Us non-video game fans of The Last of Us are in a weird spot. Since the HBO series is based on the super-popular video game series, we know that there are spoilers out there. Unlike the video game players who already know all the major plot points, we’re in the dark. If we want to find out what’s going to happen. all we have to do is just play the Last of Us game or read a synopsis of it. And it can be so tempting… But, it’s also nice to remain spoiler-free and let the story unfold on the show. Either way, whether you know what’s coming or not, we can all agree on one thing: the real fun is in speculating on theories.

Half the fun of watching a good Sunday-night drama series is coming up with theories along the way. I mean, I can even imagine getting through the last few months without a weekly dose of White Lotus fan theories. The fan theories are like an extra-large cup of coffee on a Monday morning. And so I’m going to let my brain (and all the brains on Reddit) run wild with theories about The Last of Us season 2.

Warning: Spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 video game follow.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Theories

Ellie Gets Her Flashlight Back From Abby

Image Credit: HBO

One fan on Reddit noticed that in the season 2 trailer, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) has a flashlight that she left behind in her backpack at the end of season 1. The theory goes that Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) picked up Ellie’s backpack at the end of season 1 and used it to track down Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal). Once Abby shows up in Jackson with the backpack, Ellie gets her flashlight back.

Theres A Deeper Reason Joel Killed Eugene

Image Credit: HBO

Eugene is a character in the video game, but he dies from natural causes in that version of the story. In the first episode of The Last of Us season 2 we learn Eugene will play a much larger role in the TV series; he was Gail’s (Catherine O’Hara) late husband, and she can’t get over the fact that Joel shot and killed him last year. In a show where people have to kill the Infected in order to stop the spread of a zombie disease, it makes sense to assume Joel killed Eugene because he got infected. But, based on the big grudge Gail is holding, some people think there are some bigger mysteries behind Joel killing Eugene.

Joel’s Porch Is Going To Be A Big Setting

Image Credit: HBO

Fans of the video game were ready for a big conversation between Ellie and Joel to take place on Joel’s porch. In the first season 2 episode, we saw the beginnings of that scene, but not the important conversation. Some fans think that conversation does happen in the show; we just haven’t seen it yet. Their theory is that the season will end with us finally seeing the porch showdown between Ellie and Joel in a flashback.

There Will Be A Lot More Flashbacks

Image Credit: HBO

Speaking of flashbacks, we might be seeing a lot more of them. This a big spoiler, so prepare yourself: Joel gets killed off pretty early in part 2 of the game. So if the TV show season 2 follows that same narrative, it might be time to say goodbye to Joel very soon. But, given the fact that Pedro Pascal is such a huge star, fans don’t think it makes sense to cut him out of the series entirely. This is where the flashbacks come in; they think Joel will die, but we’ll keep seeing scenes of him in the past. No matter how it goes down, it’s almost guaranteed to be a tearjerker.