Be aware: This story incorporates spoilers from “The Final of Us” Season 2, Episode 1-5.
HBO’s adaptation of the hit Naughty Canine and PlayStation online game franchise “The Final of Us” is again, with Joel and Ellie set to face off in opposition to new threats within the brutal post-apocalypse.
Season 2, which takes place 5 years after the occasions of the primary season and relies on the unique sport’s 2020 sequel “The Final of Us: Half II,” finds the pair, portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, respectively, settled down in Jackson, Wyoming.
Over the course of seven episodes, audiences will see the affect of Joel’s resolution to drag Ellie out of the Firefly hospital play out because the duo is drawn right into a battle with each one another and a world that’s much more harmful and unpredictable than the one they left.
Under is TheWrap’s round-up of all of the Easter eggs and adjustments from the second sport in Episodes 1 by means of 5. Test again each Sunday for updates following every episode.
Episode 1
Modifications From The Recreation
One of many greatest adjustments from the supply materials present in Episode 1 is Joel deciding to go to remedy with Gail (Catherine O’Hara), a very new character. Later within the episode, we be taught that she is the spouse of Eugene, whom she reveals Joel has killed.
Within the sport, Eugene is a Firefly that served with Tommy, who leaves behind his spouse and child to affix the trigger. He in the end takes Dina underneath his wing and through her conversations with Ellie whereas on patrol, it’s revealed that Eugene handed away from a stroke.
Different characters introduced into live-action are Ellie’s ex-girlfriend Cat, who’s talked about however by no means seen on display within the sport and is the one who provides Ellie the tattoo that covers her chunk mark. One other character who is totally new is Tommy and Maria’s younger son, Benjamin.
Extra adjustments embody exhibiting Dina bonding with Joel, a council led by Tommy and Maria that handles decision-making contained in the Jackson settlement, introducing Abby and the remainder of her Firefly crew earlier on and the tendrils noticed within the pipe as they descend upon Jackson within the closing minutes of Episode 1.
Pedro Pascal as Joel and Ezra Agbonkhese as Benjamin
Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley as Tommy and Maria
Pedro Pascal as Joel and Catherine O’Hara as Gail
Easter Eggs
When Ellie and Dina are on patrol, the latter mentions that she and Joel are planning on watching “Curtis and Viper 2,” a movie franchise talked about in “The Final of Us Half II” that Joel and Ellie bond over.
The duo additionally come throughout an Worker of the Month board hanging on wall, which contains a canine claiming one of many high spots. The board is a direct recreation from the sport, which holds clues to discover a code for one of many varied safes all through the sport that may give gamers extra provides and ammo.
Additionally introduced into live-action is Ellie’s journal, which options up to date entries all through the sport that gamers can learn that give extra perception into Ellie, her relationships and the brand new threats she comes into contact with.
Viewers additionally get to see a brand new model of the contaminated from the video games: the Stalker, which hides behind corners and assaults without warning.
There may be additionally two notable Easter eggs throughout the episode’s dance sequence: the primary being the track, “Little Sadie” by Crooked Nonetheless, and the second being a blink and also you’ll miss it second of a person taking part in the banjo. That man is none apart from the sport’s composer, Gustavo Santaolalla.
Episode 2
Modifications from the sport
Probably the most notable change of Episode 2 of “The Final of Us” is that the patrol pairings are switched to Dina and Joel and Ellie and Jesse. Within the sport, Tommy is on patrol with Joel is on patrol once they come throughout Abby and is subsequently current for his brother’s demise. In the meantime, Ellie and Dina are on patrol collectively once they discover Eugene’s weed den, leading to a romantic encounter between the 2 characters that doesn’t seem in episode 2.
The flashback sequence at St. Mary’s Hospital was additionally modified to point out Abby warning herself to not go see her father’s useless physique. The revelation that her father is the Firefly physician can be talked about a lot sooner than within the sport as she’s torturing Joel, versus after Ellie’s model of Seattle Day 3. Moreover, the second episode reveals extra of the dynamic between Abby, Owen, Mel, Nora and Manny as all of them plot discover Joel – a dialog that occurs solely between Abby and Owen within the sport.
Along with Dina being current for Joel’s demise, the present shows extra of Abby beating Joel up than within the sport, regardless of the scene within the present being much less intense general in comparison with the sport. Three WLF members from the sport, Nick, Leah and Jordan, are additionally not included in Joel’s demise scene.
Easter Eggs
The easter eggs in episode 2 will be discovered when Ellie and Jesse are in Eugene’s weed den, which embody his firefly pendant and a gasoline masks with a bong hooked up.
Moreover, Ashley Johnson, who portrayed Ellie in “The Final of Us” online game franchise by means of each voice and movement seize, will be heard singing “Via the Valley” on the finish of the episode. The track sung by Johnson was first heard by online game followers throughout one of many trailers for “The Final of Us: Half II.”
Episode 3
Modifications from the sport
The third episode of “The Final of Us” Season 2 expands on the fallout after Joel’s demise, exhibiting a brand new scene that includes Tommy by which is cleansing Joel’s physique and tells him to “give my like to Sarah.”
It additionally jumps three months after the occasions, exhibiting the city of Jackson rebuilding and deciding whether or not to dedicate extra assets to going after Abby. Gail additionally has conversations with each Ellie and Tommy, neither of which had been included within the sport.
Whereas Ellie does go to Joel’s home earlier than leaving for Seattle within the sport, she and Dina are confronted by Maria after this scene within the sport, fairly than speaking about who the WLF had been over cookies. Ellie and Tommy’s dialog additionally occurs in a special a part of Jackson throughout the daytime with Dina current versus the 2 of them alone in Ellie’s storage at evening. The present additionally makes the important thing change of Ellie and Dina sneaking out in the course of the evening – and helped out by Seth – fairly than the pair going after Tommy, who has fled to Seattle on his personal within the sport.
The dialog about score the kiss on the New 12 months’s Eve dance additionally occurs inside a tent on the best way to Seattle, fairly than in Eugene’s weed den. Dialogue from the scene can be swapped, with Ellie score the New 12 months’s Eve dance kiss between her and Dina a six as an alternative of the latter. The scene can be used to increase on Dina’s character within the present, as an alternative of Ellie telling Dina about her chunk mark within the sport.
Ellie and Dina additionally come throughout the useless our bodies of Seraphites, characters who aren’t launched till later within the sport that solely Ellie encounters. It additionally reveals Manny on obligation within the TV station, versus Leah, a personality from the sport not featured within the present.
Easter Eggs
The Seraphites will be heard speaking about their prophet, who’s talked about all through the “Final of Us Half: II” and seen in drawings and collectibles however by no means as a personality on display.
Ellie additionally tells Dina concerning the first particular person she ever killed whereas the 2 are headed to Seattle, a second of dialogue immediately from the sport.
Episode 4
Modifications from the sport
The opening minutes of episode 4 introduce the backstory of Isaac Dixon, a key antagonist from “The Final of Us Half II” that leads the Washington Liberation Entrance.
The episode reveals Isaac was a FEDRA soldier who turned on others in his group, locking them inside an armored automobile and killing them with a reside grenade. He additionally meets a girl named Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach), a very new character added within the present.
The most important change in Episode 4 is how Dina learns Ellie is immune. Within the sport, Ellie’s gasoline masks will get damaged whereas the pair are operating away from the contaminated horde within the deserted subway system. Dina shortly presents her gasoline masks to Ellie, who instantly stops her and informs her that she’s immune.
Due to the absence of spores within the HBO adaptation, Ellie is as an alternative bitten by an contaminated throughout the chase sequence. This goes on to vary how Dina reacts as soon as they get to the theater as she threatens to shoot Ellie and doesn’t initially believer her when she says she’s immune.
Moreover, the second the place Isaac is torturing and interrogating a Seraphite doesn’t occur till the again half of “The Final of Us: Half II” and the dialog between the 2 isn’t really seen on display.
Easter Eggs
Isaac is portrayed by Jeffrey Wright, who originated the character within the HBO adaptation’s supply materials, “The Final of Us: Half II.”
Dina learns she’s pregnant after discovering a take a look at inside a Weston’s Pharmacy. The pharmacy is an precise location that Ellie and Dina go to in “The Final of Us: Half II” throughout the Seattle Day 1 part of the sport.
The “Tackle Me” sequence the place Ellie serenades Dina can be a cutscene from the sport that may be discovered when gamers go to Valiant music store throughout the Seattle Day 1 part of the online game. The pair additionally come throughout rainbow flags and a tank with useless our bodies inside, which each will be discovered whereas exploring Seattle.
Ellie and Dina additionally come throughout the our bodies of useless WLF members hanging up in a TV station, an encounter that occurs in its supply materials as properly. The pair additionally discover the phrases “Really feel Her Love” written on a wall, a reference to the Seraphite prophet.
Episode 5
Modifications from the sport
Episode 5 options the return of Hanrahan, who met up with Isaac at first of Episode 4, and one other new character Dr. Elise Park, who focus on how the outbreak in Seattle began.
The episode additionally expands upon Dina’s backstory, revealing that her mom and sister had been killed by a raider when she was eight years previous. Dina would find yourself taking pictures the raider, who would turn out to be the primary ever particular person she killed.
The HBO adaptation additionally adjustments Jesse’s look in Seattle, having him save Ellie and Dina from a pack of Stalkers as an alternative of serving to Ellie escape a gaggle of the WLF within the sport. He additionally reveals that he and Tommy got here collectively to avoid wasting them however obtained separated, whereas within the sport Tommy leaves for Seattle earlier than Ellie and Dina.
One other key change from the sport is Ellie, Dina and Jesse all encountering the Seraphites on the identical time, in addition to Dina getting shot within the leg with an arrow. Within the sport, solely Ellie comes throughout the Seraphites since she goes by herself to the hospital to search out Nora.
Lastly, Nora telling Ellie what Joel did to Abby’s father as she’s dying from spores was added dialogue to the unique scene from the sport.
Easter eggs
Whereas Ellie and Dina are strolling they encounter extra Really feel Her Love imagery, this time with a sketch of the Seraphite prophet.
Episode 5 additionally lastly introduces spores to the present, which might infect individuals, apart from Ellie, simply by respiration them in. Within the sport, the characters put on a gasoline masks to keep away from publicity.
Moreover, Ellie and Dina run away from a WLF member with a canine. In “The Final of Us Half II,” canine are one of many key enemies gamers come throughout, who can observe you whilst you’re hiding from the WLF.
We additionally hear Ellie briefly sing Pearl Jam’s “If I Ever Have been to Lose You,” a track that has important which means between her and Joel within the sport.
New episodes of “The Final of Us” air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and stream on Max.
