The Last of Us Season 3 Is All About Abby

The Last of Us Season 2 isn't even finished yet, but HBO's already looking ahead—and they're not being subtle about where the story's going. If you were wondering whether Abby would be a major player going forward, the answer is yes. Season 3 is the Abby story.

That quote comes directly from Catherine O’Hara, who plays Gail in Season 2. She told Variety that Abby will take centre stage in the next chapter of the series, with the show leaning hard into her perspective from The Last of Us Part II. Anyone familiar with the game already knows this is coming, but it's a huge confirmation that Season 3 won't just continue Ellie's revenge arc—it’s flipping the camera.

“Season 3 is the Abby story.” — Catherine O’Hara to Variety

O’Hara also confirmed she won’t be returning, at least not for this upcoming season. According to her, showrunner Craig Mazin told her directly that Gail is “definitely” not coming back in Season 3. She sees her character as having served her purpose in Season 2, largely tied to Joel and Ellie’s emotional fallout, and now it’s time to move on.

Critical recap: Season 1 was fire, Season 2 is… split

To understand why this pivot to Abby is a big deal, you have to look at how the first two seasons landed with fans and critics.

Season 1 was a hit. Reviewers praised the adaptation's fidelity to the source material while still making bold choices. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey earned near-universal acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes scored it at 96%, and critics applauded its emotional pacing, gritty visuals, and ability to nail the tone of the game while still delivering on a TV format.

Season 2, though? A lot more divisive. The pacing has been more experimental, with the show jumping between timelines and perspectives. Some critics appreciated the bolder structure, calling it “mature” and “ambitious.” Others found it disjointed and emotionally distant. Abby’s brief appearance early on stirred the pot among viewers, but the show mostly stepped back from her story—until now.

That’s the big reason Season 3 is already controversial before a single frame has aired. Fans of the games know what’s coming, and the show’s about to dive headfirst into one of the most polarising arcs in modern gaming.

Craig Mazin teases a longer Season 3

Mazin says that Season 3 might be longer than Season 2. It’s not just about runtime—it’s about how much story they want to tell.

“There is a decent chance that Season 3 is longer than Season 2, just because the manner of that narrative and the opportunities it affords us are a little different.”

That makes sense. If they’re following the structure of The Last of Us Part II, then we’re in for a complex two-sided tale. The game showed both Ellie’s path of vengeance and Abby’s life on the other side of it. It wasn’t afraid to make you uncomfortable. HBO is clearly not backing down from that challenge.

Expect the finale of Season 2 to end on a cliffhanger—something deliberate, according to Mazin. He wants it to leave people wanting more, to create tension and anticipation heading into Abby’s arc.

What about the games?

On the game side, things are quieter than fans would like. Naughty Dog cancelled The Last of Us Online in late 2023 and has since been working on new projects.

Their big focus now is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a mysterious new IP that nobody seems to fully understand yet. The studio is reportedly working on a second game as well, but there’s no confirmation that it’s The Last of Us Part III. Neil Druckmann has been cagey in interviews, and there’s been no official update since 2023.

So for now, the HBO show is the only place where The Last of Us is actively evolving. And that means Abby is about to be the new face of the franchise—whether the internet’s ready or not.

The Last of Us Season One and Season Two Overview:

The Last of Us Season 3 isn’t hiding from controversy—it’s walking straight into it. By turning the focus to Abby, HBO is doubling down on the narrative risk that defined Part II. Whether you loved or hated her in the game, this season is going to test how much fans are really willing to empathise with both sides of a brutal story. The showrunners clearly aren’t interested in comfort. They’re telling the whole story.