Why Tommy Left The Fireflies In The Last Of Us

In The Last of Us, Joel’s younger brother Tommy is an ex-Firefly, but he left the group during the 20-year time jump. The Fireflies were the last remaining spark of hope that the world could get back to normal. As FEDRA’s dystopian police force starved and oppressed the occupants of quarantine zones across the United States, the Fireflies set out to liberate the people. When their leader Marlene discovered Ellie’s immunity, they began working towards a cure for the Cordyceps infection.

When Marlene informed Joel that creating such a cure would kill Ellie, he went ballistic and massacred the Fireflies. But long before Joel wiped out the Fireflies, his own brother served within their ranks. During the 20-year time jump between Sarah’s death and Joel and Ellie’s journey across post-apocalyptic America, Tommy left Joel, joined the Fireflies, left the Fireflies, and settled down in Jackson with his wife Maria. But why did Tommy leave the Fireflies?

Tommy Leaves The Fireflies After The Bombing Of Denver's Quarantine Zone In The Last Of Us

Tommy Becomes Disillusioned With The Fireflies' Cause

In the first Last of Us game, it’s established that Tommy left the Fireflies some time ago, but The Last of Us Part II got a bit more specific about why he left. Tommy left the Fireflies after they bombed the quarantine zone in Denver, Colorado. This explains why the last Firefly base that Tommy knew about was the science building at the University of Eastern Colorado.

Tommy grew disillusioned with the Fireflies’ cause. He left Joel because he was uncomfortable with all the violence they were committing to survive and wanted to be on the right side of history. But when the Fireflies bombed the Denver Q.Z., he realized they were just as violent. So, he left the Fireflies and met his future wife Maria, who was setting up a self-sustaining walled community with her father in Jackson, Wyoming. This is where Joel would find Tommy years later.

Tommy Also Leaves The Fireflies In The Last Of Us Show Before Ending Up In Jackson

The TV Show Changed A Lot About Tommy's Character, But This Stayed The Same

The TV adaptation of The Last of Us has made a lot of changes to Tommy’s character. The show made him a veteran of the Gulf War who served in Operation Desert Storm, which explains his sharpshooting abilities and survival skills. It also made him a father; Maria is pregnant in season 1 and they have a young son in season 2, which will make his story even sadder. But Tommy’s history with the Fireflies is the same as the games. He left Joel to join the Fireflies, then eventually left the Fireflies and settled down in Jackson.