Okay so start off when TLOU2 dropped we saw so much fucking disgusting vitriol spewed about Abby, the main antagonist of the second game. That shit was some of the most disgusting, incel internet-bitch behavior I have ever seen. There was so much fucking disgusting discourse around the death of Joel that honestly made no sense to me when I first played this game. Joel honestly had nowhere else to go, without being stagnant as a character. I mean he had lost purpose with the story, he has no driving action after The Last of Us: Part One. He lost Sarah and this pushes him to attach himself to Ellie which is the whole plot within the original game, Ellie being this contrasting figure within the world of TLOU. I mean shes immune to the cordyceps and is potentially can be turned to a “cure”, which this action is the hinge that creates the narrative of Part 2. This action for Joel to save Ellie from this potential cure and shooting Abby’s father is essentially him digging this deep, deep grave for himself(hole in one). Joel’s actions all have this pendulum of, action and reaction. Joel and Tess killing Robert, Joel receives the mission from Marlene to transport Ellie, Joel is a normal guy, who makes normal decisions who has to grapple with these reactions to his actions. The same audience who is destroyed by the thought that Joel was disposed of by a golf club, Jason Todd-style, love this power fantasy of this man who has ended the lives of so many, that in the end doesnt even matter. The only difference is that, Abby reacted to Joel's action and ended him, which is understandable to be attached and relating to a character you spend upwards of 20 hours with over the course of the 1st game. It's a cycle, the story of the last of us is a cycle. This Power Fantasy being dismantled within the opening hour of the game is such a powerful narrative tool, that it essentially created and alienated this specific group of fans that saw every action of Joel ‘just’, they didnt understand the weight of the decisions you make throughout the first game. Honestly i dont know where else to go. But just go play Last of Us 2 its so so good and is honestly one of the best zombie games ever. Also stop hating on Abby for shit you wouldve praised Joel for, hate on her for that fuck ass haircut(jokes). Also incels are corny and cant understand basic plot structure.
The Last of Us Part 2 and the alienation of the incel audience
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Grave
GOD I remember all too well how bad it was, I'm very glad to see other people understand! I love your description of the action-> reaction cycle, I wouldn't have thought to phrase it like that but you're so right, even thinking about it as Ellie continuing on a cycle as a reaction. I mean the parallels between their characters aren't very subtle, but it's still fascinating to consider how closely her path follows his after his death.
I really need to replay this game lol