Abby And Lev Walking Through Burned City ( Photo Credit – Instagram )
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Joel’s death wasn’t just a plot twist, it was a gut-punch, a chair-throwing, scream-at-your-TV moment that left fans reeling (and rage-Googling “does Joel really die??” in all caps). Season 2 of The Last of Us came in hot, swinging a golf club and tearing up hearts in the process. While game players braced themselves for the hit, nothing quite prepares you for seeing Pedro Pascal get absolutely wrecked in HD.
Now with Joel officially out of the picture, fans are left wondering, where the heck does the story go from here? The answer lies in a complex mess of grief, revenge, cults, and a whole lot of infected chaos. But don’t worry, Ellie’s just getting started, and things are about to get a whole lot darker, messier, and emotionally exhausting in the best way. Ready or not, The Last of Us is about to go full-on apocalypse soap opera. Let’s break it down.
Ellie’s Glow-Up (And Breakdown)
With Joel gone, Ellie’s not just stepping up, she’s unleashing a full-on emotionally charged rage arc. Season 2 is basically The Ellie Show now, and Bella Ramsey’s already serving a masterclass in grieving, guilt, and gutting infected with a switchblade. Gone are the days of dad jokes and awkward guitar sessions, Ellie is pissed, grieving, and out for blood. But don’t expect her to turn into a cold-blooded killer without some serious mental scars. Joel’s death doesn’t just light a revenge fire, it burns everything in her path, including her sense of self.
And yes, she’s becoming a certified badass (like, “don’t test her in a dark alley” badass), but that doesn’t come without some serious emotional turbulence. Throw in Dina, some complicated feelings, and a trip to revenge-ville, and Ellie’s journey is gonna be bumpy, brutal, and beautifully messy. HBO is giving us the emotionally haunted anti-hero we never knew we needed, and we’re both scared and excited. Buckle up, Ellie’s era is here, and it’s about to get bloody poetic.
Abby’s Not Just the Villain, She’s the Plot Twist
Let’s be real: everyone hated Abby after that golf club moment, but Season 2 wants you to pause that hate-scroll and actually listen. HBO’s slowly pulling back the curtain on Abby’s life, and spoiler alert: it’s complicated. She’s not just the buff villain with daddy issues, she’s living in a gray zone, and that’s exactly where The Last of Us thrives. Expect gym montages, emotional damage, WLF drama, and one awkward but surprisingly deep bond with Lev.
Her story might make you uncomfortable, and that’s the point. She’s the mirror to Ellie’s rage, and the show will make sure you see both sides before drawing blood again. She’s broken, brutal, and trying to make sense of her own trauma, and whether you love or loathe her, you will understand her. Plus, her face when people side-eye her in every episode? Iconic. By the time we hit Season 3, Abby won’t just be the girl who broke Joel, she’ll be one of the most complex characters HBO’s ever thrown at us. And yeah, that’s saying something.
Jackson’s Not Dead, Just Down Bad
So, Jackson got wrecked. Infected stormed in like they paid rent, Joel’s dead, Ellie’s out on a murder mission, and Tommy’s probably packing up his revenge backpack. It’s not looking great for this cozy, winter-inspo Pinterest town. But here’s the thing, Jackson’s fall might be the biggest game-changer in the series. Why? Because it’s original to the show. In the game, Jackson never gets overrun. In the HBO version? It’s apocalypse cleanup on aisle everything.
Without Joel or Tommy around to hold things down, the rebuild arc could give major “post-apocalyptic small-town politics” vibes. Think The Walking Dead meets city council drama. Maria might have to become the accidental mayor of chaos, and who knows? Maybe Jackson turns into a survivalist stronghold. Or maybe it crumbles completely. Either way, we’re in for something fresh, and probably heartbreaking.
So while Ellie and Abby are off chasing vengeance, don’t sleep on Jackson. The city’s down, not out. And in a world where infected aren’t the only threat, watching the community try to rise from the ashes could become the most unexpected storyline of all.
