The Last of Us Part 2
Perhaps one of the most controversial video game endings ever, The Last of Us Part 2’s finale saw Ellie rescuing Abby and Lev. Before they could escape, Ellie would fight Abby to take revenge for the death of Joel, Tommy’s injuries and all of the anguish she caused her. Just when it seemed like Ellie would kill her, she lets Abby go, losing two fingers in the battle. Later, she returns to the farm. She picks up her guitar, which she can’t even play properly due to her missing fingers, remembers her talk with Joel about forgiving him over time and then leaves to some unknown destination.
Obviously, there was furor over why Ellie didn’t just kill Abby, especially when she had lost everything. However, just as there was criticism over the writing boiling down to “revenge bad”, so was there appreciation for Ellie realizing how empty it all was and ultimately making an attempt to move on. Whichever camp you fall into, The Last of Us Part 2’s ending continues to inspire debate.
