THE LAST OF US Season 2 closed on one of the most shocking and debated cliffhangers in recent television memory. Fans are left reeling from the final moments of the season finale, asking one central question: Did Abby kill Ellie? As the screen cuts to black with the sound of a gunshot, the fate of Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, is left uncertain. This intense and emotional season has taken viewers deeper into Ellie’s psyche and further into the brutal world of revenge, loss, and survival.
Let’s unpack what led up to that final confrontation and what the ending might mean as the series heads into Season 3.
ELLIE’S PATH OF VENGEANCE
From the first episodes of Season 2, Ellie is filled with anger and grief. The violent death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) left her traumatized and angry. Ellie lost more than just a father figure when Joel died. Her emotional center was violently uprooted. As the season goes on, Ellie’s search for revenge takes her from Jackson to Seattle, leaving a path of bloodshed and broken hearts in her wake.
Ellie is having a hard time emotionally as she deals with her past and the effects of Joel’s actions. She tells Dina (Isabela Merced), who played her, that Joel killed the Fireflies to save her, even though she might have been the only person who could have saved everyone. She carries this knowledge with her as she relentlessly goes after Abby and her group, the ‘Washington Liberation Front’ (WLF).
Ellie’s sense of right and wrong keeps falling apart. She ties up Nora (played by Tati Gabrielle) for information in one episode but can’t bring herself to kill her. Instead, she gives her cordyceps, which makes sure she dies slowly. Later, Ellie breaks into an aquarium and kills Owen (Spencer Lord). She also stabs Mel (Ariela Barer), but she doesn’t know she’s pregnant until it’s too late. Ellie is clearly scared at this moment, but she still moves forward.
RELATIONSHIPS IN RUIN
Throughout the season, Ellie’s relationships are put to the test. She pushes away Dina, endangers Jesse (played by Young Mazino), and disregards Tommy (Gabriel Luna)’s pleas to return home to Jackson. The group arrives in Seattle as backup, but Ellie refuses to turn back, famously screaming “FUCK THE COMMUNITY” in a moment of rage. She believes that she owes it to Joel to finish what he started—and that he wouldn’t stop if it were her who died.
Jesse, the voice of reason, warns Ellie that this path can only lead to more death. His fear turns into reality during the season finale, when he tries to protect Ellie one last time.
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN
The finale takes place at the theater where Ellie, Dina, Jesse, and Tommy have set up temporary shelter. As they begin to regroup and plan their next steps, Abby storms into the theater. What follows is pure chaos. She shoots Tommy, seriously injuring him. Jesse, who rushes to help, is killed instantly. Then Abby corners Ellie with a gun and utters a line that will haunt viewers: “I let you live. And you wasted it.”
A single gunshot is heard. The screen goes black.
This moment echoes the midpoint twist in The Last of Us Part II video game, where the narrative shifts and replays key events from Abby’s perspective. That’s exactly what the series is now poised to do in Season 3.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The final moments of the finale cut to Abby waking up in the WLF stadium, a peaceful yet ominous image that resets the timeline. This confirms that Season 3 will explore the same three-day period, this time through Abby’s eyes. This storytelling device will allow the audience to witness Abby’s internal conflict, the relationships she tries to preserve, and the cost of her own vengeance.
Kaitlyn Dever’s portrayal of Abby has only begun to take shape. So far, we’ve only seen brief flashes of her life and motives. Season 3 will dive into her backstory, her regrets, and the moral complexity that makes her one of the most divisive characters in the franchise. This shift in perspective is vital—it reminds us that, in this world, no one is truly a hero or villain. Everyone is just trying to survive.
DID ABBY KILL ELLIE?
The biggest question, of course, remains unanswered. Did Abby actually kill Ellie? The show intentionally leaves this ambiguous. Fans of the video game know that Ellie survives this encounter—but the series has already shown that it’s willing to diverge slightly from the game’s timeline and events.
It’s possible that Ellie survives and is simply beaten or emotionally shattered, as in the game. But the creative team has cleverly left room for doubt, tension, and speculation. By ending the season this way, the series ensures that fans will come back, desperate to know what really happened—and how the story continues.
No matter the answer, the emotional stakes are now higher than ever.
Stay tuned with tvacute.com for all the latest updates, character breakdowns, and detailed recaps on THE LAST OF US. Don’t miss what happens next in this gripping journey.
The Last Of Us Season 3: When Will It Return?
What Happened In The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale? Ending Explained
The Last Of Us S2 Episode 5 Recap & Review: Ellie And Dina Face Deadly Seraphites In “Feel Her Love”
The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: “Day One” Ending Explained!
THE LAST OF US SEASON 2 EPISODE 3 RECAP: A WORLD WITHOUT JOEL
The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: Abby’s Revenge and Joel’s Tragic…
THE LAST OF US (FUTURE DAYS) RECAP: SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 — EXPLAINED
The Meaning Behind The Moth In The Last Of Us Season 2
