Major spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 brought Ellie and Joel's time to a harrowing end. After building a life at the Jackson compound together, Ellie's support system following his death was found in her friends, Dina and Jesse. The Last of Us Part 2 follows Ellie on her hunt for revenge against the ones responsible for Joel's death, and the help of Dina at her side makes the journey more bearable.
Ellie and Dina's relationship quickly blossoms into a romantic one, but a shock revelation that Dina is pregnant with Jesse's baby causes a major bump in the road for the duo on their journey. The result of this pregnancy is JJ. Following Jesse's death and the traumatic events of Ellie and Dina's time in Seattle, the two eventually return to a peaceful life on a farm. However, Ellie's lust for revenge eventually puts a rift between the couple, leaving Ellie and Dina's future uncertain by the end of the game. If Ellie reunites with Dina and JJ in The Last of Us Part 3, the story has a chance to create a moment that mirrors Ellie's time with Joel.
Ellie Bonding With JJ in The Last of Us Part 3
Paying Homage to an Iconic Moment From TLoU Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 is filled with an array of incredible and shocking moments. However, one of the most emotional scenes in the story involves a flashback of Joel and Ellie at a science museum. Joel encourages Ellie's love for space by taking her to the museum and setting up the opportunity for the two of them to simulate a space flight. The moment remains one of the most memorable in all The Last of Us Part 2's story.
If Ellie takes on the role of a parental figure in JJ's life, then it's going to be difficult not to draw parallels between the two and Ellie and Joel. With growing hope that The Last of Us Part 3 becomes a reality, there are many questions that need to be answered. From Ellie's relationship with Dina and JJ to where Abby and Lev have ended up, the next game has a lot of ground to cover. Despite the unknown, Ellie and JJ deserve to form a bond in order to bring the story full circle.
A recent Naughty Dog job listing for a Senior Gameplay Animator that emphasizes "creatures" has ignited speculation that The Last of Us Part 3 is about to begin development.
There are downsides to making Ellie the new Joel, but serving as a parent in a seemingly doomed world would be fascinating to see through Ellie's perspective. JJ's dream and interests are a mystery at the moment, but Ellie's moment with Joel at the museum could inspire her to fulfill JJ's wishes similarly. After spending so much time with Joel, Ellie shares many of his qualities, and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for her to be inspired by his parental instincts.
The Last of Us Part 3 Giving Ellie a Happy Ending
Ellie's Long Road Deserves a Peaceful Send-Off
To say Ellie has been through a lot is an understatement. If The Last of Us 3 sees the light of day, it will possibly be the last chapter in her story. If this is the case, then Ellie deserves to have a happy send-off as an opposing fate to Joel. Ellie, Dina, and JJ having a second chance at becoming a family could bring back the security Ellie lost after Joel's death.
It would be both an incredibly meaningful and bittersweet way of bringing the story around to mirror Joel and Ellie from the beginning. If Ellie fills Joel's shoes, she has a history with him that would help her correct his mistakes and bring a sense of closure.
The Last of Us Part 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 19, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 24 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
