Why Abby From The Last Of Us Season 2 Looks So Familiar

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This article contains discussions of addiction, sexual assault, and suicide.

As a passionate fan of “The Last of Us” video games, I can attest that Abby is an incredibly impactful character in the sequel, “The Last of Us Part II,” from 2020. In an unexpected twist for players, you’re given the chance to control Abby before even properly encountering her, which offers a thrilling and unanticipated shift as we alternate between this new figure and Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey in the TV adaptation. Discussing Abby can easily veer into spoiler territory, so let’s instead focus on Kaitlyn Dever, who brings her to life in Season 2 of HBO’s acclaimed series “The Last of Us.

Since approximately 2009, Dever has been a familiar face on both TV and the big screen. She’s played significant roles in shows like “Justified” and “Last Man Standing”, and had brief appearances on popular series such as “Modern Family,” “Party Down,” and “The Mentalist”. Her film credits include “J. Edgar” and “Bad Teacher”. In recent times, Dever is one of the most sought-after young actors in Hollywood… but have you recognized her in other roles before?

Booksmart (2019)

In a remarkable twist for the teen movie genre, Olivia Wilde’s 2019 directorial debut “Booksmart” stands out as one of the finest ever produced. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein play high school buddies Amy Antsler and Molly Davidson, who are gearing up to leave their classmates behind and pursue Ivy League education (with Molly aiming for Yale and Amy slated to begin at Columbia in the fall). However, Molly’s perspective is challenged when she learns that some of her peers, like Molly Gordon’s Annabelle, are also bound for top-tier institutions like Yale. They managed good grades just as Molly did, but unlike Molly, they didn’t let academic excellence define their entire personality. This revelation angers Molly, who then decides that she and Amy must experience one unforgettable night before the morning graduation ceremony.

Eagerly clad in identical jumpsuits, Amy and Molly embark on a frenzied journey to reach a particular party, experiencing a series of peculiar incidents. Along the way, they cross paths with their crushes – Molly feigning indifference towards Mason Gooding’s Nick, while Amy harbors feelings for Diana Silvers’ Hope. Their friendship is tested when Amy decides to take a gap year in Botswana, disrupting Molly’s plans for them. Nevertheless, Amy and Molly are among the most captivating best friends portrayed recently, with Dever and Feldstein delivering outstanding performances. (Additionally, Billie Lourd frequently appears at every gathering, adding humor to the mix.)

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

The 2021 film “Dear Evan Hansen,” adapted from the award-winning Broadway musical of the same name, is … a questionable adaptation effort, primarily due to Ben Platt reprising his role as Evan Hansen (often referred to by RuPaul as “Dear”). While this may seem acceptable at first glance, considering Platt’s talent and impressive singing voice, he had already won a Tony for originating the role of Evan Hansen on Broadway. The issue lies in the fact that Platt was noticeably too old to portray a high school student in the film, and, to be frank, this is evident.

Moving on, “Dear Evan Hansen” is a musical that tackles challenging themes, and whether it effectively delivers its message depends on personal perspective. The character of Evan, played by Ben Platt, is an unpopular and nervous teenager who, under the guidance of his therapist, starts writing letters to himself as motivation. However, following a misunderstanding, he falsely claims these letters were penned by Connor Murphy, a student who has just taken his own life (portrayed mainly in flashbacks by Colton Ryan). This falsehood leads Evan to grow close to Connor’s parents Larry and Cynthia (played by Danny Pino and Amy Adams), as well as his sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever). Interestingly, Evan has always harbored feelings for Zoe. Unfortunately, this deception eventually unravels, but before that, Evan forms a bond with the Murphys and even enters into a romantic relationship with Zoe. The adaptation of “Dear Evan Hansen” doesn’t offer Kaitlyn Dever much to work with, yet she manages to shine in this critically panned version.

Ticket to Paradise (2022)

2022’s romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise” stands out for an intriguing reason: it reunites George Clooney and Julia Roberts, two powerhouse actors who previously starred as a couple in the “Ocean’s” films. In this movie, they portray David and Georgia Cotton, a divorced duo who prefer separate quarters if given the choice but attend their daughter Lily’s college graduation, played by Kaitlyn Dever. (It’s mentioned frequently in the film that Lily is on the verge of beginning her legal career with a specific job, although it should be clarified that she has graduated from college but not yet attended law school…but I digress.) After Lily travels to Bali for a post-graduation vacation with her best friend Wren (Billie Lourd), she finds herself smitten with a local named Gede (Maxime Bouttier), who works as a seaweed farmer off the coast. As Georgia and David discover that Lily is planning to marry Gede and relocate to Bali, they decide they must thwart the wedding at all costs.

As a gamer, let me put it this way: Tensions rise between David and Georgia, along with their daughter, leading to a deep divide – after all, we’re dealing with a romantic comedy here where love is never straightforward. Dever brings charm to the table, even though Clooney and Roberts truly shine in this production. It’s refreshing to see Dever starring alongside two of Hollywood’s biggest names in a grand studio comedy.

Unbelievable (2019)

The 2019 Netflix miniseries “Unbelievable” is a compelling yet crucial viewing experience, featuring one of Kaitlyn Dever’s finest performances so far. This series was adapted from the article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, which detailed a string of violent sexual assaults in Washington and Colorado, as well as their book “A False Report”. In this series, Dever portrays Marie Adler, a young woman residing in Washington who is violently attacked by an unknown perpetrator. Unfortunately, the police who question her are unsympathetic, causing her to be retraumatized by the interrogation process multiple times. Fortunately, detectives Grace Rasmussen (played by Toni Collette) and Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) from Colorado recognize that Marie’s attack bears a striking resemblance to cases reported in their state and travel to Washington to support her.

Let me emphasize that the series “Unbelievable” is extremely challenging to view, so please exercise discretion when deciding to watch it. However, the performances by Dever, Collette, and Wever are truly outstanding. Moreover, this show sheds light on the justice system’s troubling history of disregarding female victims and reluctance to pursue cases involving sexual assault. If you feel ready to engage with such sensitive content, I strongly recommend giving “Unbelievable” a watch.

Dopesick (2021)

Similar to “Unbelievable”, “Dopesick” is not an easy series to watch due to its focus on the opioid crisis in America, a crisis that was largely fueled by greed within the pharmaceutical industry. Based on Beth Macy’s non-fiction book “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America”, “Dopesick” boasts an impressive cast including Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, and Kaitlyn Dever. In this eight-episode miniseries that spans two timelines (the 1990s and early 2000s), who does Kaitlyn Dever portray?

In the series, actress Dever portrays Betsy Mallum, a coal miner who sustains a severe back injury and subsequently becomes addicted to OxyContin due to recommendations from Dr. Samuel Finnix (Keaton), a doctor influenced by pharmaceutical kingpin Richard Sackler (Stuhlbarg). Throughout the show, we witness Betsy’s struggle with her crippling addiction to the drug and her deteriorating condition. Dever delivers an outstanding performance in this challenging role, and despite it being heartbreaking to watch her spend years under the control of OxyContin (and other drugs), the series is both harrowing and impossible to look away from.

Apple Cider Vinegar (2025)

In recent times, series focusing on scammers, such as “The Dropout” and “Inventing Anna,” have become extremely popular. Netflix’s 2025 show “Apple Cider Vinegar” is the latest addition to this emerging genre. Based on the book “The Woman Who Fooled the World” by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, “Apple Cider Vinegar” narrates the story of Belle Gibson, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever. Despite propagating false information or downright dangerous lies, Belle builds a vast career as a wellness guru in Australia. The series also features Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake, another fictional character who follows a similar path of deception.

Apple Cider Vinegar” may share similar themes with other shows, but Dever’s performance makes it a captivating watch if you’re interested in exploring her career journey so far. As for “The Last of Us,” the second season will debut on Sunday, April 13 at 9 P.M. EST on Max and HBO.

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2025-04-13 19:31