The Last of Us Season 3 is all set to go; however, co-showrunner Craig Mazin believes that Season 4 is also on the cards. The ongoing second season is only seven episodes long, with its finale scheduled to premiere on May 25. Compared to the debut season, Season 2 has received a highly polarising response from viewers, particularly from fans of the source material, despite its impressive ‘Fresh’ score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 223 critic reviews.
If Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are indeed planning to take The Last of Us through to Season 4, it could mean that Season 3 will explore events entirely from Abby’s (Kaitlyn Dever) perspective, just like in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II video game. The third chapter might explain what Abby has been up to or where she’s been hiding while Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) hunt her across Seattle.
However, the road to Season 4 is filled with complications. There’s no denying that the ongoing hate campaign against Bella Ramsey—targeting her sexuality and appearance—has gone too far. A vocal section of the video game’s fanbase continues to attack the actor, with some insisting Ramsey should not have been cast as Abby.
As a result, The Last of Us Season 2 has become the latest target of review-bombing, currently sitting at a low audience score of 39% on Rotten Tomatoes. Another factor that has influenced this backlash is the reduced presence of Pedro Pascal (Joel). While the on-screen Reed Richards appeared in the latest episode, titled “The Price,” alongside Ramsey, fans won’t be seeing him nearly as much as they did in Season 1, in line with the events of the source material.
Since Joel’s death, many viewers have argued that Season 2’s quality has dipped significantly. Critics have also aimed at Mazin and Druckmann’s creative choices, particularly their deviations from the game’s storyline, especially after Abby kills Joel in Episode 2.
The creators have struggled to maintain the same level of momentum post-Episode 2. Some viewers have also voiced frustration with the season’s slower pacing.
A lot now depends on how Season 3 plays out for HBO’s The Last of Us. Its success could be a key factor in ensuring Season 4 happens. That means all eyes will be on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby in Season 3—assuming the creators stick to the section of TLOU Part II where players experience the story through Abby’s point of view.
Dever is undoubtedly a sensational talent, but her character endured massive backlash when Part II was originally released. Given the current climate surrounding Bella Ramsey, it looks like Kaitlyn Dever could be the one to redeem Season 3 in the eyes of skeptical fans—a shift that could increase the chances of Season 4 becoming a reality. Stay tuned for more updates.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
