Season 2 of The Last of Us is finally here, and Episode 1 didn’t waste any time hitting us with emotional punches, new characters, and some pretty big shifts from the game. If you’re wondering how the HBO series compares to The Last of Us Part II, we’ve got you covered with a full breakdown of all the key differences (and some fun additions) from the premiere episode.
Let’s dive into what’s changed, what’s new, and what it all could mean for the rest of the season.
🆕 New Characters Not in the Game
Right from the jump, the series gives us some fresh faces who weren’t in The Last of Us Part II:
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Benjamin – Maria and Tommy’s young son. Yep, he’s brand new and doesn’t exist in the games.
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Gail – Eugene’s wife, who also doesn’t appear in the game. She’s a psychotherapist in the show and is shown to have counseled Joel.
In fact, Joel seeing a therapist is completely new to the show and gives his character a more vulnerable, introspective edge.
👉 Curious about Gail? Check out our full guide: Gail in The Last of Us Season 2 – Who Is She in the Game & the Series?
🔧 Eugene’s Backstory Changes
Even more, we learn through Gail that Eugene was shot by Joel—a massive change from the game, where Dina says Eugene died of a stroke.
In the game, Dina also mentions Eugene left his wife and child to join the Fireflies. In the show? He was married to Gail for 41 years and never left.
👉 Dive deeper: Eugene in The Last of Us Season 2 – Who Is He in the Game & the Series?
🕓 The Time Jump Is Longer
In the game, Part II picks up four years after the events of the first game. But the HBO series goes with a five-year jump instead.
That one extra year might seem minor, but it opens the door for more world-building and gives us new developments in Jackson, like:
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Maria and the town council expanding the city to welcome more refugees
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Greater risks for construction crews trying to secure new territory
☣️ Cordyceps Threat Takes a New Form
One of the biggest world-building changes is how Cordyceps spreads. In the games, it's primarily through spores and bites. In the series, it’s via parasitic root-like tendrils.
In Episode 1, we even see roots creeping through Jackson's underground pipes, suggesting a more insidious spread.
Even more terrifying? These fungal networks allow infected to communicate over long distances. Big yikes.
🚨 The Patrol Scene Is Different
In the game, Ellie and Dina patrol together in a more intimate setup. But the show expands this by adding a full crew—including Kat, Ellie’s ex-girlfriend, who leads the patrol group.
They head to a supermarket, which mirrors a similar location from the game, but the vibe is a bit more chill with fewer infected than the game throws at us.
👉 More about Kat: Kat in The Last of Us Season 2 – Who Is She in the Game & the Series?
🧟 A New Type of Infected Appears
In the supermarket, Ellie encounters a new infected form that hasn’t shown up in the series before. This mutant seems to be in Stage 2 of Cordyceps mutation, known as a Stalker in the game.
They’re somewhere between Runners and Clickers—fast, sneaky, and smart. This infected even sets up ambushes, croaks and moans eerily, and appears far more intelligent than the average zombie.
This is a huge deal because even after 5 years, the survivors haven’t encountered this mutation in the show yet. Could be setting up some scary encounters ahead!
🎭 The Emotional Tone Is More Personal
There’s a clear focus on character relationships and emotional depth in the HBO version. With scenes like Joel visiting a therapist and Ellie’s growing disconnect from him, the show digs into their psychological states much more than the game does early on.
Also, Dina and Ellie's relationship gets more screen time and buildup from the get-go, setting the stage for the emotional rollercoaster we know is coming.
Final Thoughts: Faithful but Fresh
If there’s one takeaway from The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1, it’s that the HBO series is staying true to the spirit of the game while also expanding the world in thoughtful, character-driven ways.
Whether it’s new characters like Benjamin and Gail, or shifts in timeline and infected lore, the show adds layers that fans (and newcomers) can really sink their teeth into.
💬 Join the Community!
Want to nerd out with fellow fans, share theories, or react to the new episode? Check out these community hubs:
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