This season starts on September 29 and shifts its attention from Daryl, played by Norman Reedus, to his best friend, Carol (played by Melissa McBride). Daryl Dixon takes the story to France, where the apocalypse began. The finale of the first season left viewers wondering if Daryl and Carol will meet again.
In the first season, Daryl ends up on the shores of France after an unknown group kidnaps him. They want to use him as a test subject. After escaping from a ship, he finds the Abbey of Saint Bernadette. There, he meets some surprising allies, including killer nuns.
To get back to America, Daryl joins forces with the nuns and helps them with their mission. However, by the end of the season, returning home becomes more complicated for Daryl. He develops new loyalties and gets caught up in the dangerous politics of post-apocalyptic France.
At the Abbey, Daryl meets Sister Isabelle (played by Clémence Poésy). She brings him into the nuns’ mission to escort a gifted child named Laurent (played by Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) to a safe place called the Nest.
They believe Laurent could help end the apocalypse because his mother gave birth to him after she turned into a walker. It is unclear if Laurent can resist walker bites or if he represents hope—life coming from death.
Throughout Daryl Dixon, Daryl, Isabelle, and Laurent face constant threats and often have to split up to survive, just like in the original series. Laurent’s father, Quinn (played by Adam Nagaitis), even tries to take Laurent away. In the end, Isabelle convinces him to help them, and he sacrifices himself to save Daryl.
Quinn asks Daryl to tell Isabelle and Laurent about his good deed. Daryl agrees, making sure they think Quinn redeemed himself. This shows that even though Daryl seems tough, he has a kind heart.
Daryl successfully brings Isabelle and Laurent to the Nest, where they give him a boat to go home. Before he leaves, he visits his grandfather’s grave, who died in France during the war.
Although Daryl wants to get back to Rick Grimes’ (played by Andrew Lincoln) children, he feels torn because of the new friendships he has made in France. His grandfather’s grave reminds him that some causes are worth fighting for, especially the nuns’ mission to end the apocalypse.
At the same time, Daryl forms a father-son type bond with Laurent and possibly a romantic connection with Isabelle.
Although he has reasons to return to the Commonwealth, people in France now need his help and have become important to him. In the final scenes of Daryl Dixon, we see Daryl on the beach, unsure whether to go home or stay at the Nest with his new family.
‘Daryl Dixon’ Reveals New Walker Variants in Apocalypse’s Ground Zero
The politics of post-apocalyptic France also play a big role in Daryl’s story as he gets involved in it. France is divided between two sides. One side is led by Genet (played by Anna Charrier), a strict commander who controls France and runs labs that experiment on walkers and humans.
This season introduces new types of walkers, such as the burners Daryl faces in the first episode and the powerful walker (called “Ampers” by the creators) he fights while chained to Quinn in a fighting ring at Genet’s base.
This connection also suggests that Rick and Michonne (played by Danai Gurira) only defeated one part of the mysterious organization. They may return in future seasons, especially since the showrunners are planning a major three-way crossover.
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
Genet sees Laurent as a threat because his presence inspires the people of France to stand up against her rule. As a result, Daryl becomes a target for Genet’s forces because he protects Laurent. Throughout the season, the trio must face dangers from the apocalypse and avoid Genet’s soldiers.
Towards the end, they get captured, leading to a showdown between Daryl and the super-powered walker. They are saved by L’Union, the opposing political group. By the end of the season, the people in the Nest prepare for an upcoming war. The question remains: will Daryl join them?
During the season, Daryl, Laurent, and Isabelle are hunted by a mercenary named Codron (played by Romain Levi) and his crew, called the gurriers. Codron is hired by Genet to kill them, but he has a personal reason for wanting Daryl.
In the first episode, Daryl stops a group of thieves who are attacked by Codron’s brother and his friends. Daryl kills Codron’s brother, which fuels Codron’s desire for revenge. Although Codron gets close to the group several times during the season, he confronts them directly in the finale.
He could inflict great pain on Daryl by killing Laurent in front of him, a perfect way to get back at Daryl. However, Codron refuses to harm children and instead shoots at his own men. He tells Daryl, “Not today, Dixon. Next time,” before leaving with his team and returning to Genet.
Even though Codron tries to hide what happened, Genet sees through the lie. The scene ends with Codron facing a serious punishment.
Both Codron and Daryl are now on Genet’s bad side, suggesting they might work together in future seasons. This could give viewers a taste of the unstoppable teamwork that we last saw with Daryl and Rick.
Although Carol does not appear much in the first season, The Book of Carol will focus on her search for Daryl. She has two brief appearances in Daryl Dixon, both hinting at significant events. In her first appearance, Daryl contacts her briefly through a radio.
Carol’s second appearance happens at the end of the finale, showing her strong character. She travels to Maine to find Daryl, the last place he was in America. She confronts a man riding Daryl’s motorcycle and takes him down.
Still from The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon (Credit: AMC+)
She puts him in the trunk of her car and rides off on his bike, determined to reunite with her best friend. Unbeknownst to her, Daryl is torn between his new relationships and returning home.
We can picture her rolling her eyes as she tries to pull him back to America. According to the showrunners, Season 2 will see these stories unfold, with Carol’s search for Daryl creating unexpected situations.
The Last of Us, both as a television series and a video game, tells a gripping and heart-wrenching story that continues to resonate with long-time fans and newcomers alike. Joel’s fateful decision to save Ellie at the expense of others in the original game has sparked intense debates ever since its release in 2013.
Now, The Last of Us Part II confronts the emotional and moral aftermath of this decision, offering even deeper complexity. For those who wrestled with Joel’s controversial choice, the sequel’s narrative will either reignite or further complicate your feelings on the matter.
The sequel takes a hard look at the consequences of Joel’s actions, mainly through Ellie’s lens, and shows how trauma, revenge, and moral ambiguity shape her journey.
This article goes into the key moments of The Last of Us Part II and highlights how the game’s story could influence future seasons of the HBO series, especially since changes were made in the adaptation of the first game.
Ellie’s Quest for Vengeance
The Last of Us Part II begins four years after the events of the first game, with Joel and Ellie now living in relative safety within a large community settlement in Jackson, Wyoming.
However, their relationship has become strained, partly due to the secret Joel has been keeping about the Firefly scientists and Ellie’s immunity. This distance sets the emotional stage for the events that follow.
While Joel and his brother Tommy are out on patrol, they rescue a woman named Abby from a group of Infected. Little do they know, Abby is part of a militia group from Seattle known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). Her mission is not just survival—Abby seeks revenge.
Joel, the man who saved Ellie, also happens to be the person responsible for her father’s death. Abby’s father was one of the surgeons who Joel killed when rescuing Ellie, an act that continues to haunt Abby. In a shocking moment, Abby kills Joel as Ellie is forced to watch.
This traumatic event sets Ellie on a path of vengeance. Consumed by her need for justice, Ellie swears to hunt down Abby and make her pay. The emotional weight of this decision shapes Ellie’s journey throughout the game. Joined by her love interest, Dina, Ellie sets out for Seattle to find Abby and the WLF.
Along the way, Ellie reveals her immunity to Dina, who in turn confesses that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s child. The journey becomes even more complicated when Jesse, Dina’s ex-boyfriend, also joins them.
Ellie’s search leads her deeper into the violence of post-apocalyptic Seattle, where she faces both the WLF and a mysterious religious cult known as the Seraphites. As Ellie hunts down Abby’s friends, she begins to confront the dark reality of her quest for revenge.
In one pivotal moment, Ellie kills a pregnant woman named Mel, one of Abby’s closest friends. The trauma of this act, along with the mounting emotional toll, forces Ellie to reflect on whether revenge will bring her the closure she so desperately seeks.
Abby’s Perspective: The Other Side of the Story
In a surprising narrative twist, The Last of Us Part II shifts its focus to Abby, offering players a new perspective. This bold storytelling choice puts Abby, the game’s antagonist, in the protagonist’s role. Suddenly, players are asked to see the world through Abby’s eyes, empathizing with her pain, her motivations, and her complicated relationships.
Abby’s backstory reveals the deep emotional scars she carries from losing her father. Her desire for revenge mirrors Ellie’s, as she seeks justice for Joel’s brutal murder of her father. Abby’s journey in the game showcases her relationships with other members of the WLF, including her ex-boyfriend Owen.
Like Ellie, Abby must also face the consequences of her choices. She is caught in a battle between the WLF and the Seraphites, a violent conflict that forces her to make difficult decisions.
Abby’s story takes an emotional turn when she meets Yara and Lev, siblings who have been cast out of the Seraphite community. Lev’s story is particularly poignant, as he faces persecution for being transgender.
Abby, who initially has no reason to care about these strangers, finds herself bonded to them through their shared struggle for survival.
The bond she forms with Lev, in particular, becomes a key aspect of her journey. Much like Joel’s relationship with Ellie, Abby takes on the role of protector, risking her life to save Lev from the Seraphites and the WLF.
Still from The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
As Abby’s story unfolds, the player is forced to confront their own biases. While Ellie is driven by revenge, Abby’s journey is about redemption and protecting those she cares about. The moral grayness of both characters blurs the line between hero and villain, challenging the player to question their initial perceptions.
The Climactic Confrontation Between Ellie and Abby
The inevitable clash between Ellie and Abby comes to a head in a brutal and emotionally charged confrontation. After months of searching, Ellie finally finds Abby and Lev held captive by a group known as the Rattlers.
In a heart-wrenching battle, Ellie threatens to kill Lev unless Abby fights her. What follows is a visceral, no-holds-barred fight in the ocean, where both women are pushed to their physical and emotional limits.
In a moment that echoes Joel’s fateful decision in the first game, Ellie chooses to spare Abby’s life. This decision, however, does not come without its own cost. Ellie returns to her farm, only to find that Dina and her baby have left.
In a final poignant scene, Ellie attempts to play Joel’s guitar, only to realize she can’t because of the fingers she lost in the fight with Abby. The game ends with Ellie leaving the guitar behind and walking into an uncertain future, burdened by the weight of her choices.
How ‘The Last of Us: Part II’ Could Shape Season 2 of the HBO Series
The Last of Us Season 2, set for a 2025 release, is expected to follow the narrative of The Last of Us Part II. Given the success of the first season, fans are eagerly anticipating how the show will adapt the complex, morally ambiguous storylines of the second game.
While the series made some changes in its adaptation of the first game, it’s likely that Season 2 will stay true to the emotional core of the sequel’s narrative.
The recently released trailer for Season 2 offers glimpses of what’s to come. Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, gives Ellie (Bella Ramsey) a guitar, a key emotional moment from the game.
Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, is also introduced in the trailer, kneeling at her father’s grave—a visual representation of the pain and grief that drives her character.
Still from The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
One intriguing moment from the trailer features Joel in conversation with a mysterious woman, possibly hinting at a public confrontation about Joel’s decision to save Ellie at the expense of the Firefly scientists. This deviation from the game’s narrative could allow for deeper scheme of Joel’s guilt and Ellie’s feelings of betrayal.
The inclusion of Pearl Jam’s “Future Days” in the trailer—a song that Joel plays for Ellie in the game—further ties the show to its source material.
However, some fans have pointed out a timeline discrepancy, as the show’s Cordyceps outbreak occurs in 2003, a full decade earlier than in the game. While this may seem like a minor detail, it remains to be seen how the showrunners will address this continuity issue.
What to Expect in Season 2
As The Last of Us Season 2 gears up for its release, fans can expect a continuation of the powerful themes that made the first season so impactful. Revenge, grief, trauma, and forgiveness will all play central roles in the upcoming season, just as they did in The Last of Us Part II.
The show’s ability to translate the emotional depth and complexity of the game into a television format will be key to its success.
The dynamic between Ellie and Abby, much like the relationship between Joel and Ellie in the first game, will likely be the emotional centerpiece of the season.
Viewers will be challenged to empathize with both characters, despite their conflicting motivations. As Abby and Ellie’s paths cross, the show will show the cost of revenge and whether true redemption is even possible in a world as brutal as this one.
Still from The Last of Us (Credit: HBO)
Ultimately, Season 2 promises to push the boundaries of storytelling in the post-apocalyptic genre, much like the game did. With a talented cast, visionary showrunners, and a story that has already attracted millions, The Last of Us Season 2 is poised to be another landmark in television history.
The Last of Us Part II follows Ellie’s journey for revenge after Joel’s death, leading to an emotionally complex confrontation with Abby, who seeks justice for her father.
Both characters’ stories shows trauma, revenge, and redemption. Season 2 of the HBO series will likely mirror the game’s intense themes, continuing the moral ambiguity and emotional depth of the first season.
