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CRAIG MAZIN: Yeah, and maybe even a Season 4, depending.
Were still doing the math.
Image via HBO
Its a simple physics problem.
You have this much stuff to fit in this much space.
Im a handcraft guy, building an enormous thing.
Image via HBO
Its how we didChernobyl.
Its how we did Season 1.
Its how were doing Season 2.
Image via HBO
That means I dont have the factory floor.
It takes time and it takes a lot of resources, which HBO happily affords us.
So, we knew there was just no way we could possibly do this in one season.
So then, the question really is, wheres the natural break?
Do we move some pieces around?
How do we do this?
Image via HBO
And so, just the beginning of the process of creating Season 2 really was digging into that.
What do we want to tell with this season?
How many episodes would we like to do it?
Its really just where would the natural break point be.
Do we need two?If we need two, where does that season end?
Theres some remaining math.
Custom Image By Yailin Chacon
Season 2 finds beautiful ways to update what might very well be the best video game narrative ever told.
It seems a little bit unusual that you would then do less episodes for this season.
MAZIN: Well, I grant you, its counterintuitive.
Custom Image By Yailin Chacon
That still wont get you there.
We have to figure out where we can say, Guys, were leaving you here.
Well see you in a couple of years.
Custom Image By Yailin Chacon
As it turns out, that happened to be seven [Episodes].
Now,the third season might want to end after nine [episodes].
You have this character that is so important but is not immediately in the game.
Butwhat you do get immediately in the game is a chance to be Abby.
I remember thinking, Oh, this is really interesting.
I dont know who I am.
When you play as a character, its you.
Well, who am I?
Why am I here?
What do I want?
Why do I want it?
You dont know, and that was actually a really cool feeling.
I liked how thrown I was.
Thats obviously not the case when were watching a television show.
And even if we wanted to make people wait, how long can we make them wait?
Its a couple of great days, but its a couple of days.
At some point, people are going to be like, Yeah, but who are you?
And so, thats why we went in that direction.
MAZIN: I was particularly interested in the theme of progress.
And then, we come out on the other side and we just go back about our lives.
Ive seen it happen in my own life, in smaller ways.
Thats what the people of Jackson are doing.
Theyre having New Years Eve dances.
They have potluck dinners.
They have a laundry that they use.
Butpart of progress is the disruption of the world around you.
And sure enough, while humans evolve, so too do the Cordyceps.
It feels like were all probably going to go through the five stages of grief watching this season.
What do you think people will say or feel after seeing the last episode of the season?
Its not about how much story there is.
Well, it pinned me back.
I hope it works that way for others.
Ramsey also talks about the frustration and distance Ellie is experiencing when it comes to Joel.
I feel like it will involve some crying and some cursing, simultaneously.
MAZIN: There may be some cry-cursing.
The Last of Usairs on HBO and is available to stream on Max.
Check out the Season 2 trailer:
