The Last of Us Season 2 continued the gritty, emotional journey of the post-apocalyptic world, adapting the controversial second chapter of the beloved video game. The season shocked fans by killing off Joel early, shifting the focus to Ellie’s brutal quest for revenge and introducing Abby as a second protagonist.
While praised for its intense storytelling and deep moral ambiguity, the series also faced fierce criticism for sidelining fan-favorite characters and pushing Ellie down an unrelenting path of violence that felt out of sync with her original growth. The complex dual narrative tested fans’ loyalty, sparking intense debates about character arcs and the cost of revenge in this bleak world.
Exploring Owen’s character in The Last of Us as the makers hopefully won’t make the mistake of destroying him

The Last of Us Season 3 could face a major fan backlash if it mishandles Owen’s character. Owen is a pivotal character in Abby’s story—while he’s already morally complex, fans generally see him as a steadying presence, offering humanity and a bridge to the past.
In the game, Owen also offers a sense of compassion and humanity that balances the game’s darker themes. If the show were to portray him as unhinged or overly aggressive, it would strip away the complexity that made him compelling and undermine his role as a symbol of hope and redemption.
What are your thoughts about Owen?
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With Ellie’s storyline already divisive in Season 2, destabilizing Owen’s character might risk further alienating fans who want the series to stay true to its source material.
Additionally, in the game The Last of Us Part II, Owen plays a crucial role in Abby’s story. Owen is a deeply empathetic and morally conflicted character. He’s disillusioned by the endless cycle of violence and yearns for a life beyond constant fighting.
Additionally, his internal conflict—his loyalty to Abby and his dream of a more peaceful future—makes Owen a complex figure who highlights the game’s central themes of forgiveness and the cost of revenge.
Fans who loved Owen’s layered personality and moral struggle in the game would be furious if Season 3 reduced him to a one-dimensional figure. This is exactly what some Redditors believes.
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How did The Last of Us Season 2 destroy Ellie’s character?
The Last of Us Season 2 faced major controversy for how it handled Ellie’s character, which many fans felt was a betrayal of her established story arc. Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) had always been driven by a sense of fierce loyalty and hope.

Throughout the first season, Ellie was portrayed as a symbol of hope, resilience, and humanity. However, in Season 2, her journey became consumed by vengeance after Joel’s death (played by Pedro Pascal), overshadowing the nuanced, compassionate character fans had come to love.
Rather than showing her growth or finding balance, the story forced her down a path of obsessive violence that left many feeling disconnected from the Ellie they once knew. This radical shift in her motivations and actions felt like it stripped away the heart of the character and left a hollow shell of the once-beloved hero.
Many fans felt this portrayal was a betrayal of the nuanced, loving character they had grown to love, leaving Ellie’s journey feeling hollow and disconnected from what made her so compelling in the first place.
The Last of Us Season 3 has fans buzzing with speculation about how it might handle the complex relationship between Ellie and Owen. If it explores their dynamic, it could bring new layers to both characters, showing whether they can find any understanding or common ground.
The Last of Us is currently streaming on HBO Max (USA).
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire