Warning: Contains potential SPOILERS for The Last of Us Part I and Part IIHBO's The Last of Us is confirmed to be adapting only the first game (and its DLC) of the popular gaming franchise, though it could feature a significant cameo to set up future seasons based on the second game. The first season of The Last of Us will focus on Joel and Ellie, played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey respectively, who embark on a journey across a zombie-infesting, pandemic-ridden United States. This is largely the plot of the first game, though its final stages could include a cameo that provides insight into what future seasons of the show could feature.

This cameo would be in the form of Abby, the antagonist/secondary protagonist of The Last of Us Part II who could be set up in the exciting HBO adaptation of The Last of Us. In the game, Abby is voiced by Laura Bailey and is part of the Washington Liberation Front. The second game centers around a cycle of revenge between Abby and Ellie, which is how the series could set up the story using the events that are likely to be included towards the very end of season 1, namely Joel's murder of the Fireflies to save Ellie. That being said, while The Last of Us TV show could set up Abby earlier than season 2, there are some arguments as to why it should not.

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How Abby's Cameo Can Set Up Last Of Us Season 2 & Beyond

Abby and Jerry TLOU2

The Last of Us games certainly do not shy away from pain, suffering, grief, and death, with all of these things being core themes that could allow an Abby cameo to set up The Last of Us season 2. The Last of Us starts with Sarah's death, Joel's daughter, and ends with the death of a team of Fireflies at the hands of Joel. In The Last of Us Part II, one of the Fireflies killed by Joel is revealed to be Abby's father, Jerry, with Abby finding her father's body shortly after. This is what causes Abby to seek revenge against Joel and in turn Ellie's revenge quest against Abby.

While Abby's reveal does not come until the second game, HBO's The Last of Us season 1 could include a cameo of her as a child during this sequence. The game does not feature that, due to the story of the second game not being conceived of at the time, but prior knowledge of the sequel could allow an Abby cameo to foreshadow the events of season 2. With the first trailer for The Last of Us containing many videogame Easter eggs, another in the form of a young Abby would set up the eventual cycle of revenge that would plague The Last of Us season 2 and beyond.

Why The Last Of Us Season 1 Shouldn't Include Abby

Abby TLOU

Despite this potential cameo setting up The Last of Us season 2 neatly, there's a strong argument why it shouldn't happen. The ending of the first game is filled with the deaths of innocents. However, the true nature of these killings is not explored until the second game, meaning Joel's decision to save Ellie is the driving force of the end of the first game, making his murder of the Fireflies morally gray rather than pure evil. Given how the first game focuses so heavily on Joel and Ellie, like The Last of Us season 1, Joel's choice to save her is the prominent aspect portrayed and warms the heart of the gamers/viewers who have seen their relationship develop, despite his murder of the Fireflies.

Including Abby in this sequence would detract from this. In potentially including Abby's finding of her father's body, the ending of The Last of Us will be less impactful as it truly shows the horrors of what Joel has done. Instead, The Last of Us season 1 should do as the game did, and focus solely on Joel's decision to save Ellie. Not only would this benefit the story of HBO's The Last of Us, but it would allow the second season to challenge viewers by changing their perception of the first season's events like the second game did so masterfully.

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