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The Last of Us: Why Abby Became Gaming’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Character

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Let’s discuss Abby, a character from “The Last of Us Part II” who sparked debate when the game was launched in 2020. Abby engages in conflicts with our main characters Joel and Ellie in a post-apocalyptic setting filled with zombies and divided into warring survivor factions. As we approach the second season premiere of the TV series on April 13, there’s been renewed discussion online about her, which can be confusing if you haven’t played the game or kept up with related discussions.

First off, let’s clear something up: Some gamers have criticized Abby and The Last of Us Part II for biased reasons. Even before the game was launched, a harmful group of fans expressed disapproval. The sneak peeks and leaks from the game revealed that Ellie is gay (a point hinted at in the first game), that Abby, the main villain, was a woman who didn’t fit typical female body types in video games, and that there would be a trans character in the story. These characteristics are still quite uncommon in AAA games.

Initially, there were criticisms about the character Abby, mainly stemming from her role and development in the storyline. At a fundamental level, gamers also found themselves exploring the game in Part II not as Joel, the main playable character from the first installment, but as Ellie and Abby instead. This shift was significant because many players had formed strong emotional bonds with Joel over the course of the original game. It’s tricky to discuss the challenge of making players empathize with Abby without revealing key plot points of the game.

As a fervent fan, I can’t help but share the intense emotions that Abby stirred in many people. The actress behind her character, who lent both her voice and motion-cap performance to Abby, faced an overwhelming amount of harassment and even death threats. These weren’t just aimed at her, but also extended to her innocent baby son. With Season 2 of the HBO adaptation on the horizon, it’s crucial to delve into the controversy surrounding Abby. Ahead, you’ll find all the necessary information about the uproar sparked by Abby in both the game and upcoming TV series. Be warned: spoilers for The Last of Us Part II lie ahead.

The spoiler-y plot reason Abby is so controversial

In the opening scenes of The Last of Us Season 2, Abby mercilessly slays Joel, while Ellie looks on in horror. It’s crucial to remember that Joel had lost his biological daughter at the start of the pandemic. Later, he guides Ellie, a girl with immunity to zombie bites, from Boston to Seattle in pursuit of Fireflies, a rebel group who seek to utilize Ellie for creating a cure.

However, following a perilous trek through America, Joel eventually reaches Seattle only to learn that the Fireflies intend to sacrifice Ellie, his makeshift daughter, to produce a vaccine. Faced with this tragic choice, Joel decides to protect her at any cost and embarks on a deadly rampage within the hospital. This act embodies a heroic display of paternal devotion as well as an extremely selfish act of violence.

Abby is the child of the surgeon who was meant to perform surgery on Ellie, but whom Joel fatally wounded in cold blood as Ellie lay unconscious on the operating table. Abby’s companions are relatives of other Fireflies that Joel had killed. Consequently, they pledge to track down Joel and exact revenge not just for murdering their parents, but also for destroying mankind’s final chance at a cure.

In a straightforward rewording: Abby’s act of killing Joel is just an act of revenge. However, as shown in the game “The Last of Us II”, violence leads to more violence…which leads to even more violence. Unsurprisingly, Abby seeks retribution against Ellie. Yet, unlike Abby who chose to spare Tommy, Ellie’s quest for vengeance results in harming everyone dear to Abby.

In this game, you’ll take on the roles of Abby, initially seen as the story’s antagonist, and Ellie, our protagonist from the previous game who transforms into a character that straddles the line between hero and monster during her journey. This game challenges our understanding of good and evil by presenting situations where you perform heinous actions as these characters, moving beyond the idea of an antihero.

Before delving into Abby’s past, her actions are clear and comprehensible, though not necessarily justifiable. However, many gamers found it difficult to play as Abby, given her role in killing a beloved character, Joel. Initially, I too had reservations. As the story progressed, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about playing as Ellie either. The all-consuming anger that both women experience makes them appear inhuman. Yet, this is precisely the intent. Characters express pain and anguish when you inflict harm upon them. The usual excitement of a boss battle is diminished by the empathy we eventually develop for these characters. It’s rare to find a game that so boldly challenges players with their own propensity for violence.

In my initial assessment of the game, it can be challenging to distinguish dislike towards Abby due to plot motivations from straightforward misogyny. While Abby may exhibit selfish behavior, she also stands up for her companions, even those considered adversaries at times. Interestingly, Ellie is not immune to questionable actions either. Therefore, any aversion players might have towards Abby should be partially attributed to Ellie and Joel as well.

Kaitlyn Dever was unexpected casting for the role

Abby stands out as a dominant figure within the game due to her towering height, wide shoulders, and massive physique, much like that of a professional wrestler. It’s uncommon to encounter such a female character in a video game setting. However, considering this is a post-apocalyptic world where regular encounters with zombies and combative humans are commonplace, it’s not entirely unexpected.

In the game, you’ll find yourself controlling both characters – Ellie and Abby. While Ellie is nimble and stealthy, often requiring cunning to outsmart her adversaries, Abby is more like Joel, a powerful character who can overpower situations physically. As the creator of both games and co-creator of the show, Neil Druckmann recently shared this with Entertainment Weekly – “We wanted them to play differently.” To make Ellie feel smaller and agile, we designed her movement style, while Abby is intended to be played like Joel, a character who can handle tough situations physically.

In the case where Kaitlyn Dever, an actress resembling Ellie actor Bella Ramsey to such an extent that she was once in contention for the Ellie role, was chosen as Abby, some fans who admired Abby’s physicality within the game questioned why this show opted to represent a body type that is commonly seen on screen. However, Druckmann clarified in an interview that this aspect isn’t as significant in this narrative due to less frequent violent action scenes. He further complimented Dever’s performance and emphasized that what matters most is capturing the true spirit of the characters. Appearance factors like facial features or body shape are not at the top of our concerns, but they rank below other aspects we consider when casting.

As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but notice the potential narrative opportunities that lie in highlighting the shared traits between Ellie and Abby, characters skillfully crafted by our showrunners Craig Mazin and Druckmann. Their journeys of vengeance, fueled by their father figures, seem to mirror each other, creating a web of destiny that binds them together. Whatever adjustments the creative duo decide to implement in the television adaptation, the online community will undoubtedly express their thoughts on Dever’s portrayal of Abby as Season 2 progresses, especially considering the character’s contentious nature.

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2025-04-13 15:06

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