The not-so-innocent Ellie we knew in 2013 is now a young adult on The Last of Us Part II. As the game progresses, Ellie has to make some close calls and tough choices that eventually lead to her fate at the end of the game.
On this list, we're looking back at both games and choosing our picks of five times when Joel went too far and five times when Ellie did. If you have not played the original Last of Us or Part II, you will be free to back off because there will be many massive spoilers ahead.
10 When Ellie Reads Bill's X-Rated Magazines
Remember when The Last of Us was just a "fun" ride of Joel and his "cargo" throughout the country to find the Fireflies? To find the rebel militia group, Joel decides to ask for a go-to working vehicle from an old pal, Bill. As soon as they get the car steady and running, the two bounce, but not without Ellie's tricky light hands. She steals a magazine from Bill's place and jokingly asks Joel, "How the hell would he even walk around with that thing?" Nobody exactly knows what"'that thing" is, so it's up to the player to decide, but the only significant clue is when Joel awkwardly answers, "Ellie, that ain't for kids."
9 When Joel Becomes a Smuggler
Twenty years after losing his beloved daughter from the military's relentless hands, Joel finds himself in an uneasy situation. He turns into a more violent person and becomes a hunter with his brother, Tommy, as a way to survive. Fed up with Joel's way of thinking, Tommy insists on joining the Fireflies, leaving his brother on his own.
Then, the beginning of The Last of Us events begin. Joel meets a young lady, Tess, and pairs up with her as smugglers. We all know how Joel is tasked to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie shortly after, but God only knows what kind of smuggling he'd done before that.
8 When Ellie Ignores Dina's Advise to Not Look Back
After a considerable amount of peaceful time at the farm with her sweetheart Dina and JJ, Ellie suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder episode at the barn, caused by the tragic death of Joel. She insists on finishing what she left off and embarking on a dark road of revenge for one last time. Dina tries her best to prevent her, but Ellie is Ellie. She's hot-headed and determined.
7 When Joel Turns Into an Overprotective Father Figure at the Party
Joel had always been a parental figure to Ellie, even though she denies it. After escaping the Fireflies, the pair moves up to Jackson to settle down peacefully. During a party at the camp, Ellie and Dina share a romantic kiss on the dancefloor before Seth reviles them for kissing and makes a homophobic remark. Joel steps up in Ellie's defense, only for her precious Ellie to despise him. Although Joel means no harm, keeping your hands off someone's business is always good for you.
6 When Ellie Brutally Kills David
At some point, Ellie and Joel get separated during the winter on the original Last of Us. In desperate need of medicine for Joel, Ellie runs into David, and little did she know that David is a cannibalistic, hebephilic survivor. David and his right-hand man, James, pin Ellie down to slaughter her for foods before Ellie manages to slash James' throat and escape from the predator.
The two reunite again at an old restaurant. After a couple of physical altercations, Ellie violently and repeatedly stabs David in the neck and the face before Joel shows up and gives his her the warmest hug of reassurance. Her last piece of innocence is now gone, and she becomes quieter after the encounter.
5 When Joel Kills Marlene, In Defense of Ellie
Over the course of The Last of Us, Joel's turbulent relationship with Ellie turns from "cargo" to "baby girl," so it makes total sense when he does all he can to protect her and keep her alive. After months of traveling the country to find the Fireflies, Joel decides to do the unthinkable: eliminating the Fireflies and rescuing Ellie. As Joel and unconscious Ellie head to the exit, Marlene confronts them and tries to convince Joel to give up Ellie. Joel then shoots Marlene in the head.
4 When Ellie Lets Nora Breathe Spores & Beats Her With A Pipe Repeatedly
Determined and hungry for revenge of Joel's death, Ellie tracks the remaining members of the Washington Liberation Front that participated in the brutal murder at their Seattle base to find Abby. After learning about Nora's current whereabouts, Ellie heads to the hospital and holds Nora at gunpoint. After an exhausting cat-and-mouse game, Ellie pushes Nora into a spore-infested lower level of the hospital with her. With no mercy left, Ellie lets Nora breathe spores while interrogating her. Ellie ends up beating her to death repeatedly with a pipe, and as she heads back to the base, she's already a much different person.
3 When Joel Kills Abby's Father
At the end of The Last of Us, Joel wakes up from unconsciousness and fights his way through the St. Mary Hospital to "rescue" Ellie and prevent her from being "sent to Belize." After successfully eliminating a couple of Fireflies in the process, Joel goes to the operating room and kills the head doctor.
Then, we know what's coming on Joel's fate on the game's sequel. Abby, the surgeon's daughter, tracks him down for years and kills him in a cold-blood execution with a golf club.
2 When Ellie Nearly Kills Weakened Abby at the Beach
Suffering from trauma and grief, Ellie steps down from her quiet life at the farm with Dina and JJ to get revenge. A piece of information from Tommy leads her to track down Abby, and during their last showdown at the beach, you can see how broken and unhinged Abby has become from being captured and starved. After everything, Ellie still wants her revenge, and nearly kills Abby in front of Lev.
As soon as she heads back to the farm, Ellie lost the quiet life she once briefly had. No Dina. No JJ. No Jesse. No Tommy cause he wouldn't forgive her of almost letting Abby go. She even lost two of her fingers and was unable to play her guitar.
1 When Joel Lies to Ellie About What Happened to the Fireflies
The last and probably the most significant lie ever told through the game is when Joel lies to Ellie about the Fireflies and how her immunity is nothing special, and the cure is never happening.
If he doesn't lie, his relationship with Ellie could have been better. Ellie would probably still go after Abby, but at least during his last days, the two wouldn't have to fall out and go through a rough patch in their relationship.