The Season 2 finale of HBO’s The Last of Us, “Convergence,” hit screens on May 25, 2025, and holy smokes, it left fans with their jaws on the floor. Aired on HBO and Max, this episode delivered a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that’s got everyone talking about what’s coming next for Ellie, Abby, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic world they’re navigating. Drawing heavily from The Last of Us Part II game but with its own TV spin, the finale sets up a wild ride for Season 3. Let’s break down the big moments and what they mean for what’s ahead.
That Cliffhanger Had Us Gasping
The finale throws you right into the deep end. Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is knee-deep in her revenge quest in Seattle, hell-bent on making Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) pay for Joel’s death. After surviving a brutal run-in with the Seraphites—a creepy religious cult—she tracks down Abby’s friends Owen and Mel at the Seattle Aquarium. Things spiral fast. In a tense confrontation, Ellie accidentally kills Owen and fatally wounds Mel, who’s pregnant, in a moment that hits like a punch to the gut. It’s a low point for Ellie, showing just how far her need for vengeance is pushing her.
Then comes the big twist. Abby storms into the theater where Ellie’s holed up, takes out Jesse (Young Mazino) in a heartbreaking moment, and corners Ellie. With a gun to her head, Abby snarls, “I let you live, and you wasted it.” A gunshot cracks, the screen goes black, and just when you think you’re about to lose it, the show flips back to “Seattle Day One”—but now we’re seeing it through Abby’s eyes. It’s a bold move, straight out of the game’s playbook, where the story switches to Abby’s perspective halfway through. Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are clearly leaning into this, with Catherine O’Hara (who plays Gail) hinting that Season 3 will be “the Abby story.” It’s a risky choice, especially since Abby’s killing of Joel made her public enemy number one for a lot of fans, but it’s all about showing there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Ellie’s in a Dark Place
That gunshot leaves you wondering if Ellie’s done for, but let’s be real—Mazin’s already dropped hints that Bella Ramsey’s sticking around. In the game, Ellie survives this moment, so Season 3 might drag out the suspense a bit before showing she’s okay, just to keep us on edge. The finale paints Ellie at her darkest. Killing Mel, even by accident, is a turning point that shows how revenge is eating her up.
Unlike Season 1, where she had Joel to lean on after tough moments, she’s now on her own, grappling with what she’s done. Dina (Isabela Merced), who’s pregnant and was with Ellie earlier, is nowhere to be seen during this showdown, which means Season 3 will likely dive into how Ellie processes her guilt and what it does to their relationship. The game has some heavy moments between them, and the show is setting up something just as emotional.
Abby’s Story Is About to Take Center Stage
Season 3 is shaping up to focus heavily on Abby, which is a big swing. The finale’s shift to her perspective means we’ll likely spend a chunk of time reliving those same Seattle days, but through her eyes. In the game, this part shows Abby’s life with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), her relationships with Owen and Mel, and her side of the conflict with the Seraphites. The finale teases the WLF’s big attack on the Seraphites, led by their leader Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), so expect that war to play a bigger role. We might also meet new characters like Lev and Yara, who are huge in Abby’s game arc, pushing her to question her loyalties and find some humanity in all the chaos.
This flip to Abby’s side is meant to make you rethink everything. Ellie’s been the heart of the show, but now we’re being asked to walk in Abby’s shoes, see why she did what she did, and maybe even root for her. It’s a tough ask, but the game pulled it off by showing Abby’s grief and motivations, and the show’s got the talent—like Kaitlyn Dever’s killer performance—to make it work.
What Else Is Coming?
The finale’s only part of the game’s story, so there’s a lot left to cover. Mazin’s said Season 3 might need more than Season 2’s seven episodes to tackle the game’s sprawling second half, and he’s even floated the idea of a Season 4. In the game, after the Seattle chaos, we get quieter moments like Ellie and Dina trying to build a life on “The Farm,” followed by a tense final showdown in Santa Barbara. The show could save those for a fourth season, which has some fans grumbling about the wait—potentially until 2027—but it’s clear Mazin and Druckmann want to give the story room to breathe.
Read Also: Catherine O’Hara says ‘THE LAST OF US’ Season 3 will focus on Abby’s story
Why It Matters
The Season 2 finale’s big swing—ending mid-story with a perspective shift—sets up a Season 3 that’s gonna challenge viewers. It’s not just about Ellie’s revenge anymore; it’s about seeing the messy, human sides of both her and Abby. With HBO backing the show’s vision and a cast that’s knocking it out of the park, Season 3 could redefine what The Last of Us is about: not just surviving, but wrestling with what it means to forgive, grieve, and keep going in a world that’s falling apart. Fans might have to wait a while, but if the finale’s any sign, it’ll be worth it