WHAT THE HECK IS THE LAST OF US?
!! SPOILERS BELOW !!The Last of Us is an action-adventure game franchise created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Entertainment. The games are set in a post-apocalyptic United States where humanity has been ravaged by zombies infected with Cordyceps. By 2033 (or 2023 according to the HBO adaptation), society has collapsed and its only hope lies in a young girl named Ellie, who possesses an immunity to Cordyceps. The Last of Us Part I, originally released in 2013, follows the jaded smuggler Joel as he escorts Ellie across America, with the goal of delivering her to the Fireflies so they can potentially create a cure. Along the way, he forges a father-daughter bond with her and they survive multiple traumatic events together. After arriving at the Fireflies' HQ, Joel slaughters them and saves Ellie from death, even if that means he's just screwed any chance of creating a vaccine for Cordyceps.
The Last of Us Part II, released in 2020, continues the story several years after the events of the first game. Set primarily in Seattle, Washington, the sequel explores the cycle of violence and revenge through dual protagonists: Ellie and Abby. The game begins with Joel being brutally murdered by Abby, a soldier from a militia group called the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). This act sends Ellie on a relentless quest for vengeance across a ravaged Seattle, accompanied by her girlfriend Dina.
Unlike many post-apocalyptic media, the franchise focuses more on humankind than the zombies--begging us to ask ourselves; what would lengths would we go for our loved ones in our bleakest moments? Can we empathize with people we've been taught to hate? Media that forces the audience to confront these dilemmas have always been favourites of mine.
The Last of Us involves some gritty, thought-provoking stuff but also women being hot and going through the horrors. As you may be able to infer from the name of this shrine, I'm particularly drawn to Ellie and Abby. Even though their conflict constantly divides the fandom, I appreciate and love the ways they foil and mirror each other. No one here is strictly a villain or hero--they are both flawed human beings trying to survive in a wretched world. Ellie and Abby are my attack dog lesbians, my babygirls, my tragic and doomed foils. They constantly spin in my head like microwave meals.
(Yes, I ship them. Toxic yuri FTW).
