He’s barely on screen for twenty minutes, yet JJ in The Last of Us Part II carries the entire emotional weight of the game's final act. Most players remember the farm. It’s that brief, sun-drenched reprieve where Ellie and Dina are trying to play house, pretending the world didn't end and that their trauma isn't rotting them from the inside out. In the middle of it all is a toddler with curly hair and a name that breaks your heart if you’re paying attention.
JJ. Jesse Junior.
It’s a tribute that’s as obvious as it is painful. Jesse, the dependable friend who died in a split second in a Seattle hallway, lives on through this kid. But JJ isn't just a walking memorial. He’s the physical manifestation of the choice Ellie has to make: the life in front of her or the ghost behind her. Honestly, when you look at the narrative structure of Naughty Dog’s sequel, JJ is the only thing that makes the ending feel earned.
The Significance of the Name JJ in The Last of Us
The game never explicitly sits you down and says, "Hey, JJ stands for Jesse Junior." It doesn't have to. The context clues are everywhere, and Neil Druckmann, the game’s creative director, has confirmed the connection in various interviews and podcasts.
Jesse was the "moral compass" in a lot of ways. He was the guy who went to Seattle not for revenge, but because he gave a damn about his friends. When he gets shot by Abby, there’s no grand monologue. He’s just... gone. It’s jarring. By naming the baby after him, Dina ensures that the best parts of their old life in Jackson aren't completely swallowed by the cycle of violence.
Some fans have speculated that the second "J" might stand for Joel. It’s a popular theory. Ellie clearly loved Joel, despite their massive, world-shattering fallout over the Firefly hospital. Having a kid named Jesse Joel would be the ultimate tribute to the two men who shaped the family's life. While the game stays a bit vague on the middle name, the intent is clear: this child is a bridge.
Life on the Farm: A False Sense of Security
The Farm chapter is weirdly beautiful. It’s a total shift in tone. You go from the rain-soaked, blood-stained streets of Seattle to a golden sunset where you're literally herding sheep. JJ is usually strapped to Dina’s chest or sitting on the floor while Ellie plays guitar.
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It’s peaceful. Too peaceful.
You’ve got to realize that for Ellie, JJ represents a future she doesn't think she deserves. There’s a specific scene where Ellie is holding JJ while staring at a sunset, and for a second, you think maybe she’s okay. Then a shovel falls, the noise triggers her PTSD, and she’s back in that basement in Jackson watching Joel die. JJ is right there, crying, a reminder of the innocence she’s supposed to be protecting, but her brain is elsewhere.
This is where the tragedy of JJ in The Last of Us really hits home. He’s the "perfect" life. He’s the reason to stay. Yet, Ellie leaves. She walks away from a healthy, growing boy and a partner who loves her because the "itch" of revenge hasn't been scratched. It makes her departure ten times more agonizing for the player. We aren't just leaving Dina; we’re leaving a child who represents the last chance at a normal lineage in a dying world.
Parental Lineage and the Jackson Connection
We don't know much about JJ’s biology beyond what’s on screen, but we know his heritage. Jesse’s parents are still back in Jackson. During the farm sequence, you can find a letter from them. They’re desperate to see their grandson. They want Dina to come back to the settlement.
This adds a layer of community responsibility to JJ’s existence. He isn't just a kid in a vacuum. He’s a member of the Jackson community, a place that actually functions like a society. He represents the "next generation" that Tommy and Maria are trying to build. When Ellie leaves, she isn't just abandoning her immediate family; she’s distancing herself from the very idea of a stable future that Jackson provides.
What Happens to JJ After the Ending?
The ending of Part II is notoriously bleak. Ellie returns to an empty farmhouse. The furniture is gone. The paintings are gone. JJ and Dina are gone.
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Where did they go?
The most logical answer—and the one most fans and critics agree on—is that they went back to Jackson. Dina is a survivor. She’s pragmatic. She told Ellie that she wasn't going to wait around for her to go on another suicide mission. She has a baby to think about.
Returning to Jackson makes sense for a few reasons:
- Safety: A lone woman and a toddler can't survive indefinitely on a remote farm.
- Support: Jesse’s parents are there, and they are more than willing to help raise JJ.
- Closure: Dina needs to move on from Ellie’s obsession.
When Ellie finds the empty house, it’s a sign that life moved on without her. JJ is likely growing up behind the reinforced walls of Jackson, learning to ride horses and play in the snow, probably with no memory of the "Auntie Ellie" who used to hold him while she practiced guitar. It’s a quiet, devastating consequence of Ellie's choices.
Why JJ is the Key to Part III (If it Happens)
There’s a lot of talk about a potential The Last of Us Part III. If Naughty Dog goes through with it, JJ is a massive narrative tether.
Think about it. The series has always been about the relationship between a protector and a child. Joel and Ellie. Abby and Lev.
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JJ is currently the only character who represents a "pure" start. He hasn't had to kill anyone yet. He hasn't been hardened by the road. If the story jumps forward ten or fifteen years, a teenage JJ would be a fascinating protagonist or supporting character. Would he resent Ellie for leaving? Would he seek out the truth about his father?
There’s a cycle of violence theme that has defined the series. JJ is the first character who has a chance to break it. If he grows up in Jackson, sheltered from the worst of the world, he becomes the very thing Joel and Ellie fought to protect: a person who gets to just be a person.
Common Misconceptions About JJ
A lot of people get confused about the timeline. Jesse and Dina broke up right before the game starts, which is why Ellie and Dina’s romance felt a bit "quick" to some players. But Dina was already pregnant during the trek to Seattle.
- Wait, is he Ellie’s son? Biologically, no. Emotionally, for a few months, yes.
- How old is he? During the farm sequence, he appears to be around 1 to 1.5 years old. This implies a significant time jump between the Seattle events and the Farm.
- Is he immune? No. There is zero evidence to suggest JJ inherited any kind of immunity. He’s a normal kid in an abnormal world.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Theorists
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the lore of JJ and the fallout of the Farm, here’s how to piece together the full picture:
- Read the Journal: When you’re playing the Farm chapter, open Ellie’s journal. She has sketches of JJ. They are some of the few drawings in the book that aren't jagged or haunted. It shows her genuine affection for him.
- Check the Room: In the final scene, look at what was left behind. The fact that Dina took everything related to JJ—his toys, his crib, his clothes—proves she has completely moved on to a life where he is the priority.
- The Bracelet: Pay attention to Ellie’s wrist in the final scene. The lack of the hamsa bracelet (which Dina gave her) suggests a clean break.
JJ might be a small character in terms of dialogue, but he’s the North Star of the game’s final hours. He is the "life" that Ellie ultimately chooses to risk, and eventually loses, in her pursuit of a ghost. Understanding JJ is the key to understanding why the ending of The Last of Us Part II is so profoundly lonely.