[Warning: Major Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2 below]
Players expected The Last of Us: Part 2 to answer many of the questions the original game left them with, but while The Last of Us fans may have received some closure, The Last of Us: Part 2 has left many things unanswered itself, something which has likely added to the divisiveness and controversy surrounding the game's release.
The original The Last of Us follows Joel and Ellie as they attempted to get her across America. Seemingly immune from the infection which has taken over the world, Ellie’s life was the best chance at finding a cure. But when Joel discovers the Fireflies have to kill her to develop the cure, he ends up saving her and killing the doctors and nurses in the process.
The ending of the original game sets up The Last of Us: Part 2, as the daughter of one of the doctors Joel killed comes for revenge. This puts Ellie on a quest for revenge herself after Joel is murdered, which leads to the rest of the game’s events. But if one thing is for sure, players still have a lot of questions by the end of The Last of Us: Part 2 – and they’re expecting answers.
Every Question The Last Of Us 2 Left Unanswered
How did Dina and Ellie travel to Seattle so safely? In the original The Last of Us, the entire game is about Joel and Ellie getting from Point A to Point B. The game showed the trials and tribulations of journeying through a post-apocalyptic America. But when Dina and Ellie went from Jackson County to Seattle, and even when Tommy and Jesse made the same trip, the game just simply glossed over it. A few journal entries provide hints as to what the characters encountered along the way, but by ignoring what would’ve been at least a few days-long journey on horseback, the game missed a great opportunity to explore the characters’ travels in-depth.
Why were they so confident the doctor could create a vaccine? Throughout the entire game, Abby and her friends act as though it was a for-sure thing that Abby’s dad would’ve been able to create a vaccine by going into Ellie’s brain. But in real life, vaccines take years of testing to determine if they're viable or not. Even more, they acted as though Dr. Anderson was the only person on Earth capable of creating a vaccine, even though it’s likely the Fireflies were in cahoots with other scientists and doctors, too, and there very possibly could be others located in different cities around the world.
How did the Seraphite prophet die? Though they were a new faction introduced in the game, players learned very little about the Scars, also called Seraphites. The cult-like group follow the teachings of an eccentric prophet, but it remains unclear who she was or where she came from. The game implies that she died somehow, though the details remain shrouded in mystery. Given how controlling the Elders are over the group, it wouldn’t be surprising if her death wasn’t accidental.
How did the Seraphite Elders gain control? Once the prophet died, it was emphasized that the Elders assumed control of the Seraphites and created a religion based on her teachings. They also introduced various restrictive practices, such as the facial scars and distinct hairstyle. But this begs the question of how the Elders had such authority in the first place, one that allowed them to not only start a religion but maintain a cult with enough manpower to make the Washington Liberation Front retreat upon invasion.
How did Tommy survive a bullet to the face? When Abby confronts Ellie and her friends in the abandoned theater, she ends up shooting at Tommy. In the moment, it appears Tommy is gone. But a couple of scenes later, he shows up to Ellie and Dina’s farmhouse alive and well, save for the fact he’s missing an eye. With no modern medical attention accessible, it makes no sense how Tommy could’ve survived his injuries. They would’ve had to take him from Seattle back to Jackson County, a trip someone with those injuries wouldn’t be able to make for weeks in real life. While players are obviously glad Joel's surviving brother Tommy pulled through, a better explanation of how he did would’ve been appreciated.
How did Dina not lose her pregnancy? Tommy wasn’t the only one that sustained injuries during the group’s encounter with Abby. While Abby was on top of Ellie, Dina came to her rescue and began attacking the WLF soldier. Abby then proceeded to bash Dina’s head into the ground, rendering her unconscious. It’s quite the miracle that she herself survived the injury but it’s even more shocking she was able to give birth to a healthy baby a few months later with no proper medical attention.
Why was the WLF so open to accepting ex-Fireflies? The WLF are portrayed as being ruthless towards outsiders. Isaac isn’t above killing Lev, even though he’s only a child, for instance. But while the group may be unforgiving towards Seraphites, they were shown to be accepting of former Fireflies, as they accepted Abby and her friends. Even when Abby betrays the group after siding with Yara and Lev, Isaac is still willing to accept her back if she renounces her Seraphite friends. It remains unclear why the WLF would be so open to ex-Firefly combatants and not former Seraphites that abandoned the cause.
Are the Fireflies still active & did Abby and Lev reach them? The last time players see Abby and Lev at the end of The Last of Us 2, they’ve leaving on a boat to find the location of the Fireflies. The game implied that the Fireflies were regaining their strength, but players never received a full explanation of what this means going forward. Similarly, it’s never confirmed whether Abby and Lev actually made it, though the final loading screen upon finishing the game may be a not-so-subtle hint.
How did Ellie and Dina have so much stuff at the farm? When Ellie arrives back at the farmhouse after hunting Abby, she realizes Ellie left her since most of their household belongings are gone. This brings up the question of how the two women acquired so much stuff in the first place, and even more, how Dina was able to move it all by herself while Ellie was gone. Dina's family isn't mentioned much, and it's unlikely she had much help at the time.
Where did Dina go when she left Ellie? Another huge question is where Dina went after she took baby JJ and left once Ellie decided to track Abby down. A letter from Jesse’s mom implies she may have gone back to Jackson County. But with no family of her own, and numerous infected and other enemies to be found, it’s unlikely that Dina would’ve survived for long by herself with a baby. So, she likely returned somewhere familiar, but the answer is still anyone’s best guess. Similarly, it remains unclear where Ellie went when she left the farmhouse, though she likely went to track down her girlfriend and son.
The Last of Us 2 may have left players with more questions than answers, but perhaps this is a sign that another installment in the franchise is a possibility.
