Summary
How the story ofThe Last of Us Part 3will play out is anyone’s guess, but fans can be sure that the game is coming at some point. Series creatorNeil Druckmann touched onThe Last of Us Part 3earlier this year, stating that he believes there’s “one more chapter” to the story, and that a rough outline of this chapter has been devised. That’s about all the information that’s been made available, though, with matters of setting, protagonists, and narrative premise still a mystery at this time.
That said,The Last of Ushas always centered on Ellie, so it seems unlikely that the third game will leave her behind entirely. Even ifThe Last of Us Part 3shifts focus to Abby and Lev, which is plausible givenPart 2’s ending, Ellie is bound to play a significant role. At the end ofPart 2, she appears to have reached a sort of bittersweet closure with regard to Joel’s death, giving up her quest for revenge and returning to Jackson. Sadly, her warpath left her without her partner, adoptive child, and two fingers, keeping her from playing the guitar that Joel taught her how to play. The last shot of the game is of Ellie walking into the distance, carving a new path for herself.
The Last of Us 2is unclear about the status of Dina and Ellie’s relationship, which is something thatPart 3may focus on.
Ellie Can’t Follow In Joel’s Footsteps
The Last of Us 2 Was a Bitter End for Joel
The Last of Us 2infamously kills Joelnear the start of the story. It is arguably the most controversial narrative decision in video game history, right up there withMass Effect 3’s notorious ending, but its impact is undeniable. Joel’s death is the catalyst forThe Last of Us 2’s narrative, and while it will probably be debated for years to come, its message and intention are clear.
For as much as general gaming audiences love Joel, he isn’t exactly a heroic figure. He kills countless people inPart 1, and he pays the price for it. His death is less about what is ethically justified and more a matter of inevitability: what goes around comes around, and if Joel enacts his wrath on others, then others will enact their wrath on him. This statement about the cycle of violence is apredominant theme ofThe Last of Us 2, but it’s a drum thatPart 3shouldn’t continue beating.
The Last of Us 3 Should Be More Hopeful
While it wouldn’t be right forThe Last of Us Part 3to be saccharine or overly optimistic, it shouldn’t share the same bleakness and cruelty as its predecessor. BothLast of Usgames put Ellie through an inordinate amount of suffering, and though it might make some sense to kill her or another of her loved ones off, a more positive or productive fate would be more satisfying from a narrative standpoint. SincePart 3willprobably be the finalThe Last of Usgame, ending Ellie’s story on a sour note would essentially wrap the series up with a nihilistic message, which would be disappointing and, frankly, not very interesting.
The whole point of Ellie’s journey inPart 2is that she learns to accept the tragedy of her circumstances and leave hatred and violence behind. The moral of Joel’s death is that some actions can’t be undone, but if something similar happens with Ellie, it would feel redundant and undermine her character arc inPart 2.The Last of Us 2is dark and depressing, but it could give way to a better, more hopeful future inPart 3.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
