Warning: Includes SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 2 finale and for The Last of Us Part II video game!
This Ellie scene fromThe Last of Usseason 2evoked a divisive response from game players, but there are some compelling arguments in favor of it.The Last of Usseason 2’s ending, and the season in its entirety, was far more controversial than the first, garnering a range of responses from TV fans and video game fans alike. The treatment of Pedro Pascal’s Joel seemed to be almost as divisive as whenThe Last of Us Part IIwas released in 2020, and that was only the beginning for season 2 topics that pit audiences against each other.
The Last of Usseason 2’s divisive responsesranged from those who were upset Pedro Pascal was leaving the show to others who were annoyed about the numerous changes from the video game’s story. The writers also utilized a peculiar format for adaptingThe Last of Us Part II, dividing the story into multiple seasons. Rather than one game for one season like in season 1, the story is going to be spread out between seasons 2, 3, and 4, leaving audiences with plenty to speculate on.
Viewers Questioned What This Scene Contributed To The Story
Image via Max
In pursuit of Abby inThe Last of Usseason 2 finale, Ellie gets in a boat on the aquarium before she washes ashore on the Seraphite’s island. After being almost immediately captured,Ellie is dragged to a priestess, who determines that she should be executeddespite not being part of the WLF, with whom the Seraphites are at war. Theydecide to hang Ellie, and the noose is around her neck when the explosions begin. Realizing the war has come to them, the Seraphites leave Ellie to defend their homes from the WLF.
This scene mirrors a majormoment fromThe Last of Us Part IIvideo game, where Abby, not Ellie, is hanged by the Seraphites and nearly dies. Audiences widely questioned this scene from the show, as Ellie is never hanged in the video game. On the matter, showrunnerNeil Druckmann revealed that the Seraphite Island scene was plannedto be a part of the game sequel, but was ultimately cut from the end product. The most prominent criticism was that the game change felt purposeless, adding nothing to the narrative.
The Last Of Us Season 2’s Island Scene Gives Ellie Something In Common With Abby
It’s easy to question a scene that was changed from the source material, as the notable difference is always going to stand out. However, there was a reason the scene was initially planned for the game, and there’s a reason it’s in the TV show now, which ties to the central parallel between the two women.Both Abby and Ellie are trapped in a cycle of violencethat began in Salt Lake City years prior, with Abby claiming her revenge on Joel, and Ellie now pursuing her revenge on Abby.
Abby and Ellie both experience horrifying, violent situations that bring them inches from death, and despite receiving these second chances to reconsider their path, they both progress forward.
Though Abby’s hanging hasn’t happened yet in the TV series, it likely will, and the occurrence happening to both of them is crucial to their stories. Both of these women find themselves in the middle of violent situations on numerous occasions in pursuit of their goals, andwhen hanged from a noose, both of them are spared by a remarkable stroke of luck. Abby and Ellie both experience horrifying, violent situations that bring them inches from death, and despite receiving these second chances to reconsider their path, they both progress forward.
How Much Revenge Is Worth It For Abby & Ellie Will Remain A Major Question Throughout The Last Of Us
The Last Of Us Explores The Cyclical Nature Of Revenge
The Last of Us Part IIexplores the idea of revenge and howthe bloody cycle between Abby and Ellie causes nothing but destruction for everyone around them. We’ve already seen Jesse get killed for trying to help Ellie, as well as most of Abby’s friends, and still, the violence continues.The fact that both characters nearly die yet remain solelyfocused on their goals creates a fascinating duality inThe Last of Us, highlighting the valueof revenge.
