It is without a doubt thatThe Last of Us 2is one of the most challenging games that Naughty Dog has ever created. Afterthe overwhelming success ofThe Last of Usback in 2013, the studio faced the insurmountable task of developing the perfect sequel to an already iconic game while living up to the high expectations of its fanbase who have been eagerly anticipating on what will happen next. Note:MASSIVE SPOILERSfollow.
After nearly seven years of waiting, Naughty Dog releasedThe Last of Us 2,with it receivingglowing reviews from criticsbut has fans split right in the middle. Although the sequel retained the original game’s deep narrative and immersive gameplay, many questioned the creative risk that Naughty Dog took withThe Last of Us 2, specifically the tragic death of the franchise’s main character Joel. Of course, given that the first game was mostly played from Joel’s perspective, many were disappointed with his abrupt and tragic end early in the sequel, which begs the question: did he deserve to die?
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Why Joel Died in The Last of Us 2
InThe Last of Us 2, players were introduced tothe character of Abby, who immediately became one of the most controversial characters in Naughty Dog’s history. The game reveals that Abby and her friends traveled all the way from Seattle to kill Joel. At first, her intentions were unclear, but many predicted that it had something to do with Joel snatching way the unconscious Ellie from the Fireflies who were trying to extract a vaccine from her.
Upon running into Joel and Tommy almost by accident, Abby lured the brothers back at her camp, and it was there thattheir group brutally murdered Joelmuch to the dismay of players and Ellie who was there to witness the death of the person that became the closest thing she ever had to a father. Towards the middle of the game, players learned the reason why Abby killed Joel. In a flashback, it was revealed that the surgeon who was supposed to perform the operation on Ellie is Abby’s father, who Joel killed in the first game to save Ellie’s life.
But Is Joel’s Death Justified?
One huge thing thatThe Last of Us 2players will observe is that the game does not attempt to justify the actions of any of its characters. At no point in the game did Abby try to explain to Ellie and Tommy why she killed Joel, and it was also unclear if Joel even knewwho Abby really was. Upon the revelation that Abby is the daughter of the surgeon who Joel killed, some players understood where she is coming from, especially when considering the fact that, if the roles were reversed, Joel would probably do the same thing.
But whether or not Joel’s death was justified really depends on whose perspective one is looking at. From the point of view of Abby and the former Fireflies, Joel’s death is necessary not only because he killed Abby’s father, but because he also robbed humanity the chance of possibly finding a vaccine forthe Cordyceps infection. In their mind, Joel’s actions were selfish, especially when taking into consideration all the people that have died and are still dying from the infection that has plagued them for 24 years.
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However, looking at the perspective of Ellie, Tommy, and most fans ofThe Last of Us,Joel’s death was unnecessary, especially when considering two important things. First, Joel was only protecting a child who, after the events of the first game, became the closest thing he had to a daughter. Second, ifthe Fireflies really had the capacity to extract a vaccineout of Ellie, who’s to say that they would use it for the common good? No one really knows their true intentions, and it wouldn’t be unlikely if they would have used this vaccine as leverage to gain more power in the post-apocalyptic world.
Additionally, at the beginning ofThe Last of Us, players witnessed the death of Joel’s biological daughter Sarah, and her death had a profound impact on Joel’s life prior to meeting Ellie, especially since he wasn’t able to do anything to prevent her death. However, as the game progressed, players saw the development ofEllie and Joel’s relationship, which is why fans understood where Joel is coming from. Upon learning the true intentions of the Fireflies, Joel knew that he was about to lose another “daughter”. But, this time around, there is still something he can do to prevent it, which is why he didn’t hesitate to save Ellie’s life.
Of course, it is easy to say that killing one life to save the rest of the world is a necessary sacrifice. But Joel only acted the way he did similar to what most fathers would do if put in that same situation. Interestingly enough, during a flashback scene inThe Last of Us 2,Marlene asked Abby’s father if he would still perform the surgery if Abby is the one on the table. As expected, he wasn’t able to answer the question, which suggests that he would do the same thing Joel did if the situation was reversed.
In the end, Joel’s death was heartbreaking and gut-wrenching especially to those who have invested so much in Joel and Ellie’s relationship. However, despitethe disappointment that many felttowards Naughty Dog’s handling of the story, Joel’s death is a stark reminder of the harsh reality of the world that these characters are living in where there is no true justice, no satisfaction, and no happy endings.
The Last of Us 2is out now for the PlayStation 4.
