One Major Way Pedro Pascal Can Save ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3

Pedro Pascal Could Fix ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3’s Biggest Problem

Published Oct 3, 2026, 11:11 AM EDT

Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. 

Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. 

Adapting a video game can be tricky. Watching a movie or TV show is a different experience than playing a game, and often times, the mediums don't overlay well. With a rise in video game adaptations in the last few years, there have been instances where a game is able to translate into a viewing experience. But when it comes to a controversial storyline, HBO Max's The Last of Us is going to need some help adapting Abby Anderson's story in season 3.

Despite starting off strong with its first season, The Last of Us was met harshly by fans with the release of season 2. Many felt like the direction the show went in diverged too far from the game's story, changing crucial aspects of the characters and plot. For season 3, this concern has not faded. With the announcement of Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog stepping away from the production, fans have reason to worry about the fate of the show. But Pedro Pascal could actually help redeem the show and remind audiences about the story's core focus.

'The Last of Us' Season 3 will be Unlike Any Other

Image via HBO

At the end of season 2, it was revealed that the three days in Seattle that Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) experienced will now be retold from Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever) perspective in the next season. Fans of the game will recognize this shift, as it occurred at the half-point mark of The Last of Us Part II. In the game, this change in character was met harshly, as Abby's only appearance so far had been her brutal attack on Joel (Pedro Pascal). It took a long time for players to open up to Abby, if they did at all. Abby's section of the story is still a controversial subject for fans. The show will have a lot of work to do to push past viewers' initial anger towards this character, especially if she's going to lead an entire season.

Fans of the video game know that Abby's story is remarkably similar to Joel's. She finds herself opening up to a younger character and becomes a familial figure, just as Joel did with Ellie. Through this new connection, Abby is able to come to terms with her grief over her father's death and her actions against Joel, finding peace with herself. Her journey with grief mirrors Ellie's as well. As Ellie becomes bitter with an obsession for revenge, Abby realizes that revenge got her nowhere. She finds new purpose and is able to put her troublesome past behind her. Joel's death was a massive shock, but it does serve as a catalyst for a deeper story for both Ellie and Abby.

Pedro Pascal is the Key to Saving the Series

Joel's death sparks the events of season 2. Ellie's desire for revenge brings her away from her community in Jackson to hunt down Abby and her friends in Seattle. Alongside Dina and Jesse (Young Mazino), Ellie finds new threats in the city, all while dealing with the grief of her father figure. A key aspect of this season is flashbacks from the years in between the two seasons. Moments like Joel and Ellie celebrating her 15th birthday or their falling out gave viewers vital insight into their relationship after season 1. Flashbacks are powerful storytelling tools, and if used right, they could help save The Last of Us.

Despite Joel's death, Pedro Pascal doesn't have to leave the show entirely. He can still appear in flashbacks as Abby and Ellie reckon with their respective grief. If Ellie does appear in season 3, a flashback with Joel would serve as a good reminder for her quest. Even a small appearance made by Pedro Pascal would bolster her side of the story. But if the season relies solely on Abby's perspective, Joel can still play a vital role. Like Ellie, Abby is impacted by Joel's death. The two characters have different relationships with Joel, but are intrinsically tied together because of him.

In The Last of Us Part II, Abby is tormented with nightmares. Her actions in Jackson have alienated her friends from her and didn't give her the satisfaction she anticipated. The show would benefit from including reminders of Joel's death or flashbacks from Abby's limited time with him to hone in on why she went to such an extreme and how that impacted her after. A flashback to Abby's time in the hospital before and after her dad died would show how such an action forever altered the young girl. Abby's obsession with hunting Joel could be reiterated with the use of flashbacks to show how dedicated she was to her goal — and how empty she felt after it. Just as Ellie's quest for revenge led to more pain, so has Abby's.

Video game adaptations can make changes to the story if it serves a new purpose for what the adaptation is trying to convey. For Abby's story, it's important that the themes of her journey remain the same. With more flashbacks, the show can demonstrate deeper parts of her past and explain her current actions. Abby and Ellie's stories have remarkable similarities and both hinge on their complicated relationships with Joel. Moving forward, The Last of Us would benefit from using flashbacks to connect these two characters. Season 3 might not please everyone, but the show can make efforts to compare Abby and Ellie in a way that shows how both are justified in their actions, even if it's detrimental to everyone.

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  Joel Miller

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  Ellie Williams

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