The Last of Usis among gaming’s most popular franchises due to its commitment to a harsh reality filled with involuntary character choice, and the harsh ramifications that result. WhenThe Last of Us: Part 3releases, it will need to addressEllie and Abby’s decisions inThe Last of Us: Part 2. The title saw Ellie become the villain following Abby’s murder of Joel, the just ramification of Joel’s choices inPart 1. WhenThe Last of Us: Part 3is released, it may follow the trope of bringing the story full circle, with Ellie undoing Joel’s actions. However, that would be a big mistake.
The Last of Us: Part 3has yet to be announced, but that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating what dark and shocking events may occur. Given the popularity ofThe Last of UsTV show, more people than ever are anticipating the video game series' next entry.The Last of Us: Part 2was all about the ramifications of Joel’s choice. However, Abby’s decision to kill Joel to avenge the murder of her father has its own effect on Ellie, creating the game’s central conflict. By the game’s end, Ellie rescues and spares Abby before returning home to discover an empty house, her choice to seek revenge having cost her the last true relationship she had.
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The Last of Us: Part 3 May Task Ellie with Undoing Past Mistakes
The Last of Us: Part 3will no doubt continue the narrative momentum of past entries. As a post-apocalyptic story, the title may attempt to bring the narrative full circle.Part 3could explore Ellie’s efforts to provide the means of creating a cure, and do what Joel was too selfish to do inThe Last of Us: Part 1. Following such a simple and played-out trope would be a disservice toThe Last of Usseries, which is both acclaimed and infamous for its realistic portrayal of human choice and the inability of the player to influence those choices.
The Last of Us: Part 3still has plenty of new frontiers to chart, and shouldn’t be bogged down in the past. The final moments ofThe Last of Us: Part 2find Ellie utterly alone, following her choice to seek revenge and leave Dina and JJ alone at their farmhouse. Dina may have returned to Jackson, andThe Last of Us: Part 3could explore Ellie’s attempts to mend or move on from that relationship. However, it should not be the title’s primary focus, as Ellie’s choice to provide closure through mercy rather than revenge could see the character focus on undoing her own mistakes, rather than continuing the cycle of violence that Joel started.
Ellie Could Face a Choice In The Last of Us: Part 3
If Ellie is given a second chance to save humanity,The Last of Us: Part 3could learn from Part 1’s final events. It would be extremely out of character, and a departure from the series' greatest strength, if Ellie were to choose to sacrifice herself for a cure. If anything, she should be given the choice, or a chance to disclose the possibility of a cure, and choose to live instead. Ellie’s choices up to this point have come from a place of self-preservation.The Last of Us: Part 3should maintain this focus, or simply move on from Ellie’s story.
The Last of Us: Part 3should be careful not to retread the past.While it may be tempting to bring this story full circle, that would severely limit its storytelling and impact. There’s no telling where Ellie may be headed next, and the title is likely a few years away. Fans hoping for another chance to experience the world of The Last of Us can look forward to its standalone multiplayer title, which is due for an announcement sometime this year.
The Last of Us Part 2is available now on PS4.
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