recontextualizing Tommy | Character Analysis - The Last of Us Part II

[@mr.moviemafia]

Tommy is a character who I actually haven’t heard many people discuss or analyze, but that’s a shame because this shows how deep and fascinating he really is!

[@istvancsap3513]

This analization attempt is wrong in quite a few places. Biggest hole in this concept that the video explains is that Tommy thought that by going it alone, Ellie wouldn't even start out to seattle, confident in Tommy's ability to off like 10 exact people in a sea of soldiers. What happened instead, is this: Tommy went out purely because he knew exactly that Joel would find a way to do the same if they killed him (Tommy) instead, and Maria's pleas for him to stay were bullshit. Ellie then of course went after him and helped mop up the WLF. Tommy expected that to happen. The things he said to the contrary (all those 2 lines, lol) were just euphemisms to scold her a little, but never intended to really hint at Ellie that she shouldn't haave come to Seattle after Tommy. Tommy shows his real motivation in his last scene in this game installment, when he is basically forced off Ellie and girlfriend's "property or lot" whatever, he was willing to avenge his brother just fine all along.

[@stevenburrows240]

@@istvancsap3513none of what you said is even correct tho. Tommy knew what a mission to Seattle would entail and that Ellie was NOT ready for that shit. Which, as we saw, she wasn’t. She tried to be Joel and failed miserably at that. Tommy also knew that Joel would hate him if something happened to Ellie like going on a suicide mission.

[@istvancsap3513]

@@stevenburrows240 "Biggest hole in this concept that the video explains is that Tommy thought that by going it alone, Ellie wouldn't even start out to seattle, confident in Tommy's ability to off like 10 exact people in a sea of soldiers." Answer me this, how is it even a realistic possibility that 1 man can take on literally a few thousand Seattle survivors?

[@stevenburrows240]

@@istvancsap3513 well, he’s ex military and he’s a very formidable fighter/strategist. He told Maria to lock Ellie up but he didn’t know Maria would willingly send her out any way. Also, if you’re complaining about realistic things, I’m sure you also complained about the first game, right? I mean besides the obvious not possible for the infected to even exist, I’m sure you hated how unrealistic it was for a single man and a 14 year old to make it across the US the way they did. They came across how many infected and hostile humans? Nah, I don’t buy it. It’s also not possible for Joel to have survived his bs impalement.

[@ajax3310]

​@@istvancsap3513 Because she's watched Joel do it and Tommy is Joel's brother. It's been literally, repeatedly and extremely well established they have this capacity and were doing it for the better part of a decade before Ellie entered their lives. She knows Tommy and Joel have done everything under the sun to survive, including things they didn't need to do but felt they could because of circumstance, and come out alive. To imply otherwise is depthlessly ignorant and demonstrates lack of understanding of the material lil bro

[@yassuke3775]

The fact that Tommy killed that guy while walking and scoping, shows how much of a deadly accuracy he has.

[@monaehipp4627]

playing that part made me realize tommy is just as tough as joel. my hands were sweating

[@TheGreatHotDogConsumer]

@@monaehipp4627love playing as tommy in no return. don’t have a dlc during his time in seattle so i gotta live it through that 😂

[@PapaSwall]

Lore accurate Tommy Miller

[@lolapapadopoulou8114]

i remember being so invested in abby s part that i completly forgot about tommy and when i got to that part of the game I was like why this npc is so deadly , then I was like omg this is out f boy tommy. I hadn t realise he was so skilled before that.

[@whitemagerivers5294]

This analysis does Tommy so much justice! I never had any issues with him in the game, but I also never really took the time to really look at things from his perspective, so thank you for this insight.

[@AJFilms14]

Same! I’ve been passively curious about Tommy but always get distracted by the more central characters and every character has such careful consideration in the writing.

[@jordanbishopp]

Was thinking the exact same thing… I still liked Tommy but I kinda resented him for how he treated Ellie when she was at the farm but this gives me a whole new perspective on his feelings and motivations and I sympathise with him a lot more now

[@holytoast9279]

Ellie hearing Joel’s voice during the aquarium scene is actually a really cool detail I’ve never noticed

[@jimmyginseng]

Sorta calls back to the first game as she is killing David with the machete and Joel shows up.

[@АлинаКондратьева-ь4у]

@@jimmyginsengoh my god i never drew this parallel. if it comes out as the same voice lines from the 1st part but blurred it would be fascinating - in the 1st part those voice lines helped ellie get out of the frantic state due to first most traumatic killing in her life and showed her that joel got her. got his baby girl. it would be such a strong moment - her hearing his reassuring calming calling for her years after in a moment where she realizes what a traumatic thing she did again, hoping that joel would got her again and calm her… but he wouldn’t.

[@morbin_memes]

can you time stamp that please?

[@jimmyginseng]

@@morbin_memes 33:20 she explains and then it plays

[@702.elliot]

Keep making these videos. I love every single one of them, and they have taught me more about storytelling than my English class has this whole year. You've deepened my understanding for one of, if not my favorite game of all time

[@isiahmarmolejo4674]

what they said

[@nyt0451]

^ third

[@lilalaurenz_1771]

100% agree

[@biancajpg]

HARD agree!

[@cassiopeia2829]

True❤

[@slickstar96]

"Tommy saw the world one way i saw it the other" this is a huge missing puzzle that people choose to forget or forget when analysing tommy's actions in p2 making them feel that he is out of character especially in the death scene

[@russianfeline1286]

It's not just the one line either. Tommy and Joel are both very different people in the ways they dealt with the post outbreak world and how they deal with their individual issues.

[@jalapeno.biznaus5752]

Wow, I never thought of Ellie’s reckless behavior as a means for her wish to die. It’s almost as if her not dying from what would have been a death full of purpose has made her long for death anyways. The ‘call to action’ after Joel’s death is an excuse for her to risk her life for a “purpose” she sees as leading to her own death. She only sees one end for her journey, and anything else is meaningless. Her choice of poison is death by combat. When she decided to not kill Abby, it wasn’t because Joel’s memory made her realize revenge is wrong, she realized that her new purpose is to live for HIM. Because in that conversation, Joel makes it clear that his purpose was to save her, so she can live. Everything Ellie did was against what Joel wanted, and once Ellie realized that: she stopped and finally acknowledged that she doesn’t have to die for her life to mean something. Your view on the subject really opened my eyes….

[@goflaun]

your comment on the subject really opened my eyes too 🥲

[@beech9839]

incredible interpretation

[@Alaskagurl411]

I really feel like she had passive suicidal ideation since the beginning of the first game since Riley's death. at the end of part 1, she even states that she's still waiting for her to turn into an infected like Riley did. her motivations all throughout part 1 consisted of phrases along the lines of, "it has to mean something," or "it can't be for nothing." she's always been searching for something to give her life purpose to distract her from the survivor's guilt from Riley, Tess, Sam and Henry, and eventually Joel. she feels like Joel ripped her life's purpose away from her without realizing that Joel instead gave her life meaning by her just existing and not by fulfilling some philosophical need or 'saving the world." that she was enough as she is.

[@X-SPONGED]

Revenge is wrong but at that point, you've gone so deep you might aswell see it through to the end. At least, that's how I interpreted it

[@KyeXGamer]

not so different from villain archetypes like dracula from netflix’s castlevania, who’s campaign of human genocide was a at the end of the day a suicide mission. As pointed out by his son, Alucard.

[@Gabe.Edits0214]

Tommy is most likely the most Tragic Character in the entire series. Most people don’t even notice it too. The ending was completely justified, the way he acted. He wouldn’t have placed responsibility on Ellie if he could physically move. It probably feels awful knowing that he failed 3 separate times, all times that he believed he could’ve stopped.

[@AesirUnlimited]

I hope he managed to move past his pain and find some semblance of peace in the end. It’s honestly heartbreaking to think about how his sense of duty towards Joel led him down a path that Joel wouldn’t have even wanted for him. The paradox being that the same would’ve also been the case if he passed away and Joel lived. He wouldn’t have wanted Joel to turn back into who he used to be just for some revenge.

[@Midwestemoisme]

@@AesirUnlimitedwith how dark the story is, and him placing the weight of it all on ellies shoulders despite her living her life with dina n the baby? no….. i don’t think he would recover from that darkness in his heart

[@AesirUnlimited]

@@Midwestemoisme It’s possible Ellie went and told him that she ended it in Santa Barbara. It wouldn’t technically be a lie, and would be good first step towards helping Tommy down the path of healing and moving on.

[@laylak4796]

@@MidwestemoismeDon’t think this opinion rlly takes into account what was said in Jackson.. Ellie guilted Tommy into joining the Seattle suicide mission.. but sure. Ive never understood how he was villainised so heavily for then guilt tripping Ellie at the farm, more so due to him being physically unable to continue..

[@K1ng1995]

​@AesirUnlimited I wouldn't say it was "Duty" more so it was "My only sibling and the last connection I have to the old world is now gone, and the person responsible for it. She now gets to ride off into the sunset. Meanwhile, I lost the use of one of my eyes which means I'm at a physical disadvantage, I now have a limp which means I can't run so I'm physically compromised, and going on this mission cost me my marriage" Then when he sees Ellie and Dinah living together happily. It's no surprise he's turned bitter given how he lost everything and she didn't. Either he doesn't care about Ellie's PTSD or he doesn't know she has it.

[@_la__arts_]

the end of this video made me realise that i probably also deal with complicated grief. it's coming up on 2 years since i suddenly lost a friend. i think im going to try speaking to a professional because of this, so thank you

[@oranski3299]

Amazing video, as seems to be the standard for the channel. I cannot believe there are still so many facets to this game that I'm yet to understand, so videos such as this one are a blessing. I wanted to mention a moment that I have almost never seen mentioned, that I believe holds significant importance. It was featured in this video, but I understand it not being brought up as it's not the focus. When Ellie and Tommy hug after Joel's death. There is the briefest moment where we see on Ellie's face all of her facade of strength and composure begin to slip. She is about to find peace in the embrace of the only other person in the world who shares her grief and allow herself to begin to feel the pain of Joel's passing. Tommy I think senses this and withdraws, ending the embrace and holding Ellie at arms length. I have speculated on this for so long, it's truly fascinating to me. I think Tommy pulls away partially out of fear of himself being vulnerable, it seems like he would have also crumbled (understandably) and cried alongside Ellie. Given what was talked about in the video this would go against his idea of being the hero. He wants to remain strong for Ellie, to show her that there is hope. He shuts down this moment of connection and weakness in an attempt to lead and appear strong for her. I'm sure there is more to it than just this, but that's what I think so far. The reason this moment has stuck with me so much, and why I cry seeing it every time, is that I truly believe there is a strong chance that if Tommy had allowed that hug to continue, they wouldn't have made the decision to pursue Abby. Ellie was blinded by rage and, once Tommy walked away, was left to stew in her anger. Tommy was also angry and terrified at the thought of allowing more harm to befall Ellie and so left and only had his own panicked, traumatised and injured thoughts as company. If they had sought comfort together, I think it could have shown both the alternatives. That revenge isn't all that Ellie had left, that she has her loving uncle with whom she could strive to honour her father. And Tommy could have realised that the best way to protect Ellie was to grieve alongside her. This is highly subjective and absolutely based on my desperate wishes to spare these characters, who mean so much to me, any more pain. I love the story told and am not typing all of this as an alternative, just to share my thoughts. But yeah, that hug breaks my heart.

[@sabogul]

So glad you called this out. I could never understand why Tommy cut it off. I just assumed he hadn't seen she was losing her composure but this makes a lot more sense. And hurts more ugh.

[@TahoeNevada]

Hell yeah! Edit: On the topic of honor, I now see more than a few parallels between Tommy and Owen.

[@jameswolf3302]

you have the best essays about this game in my oppinion

[@angelictoxins]

this video alone gives me hope for a Tommy Miller DLC😭😭 thank you

[@bbillynotreally]

Neil did say that they were interested in doing a side story based around tommy in the new grounded doc

[@Oliveria663]

Hell yeah! I've been waiting for this since I saw the teaser !

[@Michelle-is7ex]

same! can't wait to go home and watch this 🤩

[@pain17ification_Ray_Smith]

Tommy had the worst ending... Abby left with Lev to start a new life Dina left with JJ to live a safer life Ellie is left alone and slightly crippled Tommy lost his wife, his light, his family, and is severely crippled

[@lunarsani]

You’ve done Tommy so much justice with this analysis. I love that the first words we hear in this amazing story starting in part one is Joel saying his brother’s name. You really cemented his honour and grief and how enmeshed they are by the end for me. I cannot wait until your next analysis!! 🤍

[@Washanuga]

I thought I already had a pretty good grasp of why Tommy acted the way he did during the farm scene, but this video showed me "there are levels to this". Excellent video. I played these games for the first time this year and ended up becoming a bit obsessed with the 2nd one in particular. Your videos have been great companion pieces. For some people, this game is a one n done they never want to revisit- but for me, after numerous playthroughs, watching playthroughs, and your videos have made this game age like the finest wine in my mind. There's so much to unpack and the experience just gets better and hits harder the more you put the puzzle pieces together.

[@AmandaRiu_1]

> but for me, after numerous playthroughs, watching playthroughs, and your videos have made this game age like the finest wine in my mind This is me 100%!

[@Chevy_loc24]

"And Tommy who likely has a concussion from being pistol whipped" 😂😂😂😂

[@moony-_-.]

I loved this analysis giving Tommy the justice he deserves this is a constant argument between my brother and I, so much of Tommy’s characterization is vastly misunderstood because people wanted a carbon copy of Joel and when Tommy didn’t immediately jump to wanting to massacre people on Joel’s behalf people wrote him off and useless and weak so much of Tommy’s internal and external struggle is so nuanced and layered it was shown and hinted at way before Joel’s death that Tommy viewed killing people even for the sake of family as a last resort. I wish more people took the time to understand how fascinating and heartbreaking his character really is.

[@gummypistol]

your understanding of these characters is something I deeply admire. i’m only at the 12 minute mark but my heart is literally swelling with love the more I hear you talk about tommy and break him down as a character. i love this video.

[@valx7586]

In the scene where Tommy visits the farm id like to add that one of the reasons she kinda needed him to arrive is because he's a link to Joel and the grief of losing him, when you have (C)PTSD and have been through traumatic events that effect you, you feel isolated from those around you who werent there or share in those experiences, Dina isnt grieving for Joel, Tommy is, bringing her Abbys location means its still as heavy on his shoulders as hers thus at the very least validating her feelings

[@lucy_marion]

As someone who studied film and literary analysis in uni, its great to find such thoughtful, in depth critical analysis of my favourite video game. A lot of TLOU content is about the story as a whole or game play mechanics (which I also love), but rarely do people discuss characters like this. Especially Tommy, who I think gets way too bad of a rap! You're my favourite TLOU content creator!

[@amandimation]

essay so nice, i had to play it twice. Great work, and very pleasant to listen to! beautifully thorough as always. thank you for collecting all of Tommy's character moments for this video, i felt like i got to experience those moments with fresh eyes all over again by having the context so well laid out. I also like how you leave it mostly unsaid (subtext) that Tommy's commitment to the pursuit of honor is a consequence of his masculine identity. Tommy is not able to reject the call to avenge his brother, when Ellie insists that she will go if he doesn't, because he fears losing his honor more than he fears disappointing his wife, while Ellie is able to reject the call to avenge Tommy because she, unlike Tommy, has no fear of losing her esteem in the eyes of other men. because Ellie does not value honor, the way that Tommy does, she is able to say no to him, even if it upsets him and damages his view of her, she still is able to side with Dina in the moment. (of course, Ellie eventually does chose to go after Abby anyway, but not because of Tommy) this theme of 'honor' being something that only men are burdened with is underlined of course by the scene at the dance. Ellie's ability to be a suitor to Dina, despite her being 'just a girl, not a threat', is what makes Ellie so dangerous, as Dina quickly points out: 'they should be terrified of you'. Because Ellie is not a man-- because she is free from the expectations that men place on each other-- Ellie is free to be even more ruthless. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic ^ sometime too. Ellie's feminine identity as her weapon.

[@tlou_explained]

I'm so glad you picked up on that! I didn't want to come out and say it because I'm not a man, and i knew I wouldn't hear the end of it from dudes if I did lol. so I let moustache man say it for me😅 I'll have a think on your prompt, off the top of my head I can't think of a moment where Ellie consciously weaponizes her feminine identity (tbh one of the things I love about these games is how Ellie being a woman is the least interesting thing about her).

[@K1ng1995]

​@@tlou_explained I personally think the lesson this game is trying to teach here is the dangers of TRIBALISM. Tribalism is about identifying with some people more than others because they are from your group. It gets its name from the historical concept of a tribe or clan - the tight knit groups of family and friends that make up hunter gatherer groups and eventually evolved in different societies to have a million different layers of complexity built on that - but refers more to a cognitive group than one forged with ties of blood: your coworkers, your family, your friends, the viewpoint characters of a piece of fiction and those closest to them, members of political or religious or social organizations you're involved in, people with your specialization at university...all of these are your tribe. So, if you have played the first game, Elly is part of your tribe. Joel is part of your tribe. When Joel killed the doctor and all the rest at the end of the first game, he was doing right because he was protecting Elly, PROTECTING THE TRIBE. When Abby killed Joel, while we can understand that it while it was a revenge killing for the death of her father, it is also an attack on the tribe. Abby is somehow less human than Elly and Joel are, because she is not part of the tribe, less worthy of empathy. So, it is natural to continue the cycle of vengeance. And several characters do. Not just Elly - Tommy is another member of their community who bets it all on a bid for revenge. The immediacy of empathy is one problem - it makes short range ideas of trying to help feel more valuable than they are. But when it comes to disputes between groups, it is tribalism that really ruins things, because the people who are a part of your group mean more than the people who do not. That is the instinct that helps us survive in harrowing situations - it makes us cooperate with other members of our group to work together to overcome odds that individually would be impossible to beat. But it is also the instinct that drives us to terrible things. And it is an instinct that leaders can harness to make us do truly despicable things. (See Kristallnacht for one noteworthy and very well documented example, see the Rwandan Genocide for a relatively recent example...there's thousands of examples spanning history.) And that is the thing The Last of Us 2 suggests, at least to me. That tribalism is dangerous, and we should not be so willing to just dive headlong into it. (Certainly, a message that needs to be said in current times, what with various internet communities forming all sorts of insular tribes with very specific world views, various political factions around the world and their rivalries.) Tribalism is useful TO A POINT, but in a society as complex as the one we have built, we need to recognize that it is a very simplistic and instinctive viewpoint, and that there's more complexity to the situation than what that viewpoint alone indicates. Roughly speaking, it is the same message - that it is better to look at the big picture, but the example of an empathetic response to a family not having the money for Christmas being to buy a toy for their child does them no harm, it just does substantially less good than devoting time to reducing/eliminating systemic poverty would do. Tribalism can be outright harmful. Even one person who is acting purely based on tribal instincts can do so much damage to everyone around them. As Elly does by hunting Abby. As Abby did by hunting Joel. As Joel did by opting to save the one girl, he knew rather than letting the doctors sacrifice her to save humanity. It is worth noting, however, that empathy is also the building block of all this big picture thinking. Without empathy, why should someone go out of their way to help someone else? There's enlightened self interest - if I help you now, you might feel the need to help me when I am in your position, that kind of thing. But that only goes so far. Why does Bill Gates donate money to help with sanitation projects in the developing world? That is not enlightened self interest - there is no rational argument that Bill Gates will ever be forced to live unrecognized in, say, rural Kenya and thus be in a position where he will want some foreign billionaire to fund a sewer system in whatever town he is in. It is empathy - the recognition that the people of these far-off places are still people, still worthy of help, regardless of how far they are from one's own comfortable life here in the comfort of our nice, western homes.

[@alphavasson5387]

This is a great point! In rl women are more likely to be able to get away with murder, often because police and investigators think that women are fragile and could never pose so much of a threat. And I think Ellie is the perfect example - she's a relatively small, unassuming young woman who can be a bit socially awkward and anxious. Yet we know that she can be ruthless, killing hundreds of people and slow-torturing others just for the sake of revenge. When people see her, they don't see a threat, and the unexpectedness of her ruthlessness is what makes her so deadly.

[@yejikun]

Tbh I’ve always thought that Tommy is the coolest tlou character ever, especially in the part two when he was holding jj felt like a nice uncle. Can’t wait to play as him.

[@lawrencecummings8534]

You’re killin it. Got a feeling you’re going to talk about Ellie’s last few scenes and the notorious “just take him” line. Powerful moments all around.

[@harlanwehrung8759]

It’s tough to put into words just how incredible of a job I think you’re doing with this series. Your analysis is absolutely phenomenal. Some of the best criticism of any media I’ve ever been fortunate enough to experience. A game and a story as nuanced and detailed as this one deserves an equally nuanced and detailed deconstruction, and it’s truly a joy and a privilege to watch the work you’re doing here. Thank you for taking the time and effort to make such high quality content. I can’t wait to see what you put out next.

[@hannahjutting3436]

The random jump to a meme while you had me SOBBING was really helpful so thank you. This video was amazing ❤ I love all the care and detail you put into your video and can't wait for more content!

[@Hiper101Kbron]

I'm the little brother of two grown men in their 30s. The entire time we shared the the same household as children and so forth we raised hell and fought A LOT. It was part jealousy on his part from me getting the most attention and partly his overzealously protective instinct as big bro with me on the other hand having to prove/ assert myself to him (and others) since, as it happens, I have a little something called Cerebral Palsy. Ever since he moved out he's been one of my best friends and I love that man to death. I adore Tommy and long for the day to be able to play as him in a future entry (thanks No Return for now). While honor as described by Brett Mckay certainly has a place in our world, this story serves as a forewarning to the heartbreak and human cost it would ensue when said concept is taken to such a level.

[@mr79843]

Just a quick comment for the engagement of your channel. You do a great job on these videos and I love your outlook on things. You seem very analytical and open-minded and you do a great job exploring these stories and presenting your thoughts on them to us. Keep up the good work! I'm here for it and I'll keep being here for it! Thanks!

[@Welcome2Niches]

The last scene with Joel and Ellie on the porch; the flashback to the dance- heck all the flashbacks and the disjointed order we get things in throughout the game that contextualize that scene and lead to it...but that final scene, where Ellie picks up the guitar, the flashback, and then her letting Joel go by leaving the guitar... I know that scene has been examined before but I'd really like to see your analysis of it. It hits so hard and, imo, WHEN we get that scene made it hit so much harder, despite would a lot of storyteller KZbin channels might say. Anyways, that scene! Please.

[@Stuntray]

Your analysis just prove how mature the plot of the last of us is. Amazing how you translated it in a more easily understandable way.

[@jupiter8047]

when you post i know im about to watch the most fire analysis ever

[@chanandler2157]

Yours are hands down the most thorough and well connected analyses I have ever seen about this universe and this is coming from someone who is obsessed with and eventually wrote her masters thesis about the games. Well done, brilliant work!

[@tannerdodge6029]

I never noticed that detail at 33:28, even though I've played through the game multiple times. Thank you for showcasing that

[@catdn7011]

The shivers that went down my spine every time you mentioned how tommy couldn't save sarah

[@Stiletto0423]

These videos make me feel even more connected to the characters and what’s going on. I love these videos!!

[@koloprnt]

Thank you so much for sharing! Your videos are incredible

[@TLOU_RareRealisticViciousPlay.]

This is insane I’m very glad I found your channel. I’ve played the last of us 1 & 2 more than 99.9% of people I’ve played over 5000 hours of the last of us 2 since I was 16 years old I’m 19 now. Someone close to me passed away and now all I do is get high and play these games. I have done extensive internal and external research and I’ve grown as a person to understand this game due to the need to grow as most people these days could not possibly fully understand these extraordinarily complex characters and story and you are quite possibly the first person I’ve ever heard who fully understands this game and it’s characters. I would love to be able to talk to you and exchange info and your thoughts. Very very clever, congratulations, most people actually have a very skewered sense of this game, as well as their perception of it. You’ve done better than literally every single one of those millions of views videos when you type in the last of us analysis. Austin-

[@JohnSmith-pm3ew]

I'm glad this game means so much to you and has been so instrumental in your life. Where I otherwise have no mentors, this game has helped me understand my own humanity and recognize it in others. Cheers my good man. P.S. if you want to nerd out about the game I'm totally down. My favorite scene in the whole game is probably the Ellie singing Take on Me, followed by my second favorite, Joel's singing scene. It represents some of the very few pure moments of joy and humanity where you, the player, and the characters are all one with each other. I absolutely love music and love playing it. Music goes far to transcending the barriers and walls between us and the world, and between different groups of people. It's inherently vulnerable, and to experience that at the same time as another person: you share that vulnerability whether you like it or not.

[@Il-JayD-lI]

Thank you! I’m glad I found your channel. Every video essay you’ve made so far have been the exact things I’ve been saying for years. I even used the TV adaptation of Tommy in the army with his hero complex in his younger years. Makes sense on why he joined the fireflies and their “cure mankind” mission 34:04 I always saw that question as him wanting Ellie to say “no” and he would’ve kept goin. The way he looks at her, with the his demeanor. He screams “please say you want to keep going” I just finished the video and it was perfect! I’ve had all the same thoughts (maybe not as well put together) for years. I try to come off like this whenever I argue for TLOU2 being good. I just don’t have nearly enough vocabulary as you do 😂

[@Welcome2Niches]

I am so thankful for these vids. Ty so so so much for making these. This is my absolute favorite game and to have someone not only also see that, but appreciate it enough to share just how deep all the themes, characters, stories, etc. all go is amazing. Keep making these please! Your work is fantastic and it also gives me more reasons to appreciate this beautiful, deep piece of art more and more.

[@therealfirale]

Man I felt like I had a great grasp on the game with every character, but Tommy was one that really threw me off at the end on my first playthrough. I understood that he lost the most out of all the characters, but the way he laid into Ellie made no sense to me and was one of my critiques of the game. I'm happy to say I get it now, thank you for articulating it so well!

[@Mk-gk3wv]

You know, honestly? I keep thinking about it, and Tommy's rifle is actually what appears to be some kind of reproduction of an M1 Garand with a scope (Best seen at 32:56). Would add to the whole of the "Honor" thing, almost like a WW2 soldier's honor kind of reference.

[@shanemurphy3186]

I believe you’re thinking of an M14 rather than a Garand.

[@Mk-gk3wv]

@@shanemurphy3186 true, but i said M1 because I didn't see a detachable magazine. Could be I missed that.

[@manonflores555]

Hey, I recently discovered your channel and I just wanna say how amazing your videos are. It is so obvious that you put so much work into them in order to show every facet of the game which is so unbelievably mind blowing. Your analyses are so detailed and researched. It is truly amazing. We really appreciate it! Thank you for making such videos! ❤

[@RiverDancer99]

Your analysis videos are everything! Not only does it give me different perspectives about the games and characters I love so much, but I learn so much about writing in the process! You are incredible!

[@tonie222]

im so glad to hear your analysis on Tommy, he's truly a beautiful character

[@eyalruf]

Absolutely immaculate analysis. I never stop being blown away how deep the narrative and writing for this game goes. I don't feel I've ever witnessed something as deep and profound and resonating as the story of these games. Would be happy to hear about examples of stories you feel are comparable in that regard.

[@je2409]

God I loved this video. Even tho TLOU 2 is highly controversial and disliked among the fandom, I loved it. The story itself is so personal, to hurtful, so grounded. Despite being set in a post apocalyptic world, the human stories and interactions are 100% the main focus on the game. I rarely have anyone to discuss deep thoughts about this series, but now I do!

[@madisonbrandt7826]

My God, this channel has finally explained, on a deep and intellectual level, why everything happened the way that it did. You made me finally understand The Last of Us Part 2. Thank you. 4, painful long years after the release and trying so hard to get it. I can finally say…. I get it 💙

[@sydneybiek7179]

I am so happy to see someone continuing to analyze TLOU. I've been desperate to find more content to watch and I love your takes on all of this - I've been obsessed with it since I was in like 5th grade (im 20 now), and it's definitely one of the things that brings me the most joy in my life (alongside intense emotional suffering but solace within it, ya know?). Thank you thank you thank you! Please do more characters. I would love to see more Ellie analysis, and Dina too! Man, the first time I saw a playthrough of TLOU pt II years ago it fucking destroyed me. I didn't even know if I liked it, especially after what happened to Joel and then what Ellie's descent did to me. God, the 16th birthday part always will hold a special spot in my heart. Now I'm on my re-analysis and I love it more and more. I'm hoping it'll come out on Steam so I can play it - It's like an emotional processing for my own life, these games. Existential shit, man. Anyways, this is great.

[@birdup1739]

Damn with Sarah, Sam and Henry.. Joel; I thought all of my crying was over. Then I listen to you talk about all of their love for each other, not wanting to lose and losing each other and the tears start flowing again.

[@kmatviw]

Yeah same

[@emmy184]

i loved the franchise before watching the videos you make on them-but i have a deeper understanding now and i can appreciate the amazing writing of the team who built this story and NaughtyDog has insane attention to detail. it is absolutely beautiful. so please keep making these videos-you do an amazing job explaining the true meaning behind every little detail and line. everything means something and nothing is an accident

[@Occidendum]

For real

[@ghsnajs]

these videos always add an interesting perspective that i’ve never thought about. keep making them!!! ❤❤

[@sboyd8312]

Your essays are of amazing quality. Many times people just summarize the story while you truly unpack and analyze every portion of the story so well. Please don’t stop.

[@wildwesley9328]

I loved Tommy so much! I still do, which is why his switch up at the end, while understandable, hurt me so much.

[@hobbibbi]

LETS FUCKIN GOOOOOO TLOU RXPLAINED UPLOAD ON ECLIPSE DAY

[@hobbibbi]

holyy shit another banger… this video in particular got me to tear up a few times. it’s silly but these characters being so real to me they’re near loved ones makes these videos all the more impactful and in a way it’s helping rekindle my love for tlou since i genuinely haven’t been able to bring myself to replay it. nice to see all the details ive missed or forgotten since im not sure when ill next be able to find them for myself lol

[@DillanTheVillan4]

I concur with most of your comments. This was sitting in my reccomnded for damn near five weeks and i finally watched it today and im pissed i didnt watch it sooner. Your explanation of and analysis on subtext, character motivations, and cutscene reading are very sharp. Like for example, I never before read/considered thar Tommy's motivation for going to Jackson originally was not to get revenge but to "be a hero" and "save Ellie" from having to go in order to repay Joel. And, once he becomes severely disabled, his motivation changes to wanting to reinstate that hero he sees himself as. Great character read. KEEP MAKING THESE VIDEOS!! WHERE IS MY LEV AND/OR DINA ANALYSIS?? 😅

[@KingJTT131]

Thanks for doing a deep dive on Tommy. His arcs in Last of Us Part 2 is quietly one of, if not the most tragic, and not enough people really talk about it. Great work!!

[@mookiea]

omg!!! so glad you uploaded this video and i’m super excited to watch it i’ve been waiting since the community post!!!

[@214TwoOneFo]

That cut with Ellie and the M21 and Abby w the infected was 🤌🏻

[@214TwoOneFo]

I came back to just view 21:05 again

[@NadiaADiaz-nc1tm]

I’ve watched all your videos where you analyse certain scenes from the game and I think this one is the most heartbreaking, at least from my point of view. Plsss keep doing these kind of videos, they make me comprehend my favourite game a lot more and the way you do it is amazing and great 💪🏼🏆

[@RoshDroz]

Dang, you're good at this! Very engrossing, I haven't seen many channels that break down individual scenes so elaborately. This revealed layers I hadn't seen before, and you convinced me that essentially all of your takes were backed up by the material. Well done

[@Cleretic]

These videos are so amazingly good. They provide incredible insight and context. As much as I already loved these games and the writing in them, I appreciate the complexity and the nuance even more after watching these videos.

[@ClusterComa]

never seen your channel before, but I loved how deep your breakdown went. this took time, and it took passion first and foremost. thank you, I’ve recently watched the show after having my 4th playthrough and got my dad to play it on my ps5 when im on night shift. he’s slowly wrapping himself up in the story that created the show, which he saw first, and he’s a very comprehensive person. he’s already started telling me how intricate the characters are in a deeper analysis than I had and I’ve played it 4 times. it takes a genuine and honest type of person to assess all sides relieved of bias and emotion.

[@BoBennings]

I absolutely love your analyses you’re very clear and concise and I especially love the way you incorporate footage from the game as evidence to your points something I feel is lacking in other vids of similar caliber. Love this channel!

[@Gothlandmine]

I love how with each one of these essays I get to learn something new about a character! It’s so easy to feel like you’ve figured everything out until someone else tells you what they noticed. This is my favorite last of us content on KZbin!!!

[@karmachase5601]

Every video i watch about this game after going through it again brings me right back to tears.

[@Konoba7]

Thank you for this video, the last cutscene with Tommy in the game is what broke me in my first playtrough of part 2. Just after the PTSD scene with Ellie and then see the consequences of Seattle on Tommy was like the last straw for me. Your analysis made me realize that Tommy should be the protagonist of part 3 or hopefully a stand alone game or even show as said by Neil in the documentary. He is a character that has been there every time almost like if he was the actual protagonist in a way if that makes sense. He was there in the deaths of both Sarah and Joel which were like the events that putted both games in motion. I cant imagine the huge sense of failure he must feel and how he can overcome that.

[@taymzvsp]

25:59 I love this part so much because I completely agree with you. I’ve seen several people claim that Joel would “erase Seattle from the map” or kill everyone in his path, but I disagree with this. Like what you explained, Joel’s purpose as a protector was to only ensue violence when necessary to protect the people he loves. His sole purpose, Ellie, would be the only thing pushing him to pursue justice if she were alive. Without her, he would be too emotionally broken and unstable. There could even be a possibility that because of the trauma he has endured he would completely oppose the idea of any kind of revenge. I felt the need to write this because I 100% agree and I’m glad you touched on this rarely mentioned topic. Love your videos! 😊

[@ds2561]

I saw the barn scene differently than how others see it, I agree that Ellie's trauma wasn't recovered just laid dormant since what happened at the theater. After the year time skip when Tommy reunites with Ellie on the barn and tells her about the whereabouts of Abby and Lev, me being the optimist deep down Tommy didn't want Ellie to go to Santa Barbara (is that how that spelt?) since he knows not that Joel was killed in front of her eyes, also Jessie as well just after they got back from the aquarium. To me I don't think that Tommy was mad at Ellie for saying, I believe that Tommy was mad at Ellie for hesitating to answer to go or not and Dina answered for her which is the same way Tommy did to Ellie in the flashback for Tommy encouraging Ellie to talk to Joel again. So when Tommy angrily left not only he was calling out to Ellie he was also doing the same thing to Dina for in a way butting in. So while it is a stretch and I could be wrong here and people see things differently and there's also a common answer this is how I saw that whole scene.

[@AFoxInFlames]

Love these deep dives on TLOU, my favorite, I could talk all these themes and the story for hours!❤I know it takes so much to make these, and you always bring something new to the story, and actually explained Tommy's reactions that I didn't quite understand, connected and made it all make sense so thank you!❤

[@karalynspeaks4267]

This helps me understand this story so much fuller

[@GrassPunk0512]

One of the best TLOU analysis channels I've ever come across My hyperfixated brain is very happy

[@Riad___]

My heart just hurts so much when i look at tommys condition rn,he gave everything for his brother,I dont want to feel even 1% how bad he is feeling,You explained very well!

[@Somedaysoon111]

Amazing stuff - I never really thought Tommy was acting out of character in the end scene but you’ve really added to my understanding of his motivations. Brilliant analysis!

[@biggubba9218]

these are some of the most solid and concise character analyses on youtube, awesome to see focus on tommy; it feels like everything that people blow over with him was covered in this.

[@fox_e_crow3276]

10/10. Immensely valuable. Thank you!

[@LatoyaLbqueenL114]

This makes the story more clear who tommy was after the Abby scene like an actual trailer blessing ❤

[@kaioken1301]

This was an excellent video. I’ve always thought the game does such a perfect job of showing why Tommy would act how he did on the farm and it always surprises me to see people say it’s either out of character or too sudden a change. The way you explain it is just incredible. I especially liked how at the end you talked about people understanding Joel and Ellie but not extending that understanding to the others in the game. I can’t wait to see what scene you decide to go over next.

[@horowitz8680]

Holy shit, I'm absolutely in love with your essays. They are thought-provoking, well-structured and well-written. Thank you for doing this. Might replay TLOU2 with his new perspective on the characters.

[@gabriela8818]

PLEASE never stop making these!

[@TotallyNotJoe_]

The part where you explain Tommy realizing why Joel wanted him to bring Ellie to the fireflies made appreciate his character so much more. Thank you!

[@kiwi1695]

i cant believe how underrated this channel is. your analyses are so good and provide new depth to the game itself. please keep making these!!

[@MrStroodle]

I’m not quite halfway through, and I’ve cried multiple times. These games are so powerful and so good. Thank you for lending context and bringing sub-text to the forefront. You’re helping people see things they may not have known, and reminding others of the things that make these games so moving.

[@phieillydinyia]

I love your videos so much! They make me love the game even more than I already do 💜

[@chickenugget5389]

I absolutely love watching your analysis videos, they create such a depth to the characters we already know and love! You have really done Tommy some justice here. Impeccable analysis! Well done!

[@Junozss]

Omg I love the way you smooth lines into one another it’s so satisfying and beautiful i honestly really love all your videos keep doing what you’re doing ❤🎉

[@chrisjames4776]

These videos are outstanding, thank you so much for putting them together, I really enjoy watching them. Would love to see a deep dive on the Fireflies at some point

[@ibcamwhobu]

Thanks for making this! Ever since I played that scene for the first time, it really hurt to see Tommy act that way, and I wasn't expecting it but at the same time it felt inevitable. I was probably only thinking about how he would feel guilty for some deaths, and about how the breakup with Maria makes sense and how that would only steer him more down this path. But everything you've said about honour added a lot of depth to this. Really tragic for his character at this point, but it feels so real to me, which is why it hits me hard.

[@HS-yf8qt]

For a game that I originally didn't like too much this video rly helped me appreciate the writing a bit more. Very impressive stuff

[@LynTheWitch]

I love those essays. What a beautiful gift. Thank you for your time, effort, and sharing your creativity, wisdom and wits

[@clover2739]

I love seeing your videos because you put into words everything I’m thinking and feeling about characters, and you explain everything perfectly. I understand people don’t need to like this game, but I always see those people criticise things that just show they don’t actually understand it when they say they do. Even from a first play through, there’s not a single character where I didn’t understand their motivations or why they react the way they do but I always see people complain about it and talk about how it ‘doesn’t make sense.’ It’s especially refreshing seeing a video like this talking about Tommy, because a constant criticism I see is how his character switch from telling Ellie not to go and then a year later getting mad at her for not going ‘does make sense’ and happens out of nowhere. But that’s not true, like you said unless it’s Ellie or Joel it’s like people don’t really look into the character stuff we already have been given or pay attention to who Tommy is and everything he’s gone through. People don’t seem to take into account his own grief, his failure or his physical injuries that’s caused permanent disability. It feels like people don’t get that character development doesn’t always need to be a good thing, Tommy has regressed from how we know him at the start. You pointed out perfectly, he became who Joel was after Sarah’s death in the first game. Tommy lost everything he cared about for this need for revenge, just like Ellie did at the end. People say they understand what the games trying to say but then will hate on certain characters and act like they’re the real bad guy, it’s fine to not like the characters but all of them aren’t perfect people. Especially in this world, all of them are very flawed and they’re human. You could make arguments easily about how any one of them could be bad people, because it’s easy to have a bias. But everyone has their own perspectives and knowledge and experience of why they do what they do, which leads to consequences down the line. It’s not as simple as ‘well this person is bad and this person is good.’ The closest person we have to being morally good is Jesse, but that doesn’t mean he’s perfect or that he wouldn’t struggle with that if he went through a similar situation as other characters did. I’m not that engaged with the fandom but I didn’t realise that people didn’t like Tommy until recently, I still love his character and I can still understand what he did to Ellie at the end was wrong, and it was bitter and mean but I also can’t blame him for becoming that way either and even though it did push Ellie into leaving and doing something, she was looking for an out to leave anyway. I think why people struggle with tlou2 is because of how human it is, this world is awful and these characters have went through immense trauma in a scenario that most of us won’t be able to comprehend and it can bring out the worst and the best in people and no one knows how to deal with that trauma. So characters tend to make lots of mistakes, can’t handle their emotions and it creates a cycle of never ending consequences which is why Ellie not killing Abby at the end is so significant, her killing Abby wouldn’t have done anything for her. It wouldn’t make her feel better and I don’t think her killing Abby at the end would be the great ending people act like it is.

[@hornet1065]

13:17 “The bond between found family can be just as strong as blood" Found family can be much stronger than that 💔

[@hornet1065]

Jag saknar er. Mer än vad ni någonsin kan föreställa er...

[@saltinecracker6629]

tommy is one of my favorite characters, this analysis was well written, thanks for the excellent video❤

[@metrovalleyeats]

Glad someone’s doing a deep dive on this!! I think about Tommy’s arc every time I see anything about the game and it breaks my heart 😭

[@copesies]

The “what a joke” line he says at the farm hits like a truck for only 3 words. What a great game/story. Thanks for the great video✌🏻💜

[@eleazer122]

As always you've given me a different perspective on a story line that I underestimated Thank you as always it was worth the wait!🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏

[@DavidHunter]

I’ve been savouring this video for tonight. Off work. House to myself. Some beers. Thank you for these videos. Always worth it. My love for this series, especially after the second chapter, knows no bounds. It is an endless trove of thought and deep discussion. Thanks for highlighting and enlightening me, such a huge fan of this series, and growing my love and fanaticism about this series. 😁

[@tomgoulding_]

so happy I found your channel. Part II is a very rich piece of storytelling and you do an excellent job exploring what makes this game so special.

[@han-zi7bz]

every time i play this game i notice something new. it never gets old. your videos help me pick up on things that i never considered! i especially love the part when tommy realizes joel cares for ellie, and everything comes together in his mind. i find that moment between ellie and joel so heartwarming.

[@couragetheactor]

Absolutely phenomenal. Instant subscribe. Also this game’s story was so ahead of its time. The more I explore its depths the more I’m astonished at the absolute fools who never gave it a chance.