HBO’sThe Last of Usseason 2 ended a few months ago, teasing its returning season on acliffhanger that showcased Abby’s journey for its next installment. However, one fan of the show has found an Abby detail in another TV series starring Kaitlyn Dever from 11 years ago, and the resemblance is truly uncanny.
After premiering in 2023,The Last of Usseason one quickly climbed the ladder and became one of the best video game TV adaptations of all time, breaking the curse that seemed to haunt the industry for many years, while also showcasing how adaptations can be successful. The series premiere ofThe Last of Uswas watched by almost 40 million people, and that was only within the first two months. Almost four months later, that number averaged out at around 32 million viewers per episode by May, firmly cementingSeason One as HBO’s most-watched debut season. Now that season 2 is done and dusted, conversations have turned towards its next installment into Naughty Dog’s gaming sequel,The Last of Us Part 2, andwhat it will now mean for season 3 after Neil Druckmann’s departure from the series, leaving Craig Mazin as the sole showrunner.
Kaitlyn Dever Was Already Cosplaying as Abby in Another TV Series
In a post on Reddit, one eagle-eyedLast of Usfan has spottedKaitlyn Deverin another role from a TV series from 11 years ago, and her character looks just like Abby Anderson. Dever played the character of Eve Baxter in the American sitcomLast Man Standing, which premiered from 2011 until 2017 on ABC. Starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, Eve was the youngest daughter of Mike, who was a strong scholar and athlete with military aspirations, and clearly Mike’s favorite child. Not only do Abby and Eve share somewhat of the same traits, like being physically lean and strong, but also their military background is one of the most surprising similarities between the two characters.
However, that’s not the most surreal part of the Abby and Eve crossover, as they both look almost the same as well. In the image fromLast Man Standing, Eve can be seen in a gray sweater, which is almost identical to what Dever wore for her portrayal ofAbby inThe Last of Usseason 2. Not only that, but both characters are wearing plaited ponytails, something that has become a trademark of the fearsome Abby Anderson. Maybe it’s a bit of a reach, but both shows also contain the word “Last”, which, if you believe in destiny, seems like the incredible Kaitlyn Dever was always meant to take on the role of Abby.
For those who haven’t playedThe Last of Us Part 2,and are wondering what’s happening to Abby in season 3, the game is essentially split in half, where players play one half as Ellie and the other as Abby, which allows players to experience both characters' perspectives on certain situations, and in turn, gain empathy for their struggles. What shocked most players was the fact that they got to play as Abby for quite some time before realizing her true intentions about wanting to find Joel. Of course, this fairly intimate experience wouldn’t work in a TV series, so the show’s creators had to come up with another way viewers could beexposed to Abby’s backstorymuch earlier, hence why we have a season 3.
There is currently no release date forThe Last of Usseason 3, butMazin previously revealed that he thinks a fourth season ofThe Last of Usis called for to navigate its storyline properly.
