As ‘The Last of Us’ season 2 draws near, debate surrounding a controversial video game character reopens old wounds

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Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Last of Us: Part II.

We might never escape the controversy that is The Last of Us: Part II. Some loved it; others hated it. Regardless, it was a lot more complicated in depth and perspective than the original, especially as more lives are on the line, and there’s a larger discussion to be had concerning the morality of these characters.

For those who aren’t aware, Joel makes a life-or-death decision at the end of The Last of Us, upon which he reflects heavily during Part II. Having doomed humanity to clear his own conscience, Joel felt as if he owed something to Ellie after having bonded with her for a considerable portion of the game. Then we find out that Joel’s choices have harmed more than just humanity itself. There’s one specific individual who’s out for blood, and she doesn’t stop until it’s Joel’s head or hers. In the end, he gets his comeuppance, even if it sparks outrage among TLOU fans.

Abby Anderson, the former Firefly and militia soldier, isn’t painted in the most flattering light as Ellie’s archenemy. We’re made to despise her, but Naughty Dog cleverly develops her backstory so that — by the end — we’re supposed to feel some degree of sympathy for her. While some do, it’s hard to ignore Abby’s obvious flaws, but brutally clubbing Joel to death is ranked highest on the long list of mistakes Abby has made throughout her lifetime, and the fandom never quite recovered from that harsh blow. After several replays, some gamers found themselves reaching a level of understanding with Abby, though voice/mo-cap actress Laura Bailey received swarms of death threats following Part II‘s initial release.

As Naughty Dog tries to teach us by having both Ellie and