The Last of Us season 2 ended with one of the most controversial episodes of the series so far. The seven-episode arc ended with a massive cliffhanger, which divided general audiences as well as fans of the game. With the deaths of major characters and its non-linear story structure, people have had a lot to say about the newest video game adaptation.

Despite its newest season, there is so much of The Last of Us Part II video game still yet to be put on screen. Because of this, there are a lot of options that the series could go to in its next season (or potentially two seasons). Whether it’s delving into Abby’s backstory or flashing back to scenes of Ellie and Joel, there are a multitude of ways to continue telling the story of The Last of Us: Part II.

Here are 10 things we hope to see in season 3 of The Last of Us.

10. See More Flashbacks of Joel

Joel is easily one of the most compelling characters in the entire show, and many can argue that he is the best. Not only is his character’s writing amazing, but Pedro Pascal puts on a career-defining performance as the stubborn but likable protagonist. Although his time was cut short due to his early demise in season 2, his flashback appearances made for many of the season’s best moments. I would like to see more flashbacks with Joel in season 3, as I believe there are more ways to utilize him as well as push the narrative forward.

Joel Died Way Too Soon

The death of Joel in episode two caught many viewers by surprise, especially those who had never played the game before. Fans of the show had polarizing reactions to his demise, with some feeling like the show was solely trying to subvert expectations instead of telling a fulfilling narrative. I tend to fall on this side of the discourse. While I enjoy the surprise elements of The Last of Us, I found that Joel’s death happened in a manner that was mean-spirited and lacked a satisfying arc. Later episodes attempted to resolve Joel’s arc, but it was too little, too late.

9. Split Between Abby and Ellie’s Stor

Since Abby was only featured in a handful of episodes in season 2 and with the season finale teasing her origin, it is easy to assume that there is going to be a lot more of Abby in the future. Although it is great to see a side character given more development, I don’t believe that the show has earned an entire season based on Abby, which looks like the likely scenario. After building an entire season around Ellie in season 2 (and failing to complete her arc by the end), it would be a travesty if we didn’t see Ellie’s arc play into season 3. If the show split between Abby’s backstory and Ellie’s current arc, then the show would be much stronger.

Kaitlyn Dever Is Great as Abby

Kaitlyn Dever has gotten a lot of backlash since she signed on to portray Abby in The Last of Us television series, mainly because she doesn’t have the muscular build like her character in the game. Despite the online discourse, Dever has put on one of the most fierce and nuanced performances in the entire show. The anger and resentment she evokes in her screen presence makes up for her smaller physical presence, which is arguably more terrifying. While it is easy to point out the differences being bad, it is hard to deny Dever’s portrayal as anything but exceptional.

8. More Full Flashback Episodes

One of the reasons The Last of Us is perceived as one of the best stories in gaming history is because of its nonlinear storytelling. The way the game jumps between time periods in an emotional manner not only makes for an unpredictable structure, but brings many new and inventive ways to tell a story. The time jumps also act as a means of creating context for certain characters, which helps the audience understand why they act a certain way or foreshadow upcoming events in the story. If season 3 ditches the flashback episodes, it would be extremely disappointing.

The Flashback Episodes Are the Best in the Show

One could easily argue that the flashback episodes are the strongest in the entire series. Outside its departure from the overall story, the way these episodes stand out is their ability to create a single 60-minute story that has the emotion and gravitas of an entire series’ worth of material. Whether it’s the Bill and Frank episode in season 1 or the Joel-centered episode in season 2, these episodes have the biggest impact while still finding ways to contribute to the rest of the series.

7. Finish Ellie’s Arc

The season finale of The Last of Us season 2 left a lot of unanswered questions, with many fans accusing the finale of being rushed. One aspect that felt underwhelming was where they ended things with Ellie. The final shot of Ellie is her “supposedly” getting shot by Abby. If season 2 actually ended with the death of Ellie, it would feel extremely unsatisfying. Not only would she have failed on her path of revenge, but she would have never learned about the power of morality, which is one of the series’ strongest themes. Although it is likely that she is still alive, I hope to see her get a satisfying conclusion in the next season.

Bella Ramsey Receives Too Much Hate

Much like Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey has received extreme levels of hate due to her appearance not matching the character in the video game. People have also been incredibly judgmental about Ramsey’s attractiveness, which has been beyond horrible. Ramsey not only doesn’t deserve the negativity from the online haters, but they should be commended for their incredible performance as Ellie, as well as carrying the show on their feet after Joel’s demise. It is a hard task for a young actor to take over a show from a beloved, A-list actor, but they do it extremely well.

6. Develop the Relationship Between Dina and Ellie

Dina and Ellie in season 2 of The Last of Us were one of the strongest aspects of the series, despite what review bombers had to say. Not only did it allow Ellie to grow into a more mature character, but it introduced one of the most likable characters in the show, portrayed by Isabela Merced. Season 2 introduced a romantic bond between Ellie and Dina, but with the way the season ended, it left questions about where the relationship would go. Although I don’t want it to be a central storyline, I hope that season 3 discloses where the two stand with each other after the events of the finale.

Jesse’s Death Changes Everything

In the middle of season 2, it is revealed that Dina is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend Jesse’s baby. After learning of the news, Jesse was extremely adamant about staying alive so he was able to raise the child with Dina. In the last moments of the finale, Jesse is murdered by Abby right next to Ellie. With this massive death, it leaves the question of whether Dina will resent Ellie for not keeping Jesse alive. This event could create much more conflict for the show, and I hope to see it developed in the next season.

5. Learn More About Abby’s Backstory

Despite a lack of screen time, Abby played a pivotal role in The Last of Us season 2. The brutal murder of Joel made her character a staple in the series, making for an easy-to-hate villain. Abby isn’t just a two-dimensional villain, her revenge path gave her justification to perform the murder, making for more of a reasonable protagonist. In the next season, I hope to see that there is more to Abby than just a woman driven by revenge. Although what we got from her was excellent, I feel there is more that the showrunners can do to make her character stronger.

‘The Last of Us Part II’ Ended With Many Unanswered Questions

It was made clear from the start of season 2 that The Last of Us Part II storyline would need another season to fully develop the story, but even with that, season 2 feels entirely incomplete. Almost none of the characters had a finished arc, especially with the cliffhanger ending they went for in the finale. Although it is nice to see a series subvert the audience’s expectations, The Last of Us season 2 did it in a highly unsatisfying manner.

4. Learn Isaac’s Backstory

Isaac is one of the mysterious and scariest characters introduced in The Last of Us season 2 that was left unanswered about how he played a role in the story. Though it went into the fact that he was the leader of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), the audience did not get to know much about him as a person outside a few war-related sequences. In season 3, I hope that it delves into his backstory as a Marine and how it led him to be the person that he is in the second season.

‘The Last of Us’ Has One of The Best Ensembles in Recent Years

It is easy to point out the greatness of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, but the show in its entirety has a phenomenal cast. From Catherine O’Hara to Nick Offerman, there hasn’t been one misstep in the casting department. Sure, some of the actors don’t look exactly identical to their video game counterparts, but there’s no denying the talent that is on display in this series.

3. Show More Cordyceps

A lot of The Last of Us season 2 was focused on the human drama, which made for many compelling moments. Although there were a plethora of sequences involving the cordyceps in the last season, I would love to see more of them in the next season. It was interesting to see the different versions of them come to life, but they were not utilized nearly enough in the last season. With how much scarier and more powerful they have gotten, it would be great to see them more involved in the overall story.

The Show Has Entirely Ditched Ellie’s Immunization Sub-Plot

One of the biggest moral tests of season 1 was the idea of Ellie dying in order to find a cure. This was one of the most compelling ideas in the series, and season 2 ditches that concept almost entirely. While there is a chance that this dilemma will come up in the next season, it is sad to see it absent from last season, which goes to show how rushed the show became in its recent season.

2. Develop Abby’s Relationship with Owen

Outside of Abby, none of the other people in her group were given much to work with. While the group serviced Abby and created tension, we never got to understand who each character was individually. Owen is a character of particular importance who was only briefly introduced in The Last of Us season 2. While Owen was killed by Ellie in the final episode, there is so much more to him that should be introduced in season 3, including his relationship with Abby. This aspect is highly important to Abby’s overall arc, and if season 3 doesn’t introduce it, then it would be a disservice to Abby.

Abby Should Stay the Villain

Characters like Isaac and the cordyceps are excellent antagonists for The Last of Us, but I hope Abby stays as one of the main villains of the series. Next season will likely give Abby more of a backstory and make the audience care about her more, but I hope the show keeps her villainous side. Too often do franchises turn villains into redeemable heroes, so I hope Abby doesn’t get the same treatment as she has already made such a massive impact in her small screen time.

1. The War Between WLF and the Seraphites

Much of season 2 was about teasing what was to come in the future, and part of that was the war between the WLF and the Seraphites. There were specific sequences that showed aspects of their war, but the audience was never aware of all the details about what made the war important to the story. With how season two ends, it is likely that the next season will delve more into the war, but I hope they execute it in detail, as this is an integral aspect to the series as a whole.

The WLF/Seraphites War Touches on the Most Important Themes of the Series

One of the reasons this war is important to delve into is because of its thematic significance. Both sides of the war have positive and negative reasons to be fighting. Both sides are needlessly cruel, which adds to the themes of morality and processing trauma. Characters go through traumatic experiences and tackle them in different ways, with some being as an attempt to move forward and others acting on their rage to produce more traumatic experiences. This is an overarching theme of the entire show, which is why it is a necessity to include it in the next season.