Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, makers of The Last of Us, recently argued over keeping a character alive in the show who dies in the game.
In episode 5 of the show, titled “Endure and Survive,” the main characters Joel and Ellie escape the city with Sam and Henry. As in the original video game, Sam gets bitten on the leg during a fight with an infected and eventually turns into one, leading Henry to kill him and then take his own life.
In the most recent episode of The Last of Us Podcast, Mazin shared that he had contemplated sparing Henry’s life in episode 5 of the series, despite the character having killed Sam.
Mazin and Druckmann discussed at length how to handle this critical moment in the show, acknowledging its significance and the brutality of the scene in the game. They also revealed that there had been a possibility of Henry surviving in the game.
Read his entire statement here-
I was really nervous about this ending. In the game, it was so shocking and so brutal. But I also knew, like… I remember the screen goes black, and then we move ahead, and it’s a different season. And I go [deep inhale], and I’m just breathing, but I’m watching [Joel and Ellie] in a different moment, a different time and place, and then I can keep kind of going. But we don’t let you keep going, we know we have to stop this episode. And so the question is, ‘Should Henry kill himself or not?
Mazin
We had a lot of long conversations. I don’t know if we should get into the alternatives because people might get mad at us that there were alternatives. But… it’s almost an identical process to what we went through in the game, because in the game, initially, Henry didn’t die. But again, it’s like if you’re trying to reflect the worst possible outcome for a parent, I felt like we had to take it all the way to show, like, then you have nothing left. There’s nothing left.
Druckmann
According to Mazin and Druckmann, the depiction of Henry’s suicide in The Last of Us was a challenging matter for both the show and the original game. In the game, Henry’s death marked a significant turning point for Joel and Ellie, who had grown close to both Henry and Sam.
Although the aftermath of their deaths was not shown as explicitly as it is in the series, the event was still crucial in developing their characters, especially towards the end of the game where Joel struggles with the decision of sacrificing Ellie for the betterment of humanity or allowing her to live.
The show’s portrayal of Joel and Ellie digging their graves further emphasizes the impact of Henry’s death on them.
Allowing Henry to survive in the show could have been an unexpected plot twist, but it also ran the risk of disappointing viewers who have spoken highly of the series for remaining true to the game’s central narrative while also fleshing out minor elements.
Nonetheless, the show does delve deeper into Henry and Sam’s stories, including a flashback sequence that shows how they first cross paths with Joel and Ellie in the beginning of episode 5. This expansion provides further insight into their characters and contributes to the show’s overall world-building.
Despite expanding on Henry and Sam’s backstory, the show remains relatively faithful to the game’s plot, which is one reason it has been well-received by both fans of the game and critics. Although the Last of Us games have received some criticism, allowing Henry to live would have negatively impacted the character arcs of Joel and Ellie and would have disappointed fans of the game.
The scene where Joel and Ellie bury Henry and Sam before continuing their journey to find Tommy is a poignant and emotional moment that underscores the significance of their deaths. While the show has made some changes from the game, most of these alterations have been beneficial. In the case of episode 5, adhering to the game’s narrative was the best course of action.
About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
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