Ellie’s Brutal Season 2 Ending & What It Means for ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3, Explained by Craig Mazin
Ellie’s mission to get Abby killed has seemingly failed in The Last of Us’ season 2 finale, but the show’s next season will likely explore an even more horrifying truth Bella Ramsey’s character will have to face. Here’s what The Last of Us’ co-creator Craig Mazin has to say about that major plot twist.
Even though some parts of Ellie’s adventure towards the Seattle aquarium did look pretty weird in the final episode of The Last of Us’ sophomore season, the show still managed to build up a narrative for yet another turning point in Ellie’s revenge quest.
The episode finally sees Ellie’s long-awaited encounter with Abby after the latter brutally killed Joel in this season’s episode 2, though nothing goes according to plan when Jesse becomes Abby’s first victim after she ambushes Ellie and her allies in the Seattle theatre.
Jesse’s death will have a major impact on Ellie and the entire idea of pursuing her goal until Abby is gone, which, according to The Last of Us’ showrunner Craig Mazin, is yet to manifest itself in the show’s upcoming season 3.
Ellie Is Now Even Worse Than Joel, Craig Mazin Says
As the episode specifically highlights Ellie’s words about Jesse letting a child die, the next shocking thing that happens is that Ellie’s accusation turns out to be applicable for her too when she’s not able to save dying Mel’s unborn baby.
“She has failed on every possible level. And this is right after an episode where Joel tells her, ‘I hope you do a little bit better.’ She’s doing worse than he did. She chokes. This is the same girl who is in a cellar underneath a Cumberland Farms casually making an incision into an Infected man's head out of curiosity, like a kid pulling the wings off a fly. And here with this human being that she feels horrible guilt over because she did not intend for this to happen, she can't do it because she's terrified and because she doesn't have the willpower”, Mazin explained during a talk on The Last of Us’ official podcast.
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Finale Sets Up Ellie’s Changed Revenge Arc in Season 3
Still, even after trying to adapt Joel’s methods and going even further in her search for revenge than he ever did, it’s pretty clear that Ellie can’t be compared to her father figure and, what’s even more important, loses everything she loves on the way, unlike Joel who saved at least one person he cared about.
“This moment is the true confrontation that she's not Joel. Because Joel, you know Joel would have been like, ‘Well, f** it, let's do it.’* Let go. And she can't, she's just… to what the guys are saying, she's just not mature enough”, the show’s co-writer Halley Gross revealed during the conversation.
