Ellie and Abby: Trapped Together in TLOU2’s Alternate Rattler Scenario

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As a gamer, I must say, I was blown away by how The Last of Us Part 2 outshines its predecessor in terms of depth and length. Contrary to what one might expect from the relatively compact storyline of The Last of Us Part 1, this sequel goes above and beyond. While the original game wasn’t short per se, The Last of Us Part 2 surpasses it significantly, offering a playtime that encompasses an intriguingly foreshadowed shift in perspective from Ellie to Abby, a move that took me by surprise. To add to the excitement, there’s a brief third act that transports players into a completely novel environment – the scorching heat of Santa Barbara.

In The Last of Us Part 2, the series of sad occurrences are intricately connected to convey the sequel’s underlying themes. The intentional absence of player decision-making, like repeatedly pressing ‘square’ to fend off Alice as Ellie or being compelled to fight Ellie as Abby behind the theater stage, is unsettlingly deliberate. It would be intriguing to witness specific moments or sequences unfold differently. For example, Ellie getting trapped by a Rattler may not have been an accident since she ventured to Santa Barbara with the intention of finding Abby, but it would be fascinating to explore how Ellie and Abby might have interacted if both had been captured instead.

How the Rattlers Reunite Ellie and Abby in The Last of Us Part 2’s Ending

Neither Abby nor Ellie are cognizant that they’re unwittingly stepping into Rattler territory upon their arrival in Santa Barbara and their search for 2425 Constance. In truth, it is Abby and Lev who arrive here, and they manage to discover signs of the Fireflies having lived in the house, utilizing its basement as a shelter and employing a radio to communicate with other Fireflies. As they exit via the garage, Abby and Lev are caught off guard by an attack from Rattlers.

Ellie reaches Santa Barbara following Tommy’s information about Abby’s location, navigating a verdant area filled with sunlight-bathed infected. Unfortunately, she falls victim to a hidden snare trap, suspended upside-down from a tree by the device and punctured by a protruding spike. Bleeding heavily and regaining consciousness after fainting, Ellie encounters two more of the same Rattlers who had captured Abby.

In a scene, the character ‘Small Rattler’ (portrayed by rapper Logic) merely tried to lure Ellie with a clicker as she was teasing him, and due to her injury, she was deemed unfit for slavery.

Ellie overcomes not just one group of Rattlers, but also slices through numerous swarms of Rattler hordes en route to a resort where Abby is imprisoned. Upon arrival, she stumbles upon a band of enslaved individuals who are primed and ready to take up arms against their oppressors as soon as Ellie helps them break free. Among these slaves is one portrayed by Matthew Mercer, who informs Ellie that Abby was taken to “the pillars” for trying to flee, after her capture.

Through my personal experience, this ordeal reveals that Abby has been severely malnourished following months of brutal torment. In an unexpected turn of events, Ellie and Abby engage in a fierce battle at the very edge where the sand meets the water’s embrace. In what seems like a climactic moment where Ellie appears poised to take Abby’s life, she surprisingly steps back, giving Abby the opportunity to escape on a speedboat accompanied by Lev.

In Another Lifetime, Ellie and Abby Might’ve Bonded as Rattler Slaves

In another world, it’s intriguing to imagine how Ellie and Abby might have behaved towards each other if they were both slaves. If they had been confined in the same cell, their relationship could have developed more profoundly, possibly giving Ellie a deeper comprehension of Abby’s actions against Joel, who was responsible for killing Abby’s father. However, it seems likely that Ellie would have reacted similarly to how she did on the beach, attempting to harm Abby the moment they met, much like their encounter on the shore.

In The Last of Us Part 2, it’s possible that Abby and Lev’s attempt to flee and being captured by the pillars was merely a sequence of events leading to the same outcome, but if they had managed to assist each other in escaping, it would have made for a more engaging story. It may appear unthinkable that Ellie and Abby could ever form a friendship due to the numerous lives lost between them, but a common plight as severe as torture and enslavement might have offered a glimmer of hope for redefining their relationship in some way.

In another scenario, it might be that if Ellie had encountered Abby earlier, Abby’s life could have been at risk due to the Rattlers not interfering with their slaves fighting. If Ellie and Abby were to meet again in The Last of Us Part 3, their encounter would be unique because they wouldn’t be trying to harm each other anymore. Additionally, Ellie’s hesitation to kill Abby later on implies that their shared experience as enslaved individuals might have allowed them to form an unusual bond, one neither of them could have imagined without spending time together.

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2025-04-28 17:20