Sometimes, life gives you a reprieve from the constant barrage of cruelty we have been conditioned to expect. In a world where we are constantly being subjected to terrible things on the glowing slabs in our pockets, sometimes you have to savor the good news when it comes. Thankfully, we have some to start off this Monday morning with: HBO’s bunk-ass Last of Us adaptation might not be getting its announced fourth season, and could conclude with the third.
In an interview with Deadline, HBO Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys was asked if The Last of Us’ third season was going to be its last, and mercifully, he said “it certainly seems that way,” though he also said that these decisions often come down to showrunners, so that could change. But right now, I’m holding on to any hope that I won’t have to watch showrunner Craig Mazin continue to butcher one of my favorite video games for an additional, unnecessary season.
Anyone who’s played The Last of Us Part II knows roughly how much story is left in the game for the show to cover, though the HBO adaptation has also been adding in its own storylines and characters, as well as expanding upon some of the beats that were more on the periphery of its dueling revenge stories. As a result, if HBO wanted to, it could probably squeeze out a fourth season and drag us along for the ride. But hey, one of the defining acts of The Last of Us Part II’s finale is an act of mercy, so maybe this is HBO’s way of showing us, the viewers, mercy, by ending it earlier than we were previously led to expect.
One thing we don’t know about the show’s third season is whether Gail, played by Catherine O’Hara, was slated to have a prominent presence in it. With the passing of the legendary comedic actor last week, they’ll sadly need to write around her absence now, if so.