Unveiling the Missing Piece: The Last of Us Sets the Stage for Ellie's Next Chapter

Highlights

The family background of Ellie, especially her bond with her father, remains largely untapped in The Last of Us series, providing a fertile ground for potential future narrative possibilities.

Joel plays the role of a father figure in Ellie's life, fulfilling a significant emotional void for both of them. Exploring Ellie's connection with her biological father could enhance her character development, adding layers of complexity. Including Ellie's father in the narrative would introduce surprising turns and obstacles, heightening the trajectory of Ellie's personal growth and establishing her as one of the standout characters in PlayStation's roster.

Originally conceived as a standalone game to provide a reprieve from Uncharted, The Last of Us quickly garnered immense critical acclaim and commercial success, paving the way for further development. Since its initial launch in 2013, fans have been treated to exceptional expansions such as Left Behind and a highly-anticipated sequel set in Seattle. Additionally, promising news of a long-awaited multiplayer game has only added to the excitement.

The second installment of the series diverges from its predecessor, demonstrating a distinct tone and displaying bolder narrative choices, gameplay techniques, and captivating presentation. It not only addresses lingering questions from the original game but also leaves players pondering new mysteries. While Ellie's progression and her journey are well-explored, there remains significant potential to dive deeper into her untapped backstory, particularly her familial bonds, particularly with her father, as a means of continuing The Last of Us.

Ellie's Family Remains a Mystery

In the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, Ellie's mother and her resilience during the collapse of society are explored, but actress Ashley Johnson is the only one to directly portray and voice her character. Although Ellie's mother, Anna, is mentioned in the audio notes Marlene shares with her at the Fireflies hospital, her presence in the story is largely nonexistent. However, it is revealed in the comic American Dreams that Ellie receives a knife from her mother, establishing a slight but significant connection between Ellie and her biological parent.

When Joel meets Ellie, she is under Marlene's care but is depicted as strong-willed, capable, and independent, which sets the stage for their relationship to become truly meaningful. Ellie's reliance on people who enter and exit her life, like Marlene and Riley, adds weight to the story, as her frustrations of always feeling alone (as highlighted in the ranch house scene) are justified. With her family being a mystery throughout The Last of Us, Joel becomes the closest thing to family Ellie has ever had.

Joel is Ellie's Long-Absent Father Figure

Joel and Ellie's journey initially begins reluctantly for both of them, but as time goes on, it evolves into something more significant. Joel steps into the role of her guardian, filling the void left by Sarah and reawakening his paternal instincts. For Ellie, Joel becomes the father figure she has been missing for a long time. Exploring the untold story of Ellie's father in future installments of The Last of Us could add an intriguing twist to the narrative, similar to the inclusion of Sam Drake in Uncharted 4. Introducing a family member can drastically alter the protagonist's dynamics and lead to diverse outcomes.

By incorporating Ellie's father, whether as a friendly presence, an unexpectedly villainous threat, or even as an infected individual that must be confronted, would defy fan expectations and serve as a catalyst for further character development for Ellie. The fate of Joel in The Last of Us 2 could be utilized to create this opportunity, enabling Ellie to confront a parent who has never been mentioned, and paving the way for another emotionally powerful storyline that solidifies Ellie as one of the most compelling characters in PlayStation's lineup.

The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on PC and PS5.