The Last of Us is full of colorful, flawed characters dealing with a terrifying fungal outbreak. Infected enemies are inventive and add great iconography and combat, but Naughty Dog’s superb character interactions are where the franchise truly shines. The Last of Us marries storytelling with gameplay in ways that are immersive and interactive, such as when Joel prepares to hoist Ellie up a ledge and for once she is not there. These strong interactions are also why Joel’s death is so impactful in The Last of Us 2.

Looking ahead to a potential third entry in The Last of Us series, there are many paths Naughty Dog could decide upon. But if The Last of Us 3 continues Ellie’s story, it could endeavor to right the wrongs that Ellie and Joel have contributed to. Joel did a lot that he deemed necessary to survive, and in order to keep Ellie from dying he was willing to put down anyone attempting to stop him. Ellie was later enraged by his death, and she set out on a path of destruction to find his killer. In a Part 3, this could all come full circle.

RELATED: The Last of Us Part 3 Needs to Keep a Forward Momentum

The Last of Us 3 Should Come Full Circle for Ellie

20200727_151620-1

Joel has already received the ultimate punishment for his wrongdoings, and if his demise had to happen eventually, there was nobody better to deliver it to him than the daughter of a man Joel killed. Ellie had only previously killed people in order to defend herself, but The Last of Us 2 shows a different side of Ellie that begins as a noble pursuit and is soon warped by devastation. That said, Ellie has gone through enough harrowing moments in her life, and now might be the time to close the book on her part in The Last of Us.

The franchise has great potential in sharing other characters’ stories and is not exclusive to the lives of Ellie or Joel, meaning Naughty Dog could easily continue on without either of them. If The Last of Us 2 is the last time fans see Ellie, the sequel’s ending will have provided all the closure that she needs.

Each installment thus far has ended on a satisfying note without the need for another entry to tie up loose ends. Ellie’s part in The Last of Us could have ended with her wading out into the world as a lone survivor with a couple less fingers to show for it. In a Part 3, Ellie could be given the opportunity to fix the mistakes she and Joel made.

The Last of Us’ Ellie Should Have a Well-Deserved Finale

Untitled design (1)-2

The Last of Us tells some crucial stories about contentment, but it is primarily a story about anguish. The franchise leans heavily on tragedy as a way to embellish the hardships people endure on a daily basis, punctuating how important it is to hold onto loved ones. Joel makes the choice not to surrender Ellie and potentially condemns all of humanity as a result, and while many fans believe this was the right decision, Ellie resents him for it.

It has been teased that Abby and Lev reach the Fireflies following the events of The Last of Us 2, and if there is still a surgeon in the world who feels capable of doctoring a cure, that could be picked back up in The Last of Us 3. Ellie’s story could end with her back on a hospital table and making the choice to give her life for something meaningful, even if the chances of an actual vaccine being developed are slim.

The Last of Us 3 is rumored to be in development.

MORE: Adapting The Last of Us Part 2 to TV is Going to Be a Lot Trickier