The Last of Us rocked our screens with a Season 1 that was emotional, cinematic, and powerful enough to leave gamers and new viewers alike in tears. Season 2 was riskier and darker, and some critics celebrated its audacity, while others thought it had lost its path. The Last of Us Season 3 finally has a precious opportunity to do things differently, to revive the spirit of the narrative and avoid the same mistakes. Here are the major pitfalls that the show cannot afford to make in case it wants The Last of Us Season 3 to really hit home, rather than missing the mark.Ellie and Abby should have their moral weight back in The Last of Us Season 3 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe main issue people had with The Last of Us Season 2 was that the characters did not change significantly. The darker journey Ellie was exposed to was not as hard a blow as it was supposed to be, and the story of Abby was presented in a manner that rendered her motives less emotional.The Last of Us Season 3 should not be a continuation of the show's attempts to make everybody likeable. The messy and complicated characters were what made the game and season 1 so strong. Spectators do not simply desire action; they desire actual fallouts that will have long-lasting impacts.Let the choices hurt. Let the guilt, the trauma, and the hunger for revenge be exposed in unglamorous, uncomfortable situations that strain relationships. It does not necessarily have to be cruel; it only has to be honest. Characters should be allowed to spend time with their emotions, to challenge themselves, and to evolve gradually. Moving past those emotions in The Last of Us Season 3 to get quick shocks or huge scenes will strip the show of what made it so worthwhile.The pacing View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe reason why The Last of Us Season 1 was so successful is that it recognized the importance of taking its time. There was room for every scene to breathe, tension built itself, and the emotional scenes really worked. Season 2, in its turn, was overloaded. It attempted to cram too much into fewer episodes, leading some viewers to feel that the plots were hurried and less connected.The same mistakes cannot be made in The Last of Us Season 3. They shouldn't attempt to fit too much in a brief season. The scenes should feel independent, to allow moments of silence and pause, and slow revelation to hit the viewers just right. And these are the points that make the viewers experience the pain, development, and choices of the characters.This does not mean adding filler; it is about being strategic with pacing. Each scene must be purposeful and relevant to the overall emotional narrative. If the season is longer, add depth where needed instead of stretching it out. Emotions become clearer and more authentic through tight writing and a good story rhythm. Supported by pacing, the characters help naturally convey the story's larger ethical themes.A clear vision for The Last of Us Season 3Big shows spell big attention, and The Last of Us is not an exception. Having one of its co-creators withdraw, The Last of Us Season 3 is going to be doubly exposed in terms of its tone and direction. Ok, but the show must not pursue fan popularity or respond to Internet buzz. Rather, it must have a clear creative purpose: what does it want to say about Abby, grief, and the consequences?Storytelling will speak for itself as long as the team remains cohesive to that vision. Confidence is achieved by solid, recurring themes, well-developed character lines, and recognizable moments. As long as The Last of Us Season 3 concentrates on what it does best: emotional depth, slow pacing, and deep thinking, it will be able to survive any change in the sector of its creative leadership and might return even stronger.For more such insights on The Last of Us Season 3, keep following SoapCentral.