HBO’s The Last of Us begins with a pilot that is surprisingly and crucially faithful to the game in its Texas suburb prologue and Boston quarantine zone two decades later. However, it isn’t long after the show’s first episode that The Last of Us’ live-action adaptation takes numerous narrative detours, both for better and for worse. It’s wonderful to see a whole episode dedicated to Bill and Frank’s love story as that’s only alluded to and mired in tragedy in the game, for example, but Tess’ death, the lack of spores, and the infected being a hive mind were drastic, controversial changes from the source material.

With The Last of Us’ second season on HBO now beginning to tell the story of The Last of Us Part 2, it’ll be interesting to see how each divisive beat is tackled. It was always going to be intriguing to hear who HBO would cast as Abby, for instance, and the announcement that Kaitlyn Dever would play the deuteragonist was phenomenal despite the fact that it would mean Abby lacks a paramount part of her character: her remarkable physicality. Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann recently explained this decision in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, but with such significant beats tied to Abby’s fluctuating body types it seems like one choice that could have a substantial impact on how the show is received in comparison to the game.

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The Last of Us Part 2 Game Director Explains Why Abby Isn't Muscular in Season 2

Neil Druckmann comments on the comparison of Abby’s physical appearance between the HBO show’s Season 2 and The Last of Us Part 2.

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Abby’s Muscle in The Last of Us Part 2 is as Important to the Story as It is to Gameplay

Abby’s figure isn’t the only element that defines her character and Kaitlyn Dever undoubtedly has the potential to play Abby beautifully. Plus, to be fair, Druckmann’s statement about the show not having as much moment-to-moment action is a valid reason as to why Abby may not be throwing as many haymakers as she does in the game.

Still, it is made abundantly clear that Abby’s encounters with the infected and Seraphites in The Last of Us Part 2 aren’t why she packs on so much muscle. Instead, it’s implied that she dedicated herself to weight training so that she could avenge her father’s death by killing Joel, even though Abby doesn’t end up needing to overpower Joel physically to do so. Either way, the severity with which she molds herself, whether it’s hyperbolic or not, is a powerful illustration of how hellbent she is on fulfilling her need for vengeance.

The Last of Us Part 2’s Ending Punctuates Abby’s Journey with Another Weight Change

Abby’s actor not having a bulked physique may not have been terribly important if not for how that muscle is stripped from the character in The Last of Us Part 2’s third act. Abby gains a ton of muscle mass in the five years after her father is murdered but then loses it within the couple of months that she’s been in the Rattlers’ captivity before Ellie is able to locate her in Santa Barbara.

This has a profound effect on gameplay, too, because it means Ellie actually has a decent chance of defeating Abby in a close-quarters fight on the shore after having been pummeled by her at the theater in Seattle.

Abby’s signature braided ponytail is severed by The Last of Us Part 2’s Rattlers, leaving her with a shoddily cut head of short hair. But, while the show could easily adapt this with a wig application, a haircut alone simply won’t have the same impact that Abby’s dramatic weight loss has, especially because it makes Abby initially difficult to distinguish from a group of starved individuals who are all hung from posts. Therefore, to go from an ordinary weight to a mass of muscle and finally an emaciated figure showcases Abby’s character development saliently, and that sentiment might be lost on the HBO adaptation if it doesn’t depict her harrowing journey in a similarly dynamic way.