Tommy May Rescue Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2: Will He Step Into Joel’s Shoes?

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Summary

  • Episode 3 of The Last of Us Season 2 shows Ellie defying the town’s decision to leave for revenge on WLF.
  • The show hints at Tommy taking on a new fatherly role for Ellie after Joel’s death.
  • Tommy’s potential departure from Jackson to rescue Ellie could change dynamics in Seattle.

In episode 3 of season 2 for HBO’s The Last of Us, Ellie and Dina depart Jackson with the intention of avenging Abby and her WLF companions – events that align with those found in The Last of Us Part 2 video game. However, the reasons behind their departure in the TV series differ from the game, which may lead to a shift in Tommy’s role within the narrative as portrayed in the show.

In Episode 3, a significant portion of the story focuses on the dilemma faced by the town regarding whether to abandon Jackson in search of the WLF. The inhabitants hold a vote, resulting in 8 votes against and 3 in favor. However, Ellie, being impulsive as always, chooses to leave regardless. In contrast, the scenario from ‘The Last of Us’ game unfolded differently: there was no vote. Instead, right after burying Joel, Ellie and Dina decide to depart, only to encounter Maria who informs them that Tommy has already set off for Seattle alone. It is only upon her assurance that she will bring back her husband safely that Maria permits Ellie and Dina to follow Tommy to Seattle.

Tommy as Ellie’s New Surrogate Father

In The Last of Us Part 1, the narrative revolves around the evolving bond between Ellie and Joel throughout the game. Following the Cordyceps outbreak, Joel lost his biological daughter and subsequently grew detached, refusing to open up or let others come close. Yet, Ellie manages to break through his barriers, and by the end of the game, they have a strong father-daughter connection. The game doesn’t explicitly explore this bond; instead, it leaves it for players to decipher. In contrast, the TV series has been more explicit about their relationship dynamic. For instance, in Episode 2, Ellie calls their patrol days “daddy-daughter day,” and Joel’s therapist, Gail, refers to Ellie as his daughter.

With Joel absent, Ellie lost the presence of a fatherly influence in her life. It goes without saying that life after the Cordyceps outbreak has been drastically altered. Many individuals grow up without parental figures, including Ellie herself until she was 14 and met Joel for the first time. At 19, Ellie is self-reliant and mature, leading some to question if she still requires a parental figure. Her interactions with Joel often showed her resistance towards his overprotectiveness, which led her to distance herself from him.

Following the town’s ballot, Tommy connects with Gail at a children’s baseball match to discuss Ellie. They concur that Ellie had been dishonest about upholding the town’s decision, regardless of what it entailed. Tommy voices his worry for Ellie now that Joel is absent, to which Gail responds:

“You inherited her and you wanna keep her out of trouble.”

In a different phrasing, The Last of Us Part 2 portrayed Ellie and Tommy’s relationship deepening as they both mourned Joel’s death. However, the game does not directly explain or highlight this changed dynamic between them.

Tommy’s New Responsibilities Could See Him Leave Jackson

In Episode 3, Ellie and Dina find themselves in Seattle, leaving the audience uncertain about the situation back in Jackson. It’s been long enough for anyone observant to have noticed their absence, especially since Tommy was already wary that Ellie might do something impulsive. By the time they reach Seattle, it’s possible that Tommy has started tracking them, mirroring the game’s plot but with reversed roles. Tommy may have used the pretext of rescuing and returning Ellie and Dina to Jackson to persuade Maria to let him leave, which could be his next move in the storyline.

Besides Maria, Tommy is already father to a son. This familial bond might influence his choice between staying or leaving in diverse manners. For instance, Tommy may choose to stay and shun a perilous revenge path, to prevent his son from losing another parental figure. Alternatively, Tommy’s protective instincts as a father could extend to Ellie (especially after his talk with Gail), making him reluctant to leave Dina and Ellie vulnerable to the WLF.

Apart from external factors, Tommy’s emotional responses to Joel’s violent death could lead him to depart as well. The two were very tight-knit, making it challenging for Tommy to cope with what transpired. It’s speculated that Tommy was among the three who voted ‘yes’ in the town meeting, and HBO might have subtly hinted at Tommy’s decision to relocate to Seattle through this plot point. Additionally, Tommy appears to be lenient when it comes to rule-breaking, as evidenced by his casual remark about deviating from patrol protocol in Episode 1.

Regardless of Tommy heading to Seattle, it’s probable that his intentions wouldn’t align with those from the “Last of Us” game series. Instead of seeking revenge as a primary goal, he’d likely aim to rescue Ellie and Dina, ensuring their safe return to Jackson and his own family.

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2025-05-03 22:14