The Last of Us Part 2 Ending Explained

The Last of Us Part 2 has quickly become the talk of the video game world. While that was almost inevitable due to the high-profile status of the sequel, the specifics of the experience have inspired a heated discussion between those who feel the game is a revelation, those who believe this sequel is a tremendous disappointment, and those left somewhere in between.

For now, we’re going to focus on The Last of Us Part 2‘s ending. Much like the ending in The Last of Us, which some believe is the greatest video game ending of all-time, the final moments of The Last of Us Part 2 have inspired many to debate its meaning and implications. Others have simply been left perplexed.

So whether you’re left with unanswered questions or you just want a place to voice your own thoughts on The Last of Us Part 2‘s notable conclusion, we’re here to break down the final act of the game. This recap will pick up after Abby decides to let Ellie, Dina, and Tommy live in Seattle.

Why Does Ellie Leave the Farm?

The beginning of The Last of Us Part 2’s final act sees Ellie and Dina living on a farm with their baby, J.J. It’s never really addressed, but “J.J.” is short for Jesse Joel, a name commemorating two of the fallen characters in the game. The start of this scene takes place several months after Ellie and Dina’s last run-in with Abby in Seattle.

Ellie, Dina, and J.J. are now living a quiet, relatively normal life on their farm, going about their daily chores and spending time together as a family. However, the uneasiness of their circumstances becomes apparent when a falling tool causes Ellie to recall a vision of Joel’s gruesome death at the hands of Abby. Soon thereafter, she endures a recurring vision in which she is unable to save Joel.

Dina is able to calm Ellie down, but it’s clear at this point that Ellie is suffering through some form of PTSD likely caused by Joel’s death, Ellie’s belief that she is at least partially at fault for Joel’s death, and the general horrors she has witnessed in her life. While it seems she is genuinely happy with Dina, she’s also constantly fighting against the weight of the past.

The past quite literally comes knocking when Joel’s brother, Tommy, visits Ellie and Dina. He informs the two that he believes he may have found out where Abby is after all of this time. It’s clear he still wants to avenge the death of his brother. Ellie seems conflicted about going after Abby, while Dina makes it very clear that she’s angry at Tommy for even bringing this idea to Ellie and interrupting their lives.

Not long after, Ellie tells Dina that she intends to hunt Abby down. Dina objects and even notes that she can’t put her and J.J. through this entire ordeal. Ellie decides to leave the two anyway, as it seems she not only wants to get revenge but may believe that doing so is the only way to end the nightmares and have any chance at a normal life.

Where are Abby and Lev Trying to Get to?

After the events at the farm, we cut to Abby and Lev wandering through Santa Barbara, California. Abby is still following the tip that Owen gave her which he claimed would lead her to the location of the reunited Fireflies.

It’s clear that some time has passed since we last saw Lev and Abby as they’ve grown even closer and they appear to be somewhat physically different. However, it’s not immediately apparent exactly how far removed we are from when we last saw the pair battle Ellie and her band of survivors.

Abby and Lev find the home where Owen said some of the Fireflies still lived, but nobody is there. However, they do find a radio as well as a sheet of frequencies that the Fireflies were seemingly using to keep in touch with each other. Abby is able to use the radio to reach some Firefly members who inform her that she and Lev should head to Catalina Island in order to make contact with them.

Abby and Lev leave the home and are immediately attacked by a group of survivors who seem intent on taking them alive for an unknown purpose. These survivors are part of a group known as the Rattlers.

Who are the Rattlers?

We’re doing some chronological hopping here since the Rattlers are introduced incredibly late in the game and we don’t get much of a detailed breakdown regarding who they are and how they fit into this story.

Basically, the Rattlers are slave traders, and they round up wandering survivors for the purpose of selling them or putting them to work in their own camps. Their exact intentions in that respect are somewhat ambiguous, but the game leaves no doubt as to the ruthlessness of their methods. We see them torture their victims with glee and even intentionally infect runaways.

While we won’t editorialize much about The Last of Us Part 2’s ending and the overall experience in this breakdown, it should be noted that the nature of the Rattlers stands in stark contrast to the more complicated and morally gray characters and factions we’ve met throughout the game. They’re pretty much straight-up villains.