Error during authentication for model o1: Rate limited by Puter.js API. Try again after 60 seconds.
The third season of “The Last of Us” has been confirmed, with a strong emphasis on Abby, a character who has sparked intense debate in contemporary gaming. Despite the criticism that arose after her introduction in “The Last of Us: Part II”, creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin remain committed to their plan, positioning Abby as the main focus for the upcoming storyline.
Fans eagerly awaiting Kaitlyn Dever’s character Abby from Season 2, and her intriguing storyline from the second game, will not have to wait long. Actress Catherine O’Hara, who plays Gail in the HBO series, revealed to Variety that “Season 3 is all about Abby.
It’s nearly certain that the upcoming season will continue the contentious storyline trajectory of the second game, which notably shifted focus from beloved characters Joel and Ellie to introduce Abby, a new character whose arrival was quite impactful.
In Season 3, you won’t see actress Cassandra O’Hara reprising her character, Gail. She’s confirmed by the showrunner, Mazin, that she won’t be back for the upcoming season. However, there’s a possibility that we might see Gail again at some point in the future. Regarding her role, Cassandra O’Hara suggests that Gail was primarily created to advance Joel and Ellie’s storyline during Season 2 and has now completed that mission.
The final episode of Season 2 airs this coming Sunday, May 25th, and it’s anticipated to conclude with a suspenseful cliffhanger, paving the way for Season 3 to primarily revolve around Abby. Regarding the series’ future, Mazin hinted that the scale of Season 3 might outdo that of Season 2.
He mentioned that there’s a good possibility it might turn out to be extended due to variations in the storyline arrangement and tempo.
Initially, the second season of The Last of Us had a decent start, attracting 938,000 linear viewers. However, since then, it’s been challenging for the show to keep its audience engaged. The viewership has consistently fallen within the 600,000 to 700,000 range. The latest episode managed to pull in only 701,000 viewers, and just 0.16 in the vital 18–49 age group for advertising, which equates to about 160,000 viewers in this crucial demographic. Last week’s performance was even less impressive, with a total of 652,000 viewers and only 140,000 from the demographic.
The declining viewership indicates an increasing gap between the program’s artistic approach and its viewers’ preferences. Although HBO has announced a renewal and garnered positive reviews from major media sources, the data suggests that audiences are losing interest in the show.
In terms of public opinion, Season 2 has been met with a lot of criticism. The audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes dropped dramatically to 39%, which is significantly lower than the 86% rating that Season 1 received. This decrease in ratings is believed to be due to several factors, such as questionable storyline decisions and character developments that some viewers found problematic.
As the series hovers near ratings obscurity, introducing Abby into the mix is a daring decision, considering the continuous backlash she faced following her debut in The Last of Us: Part II in 2020. Abby’s character became a source of intense fan frustration due to the way Joel’s story was handled and the sudden shift in narrative that demanded players to sympathize with Abby. Druckmann defended this creative choice as bold at the time, but it ultimately divided the fanbase and ignited months of passionate online discussions.
Instead of addressing the widespread dissatisfaction among fans, Druckmann seems determined to proceed unyieldingly with his plans. It’s yet uncertain if TV viewers will embrace Abby’s story as much as PlayStation gamers have.
Regarding the original game series, there’s no definitive news yet on a third chapter. Instead, Naughty Dog has scrapped “The Last of Us Online” in December 2023 and is working on a new project called “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet”, alongside another unnamed project. Although whispers persist about “The Last of Us Part III”, no official confirmation has been made so far.
In the third season of “The Last of Us,” it’s all about Abby’s journey now, and followers of the series find themselves at a familiar juncture: either accept this new direction or prepare for another wave of debate. Regardless of their choice, Druckmann’s vision continues to hold steady.
Read More
2025-05-23 22:59