Warning! This article contains spoilers for both The Last of Us episode 2 and the original game.The Last of Us episode 2 featured the culmination of Tess' story, leading to the question of how it compares to that of the original games. So far in both The Last of Us episodes 1 and 2, HBO has shown how faithfully the network is adapting the game through the involvement of original game creator Neil Druckmann. Through Druckmann and his close working relationship with co-creator Craig Mazin, The Last of Us is not only faithful to the game but is largely considered the best video game adaptation ever made.
Despite this faithfulness evident throughout The Last of Us thus far, the showrunners have made it clear that they are not afraid to diverge from the known story if need be. From the Jakarta opening of The Last of Us episode 2 which changes the game's infection origin or the expanded elements of Sarah's story shown in The Last of Us episode 1, the changes made have often gone to develop on what was already present in the game's story. This was also the case with Tess' story, with some elements changing and some staying the same for The Last of Us episode 2.
How Tess' Death In The Last Of Us Show Is Different To The Game
Firstly, Tess' death itself is changed in a few notable ways from her final scenes in The Last of Us game. Some elements that remain the same include Tess' bite that she obtained from the Clickers when she and Joel were separated. The increased desperation to find the Fireflies after finding them dead at the State House also remains the same, as the bite in both mediums makes Tess unequivocally believe in Ellie's The Last of Us immunity. Much of Tess' dialogue is similar, such as her questioning how Ellie's condition is real and begging Joel to carry on their task, albeit with the small changes that come from adaptations.
However, some of the notable differences include how the Fireflies at the State House were killed. In the game, FEDRA agents killed the Fireflies and storm the building to find Joel, Tess, and Ellie. In The Last of Us episode 2 though, the Fireflies were killed by each other after some were infected. This leads to the change of an infected horde bearing down on the State House rather than the FEDRA squad. This causes Tess' means of death to change, with her putting up a last stand against the infected zombies in The Last of Us episode 2.
In the game, Tess holds off the FEDRA agents for as long as possible before being shot dead. In the show, on the other hand, Tess spills oil out over the floor as well as a belt of grenades. As the infected horde rushes into the State House, Tess drops her lighter in the oil and blows the building up. In this way, her death is much more cinematic than in the game and provides Joel and Ellie a means of escaping safely, rather than the game having Joel and Ellie fight through the soldiers that killed Tess.
Why Tess Had To Die In The Last Of Us
Tess' death means a lot going forward for The Last of Us, particularly in its impact on the other characters. For starters, Joel's decision to continue with the mission of delivering Ellie to the Fireflies is due to Tess' death leading them to Bill and Frank and the ominous radio song from Last of Us episode 1. If Tess had never made Joel promise to take Ellie upon her death, it is unlikely Joel would have continued with Ellie alone.
Also, in of Ellie, it helps contribute to the survivor's guilt the character will feel later in the story. A sympathetic character trait for Ellie is how she views her immunity. Due to so many people she cares about losing their lives to the infected when she is unable to be affected by it, Ellie feels a great deal of guilt, something that can be traced back to Tess' death and even before that.
Why Tess' Death Is Better In The Last Of Us Show
In of which version of Tess' death is better, HBO's The Last of Us takes the crown. While the game scene is definitely emotional due to the implications of the relationship between Tess and Joel with her final words, the added or changed elements of her death in The Last of Us episode 2 push HBO's adaptation above its game counterpart. The explosion is much more cinematic and climactic than Tess simply being shot by soldiers. This alone is an improvement and gives Joel and Ellie the means to escape, meaning Tess' death meant something more, as opposed to the game in which the soldiers need to be dealt with by Joel.
Also, the horrifying zombie kiss element makes for one of The Last of Us' best body-horror aspects showcased yet. This not only furthers the terror of the infected for future The Last of Us episodes, but makes Tess' death much more heart-rending seeing her go through that. All of this means Tess' death in HBO's The Last of Us is an improvement over its game counterpart due to its alterations.
New episodes of The Last of Us release every Sunday on HBO.