When “The Last of Us Part 2” was released in 2020, the community immediately delved into exploring the story. Tragedy strikes when Joel Miller is killed by a group of unknown members and Ellie Williams makes her way through the country to find who did it. On the mission, she leaves behind bloodshed in the hundreds.
But while Ellie is praised for taking this route of blood-fueled vengeance, Abby, Joel’s eventual murderer is not treated with the same love from the fandom.
Ellie and Abby’s motivations in the games are shockingly similar, though we don’t learn this until about ten hours into the game when we suddenly switch to playing Abby’s point of view- spanning the same three days we’ve just played as Ellie.
Key Parallels
Upon entering Abby’s POV, we learn that her father was murdered and she swore vengeance on his killer. Her father was one of the men in the hospital at the end of the first game, which was ravaged by Joel in his attempt to save Ellie. Both of the characters are motivated by a need to avenge their father figures, embarking cross country to find the person who was responsible for the killings.
Both of the characters make mistakes in the game. Abby leaves Tommy and Ellie alive after she kills Joel, underestimating the strength at which they would retaliate. Ellie, Tommy and Jesse leave a trail of dead bodies behind them in Seattle and instead of covering their tracks, find themselves caught off guard at the last minute.
The characters only meet three times in the game. Once in Jackson when Joel dies, once in Seattle in the theatre where the two fight and finally in Santa Barbara in the game’s third act. The first two meetings are brutal and bloody- Joel’s blood on Abby’s hands, Abby’s friend’s blood on Ellie’s hands and the scene in the theatre which leaves both girls bloody after their fight with one another where Abby again lets Ellie live.
But the third scene in Santa Barbara is where it’s a bit more complicated. The girls fight each other off, as Ellie still desperately searches for revenge. However, at the final moment, she seems to realise that killing Abby won’t bring Joe back. She would be spilling pointless blood for no real benefit. This is the game’s final and pivotal moment. There’s no point in it anymore because Ellie ends the story completely alone.
The two characters parallel each other in a way that is rare to see in the media. For all intents and purposes, they are two sides of the same coin. The only real difference is the point in their journeys that they are in. We see Abby at the start of the game shrouded in anger, desperately seeking revenge and having no interest in anything else. Ellie starts the story ready to forgive Joel for previous actions.
But while Abby ends the game in a much more healed way than she originally was, Ellie ends at rock bottom. She’s completely alone, without anyone there for her in the moments she arguably needs them most. Abby ends at a point of coming to terms with her actions. While she doesn’t regret them, she seems to have a different outlook on the lives she’s left behind.
Reflections
The character parallels in “The Last of Us Part 2” are undeniably one of the key elements that enrich the storytelling experience of the game. Ellie and Abby, as central figures, offer the audience a profound understanding of their emotions, motivations, and internal conflicts, effectively humanizing their roles in the narrative. Both protagonists share the commonality of having lost a father figure, a pivotal event that drives their quests for vengeance and redemption.
This journey is masterfully crafted by Naughty Dog, showcasing the complexities of the human experience and the blurred lines between righteousness and moral ambiguity. As the upcoming season two of the television adaptation looms on the horizon, there is widespread anticipation for a deeper exploration of the intricate parallels between Ellie and Abby.
The first season of the TV show adeptly expanded upon the established lore, and fans are eager to witness a more comprehensive portrayal of the interconnected paths of the two protagonists in season two, shedding further light on their contrasting yet interwoven destinies. This potential delve into their intertwined narratives is poised to captivate both existing fans and newcomers to the profound world of “The Last of Us.”
Read our review of season one here!
Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog/Sony
A second year student studying Journalism and film, with a love for all things music and horror
