Ellie's Descent Into Darkness

In the The Last of Us Part I, one of the major themes was innocence lost, both Joel’s innocence, and Ellie’s. With the collapse of society, the harsh and brutal world of The Last of Us has a tendency of making survivors grow up fast. The events of part one and its DLC Left Behind forged the fourteen year old Ellie into an adult through a trial by fire, where she emerged through a heroic threshold by facing her fears and letting the darkness pass through her. But the unforgiving world of The Last of Us can often turn heroes into villains, feeding the inner monster lurking within all of us until the point of no return is crossed. If Part I reflected Ellie’s innocence being traded for strength, then Part 2 was about her inner monster being tamed and restrained before it’s too late. Fortunately for us and Ellie, she did finally, in the end, manage to do this, but at great cost. I’m Dan aka Wolf, and today we’re going to be talking about Ellie’s Descent Into Darkness and the loss of her inner magic.
Thumbnail created from a render made by @ImEnFuego (Twitter)
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Check out my other TLOU essays and videos:
• Moth Symbolism in The ...
Music in this video:
Restless Spirits by Gustavo Santaolalla (from TLOU2)
The Obsession by Gustavo Santaolalla (from TLOU2)
Ecstasy (Instrumental version) by Crooked Still
Left Behind by Gustavo Santaolalla (from Left Behind DLC)
English Captions generously provided by PatientElijah
Much love from WOLF OF THORNS 🤠
#GOTY2020 #TLOU2

[@WolfofThorns]

Hey, guys, thank you so much for the love and support! If you are really digging my content, please consider checking me out on Twitch where I stream every day: www.twitch.tv/wolf_of_thorns Once again, thank you all for being a part of my channel and this evolving experience! 🤠❤🤠

[@hanako-kun7565]

You have great vids i hope you get to like 1m subs

[@hanako-kun7565]

You really deserve fame

[@hanako-kun7565]

Can i get a shout out about my comments

[@reddwolf6579]

That thumbnail is so 🔥🔥🔥, whose talent? Point me in their direction?

[@WolfofThorns]

@@reddwolf6579 Hey there, fellow wolf. It's in the description, but I'll post again here for you @ImEnFuego (Twitter) created the character render I made the thumbnail from. Amazing art.

[@kush6846]

When you zoomed in on that shirt and then we see the beach with the same sunset and palm trees, my mind was blown.

[@halloweenjack95]

Same here.! I mean wtf ?!

[@phollie801]

That’s some crazy foreshadowing... I love these games

[@TheLastOutlaw99]

That blew my mind

[@glo.v]

same

[@sandmoon4335]

Yes. Me too. He's really doing an amazing job making and editing these videos.

[@amy_loo2929]

I can’t even explain how emotionally attached I am to these characters

[@Omega14343]

I cant be that attached to characters because they speak english and i have to think in what theyre saying to understand it (im from argentina)

[@jaygoer3373]

@@Omega14343 I thought the last of us 2 has spanish

[@cuntress9000]

joel is/was my only father figure 😞😞 i love this game so deeply

[@023Whiplash]

@@Omega14343 learn english

[@Omega14343]

@@023Whiplash nah.

[@genericwhiteguy2910]

I had fun playing Abby’s redemptive arc, but it wasn’t nearly as fun as trying to understand Ellie’s motivations. She’s an interesting character study. I like how she tries to be like Joel but can’t seem to detach herself emotionally from the violence she witnesses and inflicts like he used to do. Like, over the course of her three days in Seattle she gets more and more aggressive with her enemies. On day one, she’d say stuff like “man...” or “jeez” after killing someone. By day three, she’s saying “eat shit” and “go to hell.” Frankly, it was fascinating/terrifying. They did a great with her characterization. Anyone who finds her too unlikable is kind of missing the point. I mean, she doesn’t like herself either and that’s a part of her problem. She’s questioning her actions alongside the player. She’s lying to herself as well as the player.

[@psychedelicyeti6053]

Abby's story, to me anyway, was pretty predictable. That's why I still prefer Ellie, for a the reasons you pointed out.

[@uchiwamadara4614]

@@psychedelicyeti6053 exactly

[@megabrain96]

I adored this comment and your perspective 😍

[@eilonrusso2276]

@@psychedelicyeti6053 Abby story for me was one of the worst I've ever seen , Abby is an interesting character overall but I think it's lacking more good characters , Owen was fantastic for me yet yara and Lev was a huge disappointment , I've never seen so detached and bored from characters like yara and Lev ,mostly Lev

[@stevenbrooksakalw1632]

Ehh I did not like playing as abby at all👎i wanted to play ellie from start to finish wanted to play as no buddy else but her would of like to play as Joel but he's dead so she the only character I wanted to play as even in the first one I liked playing as Joel but ellie was always my favorite from 14 to 20 years old her character style and every thing bout ellie couldent fight with her well in the first one thats where Joel came in part 2 she all grown and fought like a beast even if Joel was still alive I rather use her plus the switch blade is my specialtie weapon but yeah Ellie all the to the fullest 👌👌👍

[@ezio123sh]

These small channels is what makes KZbin

[@ddp5406]

Yup...when content creators get big its never the same...start worrying about making people happy and pandering. (Not all of course, but enough)

[@bluesyrupgc4224]

@@ddp5406 yeah. I believe The Last of Us 2 is actually not bad. Many of my friends and I are big fans of The Last of Us since it was launch on 2013 and many of us love TLOU2. Even though the story was a bit hard to take in and the mood it gave is totally different from TLOU1, TLOU2 is still a very enjoyable game. I think many big content creators actually enjoyed playing it but they know if they gave TLOU2 a good review, many people would be outrageous so they had to pretend they hated it.

[@thedarkapex5327]

@@РомаМамедов-б7щ what?

[@isaiahminott]

@@РомаМамедов-б7щ what?

[@nathanpelayo]

This game was so heavy on me mentally, once I finished the game... I had to take a break from gaming for like three days.

[@trifectas]

The exact same thing happened to me. This game really did a number on me both physically and mentally.

[@robertmazur3172]

Rly ? Shit ive ended it and felt nothing compare to episode I . First shock at beginning ( we all know why ) and later i struggle to finnish it i did , game was ok but zero emotional baggage

[@TheBiakko]

3 days only?

[@tempoclasse2907]

Take a whole month bro 3 days ain't enough

[@thomascg4907]

@@robertmazur3172 I felt empty, knowing how it ended, and how it started, just that break my heart, being a die hard fan of the games, is just, pain bro

[@mKwi9FUG8N]

That Palm tree transition was mad cool

[@thepeskyone]

Shits fucking awesome. No joke like fr fr it's 9.4/10 for transitions (IMO)

[@TheThirdPew]

Fire video, idk how I just found this channel! Also this somehow just made me realize that Ellie's decision at 4:50 is what kills Jesse. If she never went after Abby she wouldn't have killed Owen and Mel, and Abby wouldn't have come back for her. crazy how her decision in that one moment ended his life. I really never stop getting more to appreciate out of this story.

[@Omega14343]

The fact that jesse just gets dropped with a headshot without anticipation is realistic and scared the shit outta me

[@nickb6425]

Heyy Nathan! I loved your take/video on the story :) since I commented on it I’ve played the game through and I love it and the story. P.S. love your channel too! I love your parody of You 😂

[@moisturater]

@@Omega14343 yeah that’s kinda what i like about this game you never truly have enough time to be sad about the deaths (besides joel’s)

[@jifij89]

@@Omega14343 it was honestly the moment that shocked me the most in the entire game! it was just totally unexpected, and i was so anxious waiting to see what would happen next…the flashback to young abby was a relief!

[@alexmccorkle8899]

The moment Ellie called Dina a burden and Dina’s look of silent pain and disgust is a perfect example of how the viewers see Ellie by the end of the game: we care about Ellie, some more than others, and to see someone so heartfelt and even comedic become so driven and falsely motivated towards revenge and nothing else completely destroyed this person we love. It’s heartbreaking and awful, but brutally human and real

[@princessprintz]

You worded that perfectly I love it

[@cracksniffer396]

Maybe it was just me, but I wanted Abby dead and was smiling when she was being drowned. I didn't need Ellie to come out of this as a better person, I just needed Abby dead. You don't get to torture the closest thing Ellie had to a dad and walk away. so while I loved the game, I would've liked if there was a choice to kill Abby or let her up

[@andrewwilliams9887]

Fighting Abby hurt me lol

[@جعفرِ-ه4ي]

People say how they messed up Ellie’s character in this game, but I think they forgot what happened in the first one. I vividly remember what crazy cannibal Nolan North did. In the spring chapter before the hospital, she changed and doesn’t even make a joke. She even talks about that dream where she was on a crashing plane, and even says that she never even was on a plane. In the sequel flashbacks, she hides this darkness, but is always reminded of it by the desire to call Joel’s bluff. I think they perfectly made her character, maybe even better than Joel

[@nooooplease7060]

Made her a great character but I still prefer Joel

[@assassinbro2988]

Dang that's tough

[@jadenraywilliams8586]

I love Joel, but possibly Ellie is my favourite character

[@TheBiakko]

You mean crazy cannibal David ?

[@جعفرِ-ه4ي]

@@TheBiakko yep.

[@Pouncingpuma7]

Still such a joke that people say this story is bad.

[@AStarInAndromeda]

It's not that it's bad, it's just not told in a good way and the pacing is very, very bad. Also, there's a lot of things that don't make sense. Such as, many characters keep flip-flopping in their morals. Why did Abbie start killing her own people after Just meeting Lev and her sister ? Only took like a day and she was on a rampage--no remorse. Abbie is a soldier and she's been one for the WLF for many, many years without ever showing that she felt bad about what was doing, so her suddenly having a change of heart is not very good writing. On the other side of things, why does Ellie suddenly let Abbie go in the end ? There was no build up in why someone like her would just suddenly give up on this insane crusade, especially when she didn't have anything more to lose and after already slaughtering so many in her path, to then suddenly feel remorse is just very sudden and again, is not very good writing. We needed more time with Ellie to gradually feel like shit about things. Even when she tortured Nora for information, it was odd for her to feel bad about it seeing as we killed so many people just to get to her in the first place and she's completely aware of how Joel and Tommy torture to gain information and she seems completely okay with it. In terms of pacing, having the player complete Ellie's story and then having the tension drop all the way down by switching to Abbie for a FULL story recap that begins when Ellie's story is done is not good pacing. I can see what they were going for, though. But no matter how much they tried to force us to care about Abbie, it's pretty hard to redeem someone who's travelled so far to brutally murder and torture someone that tried to save his surrogate daughter from being killed without her consent for a Chance at something that he knows would be used to incite more violence.

[@tranvinhnhat1289]

@@AStarInAndromeda Even ND said the story was divisive, but for me it’s necessary.

[@araalonzo7944]

@@AStarInAndromeda Abby was a Firefly before she was WLF. Her group only joined WLF to survive when Joel disbanded the Fireflies in the first part.

[@jalamar8161]

@@AStarInAndromeda I think ... you missed a lot.

[@MM-xs1qm]

@@AStarInAndromeda respect!!

[@DeletedUser938]

I just realized, Ellie leaving Jessie in the mall to go after Abby parralled Abby leaving Owen to go after Joel in Jackson.

[@paulkyle]

That's great observation. And very helpful cause I'm kinda working on video about TLoU and could show this one of the many parallels

[@stitchlover4381]

letting Abby Live is the first step in her redemption. second step I'm hoping is rekindling with Dina 🤞🏻

[@jadenraywilliams8586]

Why would she need redemption? I mean, out of Ellie's rage, she didn't just save Abby, but she literally freed the group of starved prisoners... so basically Joel did something wrong out of love, and Ellie did something right out of hate. Hope in a sequel they explore Ellie's character even more

[@stitchlover4381]

@@jadenraywilliams8586 well yeah that's some of the good things she did but she still has a LONG ways to go.

[@louiekim824]

Cristiano Ronaldo Dos santos Aveiro She did kill at least dozens of WLFs who didn’t do anything to her.

[@jadenraywilliams8586]

@@stitchlover4381 Sure, I hope they give Ellie (and Joel's legacy) a better ending in TLOU 3

[@stitchlover4381]

@@jadenraywilliams8586 I liked the ending in part 2

[@taratuchyner2568]

one of my new favorite channels, truly thought-provoking and fascinating. also something i noticed was when ellie sang ”take on me” to dina during day one. ”i’ll be gone in a day or two” and she lost herself during the third day.

[@WolfofThorns]

TARA! This is amazing--and thank you for sharing this. Yes "in a day or two" is precisely when she crosses that line, as "in a day" is when she chases down Nora, and in "two" she kills Mel and Owen. Awesome for picking up on that. This game is like an onion, as is all great art.

[@joe1719]

I love the content but my guy, your voice is wonderful too.

[@kherldeguerwite1196]

Slowdown my guy,i see you😂😂😂😂

[@BlackWolf-kr7wo]

Ellie is the best character in The Last of Us that is still alive. Yes, Joel taught her well, but in the end, it's all about who had the most heart to keep surviving. And Ellie has the biggest heart of them all.

[@ddp5406]

She is a great character...people that say this game made her unlikable or that they ruined her are crazy to me. I feel so bad for her...such a shitty life, and she kept everything bottled up. Brilliantly written and performed in my opinion

[@komix1873]

@@ddp5406 absolutly agree

[@cmdrshep2217]

@@ddp5406 I agree. She experienced loss before she even met Joel and went through more shit on their journey to the Fireflies. I see Joel's death as the last straw that finally broke her completely.

[@cuntress9000]

@@ddp5406 agreed! i think her story arc is absolutely brilliant, with her life circumstances and her age, her behavior and coping mechanisms are 100% accurate imo. i loved seeing her develop and change/how she reacted to all the new and difficult things she experienced. i think she may be my favorite character of all time.

[@prehistoriccreature1800]

Ellie sucks. Tommy best.

[@peoduction6068]

Look at that thumbnail game tho 👀

[@juniormphahlele9053]

It's nice.

[@amethystLAX]

Pretty sure its from a fan on reddit, its a Rambo reference

[@flareboy166]

Ellie literally is the new Rambo

[@WolfofThorns]

It's amazing render art by @ImEnFuego from twitter. I included a credit to them in the description.

[@juniormphahlele9053]

@@WolfofThorns They did nice work then.

[@MRBarton369]

I love part 2 more than I thought I would/could. It's impossible to pick a part of the game that stood out... which means everyone who worked on this game did a wonderful job. The story and progress of ellie as a character was amazing. I love the story that's been told to me... im good with it and appreciate the thoughts it's moved in me... still... long after I've platinumed i still think about events and stories. Just an amazing journey... to simplify it at revenge or self loathing is just lazy. Your work on this is powerful and precise. Really well done.. thank you. Not just game of the year... game I'll likely never forget. The title The Last of Us carries such meaning.

[@BarryH90dz]

Wow the t-shirt...how did you spot that?! Pretty awesome

[@WolfofThorns]

Toss your comment in the QnA thread on the community tab here and I'll be sure to answer it in the upcoming video.

[@SloeElvis]

This video changed my mind on the last of us II.

[@xaviergarces3125]

Never. Look what they did to my boy joel!

[@pistollips]

@@xaviergarces3125 watch wolf's video on empathy in tlou2. please.

[@jethropalillo1746]

Or watch the walking dead in general

[@slidingcatch]

@Fatty Mcfatfook yeah.... Please do yourself a favor, buy the game, and STOP watching these videos lol

[@majesty1770]

@@xaviergarces3125 so you just hate a series just cuz one character dies?? weird...

[@icefl4re597]

I actually hope that Ellie knows that Abby was the daughter of the head surgeon that is supposed to be dissecting her (Nora should told her this too during interrogation). Also, I think more of Abby's crew (Owen & Mel) should know that she's the immune girl ("You're the girl from Jackson" + "You're the girl from the hospital"). I think the story would have different level of understanding, because after all both are daughters avenging their father figures. Plus, really, I wondered what if they met during different circumstances. Would they have been good friends?

[@araalonzo7944]

I honestly think they would have, which makes it more sad.

[@icefl4re597]

@@araalonzo7944 No, they aren't. Abby knows that Ellie is the girl from the hospital ("He did what he did to save me"). But Ellie only knows that the crew are former Fireflies. For Abby, she didn't think when on Seattle (her friends died left and right, she was hunted, etc.), hence her actions. But after Seattle, she got a lot of time to think (Santa Barbara is at least 7 months after Seattle). I think her thinking about it is part of the reason why she let go of her anger on the Santa Barbara fight. ("I'm not doing this.") She actually knows that eventually Ellie is, well, a daughter avenging their father, just like her. (Abby is nerdy as well, she got a lot of time to think).

[@gabrielalessa953]

I believe that if Ellie knew about Abby's father, she would have understood Abby's motivation in killing Joel, there would be no revenge. I expected Abby to tell Ellie about her father in the theater. They don't really know much about each other up to that point, when Abby learns that Ellie is the immune girl (and the reason why Joel killed her father). The only thing that bothers me in the game is that Abby doesn't react to that very important piece of information, she doesn't seem surprised at all.

[@relaxhedx7064]

right ellie thinks that joel died because of since he saved her so he had to stop from a cure being made

[@WaldoCarmen]

Damn Daniel.... killed it as usual. I've played this game like 6 times, but every video you make has me yearning to jump back into this world. Absolutely beautiful, cheers

[@WolfofThorns]

Cheers to you, Waldo!

[@hyperfire1134]

6 times already damn

[@assassinbro2988]

@@WolfofThorns amazing content i like it

[@BRNardy]

Wait, so his name is Daniel, and there's "Dark Descent" in the title???? Amnesia, anyone???

[@miguel9943]

I only played it twice for the platinum, might replay it just to feel the vibe the game gives out and explore every place.

[@thambidave]

In the final scene you can actually see Dina’s bracelet on Ellie’s wrist. This makes me think that Ellie returned to Jackson and reunited with Dina and JJ and that Ellie went back to the ranch to pick up the guitar but when she realized she couldn’t play decided to leave it behind. Yes it’s very very sad that the one thing Joel left behind for her (him teaching her how to play the guitar) can no longer be accessed and used to keep him in their memory but in a more optimistic view, it’s symbolic of how she’s finally let go and is done grieving Joel and is ready to move on.

[@outdoorscholar6016]

I was thinking that Ellie and Dina are in the same situation that Ellie put Joel in: she went back to Jackson but she’s trying to move on from Ellie.

[@esmebrown1453]

The last of us 2 is the only game / movie that has ever made me cry that much. When Joel dies and you walk through his house had me crying my eyes out and when Dina left ellie

[@AmishGangsterWith_a_Hellcat]

She decended into darkness, faster than Abby decended into the Hotel.

[@chandyman223]

FUCK THAT BLOATER

[@jacgotkidnapped1317]

This is why people hate the ending, cause she never killed Abby, but I think it was the best way for Ellie to continue on because after all Abby killed Joel for killing people in the hospital, and Ellie’s revenge ark, at the end Ellie learns that killing Abby wouldn’t of done anything. And most people that just wanted Abby to die never understood that it wouldnt of made Ellie’s character a good one because she wouldn’t of felt remorse, revenge gets you know where, or as Arthur Morgan said, revenge is a fools game. Because we have to know that Abby killed Joel for good intentions, you can’t lie about that, because after all Joel did kill her dad and multiple other people, and Joel wanted forgiveness for that and as you see in abbys view of her killing Joel, you get to see that Abby doesn’t fell remorse she still feels empty. Abby killing Joel was a necessity for the story to continue, and some salty people don’t get that because they expect everything to be sunshine and rainbows for the whole story. And it shows that in the story of how Ellie lives and then learns not to kill Abby at the end, because if she did then she’d be the same as Abby. And I’m glad Ellie learns that. Its a sign of remorse and rage at the same time, and she leaned to not let rage consume her

[@wallingfordd]

Unfortunately I descended into the darkness & lost my inner magic as well. Here's to tryina get it back

[@WolfofThorns]

Wishing you all the love to light the way, my man.

[@skymed3095]

*When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light*

[@stevenbrooksakalw1632]

Ellie is a beast I would not wanna mess with her

[@ish9763]

@@ScarfaceTM26 she killed every dude who crossed her way .......

[@ish9763]

@@ScarfaceTM26 the average man is kinda pathetic. Let her keep the switchblade and she’s murdering folks

[@yureihone]

@@ScarfaceTM26 you can´t accept that a woman slaughters men? Aw, keep crying bbygirl.

[@yureihone]

@@ScarfaceTM26 it just sounded like you were butthurt over that lol

[@yureihone]

@@ScarfaceTM26 i’m not, but i fw for trying ❤️

[@kasra123]

"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you." - Nietzsche

[@miamimichael3977]

this was on my recommended so i hope the algorithm does the same for everyone, the quality of this vid is so genuine

[@1908d2]

Ellie never took the time to process her anger at Joel, nor the trauma of his death. What Abby has done to her is turned Ellie, into the “worst” part of the human psyche. Furthermore the people that accompany Abby to kill Joel, who are in turned hunted and killed by Ellie actually trigger emotion from Ellie, which she tries to repress.

[@lunarose698]

This is one of the few reasons Ellie will always be a favorite character of mine. Great job man.

[@amiraclapper9857]

This makes me sad but unfortunately helps me understand.

[@YensElRojo]

Sick video man! Really sad to see the hate this game got when for me it has been literally rent free in my head since I played through it on launch week

[@araalonzo7944]

It was frustrating processing Joel's death and seeing the hate for this game at the same time...

[@EJD339]

I just don’t get the hate. I mean I get why people don’t like it but as far as this game, it’s not like it pulled a fallout 76 and was an incomplete game. I understand some people’s criticism of the game being too long and the pacing though. The story had so many layers. I’ve played it 3 times and it actually got better. There are so many little details in this game that are easy to miss.

[@Ross-uk2je]

Bro i love your voice and i don't know why 😂😊 Trying to get you to 10k subs!

[@WolfofThorns]

Thank you so much, Sloth!

[@NorthlightR]

I’m honestly so happy that we had a hopeful ending for Ellie. After all the fucked up things she did and after so many people dying and going through 25 hours of grief and depression, I’m glad the ending was hopeful and Ellie is on the path to become a better version of herself.

[@SGhosht]

No game is on this level

[@hellohi5164]

The story is so symbolic and representative of so many things that should be so obvious. It truly is a commonly overlooked masterpiece. It's probably because it's a story that was released into an industry for "entertainment," rather than to make the audience think and come to philosophical conclusions about life. This just makes this game all the more revolutionary for the future of gaming... it took me a while to fully understand it and videos like yours really helped. So thank u

[@lockekappa500]

I always saw the scene of Ellie laying with Dina at the end of Day 3 as showing that Ellie has regret and realizes her actions. I think one of the things we have to realize in this world is perhaps killing isn't quite as traumatic as we think it is, at least when done in defense of yourself. Dina killed someone in self defense at 10, Ellie at 15. I think it takes an extra level of depravity to truly impact someone negatively in this world, as these people have hardened due to incredibly harsh environments.

[@will_da_man_]

Damn, everytime I watch someones video on their opinions/perspective or just simply talking about this game, I learn and realise new things every time. I went from really disliking this game, from absolutely LOVING it. Genuinely might be my favourite game if all time!

[@lazyboyterry]

I think Ellie's decent started at the end of the last game.

[@chandyman223]

I think it started right after she slashed that cannibal dude (forgot his name) in part 1, her character is slightly diff in the next chapter which sets up the characterization in this game

[@luism8612]

@@chandyman223 yea she never acted the same after that she was quite and more serious

[@warrr_machine]

Never has a video game has so much content as much as TLOU2. I’ve been playing video games since 1987. I’ve seen it all. TLOU2 is the best video game ever created.

[@bretplado5670]

1:23 THE SONG... I CANT.. I FEEL TRAUMATIZED BY THE WHOLE GAME

[@WolfofThorns]

YOUR WELCOME 😝

[@shayb1408]

Do you know what the song is called?

[@willnottell6350]

Shay B here’s a link (it’s called “Ecstasy, by Crooked Still) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3-Xe5mgrsakjtU

[@shayb1408]

@@willnottell6350 Thank you so much :)

[@Hithere-st3ft]

I was talking about ellie and dina with my brother. When ellie went after abby from the farm she didn’t have her lucky bracelet that dina gave her in theater, but she had it when she came back to the farm. She didn’t have weapons, she had different clothes and her injuries were healed. So we think after the last fight with abby ellie came to the Jackson for dina and jj and then she just went to the farm to say last goodbye to joel.

[@alejandraromero249]

It makes me wanna cry when I think of how Ellie was so innocent the. The world turned her into this 😭

[@relaxhedx7064]

yeah me too, babygirl grew up.

[@jenniferabel2882]

Wolf, your videos are so well done. Thank you for all the effort you put into them, just fantastic content.

[@WolfofThorns]

Thank you so very much, Jennifer. Love making these for folks that appreciate them.

[@Roses_Are_RosieYT]

When the music in the background, plays it reminds me when Ellie and Dina start dancing. Ellie: "I'm just a girl. Not a threat." Dina: "Oh Ellie. I think they should be terrified of you."

[@loganmarshall7754]

I love your vids!!! Ellie’s character is perfect. Hands down the best TLOU character.

[@stevej4328]

This game, although beautiful, was emotionally draining to play.

[@VictorFaco]

Ellie lost a lot when she chose the path of revenge but I think Dina is still with her by the end. If you check her wrist, she is using Dina's bracelet and she wasn't using it when she left for California. That means she saw Dina before going back to their old house and they probably are on good terms.

[@javma8444]

Bro no homo but your voice is genuinely the most relaxing thing I've heard in my life

[@naurthanks6122]

This game deserves more love, thank you for this video

[@ChroNomadics]

Content :Amazing Editing :Masterful Voice : Sexy Bell: Dinged. Thank you for your channel dude.

[@stevenbrooksakalw1632]

Ellie is my fave

[@BRNardy]

Wait, so his name is Daniel, and there's "Dark Descent" in the title???? Amnesia, anyone???

[@RyanNamTV]

Everyone commenting stop acting like you aren’t about to replay this game for the 4th time

[@T3AMKILL]

Well put! However Ellie breaking down after seeing Mel was pregnant WAS also due to Dina’s pregnancy. About the guitar: yes, it’s heartbreaking she lost her fingers. At the end though, guitar was Joel’s way of expressing himself passed down to Ellie. Ellie’s form of expression was as we’ve seen throughout the game was illustration. She put the guitar down not just because she can’t play it, but because she doesn’t need to anymore. She can now properly grief and is moving on from Joel in a clear mental state. It’s a very hopeful ending for her.

[@brady_t7028]

Any one else like to look at the last of us 2 as setting up part three, so it had to be a really crazy and sad game

[@maytalacedo2942]

I didn't realize the t-👕 on Ellie. That was interesting interesting foreshadowing.

[@oriomenoni7651]

Abby and Ellie are at two different stages of their process, simply because Abby got her revenge, whereas Ellie didn't. Abby wins, she has avenged her father, she gets away with it, and she gets a new family; Ellie loses on all grounds: she hasn't avenged Joel, she lost her family, and she can't even remember Joel by playng his guitar. Ellie's left with nothing. This is a tragic tale with a tragic ending.

[@richardguyton4486]

Well put together. The way both girls search for revenge. And how it changed not just the two of them. But the people in there lives!

[@pooty195]

Great video! glad i found the channel. Ellie is such an amazing and rich character. I think a good video idea would be exploring her taking on the sins of Joel- namely his 'violent tendencies' as well as his complete inability to process his own trauma. To me this is represented when we see Ellie pick up Joel's watch and gun at his house.

[@Ori_Kohav]

Also, another good addition is have Ellie's redemption start while going through the rattlers, and add some cutscenes and dialogues of her focus slowly shifting to releasing the imprisoned civilians. The could be a start to her stepping out of the darkness.

[@BigwillOH]

Like Joel used to say "It seems you can't runaway from the past." What if that's Ellie's next goal 😳

[@WolfofThorns]

😳

[@moisetibasima1354]

Beautiful interpretation as always. I think a scene of her having realisation as you said would work just as well maybe even better. The game as a lot of show don't tell so it would fit in perfectly. Ellie truly had some great writing and development. I love Joel's character but Ellie's always been my favourite. I would love to see you examine Miles Morales and Phin's characterisation.

[@feuerpfote859]

Great video immediately subscribed👍

[@jeffreyellie9585]

Keep up the good work wolf of thorns you really give the game another perspective you should be proud

[@Infinite_Mortis]

Loved the analysis. You’re apart of the reason for the growth of the love in this game. Some people just didn’t understand the point

[@kingpinpasta2934]

The irony of Ellie choosing to go to aquarium over helping Tommy is that she actually would’ve run into Abby, because she was currently trying to take Tommy out along side Manny

[@pistollips]

i had come to a point where i was scared to click on any video about part two because i was so tired of hearing the same bullshit on repeat, completely bagging on the game and refusing to see the amazing symbolism and storytelling, so i'm so glad i found your channel. i finally feel like i'm allowed to enjoy something i spent years waiting on, and thoroughly enjoyed. you deserve so many more views and subscribers, and your views and analysis of the game is so amazing and thought out. keep it up!!

[@WolfofThorns]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, vi. I love being able to talk about things that speak to me and interact with folks like you that are just trying to celebrate something we all love and enjoy. Makes it all the more worth it.

[@thebatmanofneo-gotham5667]

A lot of folks don't seem to understand how vengeance affects someone's mindset. As a result, they end up failing to understand Ellie's character in this game. pre-existing

[@psychedelicyeti6053]

What's present existing?

[@thebatmanofneo-gotham5667]

@@psychedelicyeti6053 OH god damnit! Sorry that you're seeing this. I was typing an analysis on Ellie's characterization, but it seems it didn't register.

[@bearhugzfam649]

Okay so a) thank you KZbin for recommending this channel to me, hella subbed. But also a couple of things to add (sorry if you've covered this in other vids, this is the first of yours I've watched. Not the last, for sure). 1 - About the moth. Moths are symbols of transformation, did you know that? It's the first and last shot 'cause it's on the guitar Joel gives to Ellie. 2 - I think a theme in the game is healing. Or rather, getting to a place where you can heal. Ultimately Ellie's wrath towards Abby was less because Abby killed Joel, more because she took away Ellie's chance to reconcile with him. Which, I know, obvious, but this ties to the guitar - it's not just that Ellie has lost something in her pursuit of revenge (she has, and that's a massive part of it), but also that the guitar was a connection to Joel. She had this really love/hate relationship with the guitar, specifically with the song Future Days, and losing her fingers forces her to let some of Joel and those complicated feelings go. It's a forced distancing from his memory, good and bad. But it's also worth noting that the memory of Joel, specifically of Joel playing his guitar and just generally being at peace, is what prompts Ellie to let Abby go. Basically my take away is that yes it's about Ellie's descent, but also about her hitting rock bottom and changing. She's not done transforming yet, if anything she's only just gone into the pupa (pupal?) stage, she has yet to emerge... but it's definitely not just about her descent. Again I know you may well have covered this in other vids so forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but I do find it fascinating and really well written adn told in the game :)

[@kasra123]

Detachment is virtue and a necessary condition for wisdom and a developmental task in order to grow. Ellie had to detach from both Abby and her fingers. You'll always pay a heavy prize for personal transformation. And it is indeed accompanied by a complete rewiring of the brain. Learning the guitar that way is an appropriate metaphor. Two jazz guitarists actually managed that in real life: a) Pat Martino who had his left hemisphere removed after aneurysms and seizures. He suffered from retrograde amnesia and had to learn guitar from scratch and b) Django Reinhardt who got a severely damaged left hand after a fire in his trailer. He had to learn and adjust to play with three fingers. Both Martino and Reinhardt transformed their circumstances and with that their own playing style. For personal development one always has to forgo some version of oneself.

[@hyuugajay]

Tbh, it should have just let you choose to save Abby or kill her. Not everyone is the same. Some people will forgive their child's murder, others will take it upon themselves to kill that same person. TLoU2 didn't have a story nearly as well respected and accepted as TLoU's story. We all knew that Joel's actions would have some consequences, but to kill him, so fast, and in such a brutal way was a big middle finger towards the gaming community. If you could play as Joel and Ellie, but have Joel die later on in the story and with a death that was meaningful, people would be less harsh when calling out the flaws of this game. I don't mind the whole Abby being mad part. I sure as hell would be too if some guy just walked in and murdered my father in cold blood. However, I would have to acknowledge that that same man, saved my life and the lives of the people I know. I hate how Abby didn't even care and only killed Joel because she was angry and didn't listen to her past. The reason why I believe that you should have chosen to kill Abby or not comes down to just user preference. I watched numerous streams and noticed that some people wanted Abby to live, while others (like me) wanted her to die. Giving people that choice is really important in a game that has such a deep narrative. However that choice would affect the future of your story. Killing Abby may cause Lev to now want revenge against you, and a flash forward can show events happen similar to what happened to you. It would be great at showing those who want to kill Abby that their actions can and will affect the future of these characters.

[@EveBatStudios]

Wow one person who actually took in the whole emotional impact of the story and made a real video about how beautiful the writing in this game actually is instead of freaking out when dealing with its themes. Impressed

[@moodyowlproductions4287]

When your lost in the darkness....don't look for the.light.....just try to stay alive....for as long as.you can...and hope

[@relaxhedx7064]

I dont think her letting abby go is her keeping any left humanity that she has in her, I think she is allowing herself to forgive Joel. And the story is not her rage against abby and the wlf, but her rage against herself for not forgiving him and not getting the chance to do it before he died, that's the real source of rage. Because that chance was taken from her.

[@HazyHerbivore]

Y'know you can just like, set the strings up in the opposite order, right? That's what a left hand guitar is

[@cottonswab2131]

Hearing this man say in a deep-ass voice "well no worries my fellow grimes fan, I gotchu covered" is so funny to me idk why

[@Ihaveaboyfriend]

If a zombie apocalypse was real I think that the last thing I would have thought about was playing the guitar. 😂

[@najib1]

One of the greatest jazz guitarist of all time Django Reinhardt also lost these two fingers but was still playing.

[@prithvithakur2861]

Love the videos man!! Keep it up and you will reach a million subs in no time!! I have very high hopes for you.

[@WolfofThorns]

Thank you so much, Prithvi. That really means a lot to me.

[@baracoons.4848]

"I'm scared of ending up alone" - It hurts so much! - but i love it! - - - - - - "Hope it will be the "Game of the year".

[@riley8137]

I don't think she's a villain, it's like how Joel had to change in this unforgiving world and yeah she is seeking Abby and killing anyone/anything in her path but I mean it's for good reason in her eyes. And I think Ellie will try and play guitar with the other hand because it's the only connection to Joel really and I don't think she would let that go.

[@ash-lynn7856]

This is my first time in this channel...why is Keanu reeves talking about the last of us?

[@tresahefley1984]

I WANT PART 3 TO COME OUT ON PS.4 ELLIE IS MY WOLF WITH A 100 PERCENT WOLF HEART GOLDEN HEART.

[@Tacticalzd]

Had this bookmarked for a year,finally got around to finishing the game and can watch this now

[@Mackenzie002]

Awesome pfp

[@Tacticalzd]

@@Mackenzie002 bless up,sasuke is him, nice pfp too homie

[@kudo7821]

Ellie can go on a revenge murder spree, but teaching herself left-handed guitar would be too difficult? haha

[@WolfofThorns]

Eh, it's not about it being too difficult, it's about what she would have to put herself through to relearn, especially given what the guitar means to her. She can absolutely relearn the guitar, but she ain't picking up and playing the next day. Like all healing, it's going to be a journey.

[@ThatFluffis]

such a soothing narration of a descent into darkness

[@chriswilliams3379]

Another amazing video my friend. Stay safe and keep up the great work🤘🏻

[@zzirSupeR]

5:45 She could play like Django Reinhardt

[@sturgeonman1659]

It's always the small knowledgeable channels that are the most knowing of their subjects. The large youtubers who cover the game don't look into the little details like you do, maybe you could look into the Seraphites traditions. More like the wives to the elders one, since Lev was supposed to be one, kinda creepy.

[@sturgeonman1659]

Been binge watching since yesterday, and also like how you understand both Ellie and Abby

[@variancewithin]

It would be incredibly unkind of sony to not make a part 3. this just feels like the 2nd or 3rd act in a story arc. the game ends with such a "motivating factor" type of feel. like that part of the movie where everyone is mad at each other and they all go their separate ways.

[@luciemetters3684]

1:30 what’s that song in the background called?

[@TheSmorris92]

How do you see all this...😳❤️ So much for me being a “big fan”. Lol

[@ineezumz8519]

I could just listen to your voice for hours man

[@marryson123]

Man I miss young Ellie.... Shes cuter.

[@JA-uz2uk]

As usual. Good content. I just realized in the conversation in the theater..."I was late a few weeks ago....a few weeks...we could have still turned back..." Mind you, this was on horseback one way and just travelling from Jackson to Seattle. Sounds like they were on or around halfway to Seattle by the time Dina suspected she was pregnant. Which means, add another few weeks up to the point Day 1: Seattle begins. With this said, my hypothesis is Jackson to Seattle, then back to Jackson roughly took 3+ months worth of travel which meant Ellie's Jackson to Santa Barbara then back to Jackson roughly took six or so months because if Ellie left during what looked to be Spring, she may have been back by Fall.

[@littlekitsune1]

I think she meant more that Dina had plenty of time to tell her. Not that it actually took 3 weeks+.

[@brunnodestre7451]

Great videos, man - congratulations. My comment about the game (all IMHO): I feel that both women had the same journey - they both seek vengeance, but by the time Abby gets hers, she notices she wasted good part of her life clinging to a negative feeling, pushing people away and never trully building something. Her trigger is Owen's speech about the old guys prepared to die was so meaning to her, why she so desperately wants to save Lev and Yara. She finally is saving someone, instead of ending a life. Sadly, Ellie also clinged into the very same negative emotion, untill (as you brilliantly puts in the video) stops untill is almost too late. So basically the game is trying to teach us: hey, are you seriously choosing hate as a way of life? You may loose whats trully important in your life, and waste lots of good opportunities, should you choose this path. Great game. Great message. thanks for the time

[@SpiderXtra7]

I am still salty to this day about people sending hate to abby’s actor