The Last of Us Last of Season 2 Finally Reveals
Kat The Last of Us Season 2 is finally starting to flesh out some of its more interesting and untold stories about the franchise, and the most recent episode featured a big reveal that fans did not see coming. In a brilliant and perplexing decision that is well thought out, HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 has finally found time for Kat, Ellie’s ex-girlfriend, a character that is (only ever) mentioned in The Last of Us Part II, never shown in-game. With Season 2 underway, this fleeting moment, although brief, is an emotionally charged addition to Ellie’s story. It also illustrates how the Mad TV series is providing more organic dialogue, paths, and emotional fabric to fill the gaps on these topics left by the games.
Who is Kat in The Last of Us?
For players of The Last of Us Part II, Kat is only a blurry memory in doodles, photos, and notes around Ellie’s room (she's the girl who gave Ellie the iconic moth tattoo clearly used to cover the bite mark). Kat is mentioned in a few notes in Ellie's journal, referencing a young relationship with all the innocence and rebellion one would expect but heartbreak as well. When we last left Kat, that’s all she was: a name and a sketch.
How the HBO Series Brings Kat to Life
In the first episode of Season 2, the show changes the patrol scene slightly; instead of just Ellie and Dina, we get to see them (and Kat) surrounded by a larger group of people. It’s a quick beat, but it's a powerful one. For the first time, we get to meet the girl who at one time owned Ellie’s heart before Dina did. The connection is subtle but meaningful enough to extend new emotional weight and space between the three characters. The showrunners are obviously using their outlet to further explore the character's personal attachments and stories that were either fleeting mentions during the game or expanded moments onscreen.
Additional New Faces Are on Their Way
Kat isn’t the only name to be fleshed out this season. The show will also be introducing Eugene, another character that was killed off-screen in the game. In trailers, it looks like we’ll get to see Eugene’s backstory and his contributions to Jackson before he dies – yet another expansion that adds to the series’ emotional stakes.
Game Meets TV: A Solid Adaptation Strategy
HBO has done an admirable job of adapting the game while expanding around it. Similar to the brilliant Bill and Frank episode from season 1, where Kat's debut in season 2 highlights how the show finds a way to honour the source material while adding its own storytelling perspective. These understated additions provide the series with its heft and its heart — and are part of what continues to impress very loyal fans and harsher critics as well.
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