HBO’s Adaptation Can Fix The Worst Part About The Last Of Us Part II

gameinformer.com:

The Last of Us Part II Remastered hits PlayStation 5 exclusively on Friday, January 19. I recently played through its story, my first of the remastered version but my third time overall. Or rather, I watched my wife, a first-time player unspoiled of its events, play through it – I interviewed her about it, and you can read those impressions here. But I experienced The Last of Us Part II’s story once more nonetheless. Big surprise: I really loved it, just like I did in 2020. I might like it even more now today, to be honest.

However, one of my biggest criticisms of the game in 2020 stands out even more in 2024: the Rattlers, specifically, those last two or three hours of the game. It's clear why this part of the game exists. Despite the «happy» ending Ellie seemingly achieved – with a great partner, a child to take care of (satisfying  Ellie's Joel-like need to be the protector of something), and the dream house Joel always wanted for them – Ellie wasn't happy. She still had PTSD, playing back Joel's final moments in her head while knowing the person responsible is still alive. 

It ate and ate at her, and when Tommy arrived with a clue about Abby's whereabouts, Ellie couldn't stop herself despite her best efforts and those of Dina, who pleaded that she stay. So, she trekked to California to track down Joel's killer. Meanwhile, Abby and Lev, chipper and excited about their new life, are busy following whispers of a group of Fireflies in the state. Abby, despite the trauma of her dad dying and what killing Joel did to her psyche, has seemingly achieved the kind of happiness we all want Ellie to find, too. By this point in the game, you've come full circle on Abby, better understanding why she killed the beloved protagonist of The Last of Us Part I and what she did to atone for it. You're rooting for her and Lev and their journey to find some Fireflies while begging Ellie not to give chase. 

I'm entirely on board with this narrative setup, even though it's another two