Explaining Tess' Importance in The Last of Us
Before Joel meets Ellie in The Last of Us, players see him with Tess. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, as both are hardened survivors who know about the goings-on in the Boston quarantine zone. The 20 years that Joel spent after the death of his daughter Sarah built up quite a reputation; albeit not exactly a good one.
Tess is no slouch either. Her scenes in The Last of Us show how capable and assertive she can be, even playing a key role in the journey Joel and Ellie take for most of the game. Tess may only be in The Last of Us for a short while, but her character influences both of the main protagonists as they begin their cross-country quest. Spoilers for The Last of Us ahead.
Everything You Need to Know Before The Last of Us Part 1 Launches
As players are introduced to the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us, they are also introduced to Tess and a much older Joel. Joel is now a hardened survivor and smuggler, having lived with the death of his daughter for the last 20 years. Tess is mostly the same, though her familial status is unknown and she is more talkative. Together, the two run a business smuggling things in and out of the Boston quarantine zone, with Joel serving as the muscle while Tess is the brains of the operation. It is implied that there is more to Joel and Tess' relationship than just business, as the two live together and Tess constantly flirts with him.
For Joel, Tess is someone he can rely on as a friend and a partner. Her initial fight with Robert's men shows that she can take care of herself, and her position as the boss of their smuggling operation proves that she can take charge of any situation. It must have been hard for other people to get close to Joel after the death of Sarah,
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