Major spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 was released on June 19, 2020. As the world was in the throes of the COVID-19 epidemic, Naughty Dog brought audiences one of its darkest stories yet. The Last of Us Part 2 was highly anticipated ahead of its launch, but once the game arrived, Ellie and Joel's next chapter was quickly embroiled in controversy.
In the game's prologue, Joel is abruptly killed. After running into newcomer Abby and rescuing her from a horde of Cordyceps-infected zombies, her character takes a gut-wrenching turn. Golf club in hand, Abby beats Joel to death as Ellie watches on in horror. Ashley Johnson's performance as Ellie during Joel's last moments is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in gaming, and it proved to be one of the biggest risks Naughty Dog has taken in its long history. That isn't where the risk-taking stops, though.
The Last of Us Part 2 Stabs Players in the Heart, Then Twists the Knife
Putting Players in the Shoes of Joel's Killer
Not only does The Last of Us Part 2 have players take on the role of Abby, but half of the entire game is seen through her eyes. Killing Joel was controversial enough, but forcing players to also be his killer ignited a firestorm of anger among many players. However, these extreme measures were necessary in order for Naughty Dog to drive home The Last of Us Part 2's most important lesson.
In The Last of Us Part 2, Revenge is an Infection On Par With the Cordyceps
After Joel's death and Ellie's return to Jackson, her grief takes over, spreading through her like a disease. This anger leads her on a merciless path of destruction. Accompanied by her girlfriend Dina, and eventually Jesse, Ellie journeys to Seattle to find Abby and her fellow WLF members.
This hunt transforms Ellie. The once-precocious child who seemed relatively unfazed by the harsh world she was born into in TLOU Part 2 is no longer present in Part 2. She's ruthless, calculated, and most of all, willing to do anything necessary to get her revenge. Joel and Ellie's bond ran deep, and this connection ultimately became her greatest pain. However, the story flips the dynamic on its head when it's revealed that Abby's father is the Firefly doctor Joel killed in Part 1's finale.
After Joel's death and Ellie's return to Jackson, her grief takes over, spreading through her like a disease.
Now, Abby and Ellie are two sides of the same coin. Both have been on missions fueled by vengeance, but the difference is that Abby has been living life post-revenge. Her life hasn't been made any better. Killing Joel doesn't make up for the fact that her father is dead. Instead of getting closure, she's inflicted the exact same pain on Ellie. Another controversial decision made by Naughty Dog is in the game's finale. Ellie and Abby go head-to-head, and as Ellie is about to finally end Abby's life, she stops. Abby escapes with her companion Lev, and Ellie is ultimately left all alone, as her hunt has either pushed her loved ones away or caused their death.
It's theorized that Abby and Lev escaped to Catalina Island.
In the final moments of the fight, Ellie remembers Joel, realizing what Abby failed to think of. Killing Abby may bring a few fleeting moments of relief, but at the end of the day, Joel is still dead, and all that will be left to show for it is more blood on Ellie's hands. The cycle of violence will continue. Ellie's refusal to continue the fight may be frustrating for those who wanted a clear-cut conclusion, but her decision was far braver, as she finally decided to let go of her anger and put an end to her own self-destruction.
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
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
