The first big twist in The Last of Us: Part 2 is something many players didn't see coming.
- [WARNING: Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2 below]
The ending of the original The Last Of Us' was one the ending that shook the gaming world, The Last Of Us Part 2 first big twist shows how those actions involved everyone else. The dramatic stakes and desperation Joel felt during his escape and subsequent massacre of the Firefly hospital was a moment not many games can rival. The beauty behind the grim and brutality of this ending perfectly depicts not only the lengths to which Joel would go to for his newfound surrogate daughter but also the grim and disgusting nature of the world they live in. The Last of Us, for one final time, places the player in the shoes of Joel, a broken flawed man who has lost so much and would do anything to never lose again. While the lack of player choice in the destruction of the Fireflies can be difficult to play through, having seen everything Joel has lost, his actions are at least understandable.
However, the best part of the ending of The Last Of Us' was the complexity of the character of Ellie and Joel's resolution which on the surface is very simple. Ellie's suspicion for Joel about the Fireflies is absolutely justified, but given everything they have been through she doesn't want to distrust him. The fact that Naughty Dog was able to put so much hidden meaning into Joel's simple lie to Ellie, saying "I swear" is a testament to not only the humanity of these characters, but also the apparent flaws that make them who they are.
The ending of The Last Of Us' is intensely felt, so much so that its impact is reflected throughout the entirety of its sequel. In fact, its impact is what justifies the new games initial early twist. The Last of Us Part 2 starts off with a scene where Joel explains to his brother Tommy exactly what happened at the Firefly hospital four years ago. It is clear his memory of what he had done is still eating at him all these years later. Soon after this scene, the player is introduced to the community of Jackson, in which Joel and Ellie have settled and lived in relative security. Ellie herself has found herself quite involved within the town, becoming friends with Jesse and Dina, two young adults who were dating at a point.
The Following of TLOU2 From The Last Of Us'
The opening of The Last Of Us Part 2 is mundane but this is to get the player acquainted with the new characters, and the apparent calm before the storm exists to make the first twist hit even harder. At first we played as Ellie where she went on a patrol with Dina. After some time we play as a new character named Abby which the gamers are not properly introduced with.
After playing Ellie for a bit longer and getting more well acquainted with her future love interest Dina, Abby is made playable once again. While Joel and Tommy are patrolling outside Jackson, they find Abby on the ropes against a horde of infected and save her. After Abby leads both Joel and Tommy to the lodge in which she is staying, her friends help her to stage a surprise attack, shooting Joel in the leg with a shotgun. The climax of this twist concludes when Ellie finds Joel in the lodge, being beaten to death with a golf club by Abby. While Ellie is pinned down, Abby delivers the final blow, sending Ellie into a ravenous rage. This rage stick with her throughout the entire game.
The horrifying and sudden murder of Joel is what justifies Ellie's journey in The Last Of Us Part. The spunky but still innocent 14 year old girl from the original title is long gone. Rather, her goal is to make everybody involved with the murder of her father figure suffer a demise as horrible as he did.
Impact Of Joel's Decision
One of the only questions Abby asks Joel when she has him neutralized is if he knows why she wants to kill him. Joel doesn't answer this question directly, seemingly not knowing himself what the answer is. In a conversation with Dina later on, Ellie also notes that many people had a score to settle with Joel throughout the years. While the player understands and sympathizes with Joel due to their memories of the first game, it doesn't change the fact that he has committed some horrible atrocities in order to survive. In fact, the ending of The Last of Us is one of these atrocities, killing the lead surgeon (who turned out to be Abby's Father)at the Firefly hospital in cold blood. Of course, this decision was one made in order for Joel to save Ellie, but that doesn't mean Joel's actions don't have any consequences.
Ultimately, the murder of Joel sets up the brutal reality of those who live in the world of The Last Of Us Part 2; anyone can die and everyone has blood on their hands. Due to the actions of Joel, Abby has now gotten her taste of selfish revenge and Ellie's story in The Last of Us Part 2 sets the player up to aid her in the exact same goal. With the way in which the game initially frames Abby, the player undoubtedly is made to hate her as much as Ellie does, preparing them to commit even further to Ellie's horrific adventure.
The viewer understands this decision wholeheartedly, as the relationship formed between Ellie and Joel is something similar to a parent and their child. Despite this, Joel's actions at the end of The Last of Us quite literally doomed humanity. Sure, the viewer may emotionally understand why he acted the way he did, but that doesn't mean others will. In fact, the incident at the Firefly hospital is what comes back to destroy Joel. Still, the player has been through so many highs and lows controlling Joel from their first venture.
Ultimately, the murder of Joel sets up the brutal reality of those who live in the world of The Last Of Us Part 2; anyone can die and everyone has blood on their hands. Due to the actions of Joel, Abby has now gotten her taste of selfish revenge and Ellie's story in The Last Of Us Part 2 sets the player up to aid her in the exact same goal. With the way in which the game initially frames Abby, the player undoubtedly is made to hate her as much as Ellie does, preparing them to commit even further to Ellie's horrific adventure.
Impact Of Joel's Decision
One of the only questions Abby asks Joel when she has him neutralized is if he knows why she wants to kill him. Joel doesn't answer this question directly, seemingly not knowing himself what the answer is. In a conversation with Dina later on, Ellie also notes that many people had a score to settle with Joel throughout the years. While the player understands and sympathizes with Joel due to their memories of the first game, it doesn't change the fact that he has committed some horrible atrocities in order to survive. In fact, the ending of The Last of Us is one of these atrocities, killing the lead surgeon (who turned out to be Abby's Father)at the Firefly hospital in cold blood. Of course, this decision was one made in order for Joel to save Ellie, but that doesn't mean Joel's actions don't have any consequences.
Ultimately, the murder of Joel sets up the brutal reality of those who live in the world of The Last Of Us Part 2; anyone can die and everyone has blood on their hands. Due to the actions of Joel, Abby has now gotten her taste of selfish revenge and Ellie's story in The Last of Us Part 2 sets the player up to aid her in the exact same goal. With the way in which the game initially frames Abby, the player undoubtedly is made to hate her as much as Ellie does, preparing them to commit even further to Ellie's horrific adventure.
The viewer understands this decision wholeheartedly, as the relationship formed between Ellie and Joel is something similar to a parent and their child. Despite this, Joel's actions at the end of The Last of Us quite literally doomed humanity. Sure, the viewer may emotionally understand why he acted the way he did, but that doesn't mean others will. In fact, the incident at the Firefly hospital is what comes back to destroy Joel. Still, the player has been through so many highs and lows controlling Joel from their first venture.
Ultimately, the murder of Joel sets up the brutal reality of those who live in the world of The Last Of Us Part 2; anyone can die and everyone has blood on their hands. Due to the actions of Joel, Abby has now gotten her taste of selfish revenge and Ellie's story in The Last Of Us Part 2 sets the player up to aid her in the exact same goal. With the way in which the game initially frames Abby, the player undoubtedly is made to hate her as much as Ellie does, preparing them to commit even further to Ellie's horrific adventure.
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