Spoiler Alert: The Untold Story Behind The Last of Us Part II’s Controversial Ending
Listening to the developer commentary track of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, it becomes clear that the creators had a different vision for the game’s controversial ending. Caution: The following paragraphs contain major spoilers.
The Original Plan: Ellie’s Brutal Revenge
Neil Druckmann, the game’s creative director, revealed that initially, Ellie was intended to exact her ultimate revenge against Abby by brutally drowning her in the final scenes. However, this ending was changed.
A Turn of Events: Mercy Prevails
In the final scenes, Ellie spares Abby’s life and lets her go with Lev to join the Fireflies. Druckmann explained that Joel wouldn’t have wanted Ellie to kill Abby, as he had accepted his own mortality and the harm he had caused to innocent people during his journey of some twenty-five years in the post-apocalyptic United States.
Abby’s Redemption: A Humanized Antagonist
Earlier in the game, Abby had Ellie and Dina, Ellie’s love interest, at her mercy but hesitated to kill them. She was “talked down” by Lev, whom she had rescued earlier in the game. By sparing Ellie and Dina, Abby effectively humanized herself following her brutal killing of Joel at the start of The Last of Us Part II.
Impactful Change: Ellie’s Journey
Had Ellie killed Abby or not would likely not have changed the game’s ultimate ending, as Ellie still lost everything in her pursuit of revenge. However, having Ellie undergo a similar journey to Abby’s redemption made for a more impactful and memorable experience.
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