SPOILER ALERT: This article contains plot details for HBO's "The Last of Us" Season 2, Episode 2.
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains plot details for HBO's "The Last of Us" Season 2, Episode 2.
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains plot details for HBO's "The Last of Us" Season 2, Episode 2.
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In the shocking second episode of HBO's hit series "The Last of Us" Season 2, the pivotal scene depicting protagonist Joel's murder by new character Abby aired. While game players were mentally prepared, it remained an emotional gut punch for series viewers. 
Laura Bailey, the voice and motion-capture actor for Abby in the original video game, recently weighed in on the series' adaptation, stating that HBO's narrative strategy was "the right choice."
Unlike the original game, HBO opted to reveal Abby's revenge motive early in the series, allowing audiences to understand her actions from her perspective rather than gradually unveiling her backstory after Joel's death, as was done in the game.
Bailey believes this "pre-emptive groundwork" helps mitigate the audience's emotional shock and fosters greater empathy for the character. She told "Vulture" that she thought this was "what HBO wanted to do: to prepare the audience."
This arrangement not only altered the audience's viewing experience but also brought Bailey a sense of relief regarding the character's reception. She confessed that after the game's plot leaked, she and her family were inundated with hate speech online, including death threats and violent intimidation.
While Bailey had anticipated controversy surrounding Abby's story, she hadn't foreseen such an intense backlash. She stated that she knew there would be a strong reaction, but she didn't expect it to be so extreme, adding that no one on the team predicted the situation. Nevertheless, she remains proud of her performance, saying that she poured all her emotions into it and truly wanted to share that performance with the world.
Even five years after the release of "The Last of Us Part II," Bailey admits that some of the online vitriol has yet to subside. She wryly noted that whenever a post mentions "The Last of Us" or she shares unrelated content, someone inevitably comments about Joel, sometimes making her wonder if it's the same few individuals who simply can't let it go.
Regarding whether HBO's series adaptation will reignite old controversies, Bailey confessed to still harboring some apprehension. However, with time, she has gradually found peace and learned to protect herself, stating that while she wouldn't say she was scared away, the experience made her more guarded and less vocal on social media platforms.
via： Vulture