Warning: This article contains spoilers for the sixth episode of The Last of Us series, the original game up to this point, and The Last of Us: Part II.
It is quite likely that now you are wondering how is it possible that Jackson was presented so clearly in the last episode of The Last of Us series, since he barely appears in the first game. Well, this has an explanation, and the director Jasmila Žbanić wanted to give it.
The Variety medium has had the opportunity to speak with Jasmila Žbanić, the director of the sixth episode of The Last of Us series, to explain the reasons that led them to show Jackson in full despite the fact that this did not happen in the original game. The director resorted to her personal history to explain it and described this decision as something “very natural”.
“What we talked about a lot was that I survived the war in Sarajevo (Bosnia) in the 90s. I think for Craig and Neil It was interesting that he lived in a place that was like Jackson in a way.because we were surrounded by the Serbian army, they were constantly shelling us,” Žbanić began by explaining.
“We had to be alert, survive, learn to live without anything, without civilization. There was no electricity, no food, nothing. But we managed to survive thanks to solidarity, and the way the city was restructured. You have to start from scratch”.
As Žbanić ended up telling, showing Jackson ahead of time makes the audience understand that “people are capable of supporting society. They are not always enemies to each other“, contrary to what we have seen so far in the series.
“That experience was something I felt very close to Jackson.. It’s a community that works, and I find it really beautiful and hopeful because I believe that even in the worst catastrophes, like war, I survived. People are capable of supporting society. They are not always enemies to each other. So I was very happy to direct this episode which really He was saying something I deeply believe in.“.
Jackson is not seen in full until The Last of Us: Part II, where we follow Ellie and Joel’s life in this small and safe settlement from the beginning. In the case of the first game, both Joel and Ellie see him in the distance and join Tommy and Maria outside.
The next episode of The Last of Us will arrive on HBO Max in the early morning of February 27. You can already take a look at this one thanks to the new teaser trailer that dropped this week.
While you wait, find out how one of the biggest changes to The Last of Us series could be made canon thanks to the remake of the first game, and how the latest episode interestingly represents the game’s first big pick.
