Summary

Showrunner Mazin prioritizes storytelling integrity, even at the risk of show cancellation.
Season 2 of The Last of Us focuses on Ellie seeking revenge with elements of mystery.
Isaac's transformation in the WLF may be explored in upcoming episodes to delve into themes of brutality and humanity.

The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has made it clear that he will never compromise with storytelling, even if the show is on the verge of cancellation.

Season 2 of the HBO series The Last of Us began with a bang and is based on the second game of the franchise of the same name, The Last of Us Part II. The ongoing edition primarily focuses on Ellie avenging Joel's brutal death at the hands of Abby Anderson. As a result, she embarks on a journey to Seattle with Dina to find Abby and her group so she can kill them. The duo realizes that Abby and her group are now a part of the Washington Liberation Front, which is being led by a man named Isaac Dixon (played by Jeffrey Wright). However, the introduction of his character and how he changed as a person shocked everyone, especially fans of the game. Although his backstory hasn't been explored in a detailed manner, and fans would want to know why he joined the WLF, Mazin knows how to play his cards well and doesn't stuff the narrative with too many revelations, even if there are chances of the show getting canceled.

The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: Blood, Betrayal, And The Bite That Changes Everything

Episode 4 of The Last of Us Season 2 saw Ellie and Dina come face to face with two threats, and something that will change their relationship.

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By Aayush Sharma

The Last of Us Showrunner explains why it's important to keep viewers in the mystery

Dina pointing a gun at Ellie in the last of us season 2 episode 4

While discussing the fourth episode of The Last of Us season 2 on the podcast, host Troy Baker questioned Mazin about writing or shooting certain scenes. He asked if his writing process changes if there's a slight chance of the show not getting renewed for another season. The showrunner didn't shy away from giving a candid reply to this query and noted that he doesn't write "defensively". Moreover, he explained that if he had written Season 2 like that, he would have messed up the entire season. "No, no, no. You've got to write with confidence, you know, I mean, if you write defensively, just in case we get canceled, you're going to mess your season up. I can't imagine, you know, the guys who are in the Severance writing room going, just in case we got canceled, we should probably explain what the hell is going on here," Mazin said during the podcast.

On the other hand, the showrunner noted that it's okay to keep viewers in mystery and not tell them everything at first sight. He added, "So, I mean, you get some answers, and then there are a whole bunch of mysteries that get left. That's the way it ought to be."

Isaac's storyline might get explored in Season 2 or Season 3

Isaac_FEDRA — Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon in 'The Last of Us' Season 2.

The comments made by Mazin make it clear that certain things might get explored in the upcoming set of episodes. One storyline that fans might want to know more about is how Isaac makes his transition from a commanding officer in FEDRA to a leading man in WLF. At the beginning of Episode 4, "Day One," viewers see Isaac leading a team of FEDRA soldiers who are patrolling the Seattle Quarantine Zone while talking about a brutal accident involving "voters." When one of the soldiers asks why those people were being called voters, Isaac jumps into the conversation and reveals why they were called voters. But things change when Isaac and one FEDRA soldier confront the members of the quarantine zone and meet a woman named Hanharan. Isaac switches sides and kills the FEDRA soldiers. In the present day, Isaac can be seen leading the WLF, which has a powerful militia. On the other hand, there's one soldier from the FEDRA who joins WLF with Isaac.

Both people joining the WLF are a pivotal part of the storytelling. Isaac and that soldier were pretty similar in their thinking and cared for the people. But what happened that made Isaac so aggressive, and what changed that young soldier who might have wanted to save people? In a way, they are still saving their people from the infected and other groups, but the way they do it is extremely violent. Their transformation raises a haunting question: how far can compassion bend before it breaks into brutality? In the ashes of old loyalties, Isaac and the soldier found purpose, but at the cost of their humanity. This might be one of the most important narratives that makers would want to explore. However, Mazin wouldn't compromise with the storytelling and would explore these plotlines when it seemed necessary for the show's narrative.

The ending of Episode 4 in The Last of Us Season 2 has made it clear that things are about to go from bad to worse for Ellie and Dina. A fight has broken out in Seattle between the infected and the WLF, which might turn out to be lethal for the duo as well. It would be interesting to see how the couple will navigate these challenges and take their revenge.

Source: The Last of Us podcast

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