The Last of Us has made a name for itself with its intense and suspenseful combat, as well as its gritty story. The sequel continued the story while adding a few twists along the way. Players have definitely felt a plethora of different emotions while following Joel, Ellie, and Abby’s stories through the two games.
With that said, The Last of Us Part 2 left Ellie and Abby finally at peace with one another, with both protagonists heading their own separate ways. Even though both sides of the revenge story have essentially been quelled, it remains to be known if Ellie and Abby will continue to be the protagonists of the next entry in the series, or if different characters should take the leading roles.
How The Last of Us Part 2 Left Ellie and Abby
By the end of the intense story of The Last of Us Part 2, both Ellie and Abby have had their fair share of vengeance and players see both characters broken and beaten down from their story. Ellie chose to leave her family in a final, desperate act of revenge against Abby, who ironically would have likely died at the hands of the Rattlers if Ellie did not attempt to find her.
During the final showdown between the two, Ellie eventually gets the upper hand and has the opportunity to finally kill Abby and avenge Joel. However, in an act of mercy, and possibly due to finally coming to the realization that killing Abby will not heal her, Ellie chooses not to kill Abby and instead allows her and Lev to leave.
The last time players see Abby and Lev, they have safely boarded a boat and made their way out to sea, presumably to continue their quest to find more Fireflies. Though there is no confirmation whether more Fireflies actually exist, the game’s title screen changes after the player finishes the game, and it strongly suggests that the two have made it to their destination. The main menu, after completion, features the boat the pair escaped on beached near a building that resembles Santa Catalina, the location that the Fireflies told Abby they are currently stationed. Whether the Fireflies are still there is unclear, but players can assume Abby and Lev safely made it to their destination.
Ellie, however, did not experience such a positive fate; upon her return to Dina and JJ, Ellie finds their old home abandoned with all of her belongings left in her room. She attempts to play her guitar but finds it impossible due to her losing multiple fingers during her fight with Abby. Frustrated and alone, Ellie abandons her home to search for her family or possibly to find herself once again.
At the end of The Last of Us Part 2, both protagonists’ stories are left in a sort of limbo. Though each one feels satisfied with their respective quests for revenge, their journeys continue as they both try to build new lives. Though neither is necessarily a happy nor neatly tied off ending, it is far less bleak than the ending of the original game, and many could probably leave the rest of the stories untold and hope for the best for each character.
Who Could Take the Lead Role in The Last of Us 3
With Ellie and Abby going their separate ways, it is unclear if one or both of them will return as the main character of the third entry. Director of The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann, announced in 2019 that The Last of Us 3 has a story outline, but was not currently in development at the time. That being said, Naughty Dog did recently announce a remake of The Last of Us, as well as a new multiplayer game set in the same world that will feature brand-new characters.
With The Last of Us Part 1 retelling the original story, players will be able to see Ellie and Joel’s beginnings in a new light, but with this being the third rendition of the title, fans may be growing tired of following the same protagonists. Even though The Last of Us Part 2 had new storylines and characters, it still focused on Ellie, Joel, and Abby so having the same three characters keep the spotlight for the third time might not interest players anymore.
Though Abby and Ellie still have a lot going on with potentially new adventures on their horizons, The Last of Us 3 could benefit from introducing new characters, or better yet, putting the focus on some of the new characters introduced in The Last of Us Part 2. Ellie’s story could still be told or seen from a different perspective through the eyes of her allies in Jackson, Dina, or potentially a grown up JJ.
The Last of Us Part 2 saw most if not all of Abby’s Firefly comrades die off, but she has likely met more in Santa Catalina, and it could be interesting to experience the world through the eyes of current Firefly members. Alternatively, Lev’s story seemed to be just beginning and already full of hardships. Just as the original game teed up Ellie to assume Joel’s role as protagonist, the third entry could have Lev replace Abby and show his experiences with her while also exploring his tragic past.
It is also possible that the unnamed lead characters in the recently announced The Last of Us multiplayer game could have an effect on the next mainline game in the series. Naughty Dog made it clear that the multiplayer game will be story driven and feature new protagonists in a new location. Though little is known about the plot of the new game, it could carry over to The Last of Us 3 and influence its story and characters in a big way.
Neither Ellie nor Abby should be completely ruled out as potential protagonists for the next game in the series. Players have obviously created a strong connection with both of them and their stories could continue to develop past the events of The Last of Us Part 2. With that said, the two are not the only ones who have faced hardships and have stories worth telling.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.
