The Last of Us: How Tess’ Story Is Different in the Games

Tess has found her way into the hearts of many The Last of Us fans. Unsuspecting viewers of the series were shocked and saddened by her death. But did the same happen in the game?

Tess, whose full name is Theresa Servopoulos, plays an important role in the first chapters of the game (Or the first two episodes of the TV series). Without her, Joel would’ve never met Ellie, and Ellie probably would never have made it to her destination. 

In this article, you’ll learn more about Tess’ background, how she died in two different versions of the story, and why the show creators changed her death.

Who Is Tess?

Gamers first meet Tess in Joel’s apartment. She is his long-term smuggling partner and probably his lover, even though nobody says it directly. There are some suggestive remarks here and there, but no romantic relationship has been confirmed. Tess is pretty ruthless and knows how to take care of herself, even though gamers and watchers of the series first get to see her with a beaten-up face. 

What Happened to Tess in the Game?

In the game, Joel, Ellie, and Tess are in trouble because a bunch of soldiers from the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA) are hot on their heels.

Tess tells Joel and Ellie that she has been bitten and that she doesn’t want to turn into “One of those things (The infected)”. While showing Ellie’s wound to Joel, whose body might contain the cure to the cordyceps virus, Tess says: “This was three weeks. I was bitten an hour ago and it’s already worse. This is fucking real, Joel.” 

She then uses respective wounds to convince Joel to take Ellie where she needs to be (The vaccine facility site); He owes her that much. With a heavy heart and knowing there is no way to save Tess, Joel and Ellie leave her to face the FEDRA soldiers entering the Capitol building and the latter meets her fate.

What Happened to Tess in the TV Series?

The location of Tess’ death is more or less the same, but the way she dies is very different. While she also reveals that she was bitten, the enemies in the HBO series are the infected, not FEDRA soldiers. The characters would have no chance against the huge group, and Tess has a plan to save Joel and Ellie. After a disturbing scene, she sets a fire and blows up the building, including herself and a large number of infected.

The series does not show her dead body, but retains scenes where Joel and Ellie move on to the next chapter of their journey.

Why Was Tess’ Death Changed for the TV Series?

After seeing Tess’ death in the HBO series, fans of the game wondered why this change was necessary. They received the answer in an official HBO Last of Us podcast episode. Craig Maizin, the series’ co-creator, said the change made more sense, considering the location. Maizin said there was no reason for FEDRA soldiers to be anywhere near the Capitol building, so they went for a more realistic threat: The infected.

Final Thoughts

Tess is one of two reasons gamers told themselves not to get too attached to any character in the game. First, Sarah dies before the game even starts properly, and another important character dies just a few hours later, another important character dies. This told gamers: “Nobody is safe”. And indeed, her death was not the last one to rattle fans of the game. If you have watched the HBO series but haven’t tried the game yet, you should try it. Tess’ story isn’t the only different thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Close Is the TV Series to the Game?

Many minor and major changes have been made to the plot and characters of the game. However, even with these changes, the series is a great example of how to stay true to the original material. The changes to the story, like additional scenes or deviations from a character’s original story, are great at helping people understand Joel’s world.

Which Character Was Changed the Most?

When you compare them to the game, many characters are different in some minor ways. There are also some major differences, like Frank and Bill’s story. Another is Sarah’s plot, Joel’s daughter. Different looks aside, the series’ viewers feel more connected to Sarah as they get to know her better than in the game’s version. In the HBO series, viewers see how Sarah spends her whole day, gets the money to buy a birthday gift for her dad, and more. Sarah is also how viewers first get to see an infected person.

Is Tess Really Dead, or Will She Come Back?

Most of us remember what happened to Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. And there have been other characters who didn’t really die when everyone thought they died. Sadly, that’s not the case for Tess. In the game, Joel sees the aftermath of Tess’ sacrifice. Players can even get out of their way to stand next to the corpse. In the series, she’s also very dead. There’s no coming back from what happened to her.