Abby’s journey shows what happens after someone has lost their humanity in the pursuit of revenge, and how they can come back from the brink.
But Abby’s storyline shakes out very differently. She doesn’t even realize Joel’s family is in Seattle, picking off all her friends, until the third day. Instead of having a literal connection to Ellie’s three-day storyline, Abby’s story has a thematic connection. Ellie’s journey showed the devastating loss of humanity when someone becomes consumed with revenge. Abby’s journey shows what happens after someone has lost their humanity in the pursuit of revenge, and how they can come back from the brink. This is shown beautifully through Abby’s relationship with a young Seraphite runaway named Lev, who she takes under her wing.
The Last of Us is available to stream on Max.
Abby’s story kicks off when she learns that Owen has gone A.W.O.L. after becoming disillusioned with the Wolves’ fascistic cause. She knows where he’ll go — the aquarium — so she sneaks out and goes after him. Along the way, she’s captured by Seraphites and strung up to be executed. At the same time, the same Seraphites are executing Lev’s older sister Yara, a fellow runaway. After saving Yara, Lev reluctantly saves Abby, too, and they form an uneasy alliance. Over the course of the next three days, Abby comes to love these kids (and especially Lev) like younger siblings.
Abby & Lev Are Deliberately Reminiscent Of Joel & Ellie
Protecting Lev Is Abby's Redemption Arc, Just Like Protecting Ellie Was Joel's Redemption Arc
![Abby and Lev play with Alice in The Last of Us Part II]()
Abby taking Lev under her wing and protecting him from whatever danger comes his way is deliberately reminiscent of Joel and Ellie. In the first Last of Us game (and the first season of the TV show), looking after Ellie is what brought Joel back from the darkness after he’d become a hardened, cold-blooded killer — he “found something to fight for.” Taking care of Lev does the same thing to Abby: killing Joel didn’t make her feel any better about her dad’s death, but finding a new family did.
Giving Abby her own Ellie-like sidekick goes a long way toward making the audience sympathize with Abby as intended. What makes The Last of Us Part II such a revolutionary story — and such a difficult one to adapt for television — is that it boldly attempts to make its audience see the good in the character they hate the most, and that’s an uphill battle. Abby’s relationship with Lev shows audiences who are skeptical about loving her that she has a lot in common with a character they already love: the one she killed.
Where Joel’s relationship with Ellie is strictly a father-daughter dynamic, Abby and Lev are more like a big sister and little brother.
Where Joel’s relationship with Ellie is strictly a father-daughter dynamic, Abby and Lev are more like a big sister and little brother. But in both cases, taking on a young ward gives these stoic, morally gray antiheroes a much-needed redemption arc. When Joel met Ellie, he moved past his dark history as a hunter and rediscovered his true purpose: being an amazing dad. And when Abby meets Lev, she moves past her dad’s tragic death by passing on his warmth and wisdom to the next generation.
I Can't Wait To See How Kaitlyn Dever Plays Abby's Scenes With Lev
Abby Is At Her Most Vulnerable When She's With Lev
![Kaitlyn Dever as Abby walking in the snow in The Last of Us]()
I’ve been loving how Kaitlyn Dever has played Abby so far. She captured her grit, toughness, and vengeful rage when she beat Joel to death, and later when she confronted Ellie at the theater. But she also showed Abby’s humanity in her tender scenes with Owen and when she sobbed at her dad’s graveside in the premiere episode. Dever might not have Abby’s muscles, but she has everything else down pat.
That’s why I can’t wait to see how Dever plays Abby’s scenes with Lev in season 3. Abby is at her kindest and most vulnerable when she’s taking care of Lev. Moments like helping Lev with his gas mask and giving Lev her coat as they sail back to the shore are really beautiful in the game. From Short Term 12 to Booksmart, Dever’s previous projects have proven she has the dramatic chops and emotional sensitivity to nail them in The Last of Us season 3.
Why The Last Of Us Shifting To Abby's Story For Season 3 Is Risky
A Whole Season Focused On Joel's Killer Might Alienate Some Audiences
Abby’s “Day One” scene in The Last of Us’ season 2 finale all but confirms that the TV show will follow the game’s split story structure and focus squarely on Abby’s three-day journey in season 3 — and while I’m glad they’re adapting it faithfully like that, it’s also a huge gamble. The story works really well that way in the game, but some TV viewers might give up the same way some players did. Imagine the uproar if The Walking Dead did a whole season about Negan after he beat Glenn to death. A lot is resting on the execution.