The Last of Us Season 1 Abby Cameo Theory Addressed By HBO Show Creator
Craig Mazin has recently addressed the theories surrounding Abby’s cameo in season 1 of The Last of Us. The HBO show is based on the Naughty Dog game of the same name, and follows Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world in search of a cure for the Cordyceps virus. Along the way, they form a father-daughter bond and encounter both other survivors and infected.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Mazin was asked about the theories surrounding Abby’s appearance in the season 1 finale. He denied that she appeared in the episode and confirmed that she has not yet been cast for season 2.
“No one has been cast. I can confirm that she was not [in the season 1 finale]. That was just one of the Fireflies that happened to have a ponytail. A lot of people have ponytails, so that was not Abby.”
Why Fans Thought Abby Appeared In The Last Of Us Season 1
The theory that Abby appeared in the season 1 finale came from Joel’s assault on the Firefly base in Salt Lake City. Fans noticed a shadowy figure with a braided ponytail fleeing from Joel, similar to Abby’s appearance in The Last of Us Part II. Some believed this was a clever Easter egg from Neil Druckmann, creator of the games and co-creator of the show. However, Mazin has confirmed that this was not the case.
Although it would have been exciting for fans to see Abby in the show, it’s better for her character to be properly introduced in season 2. This will allow both Mazin and Druckmann to develop her character in a way that will be impactful for both video game fans and new viewers.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
With development still on hold for the next chapter of the show, Craig Mazin has addressed The Last of Us season 1 Abby cameo theories. Adapted from the Naughty Dog game of the same name, the HBO show followed Pedro Pascal’s smuggler Joel as he journeyed with Bella Ramsey’s foul-mouthed teenager Ellie in the hopes of turning her immunity to the world-ending Cordyceps virus to make a cure. The two form a father-daughter-like bond along their trip, resulting in a number of harrowing encounters with other survivors, as well as the infected.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Craig Mazin was asked about the theories of Abby having made a cameo during The Last of Us season 1’s finale. The HBO show creator not only shot down the idea that the iconic character appeared during Joel’s shootout scene, but that she has yet to even be cast yet for the in-development Last of Us season 2. See what Mazin explained in the quotes and video below starting at the 28:24 mark:
No one has been cast. I can confirm that she was not [in the season 1 finale]. That was just one of the Fireflies that happened to have a ponytail. A lot of people have ponytails, so that was not Abby.
Why Fans Thought Abby Appeared In The Last Of Us Season 1
The moment audiences frequently pointed to in believing Abby appeared in The Last of Us season 1 finale came from Joel’s assault on the Firefly base in Salt Lake City in the hopes of rescuing Ellie from the fatal operation to study her immunity to Cordyceps. Eagle-eyed fans of the video game noticed a shadowy figure fleeing from Joel donning a braided ponytail akin to that of Laura Bailey’s infamous character from The Last of Us Part II.
Given Abby’s introduction in the 2020 sequel game is closely associated with much of The Last of Us season 1 finale, it’s understandable some would believe this to be a sly Easter egg from Neil Druckmann, creator of the games and co-creator of the HBO show. Additionally, with Bailey even making a cameo in the episode as a nurse in the operating room Joel rescues Ellie from, it could’ve been a fun way of setting up the show’s future for those familiar with the source material.
With Mazin officially debunking these theories, though, it’s ultimately better that The Last of Us season 1’s finale didn’t feature an Abby cameo. Not only could it have pigeonholed Mazin and Druckmann for properly casting Abby in season 2, but it allows the creative duo to introduce the antagonist in a way that will be just as impactful for non-video game fans as those already familiar with her story.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
