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The Last of Us Moving on From Abby Would Add Insult to Injury

Published

3 hours ago

October 27, 2024

The Last of Us Part 2 was a harrowing experience for many fans of the series. In The Last of Us Part 2, beloved protagonist Joel meets a shocking end at the hands of newcomer Abby, setting a bleak tone. It is revealed that Abby is seeking revenge for her father’s death. As the doctor who attempted to use Ellie to create a Cordyceps cure at the end of The Last of Us Part 1, he was ultimately murdered by Joel. What’s even more shocking is that The Last of Us Part 2 has players take on the role of Abby throughout half of the game.

This bold choice is ultimately essential to the story, and with the passage of time, Abby’s role in The Last of Us Part 2 has proven its worth, as her task of highlighting the moral gray areas of this ruthless world helps bring a compelling narrative to life. It’s unknown where she’s headed next, but if the franchise abandons her, it also runs the risk of forgetting another great character as well; Lev.

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Abandoning Abby and Lev in TLOU3 Could Prove to Be a Mistake

The Last of Us Part 2 Merely Scratches the Surface

In her story, Abby comes across siblings Yara and Lev, who are escaping the cult known as the Seraphites. Yara eventually dies, leaving Abby and Lev to trek as a duo. Near the end of the game, Abby and Lev find evidence that the Fireflies have started a base on Catalina Island. The game’s climax pits Ellie and Abby in one final face-off, with Ellie ultimately sparing her. Shocked, Abby and Lev take a row boat out to sea, presumably heading toward Catalina Island. From a possible Firefly faction to the unknown nature of Abby and Lev’s fate, a potential third chapter would do the characters a disservice by setting their story aside.

Lev questioned the teachings of the Seraphites from an early age.

Joel/Ellie and Abby/Lev as Two Sides of the Same Coin

Now that Abby has Lev to take care of under unexpected circumstances, she ultimately has become a new version of Joel. Lev is a fascinating character with many possibilities to explore, and his guidance under Abby could make him a mirror image of Ellie. The contrast and similarities between the two duos is a fascinating way for the story to further hammer the theme of how revenge and hate blinds people from seeing themselves in their so-called “enemies.”

Abby’s story gave a lot of insight into her background, but Lev still has plenty to be explored. The Seraphites in general were only glossed over throughout the story, and such a compelling group deserves at least some more attention. Now that the two are potentially on Catalina Island, a flashback to Lev living with the cult could help further expand this piece of lore.

Following Both Ellie and Abby’s Story

Ellie and Abby’s journeys were left completely open-ended. When it comes to Ellie’s unanswered fate, she deserves her closure, while Abby’s relationship with Lev could add a sense of familiarity with their similarities to Joel and Ellie. Beyond the divisiveness of the character, her protective nature over Lev hits home with many fans of the Ellie and Joel dynamic.

After beating the game,
The Last of Us Part 2
‘s menu screen shows Catalina Island in the distance, implying that Abby and Lev survive.

There’s no telling when the next The Last of Us chapter will arrive, even though Neil Druckmann has said he has ideas for a third game. Regardless, Naughty Dog has the opportunity to continue a compelling story that could bring the franchise full-circle in an unexpected way.

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

Systems

Franchise: The Last of Us
Released: June 19, 2020
Engine: Proprietary
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
How Long To Beat: 24 Hours
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty