise.
- Abby’s muscular physique is a key part of her character, but it may change in future installments, symbolizing growth and change.
After an award-winning debut season, HBO’s The Last of Us has begun shooting the follow-up. Joel and Ellie’s arduous journey throughout the first season closely mirrored events in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us game, so many fans are assuming the second season will follow the plot of the sequel equally closely. Whether this is a good or bad thing will probably differ depending on who is asked, but one thing is for sure, the character of Abby will likely have a crucial part to play. Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as the controversial yin to Ellie’s yang, and this may hold some clues about Abby’s inclusion in any potential third game in the franchise.
When The Last of Us Part 2 was released in 2020, it quickly became the main topic of conversation in the video game industry due to its highly controversial plot. The Game of the Year winner, while undoubtedly a technical and visual achievement, managed to enrage a large part of its fan base by killing off the fan-favorite character of Joel in the game’s opening few hours. To make matters even worse, The Last of Us Part 2 then forces players to step into the shoes of Abby, Joel’s killer, for the second half of its lengthy campaign, as the game sets about showing players her side of the story. It was a bold, innovative, and daring narrative from Naughty Dog, but Abby’s involvement in the franchise moving forward is currently unclear.
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The Last of Us May Not Be Done With Abby Yet
The Last of Us Part 2‘s epic conclusion saw Ellie spare a gravely wounded Abby’s life after a brutal fight between the two young women that saw Ellie emerge victorious. Abby’s fate beyond this is unknown, but it is speculated that, along with her friend Lev, she made her way to Catalina Island, California, to meet up with the Fireflies. It remains to be seen what, if any, role she will play in The Last of Us Part 3.
Abby’s Physique is a Huge Part of Her Character
One of Abby’s defining traits is her extremely muscular physique. It is clear that the loss of her father at the hands of Joel had quite an impact on her, and she likely spent much of her teenage life channeling her rage through physical training. Her imposing physique is pointed out by several characters during the game, so many fans expected a muscular actress to play Abby in The Last of Us Part 2‘s adaptation. The game’s conclusion shows a broken Abby emaciated from months of captivity, and it isn’t known whether she will ever return to her previous size.
Kaitlyn Dever is probably best known for her roles in the TV shows Dopesick and Last Man Standing, the former for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. The 27-year-old actress’ slight build could potentially point to the show taking Abby in a different direction. While Dever could conceivably gain the necessary muscle for the role, it may not be too much of a stretch for the HBO show to have a little inside knowledge about any potential Last of Us Part 3 story beats.
Should a rehabilitated Abby once again be a focal point, her muscular physique may no longer be necessary, symbolizing a new stage of her life that isn’t wrought with pain and anger. The show will stretch the events of the sequel over more than one season due to the game’s length, but even so, nobody can say for sure if events in the show will overtake those in the game before The Last of Us Part 3 sees the light of day. Until then, fans can only speculate on the direction the narrative will go in next, and if Abby will play any further part.
The Last Of Us
Based on Naughty Dog’s popular PlayStation game, HBO’s The Last of Us takes place decades after a fungal infection eradicated most of humanity. When a teenage girl named Ellie is found to be immune to the disease, Joel agrees to smuggle her across the United States.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Creator
- Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
- Network
- HBO Max