Last of Us Season 3 Is All About Abby — Druckmann Doubles Down on Controversial Character While Season 2 Ratings Plummet

The Last of Us Season 3 is officially happening, and according to those involved, it’s set to focus heavily on Abby — one of the most divisive characters in modern gaming history. Despite significant backlash following her debut in The Last of Us: Part II, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin are staying the course, cementing Abby as the centerpiece of the next chapter.

Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby first appeared briefly in Season 2, and fans anticipating her controversial arc from the second game won’t have to wait much longer. Actress Catherine O’Hara, who plays Gail on the HBO series, told Variety that “Season 3 is the Abby story.”

Abby in The Last of Us Season 2 – Max

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That confirmation all but guarantees the next season will follow the controversial narrative path of the second game — which famously pivoted from beloved protagonists Joel and Ellie to instead frame much of the story around Abby, a new character who… well, let’s just say made a dramatic entrance.

Gail, O’Hara’s character, won’t be part of Season 3. The actress shared that Mazin told her she is “definitely” not returning for the next season, though a later appearance could happen. Reflecting on her role, O’Hara speculated that Gail was written simply to “serve Joel and Ellie” in Season 2 and had fulfilled that purpose.

Abby and Joel in The Last of Us Season 2 – Max

Season 2 of the show wraps up this Sunday, May 25, and the finale is expected to end on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for Season 3’s focus on Abby. Mazin, speaking about the direction of the series, noted that the structure of Season 3 could surpass Season 2 in scope.

“There’s a decent chance it’s going to be longer,” he said, citing differences in narrative structure and pacing.

While The Last of Us began its second season with a respectable premiere—drawing 938,000 linear viewers—the show has struggled to retain its audience. Since the second episode, viewership has hovered in the 600,000 to 700,000 range. The most recent episode pulled in just 701,000 viewers, with a mere 0.16 rating in the key 18–49 advertising demographic, translating to approximately 160,000 viewers in that crucial age group. The previous week was even lower, with 652,000 total viewers and only 140,000 in the demo.

Abby in The Last of Us Season 2 – Max

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This downward trend highlights the growing disconnect between the show’s creative direction and its audience. Despite HBO’s renewal announcement and critical coverage from mainstream outlets, the numbers tell a different story: viewers are tuning out. 

In terms of audience reception, Season 2 has faced significant backlash. The Rotten Tomatoes audience score plummeted to 39%, a stark contrast to Season 1’s 86%. This decline is attributed to various factors, including controversial narrative choices and character developments.

While the show teters on the edge of ratings oblivion, the shift to Abby is a risky move, especially given the sustained criticism the character received since The Last of Us: Part II launched in 2020. Abby’s role in that game became a flashpoint for fan outrage, with many players expressing dissatisfaction over how Joel’s story was handled and the abrupt narrative shift that required players to empathize with Abby. Druckmann defended the choice at the time as a bold creative risk — but it’s a risk that fractured the fanbase and sparked months of heated debate online.

Neil Druckmann speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con International, for “The Last of Us”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Rather than acknowledge the widespread fan discontent, Druckmann appears to be forging ahead without compromise. Whether HBO viewers will be more receptive to Abby’s story than PlayStation players remains to be seen.

As for the original game franchise, there’s no official word on a third installment. Naughty Dog canceled The Last of Us Online in December 2023 and is now focused on a new IP titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, alongside an unannounced second project. Rumors continue to swirl about The Last of Us Part III, but nothing has been confirmed.

Neil Druckmann in an interview with Jonatan Blomberg for MovieZine. Photo Credit: Jonatan Blomberg, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

With The Last of Us Season 3 now positioned as “the Abby story,” fans of the franchise face a familiar crossroads — embrace the direction, or brace for another round of controversy. Either way, Druckmann’s vision remains unchanged.

How do you feel about The Last of Us Season 3 focusing on Abby? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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