Last Updated on Jun 1, 2025 @ 14:11:52 PM.
The Last of Us Season 2 has finally wrapped, and not everyone was thrilled about Ellie’s three-day trip to Seattle being brought to life. Many fans believed the violence and action were severely toned down, especially compared to the original game. While the showrunners earned some points for the drama and creative changes, not all were well-received.
Major spoilers for the season finale will be discussed beyond this point.
The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Changed How Certain Characters Died in the Game
While the final episode of The Last of Us Season 2 followed the same story beats as the original game, along with unnecessary additions like giving Ellie a detour to Scar Island for no reason, some fans felt a little let down with the execution. The main issues of this episode were how the deaths of Owen and Mel were handled compared to the original version.
In a recent interview with Craig Mazin, he explained the reasons behind these changes.
In the game, Ellie fights Owen (Spencer Lord), and then fights Mel, and it’s only after Mel dies that her coat opens and Ellie realizes she’s pregnant,
Ellie held both at gunpoint in the game, and Owen tried to fight back but was shot in the process, while Mel tried to attack with a knife. Both characters were killed, and Ellie was left with shame and regret for killing their unborn child. In the show, Owen pulled a gun underneath a table, but Ellie pulled the trigger and killed Owen instantly; however, the bullet went through and hit Mel in the neck.
Ariela Barer delivered a gut-wrenching performance as Mel begs Ellie in her final moments to deliver her baby. This was an excellent addition to the show version, but some fans hoped to see Bella Ramsey’s Ellie be more involved in physical altercations. Mazin followed up by stating this version of Ellie is incapable of taking on Owen due to the height difference.
But for this, Ellie is not really capable of killing Owen — you look at Bella and you look at Spencer Lord, he’s 6’4″ and just incredibly imposing. A physical struggle wasn’t going to go well, and she’s not there to kill them. She just wants to kill Abby. I remember saying to Neil that as fucked up as that moment was in the game, I think it can be more fucked up and not to be a tormentor.
The Last of Us Part 2 is renowned for the action and violence, especially since Naughty Dog used the gameplay as a storytelling tool to depict Ellie’s descent. The HBO adaptation severely overlooked this aspect of the story, focusing more on the drama and failing to fully adapt what happened in the games.
For more Thumb Wars coverage, check out the reason why Hideo Kojima removed one customization feature for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and how The Last of Us Season 2 helped the original game in sales. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews!
Rouvin Josef Quirimit is a Content Writer, an avid gamer (on his PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch), and film enthusiast. He was fortunate to grow up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was enamored by the storytelling of a shared universe full of heart and spectacle. His love for movies led him to great single-player games and he intends to cover major franchises for years to come!
