Now that it's been over a year since the release of The Last of Us 2, fans have been revisiting it to once again experience the journeys of Ellie and Abby as they try to break the cycle of violence that they are perpetually stuck in. Recently, a player discovered that Abby can kill Tommy during the infamous sniper section in Abby's Seattle Day Three. Tommy's death at this moment is clearly not a scripted part of the game, as his survival is a crucial part of the narrative after his shootout with Abby and Manny. This unintended moment has had fans revisiting the section to see if they're fast enough to catch up with Tommy and kill him as well.
The viral clip has not only thrust that moment of The Last of Us 2 into the spotlight, but also Tommy's character as a whole. In a story full of tragic endings, Tommy's ending is among the bleakest, so fans have been speculating where the character might end up in the potential Last of Us 3.
This article contains major plot spoilers for The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2.
Tommy in The Last of Us 2
Tommy is one of the most important characters in The Last of Us 2's story, as he is one of the people who help set its entire plot into motion. After Joel's murder at the start of the game, he leaves the Wyoming-based settlement, Jackson, in search of finding the WLF, the faction responsible for his brother's death. Much of Ellie's time in Seattle is spent picking up the pieces that Tommy left behind as he searches for revenge. He's eventually shot by Abby before she and Ellie have a confrontation in the movie theater. Following Ellie and Abby's theater fight, Ellie, Dina, and Tommy make it back to Jackson with their lives.
Several months later, Tommy, to be played by Gabriel Luna in the upcoming Last of Us HBO series, visits Dina and Ellie's farm with news on where Abby went. He also reveals that his wife Maria left him following his unannounced departure from Jackson earlier in the game. Because of his gunshot wound from Abby, Tommy is left limping and with permanent damage to his face. Once Ellie and Dina refuse his offer to look for Abby, he leaves upset with Ellie's unwillingness to "make her pay." That's the last time Tommy is seen onscreen in The Last of Us 2, but his final scene helps paint the painful image of where he might have ended up following the events of the game.
The Unknown Plot of The Last of Us 3
Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has made it clear that, although the studio is thinking about a third Last of Us game, it's not anywhere close to being in production. That means that everything discussed here is pure speculation and should be taken with a grain of salt, as The Last of Us 3 isn't even in development yet. That said, just as Tommy played a major role in both Last of Us titles, it's likely that he'll be back impacting the story for the third game.
What Might Happen to Tommy in The Last of Us 3
While not explicitly said, it's likely that even though he and Maria are "taking some time apart," it's implied that Tommy is still living in Jackson. In his current state, he doesn't seem like he'd be able to take care of himself alone in the harsh world outside of the town. With his limited mobility, it would make the most sense that he would stay in Jackson for the foreseeable future. That's likely where he'll be found in The Last of Us 3 following the news that Ellie did go off looking for Abby in California.
After Ellie makes it back to the farm following her final confrontation with Abby, it's unknown if she too returns to Jackson or moves on elsewhere. As such, it's also unclear if Tommy ever discovers the fates of Ellie and Abby. Either way, it's unlikely that he'll be at peace with the knowledge that either Ellie let Abby live or that Ellie was killed by Abby in California. He seems to be a shell of the person he once was in his final scene in The Last of Us 2, and he certainly doesn't seem to be on an upward trajectory.
By the end of The Last of Us 2, Tommy is consumed by revenge and will most likely let it continue consuming him until he gets it. If The Last of Us 3 is going to continue with The Last of Us 2's theming of the cycle of violence and the destructive nature of revenge, then it would make sense that Tommy is exactly where he was left at the end of The Last of Us 2; a broken-spirited man obsessed with revenge that's never going to come. While it's unclear what direction The Last of Us 3 will go in, if Tommy is in it, his future doesn't look particularly bright. He likely still harbors resentment towards Ellie, though, which might kick off certain elements of the plot.
Another potential scenario is that Tommy might not be central to the plot of The Last of Us 3 at all, but his wife Maria might be. As the leader of Jackson, Maria had background roles in both Last of Us titles, but she may have a bigger role in future games. After her split from Tommy, she might blame Ellie and Dina for Tommy's vengeful choices, becoming something of an antagonist or point of conflict. In that situation, Tommy may also re-appear to blame Ellie out of spite, criticizing her for letting Abby go.
No matter what happens in The Last of Us 3, it's pretty likely that Tommy will continue to be a part of the story given how much he was involved with The Last of Us 2. Whether it is in an active or passive role, Tommy remains connected to Ellie's story for the simple fact that he's Joel's only surviving family.
The Last of Us 2 is available now for PS4.