Who Is Abby on THE LAST OF US Season 2? (And What Does She Want with Joel)

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In the universe of HBO’s The Last of Us, the ever-present danger of Infected creatures casts a constant shadow. Though they can be seen as antagonists in a way, these foes lack autonomy and purpose in their destructive behavior; instead, they are driven by a fungus that compels them to spread indiscriminately. The real terror comes from the human villains that inhabit this post-apocalyptic landscape, with their actions ranging from cruelty-motivated to passion-fueled, leading them down dark paths. In the premiere of The Last of Us season two, we are introduced to a new human character, Abby Anderson, who may potentially serve as an antagonist or villain. However, it remains unclear what her objectives will be in this season and whether she will ultimately prove to be a true villain in the series. Here’s what we know about Abby from the show so far, along with some spoiler-light information from the games.

The Last of Us Season 2 Introduces Us to a New Threat, Abby

In The Last of Us season two’s first episode, Abby isn’t heavily featured, but we do get a glimpse into her perspective through two separate scenes. Since Joel and Ellie are usually the ones whose viewpoints we follow in the series, this is quite noteworthy. From Abby’s standpoint, Joel appears as an adversary. However, it’s unlikely that Abby views herself as the antagonist. Instead, she perceives her actions as a meaningful mission.

Who Is Abby on The Last of Us Season 2?

In the premiere’s introduction, we delve into Abby’s thoughts immediately following Joel’s assault to save Ellie and eliminate the Fireflies at the Salt Lake City hospital in The Last of Us series. Consequently, we encounter Abby before the time jump. However, who exactly is Abby remains somewhat elusive in the first episode, as it only provides scant details. Initially, it’s evident that Abby belongs to the Fireflies. She and a team of four appear to be the sole survivors of the Utah Firefly attack. Yet, it appears their group may be all that remains of them.

It appears they made an effort to rescue some of the Fireflies that Joel had eliminated, yet failed. Now, Abby and the group are grieving deeply over their substantial losses. They’ve interred their deceased near the zoo, among the giraffes. There are no more Fireflies in the vicinity, but there exists a center managed by someone known as Isaac in Seattle.

Above all else, Abby is enraged that the Fireflies couldn’t prevent their own demise. Primarily, she seeks retribution against Joel, whom we recognize as the one who ruthlessly eliminated the Fireflies in his relentless pursuit to save Ellie from being used for a cure. However, Abby and her fellow Fireflies are not fully aware of why Joel turned against them. They seem to suspect that there might be an immune individual named Ellie, but they don’t yet appear to fully believe it at this stage.

What Does Abby Want with Joel?

As a devoted cinephile, let me make it crystal clear: I, Abby, have set my sights on Joel. What I yearn for is not just his demise, but a painstakingly slow and dramatic unfolding of it, much like the climax of a gripping thriller.

At the start of the episode, it appears as if Joel’s dream could be unattainable. Abby recognizes Joel as a man with a grey beard, standing six feet tall, having a scar on his right temple, and they say he’s good-looking. While this description fits him well, it’s worth noting that Joel and Ellie had already left Utah at the time when the Fireflies were still attending to the injured and burying the deceased.

In summary, Abby’s band of Fireflies consents to aid Abby in locating Joel and avenging him. Furthermore, Abby’s determination is remarkable as we observe at the end of the first episode that she has gathered enough details to trace Joel to the town of Jackson. Prepared for action, Abby and her Fireflies stand on the outskirts of the town, poised to strike. It’s evident that Abby has not wavered in her desire to see Joel meet his end over the past five years.

Who Is Abby in The Last of Us—Part II Game?

For those who are extremely cautious about spoilers, it’s recommended to avert your eyes as we won’t reveal significant details about Abby from “The Last of Us—Part II”. However, we will share some minor insights from the games. If you prefer not to know anything at all, feel free to jump straight to the last heading now.

Similar to the character Abby Anderson in the TV series of The Last of Us, she is a Firefly with a heart full of revenge. In the game, The Last of Us: Part II, players get to experience her perspective, which adds significance to her role. Both in the game and the series, Abby is motivated by her quest for vengeance. Although the details of her character from the games are not fully disclosed in season two, we can see that she has a deeply personal connection to the deaths caused by Joel at the Salt Lake City hospital, as indicated by her placing her Firefly necklace on one particular grave.

In the video game “The Last of Us—Part II,” Abby’s narrative revolves around seeking revenge, positioning her as a character with antagonistic elements. Yet, she undergoes significant personal development throughout the game, making it intriguing to explore how and what the sequel of “The Last of Us” will depict about Abby in its second season.

Abby in HBO’s The Last of Us Series

Abby’s Introduction in Season 2 Changes From the Games

One significant change between Abby from the The Last of Us series and The Last of Us—Part II lies in her introduction into the storyline. In the game, players are thrust directly into Abby’s perspective post-time jump, engaging in combat against Infected and experiencing life as she does. The narrative gradually unfolds during the course of gameplay, immersing us deeply within her character. On the other hand, the series rewinds to immediately follow Abby after Joel’s murder of the Fireflies in Salt Lake City, creating a more immediate bond between Abby and our main storyline from the start.

At a press event where TopMob was present, Neil Druckmann explained the reason behind altering Abby’s introduction in The Last of Us season two. He stated, “In the game, players take on the role of Abby, which quickly establishes an emotional bond with her as you journey together, battling through snow and infected enemies. In the game, we could keep some aspects a secret and reveal them later in the story. However, since viewers aren’t playing as her in the show, these secrets couldn’t be withheld.

Druckmann went on to elaborate that it was crucial to connect Abby, Joel, and Ellie in the series as soon as possible. He reasoned that if we followed a similar timeline in the game, viewers would have to wait an extremely long time for the context of their connection. This could potentially spoil the surprise between seasons, which was something they aimed to avoid. Therefore, it seemed fitting to bring forward this revelation and provide the viewer with the necessary context right from the start.

Who Plays Abby on The Last of Us Season 2?

Abby is played by Kaitlyn Dever on The Last of Us season two.

Abby’s Future on the HBO Show

Abby is one of the initial characters introduced in the second season of ‘The Last of Us’. Since she was a central figure and even playable in the game ‘The Last of Us: Part II’, it’s likely that she will play a significant role in the HBO series this season. At the moment, Abby appears to be a formidable antagonist, but as the story progresses in season two, her character’s development and potential changes remain to be seen.

The Last of Us airs at 9pm on Sundays on Max and HBO.

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2025-04-14 05:12