Honestly, it’s been years since The Last of Us Part II dropped, and we’re still collectively losing our minds over Ellie. You’ve probably seen the threads. People calling her a monster, others saying she’s the most tragic figure in gaming history. There is no middle ground.
It's messy.
If you played the first game, you remember that kid. She was the bright spot in a world of gray and brown rot. Sarcastic, obsessed with puns, and basically the only reason Joel—and the player—felt anything like hope. Then the sequel happens. It doesn't just change her; it breaks her down into something almost unrecognizable. We watched her go from a "baby girl" to a woman who tortures people in a basement.
Ellie The Last of Us 2: The Truth About Her Revenge
Let’s be real: the "revenge" plot is just a wrapper for a much nastier story about grief and survivor’s guilt. Most people think Ellie goes to Seattle just because Abby killed Joel. Sure, that’s the catalyst. But if you dig into the journals and the optional dialogue, it’s way more complicated than simple "eye for an eye" stuff.
She wasn't just mad. She was hollow.
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Remember, right before Joel died, they finally had that talk on the porch. Ellie told him she’d like to try and forgive him for the hospital lie. They were finally, finally mending things. Then, less than 24 hours later, he’s gone. That’s the real tragedy. Ellie isn’t just hunting Abby; she’s hunting for the closure she was robbed of at the very last second.
What Most Players Miss in Seattle
It’s easy to focus on the kill count, but look at the physical toll. By Day 3 in Seattle, Ellie looks terrible. Ashley Johnson’s performance is haunting here because she makes Ellie sound exhausted, not just angry.
- The Nora Scene: This is the turning point. When Ellie returns to the theater after "getting the information" from Nora, she’s literally shaking. She didn't enjoy it. It didn't make her feel better.
- The Pregnancy Parallel: When Ellie realizes Mel was pregnant after killing her, she has a full-blown panic attack. It’s a mirror to her own life with Dina.
- The Map: She leaves her map behind, which leads Abby straight to them. It’s a "rookie mistake" from a character who is usually hyper-competent, showing just how much her mental state has spiraled.
Why the Ending Actually Makes Sense (Even If You Hated It)
The biggest debate remains the beach in Santa Barbara. Why did she let her go? After losing Jesse, after Tommy got crippled, after leaving Dina and the baby on that farm—why stop at the finish line?
Basically, Ellie realized that killing Abby wouldn't bring Joel back. It sounds like a cliché, but the game shows it visually. When she’s drowning Abby, she has a flash of Joel. Not the bloody, mangled Joel from the lodge, but Joel on his porch with his guitar.
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In that moment, she chose to remember his life instead of his death.
She had to let go of the "monster" version of Abby to find the human version of Joel again. If she had finished the job, she would have stayed stuck in that basement in Jackson forever. By letting Abby and Lev sail away, Ellie finally allowed herself to start the actual grieving process.
The Cost of the Crusade
The ending is brutal. She returns to an empty house. Her fingers are gone, which means she can’t even play the guitar Joel gave her properly anymore. She literally lost her last physical connection to him because she couldn't let go of her rage.
It’s not a "happy" ending. It’s a "now what?" ending.
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How to Actually Understand Ellie's Arc
If you’re revisiting the game or watching the show, pay attention to these specific things to see the "real" Ellie:
- Read Every Journal Entry: Ellie writes things she never says out loud. Her drawings of Joel change throughout the game, becoming more abstract and darker until the very end.
- Watch the Face, Not the Gun: Naughty Dog’s facial capture is insane. In the middle of combat, Ellie’s face isn't just "determined"—she looks terrified and disgusted half the time.
- Listen to the Breathing: After a big fight, Ellie’s breathing is heavy and panicked. She’s not a superhero; she’s a 19-year-old having a perpetual mental breakdown.
The best way to engage with Ellie's story is to stop looking for a hero. She isn't one. She's a deeply traumatized person making the worst possible choices because she doesn't know how to handle the weight of her own survival. That's why we're still talking about her. She feels uncomfortably human.
Next Step for You: Go back and watch the "Take on Me" scene in the music shop. It’s the last glimpse of the "old" Ellie before the Seattle darkness completely takes over, and it puts the entire rest of the game in a much more painful perspective.