Even though it's been well over a year since The Last of Us Part 2 made its debut, many players are discovering the game now through next-gen consoles, which make the overall experience all the more breathtaking. The Last of Us Part 2 is not a light game, filled with dark tones, violent confrontations, and a soul-crushing vicious cycle of revenge that firmly clutches the plot and takes into grim places. The game tells the story of Ellie and Abby, two protagonists that are nothing alike, and yet they share a lot more than meets the eye - both in terms of their past experiences and what they make of the world surrounding them.
The Last of Us Part 2's conflict is one that drags through the entire game, and it's bitter, with no winners, only leaving the survivors the chance to live another day. The gut-wrenching rivalry between Ellie and Abby stems from the original The Last of Us' plot, and it takes root well into Part 2 when a blood debt is paid and Abby finally exacts revenge on Joel, killing him for killing her father. After the raw emotions and gory encounters Ellie and Abby have with one another and The Last of Us Part 2's factions, reprising either of them as protagonists to tell once more their stories might not be the best course for The Last of Us Part 3, which could have brand-new leading characters.
Why Ellie Shouldn't Be a Protagonist in The Last of Us Part 3
Ellie arguably had a more negative story arc than Abby in The Last of Us Part 2, as she lost her father-figure, her friend, her partner, and their baby. Joel and Jesse are dead, both at the hands of Abby, but Ellie lost Dina and JJ to her trauma and her survivor's guilt, which she carries with her up until the very end of the game. The case to retire Ellie in The Last of Us Part 3 is that she has suffered a lot, and seeing her as a protagonist would likely mean having to experience the story as she faces more enemies and deals with loss, which could be quite heavy for many players.
On the other hand, Ellie's story is clearly not over, and The Last of Us Part 3 could let her return as a side character or continue her story through notes found in the world by players, letting them know she is safe and found a place to stay - possibly, back with Dina and JJ. This doesn't mean that Ellie's story should be like a fairytale of sorts, and she already endured far more than many sane people would. However, allowing players to see how her journey continues without directly controlling her would give both the audience and the character time to heal.
Why Abby Shouldn't Be a Protagonist in The Last of Us Part 3
Abby has undergone a lot of changes throughout The Last of Us Part 2, and that's mostly thanks to her journey with Lev, and finally leaving behind her life as a WLF soldier. This doesn't mean that Abby didn't lose everything, much like Ellie, who is in fact responsible for killing most of her friends as retaliation for Joel's murder. However, Abby found an anchor in Lev, who allowed her to rediscover herself as an anchor for him, with the pair surviving through thick and thin out of trust and affection for one another.
When Abby fights Ellie for the last time, at the end of the game, she is exhausted and she wants a new life for herself and Lev, and she is done with revenge and factions as a whole. While players didn't get to control Abby all the way through her journey in the universe of The Last of Us, she shouldn't come back as a protagonist as well, especially because she doesn't want to be involved in fighting anymore, and rather find a way to live a peaceful life. The Last of Us Part 3 is likely to feature more conflicts and death, which neither of The Last of Us Part 2's protagonists should go through after the horrific events both experienced.
The Last of Us Part 2 is available now on PS4.