WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 INCLUDED
In the opening scene of the second season’s first episode of The Last of Us, the character Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, delivers a spine-chilling monologue. She expresses a deep-seated desire to not only end Joel’s life, played by Pedro Pascal, but to prolong his suffering as vengeance for the death of her father.
Dever described the moment as profoundly eerie in her discussion with The Hollywood Reporter. “She’s like an icy queen!” she exclaimed.
“She’s looking for something to heal her pain,” Dever explained. “At that moment, revenge seems to be the only thing she can think of. She’s overwhelmed by sadness, heartbreak, and loss, and she’s trying to find a way to cope.”
The character of Abby sparked significant controversy and conversation upon the release of The Last of Us: Part II in 2020, and similar reactions are anticipated for her portrayal in the television series. Dever shared with Collider that she was aware of the discussions surrounding Abby, yet chose not to let it dominate her portrayal.
“I was certainly aware of the discussions about Abby, but to perform my role to the best of my ability, I had to acknowledge it and then set it aside,” she noted. “Focusing too much on the online chatter about the character would have detracted from my performance, which needs to be my main focus.”
Dever also mentioned that the show’s creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, did not appear overly concerned about the negative reactions Abby received from the gaming community while preparing for the TV adaptation.
“They showed a lot of faith in me for this role, which in turn boosted my confidence in taking it on,” Dever commented.
Interestingly, Dever revealed during the interview that she didn’t audition for the role of Abby. She was initially considered for the role of Ellie when The Last of Us was being developed as a film. Although that didn’t materialize, Mazin and Druckmann were familiar with Dever and cast her directly for this series.
“They are extremely confident in their storytelling,” Dever said of Mazin and Druckmann. “They know who fits their narrative, and this confidence is very supportive during the production process, as it allows for a sense of freedom and security in portraying these characters.”
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The second season of The Last of Us has made a strong impression, drawing in 5.3 million viewers on its debut day, an increase from the 4.7 million viewers who tuned in for the premiere of the first season in 2023.
New episodes of The Last of Us are broadcast on Sunday evenings at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.
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Ava covers the intersection of celebrity culture and social media, keeping up with the ever-changing world of online influencers and viral moments.