Okay, let’s talk about The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 3, “Through the Valley.” If you’re a fan of the HBO series or The Last of Us Part II game, you probably walked away from this episode with some feelings. The show has been killing it with its gorgeous visuals and gut-wrenching performances, but Episode 3? It’s stirred up some serious chatter because it makes a pretty massive change from the game’s story. I’m talking about a three-month time jump and a total rework of Ellie and Tommy’s motivations that’s got fans buzzing—and not all of them are happy about it.
Setting the Stage: Joel’s Death Hits Hard
Before we dive into the big change, let’s recap where we’re at. Episode 2 left us all reeling by adapting that moment from The Last of Us Part II: Joel (Pedro Pascal) getting brutally killed by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). If you’ve played the game, you knew it was coming, but it still hurt like hell. Abby’s out for revenge because Joel killed her dad, a Firefly surgeon, back in the first game (or Season 1). The show doesn’t hold back, laying out Abby’s motivations right away, unlike the game, which keeps you guessing until way later.
Episode 2 also threw in something totally new: a massive infected horde attacking Jackson. It’s a wild sequence that amps up the stakes, showing Tommy (Gabriel Luna) leading the town’s defense while Joel and Dina (Isabela Merced) are out on patrol. In the game, it’s just Joel and Tommy on patrol, and the infected aren’t such a big deal early on. This new attack sets up Episode 3’s shift, but it’s also a sign the show’s not afraid to remix things.
The Big Change: A Three-Month Time Jump
Here’s where things get spicy. In The Last of Us Part II, Joel’s death lights a fire under Ellie, Dina, and Tommy. The very next day, Tommy takes off for Seattle alone, hell-bent on tracking down Abby and her crew, the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). Ellie and Dina chase after him, with Maria grudgingly giving them supplies and their horse, Shimmer, to bring Tommy back. It’s fast, it’s messy, and it’s all fueled by raw grief and rage. That urgency is what makes Ellie’s spiral into revenge so gripping in the game.
But Episode 3? It hits the brakes hard. Instead of jumping straight into the revenge quest, the show skips ahead three months. Jackson’s recovering from the infected attack, Ellie’s healing from her injuries, and Tommy’s still in town, helping out and dealing with his brother’s death. There’s a quiet, heartbreaking scene of him cleaning Joel’s body, which isn’t in the game but hits you right in the chest. Ellie and Dina don’t head to Seattle until after this long gap, and even then, Ellie has to convince Jackson’s people to let her go. No solo Tommy mission, no immediate chase.
Fans on X are not holding back. One post I saw said, “Episode 3 was such a letdown. Why’s Tommy just chilling in Jackson? And Ellie begging the town to go after the WLF? That’s not her.” Another fan groaned, “The time jump kills Ellie’s whole vibe. Her revenge in the game was so intense because she didn’t wait—she just went.” It’s clear some folks feel this change saps the story’s momentum and makes Ellie seem less like the stubborn, vengeance-obsessed character we know.
What It Means for Ellie and Tommy
This three-month delay really shakes up Ellie’s arc. In the game, she’s all in from the jump, chasing Abby with this reckless, almost scary determination. It’s what sets up her tragic downfall—her inability to let go. The show, though, gives her time to grieve and plan, which makes her seem more level-headed. Having to plead with Jackson’s residents also feels off to some fans, since game-Ellie would’ve just grabbed a horse and bolted. It’s a different flavor of Ellie, and not everyone’s buying it.
Tommy’s role is another big shift. In the game, he’s as broken by Joel’s death as Ellie, and his solo trip to Seattle shows how personal this is for him. Keeping him in Jackson for Episode 3 makes him more of a community guy, especially after that infected attack. It’s a cool way to show his leadership, but it leaves you wondering how he’ll tie into Ellie and Dina’s trip to Seattle. Will he follow later? Stay behind? The show’s keeping us guessing, which is either exciting or frustrating, depending on who you ask.
Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the show’s masterminds, have been open about why they made these changes. On The Last of Us Season 2 Podcast, Druckmann said the show lets them flesh out Jackson’s community in a way the game couldn’t. Mazin chimed in, saying the longer mourning period feels more “real” for how people process trauma, compared to the game’s super-quick turnaround. It’s a fair point, but when you’re adapting a story as beloved as this one, changes like that are gonna ruffle feathers.
New Stuff: Seraphites and a Coffee Bean Moment
Episode 3 isn’t just about what’s different—it adds some cool new bits, too. For one, we get an early glimpse of the Seraphites, that creepy cult from the game. In Part II, they show up later as a major threat, but here, Ellie and Dina find a bunch of their bodies in Seattle, hinting at some bigger conflict. It’s a tease that the show might play with the Seraphites’ story in a fresh way, which I’m stoked about.
Then there’s this tiny, perfect detail that had me choking up: Ellie puts coffee beans on Joel’s grave. If you know the game, you know Joel’s obsessed with coffee, and this little nod is such a sweet, sad touch. Fans on X are losing it over this—one person posted, “Those coffee beans broke me. I need a minute.” It’s moments like this that remind you the show gets what makes these characters special, even when it’s doing its own thing.
What’s Next?
With five episodes left in Season 2’s seven-episode run, there’s plenty of time for Ellie and Dina’s Seattle adventure to heat up. The time jump and Tommy’s new role make me think the show’s leaning into original stuff, maybe more flashbacks or a bigger focus on side characters like the Seraphites or Abby’s WLF buddies. Since Season 2 is only covering part of Part II (with at least a Season 3 coming), they’ve got room to stretch things out.
I’m also dying to see if we get that heartbreaking porch scene from the game, where Ellie and Joel have their big talk. The coffee beans and some unused trailer shots of Pedro Pascal make me think we’re in for more Joel flashbacks, which, yes, please. Whatever happens, Episode 3’s changes are a bold move, and I’m curious to see how they pay off.
Final Thoughts
The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 3 is a gamble. The three-month time jump and Tommy sticking around Jackson give the show a chance to explore grief and community in a new way, but they slow down the revenge-fueled chaos that made the game so intense. Add in those coffee beans and the early Seraphite tease, and you’ve got an episode that’s equal parts moving and divisive.
Whether you’re Team “Stick to the Game” or Team “Love the New Vibes,” there’s no denying the show’s got heart. It’s not afraid to take risks, and that’s what makes it worth watching, even when it leaves you yelling at the screen. So, what do you think—did Episode 3’s changes work for you, or are you missing the game’s fire? Let’s keep the conversation going.
Source: CBR, Tom’s Guide.
