The world of The Last of Us is a dystopian one where society has crumbled due to a nightmarish outbreak that has turned most of the population into bloodthirsty zombies. For the few survivors, life is difficult, and those who are not willing to resort to brutality run the risk of becoming victims. In place of the government, several factions have sprung up that attempt to seize control and enact their vision of what society should look like, including the Fireflies and the Rattlers.
One of the factions that players come across in The Last of Us series is the Washington Liberation Front. They employ military tactics and use high-powered military weapons. Although the group is violent, those within it experience warmness and a sense of camaraderie that can make the WLF feel like a family. Through the WLF, players learn to not jump to conclusions and resort to simplistic judgments, as people are often far more complex than they appear.
The Washington Liberation Front
The WLF, also known as the Wolves, is a paramilitary faction based in Seattle. It is led by a ruthless, yet efficient leader named Isaac. The group was established to fight against FEDRA, and its battle against the government organization causes the WLF to be labeled a terrorist organization. However, the WLF is beloved by everyday people, and some FEDRA soldiers even defect and join the opposition.
Thanks to its ability to grow its numbers, the WLF manages to capture all FEDRA posts within the city. However, this does not mark the end of the faction’s feuds, and an antagonism grows between it and the Seraphites, which is a group that the WLF often disparagingly refers to as Scars. Both factions enact violence on each other, and for a while, it appears that the cycle will never be broken. While the WLF may strike fear in their enemies, within the group there is a strong sense of family.
Notable Members of the Washington Liberation Front
Throughout the events of The Last of Us series, players see a few members of the WLF, including Nora, Whitney, Nick, Jordan, and Manny. The most notable members are Isaac, Owen, and The Last of Us Part 2's Abby. As previously stated, Isaac is the leader of the group, and he is known for his ruthlessness and his hate for the Seraphites, an enemy group. Owen begins as Abby’s friend, although their relationship eventually takes on a romantic dimension. However, Abby is not the only one pining for Owen. Mel, another WLF member, also enters a romantic relationship with Owen, and she ends up becoming pregnant with his child.
Though Abby does not make an appearance until The Last of Us Part 2, her story begins in the franchise’s first game. Her father, Jerry, is a surgeon who works for the Fireflies. He is a kind man who loves animals, and he may be one of the few people left who have the expertise to make a cure for the infection ravaging humankind. At first, Abby is a member of the Fireflies. However, things change when Joel and Ellie enter St. Mary’s Hospital. Jerry is supposed to operate on Ellie, and while the operation will kill her, it also holds hope for the future of the human race.
Joel is unable to accept the idea of Ellie dying, so he kills Jerry and the Fireflies defending the hospital. Jerry’s death devastates Abby, leaving her with night terrors. Following the death of her father, Abby dedicates herself to weightlifting, turning her body into a formidable weapon. By the time the main events of The Last of Us Part 2 begin, Abby is brawnier than most men she encounters. She is also skilled with a gun, allowing her to serve as a competent foot soldier for the WLF.
Two Sides to Every Story
The WLF is an interesting group that illustrates many of the main themes that The Last of Us Part 2 tries to convey. Most importantly, it shows that there are two sides to every story, and at times it simply will not do to take a one-dimensional look at things. To many, especially to characters like Ellie and Tommy, as well as the Seraphites, the WLF is a collection of violent thugs who deserve no sympathy. However, to the members of the WLF, the group is a tight-knit family where everybody looks out for each other. That kind of loyalty is hard to find in The Last of Us’ dystopian world, which is why they value each other so much.
It is also no coincidence that the WLF is known as the Wolves. Throughout the games, players are constantly shown that dogs have two sides to them. They can be vicious creatures capable of mauling and killing. In a different context, they can also be one of the most loving and loyal creatures around. Throughout the series, gamers discover that the same is true of humans, who have the power to both love and destroy. This is the case with Ellie, who can be lovable but can also be vicious and unforgiving. Similarly, Joel shows great love to those he considers family, although he is also a cruel man to anyone whom he deems a threat.
The WLF is far from the only faction that gamers learn about in The Last of Us series. Players also find out about the Fireflies, which is a group led by Marlene. For many, the Fireflies is a group that serves as the last sliver of humanity’s hope, though others look at the group skeptically. It is the focal group in The Last of Us Part 1, which releases in September.
The Last of Us Part 1 is scheduled to release on 2 September 2022 on PS5, and a PC port is also in development.
