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The Last of Us Finale Hints at Game of Thrones Connection and Future Character Setups

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Heed this notice: Information revealed ahead may spoil your experience of The Last of Us season 2 ending and The Last of Us Part II video game’s plot!

In the thrilling finale of The Last of Us season 2, we see Abby engrossed in a book, and the title and cover bear a striking resemblance to Game of Thrones. After a tumultuous journey spanning seven episodes, The Last of Us’ second season concludes dramatically, with several unexpected character demises. This climactic ending is all the more shocking because of these deaths. After the intense violence and the screen fading to black as Abby shoots Ellie, the final scene reveals Abby peacefully resting on her couch with a book lying on her abdomen – an otherwise tranquil moment.

In the finale of The Last of Us Season 2, the climactic moment occurs prior to the perplexing scene, but it’s Abby’s final scene that might leave TV viewers most bewildered. Unlike other episodes, The Last of Us Part II’s story is presented in a non-chronological manner, and this particular scene takes place two days before the events depicted in the title. While Season 2, Episode 4 was called “Day One,” the on-screen text here reads “Seattle Day One.” This ending serves as a setup for Season 3, which will delve into Abby’s part of the story. A key clue about her upcoming narrative can be found in the book she’s reading.

The Book Abby Reads Is A Funny Nod To Game Of Thrones’ Co-Showrunner

This Fake Book References A Real Book

In the concluding scene of season 2 for “The Last of Us”, Abby is depicted engrossed in a book titled “Thieves of the City” by an imaginary author, Ben Davidoff. This fictitious work is a nod to the 2008 novel “City of Thieves” written by David Benioff, who happens to be a fictional character himself. This novel is a World War II tale of maturation, taking place during the Siege of Leningrad. However, many TV viewers will be familiar with David Benioff as a creative partner of D.B. Weiss, both having played significant roles in managing all eight seasons of “Game of Thrones”.

In “The Last of Us,” the book’s positioning is more about referencing Benioff’s book, though it also shares a link with “Game of Thrones” – a connection between two popular HBO series that won’t be overlooked. Benioff is known in TV circles for being one of the writers on one of the biggest shows ever made, but he’s also frequently blamed for the controversial ending of “Game of Thrones.” Currently, he and Weiss are working as showrunners on the highly praised Netflix sci-fi series, “The Three-Body Problem.

The Real Book Was A Major Inspiration On The Last Of Us & Appeared In Part II

Benioff’s Work Inspired The Last Of Us Games

The book “Thieves of the City” appearing in the finale of “The Last of Us” season 2 aligns with the video game, where Abby finds a real copy of the book “City of Thieves” in her scene. Since the timeline in the HBO adaptation of “The Last of Us” shifts the Infected outbreak to 2003 instead of 2013, it’s plausible that the book wasn’t written during the apocalypse as depicted in the show.

In a 2012 interview with Games Industry, game director Bruce Straley revealed that “City of Thieves” served as a significant inspiration for “The Last of Us.” The book was one of the primary sources that inspired the game, not so much in terms of storyline but in its approach to emotionally engaging readers with characters and their objectives. Additionally, the novel delved into the growing bond between two characters as they navigated treacherous landscapes.

Abby’s Book Sets Up A New Character For The Last Of Us Season 3

Lev Is Named After A Character In City Of Thieves

One significant character in the novel City of Thieves is Lev, a seventeen-year-old Russian lad, residing in Leningrad during its siege. Accompanied by another boy, they are released from confinement by the authorities and tasked with an errand – to procure eggs for a colonel’s wedding cake. Although this chore may appear insignificant to the casual supermarket shopper, under the circumstances of a city under siege, it becomes a perilous mission that compels these two boys to traverse German lines, confronting Nazis and the harsh realities of war in the process.

It seems quite probable that the creators of The Last of Us drew inspiration from this particular book, which explains why one of the main characters in The Last of Us Part II, named Lev, shares a name with a character from the book. In the game, Lev is a young boy who was brought up by a deeply religious Seraphite mother. During Abby’s gameplay experience, she develops a friendship with Lev and his sister, Yara, which challenges her preconceived notions about the enemy group that the W.L.F. is fighting against. Given that Abby reads this book both in the show and the game, it could be an intentional clue hinting at Lev’s presence.

In HBO’s version of “The Last of Us,” Lev hasn’t made an appearance yet, but he is expected to play a significant role in Season 3, similar to his part in Abby’s account of the Seattle days from the game. We anticipate casting updates for both Lev and Yara within the next few months, as they will be among the key new characters joining the series during Season 3.

Before The Book, The Last Of Us Had Several Game Of Thrones Connections

Several GOT Alum Are Working On The Last Of Us

Prior to becoming Joel Miller and a globally recognized movie star with roles like “The Fantastic Four,” “Avengers: Doomsday,” and the upcoming Star Wars film, Pedro Pascal first made his mark as Oberyn Martell in season 4 of “Game of Thrones.” Interestingly enough, both main characters from “The Last of Us” were formerly cast members on “Game of Thrones.” Bella Ramsey, who portrayed a minor character in later seasons, played Lyanna Mormont. Despite sharing only about half an hour of screen time together, their performances left lasting impressions.

The similarities between “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us” don’t just end there. In fact, Mark Mylod, who directed several episodes of “Game of Thrones”, also directed the second episode of season 2 for “The Last of Us”. Interestingly, Craig Mazin, the showrunner responsible for HBO’s “The Last of Us”, previously offered suggestions on the pilot episode for “Game of Thrones”, contributing to the development of the iconic first episode titled “Winter Is Coming.” Since the conclusion of “Game of Thrones”, many consider that “The Last of Us” has stepped into its role as the captivating, morally complex series airing on Sunday nights in a world where no one is truly secure.

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2025-05-26 14:08

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