Before Joel meets Ellie in The Last of Us, players see him with Tess. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, as both are hardened survivors who know about the goings-on in the Boston quarantine zone. The 20 years that Joel spent after the death of his daughter Sarah built up quite a reputation; albeit not exactly a good one.
Tess is no slouch either. Her scenes in The Last of Us show how capable and assertive she can be, even playing a key role in the journey Joel and Ellie take for most of the game. Tess may only be in The Last of Us for a short while, but her character influences both of the main protagonists as they begin their cross-country quest. Spoilers for The Last of Us ahead.
Tess As a Friend and a Partner
As players are introduced to the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us, they are also introduced to Tess and a much older Joel. Joel is now a hardened survivor and smuggler, having lived with the death of his daughter for the last 20 years. Tess is mostly the same, though her familial status is unknown and she is more talkative. Together, the two run a business smuggling things in and out of the Boston quarantine zone, with Joel serving as the muscle while Tess is the brains of the operation. It is implied that there is more to Joel and Tess' relationship than just business, as the two live together and Tess constantly flirts with him.
For Joel, Tess is someone he can rely on as a friend and a partner. Her initial fight with Robert's men shows that she can take care of herself, and her position as the boss of their smuggling operation proves that she can take charge of any situation. It must have been hard for other people to get close to Joel after the death of Sarah, but because of a need for survival and her capabilities, Tess might have been able to break into Joel's circle of trust easier than others.
Tess As a Reliable Adult and Mother Figure
When Ellie meets Joel and Tess for the first time, she is apprehensive about them. Both look like grunts who are trying to rough up Marlene - the leader of the Fireflies and Ellie's guardian. This is why Ellie lashes out at Joel and Tess with her switchblade, and when Marlene says that Ellie has to go with Joel and Tess to the Boston Capitol Building, she vocally expresses his disagreement. But after hearing that Marlene trusts them, Ellie cautiously follows Joel.
This journey to the Capitol Building is where Ellie starts to build trust in Joel and Tess. She sees how the two work, listens to their explanations about the world, and follows their lead. As Tess is more talkative than Joel and carries the air of a leader, Ellie naturally becomes closer to her. Seeing as the trio is fighting for their lives, they eventually grow to trust each other.
Tess As an Unforeseen Complication
After narrowly escaping an encounter with some Infected, Tess gets bitten. Knowing that her fate is sealed, she asks Joel to escort Ellie over to his brother Tommy in Jackson, which is a ways away from Boston. Joel could have denied Tess' final wish, but because of their relationship he obliges and tells Ellie to follow him. Out of respect for Tess and having no other options, Ellie accompanies Joel out of the Capitol Building. As the two leave, they see Tess make her last stand against a group of F.E.D.R.A. soldiers.
Tess' death affects Joel and Ellie differently. Joel learns to be more cautious about letting people get close to him, as can be seen by his initial apprehension toward Ellie. But her death also teaches Joel to be more cautious about taking risks. Ellie's position as smuggled cargo makes her feel guilty for Tess' death. Perhaps because of this guilt, Ellie becomes more considerate of Joel and eases up on him (she even apologizes about what happened later in Bill's town). This consideration plays a part in the deep relationship Joel and Ellie forge throughout their journey.
Tess' death may have been the catalyst for Joel and Ellie's quest, but her life left a lasting impression on both of them. Her relationship with Joel proved he could trust other people, while the short time she spent with Ellie let the teenager see how capable an assertive woman can be. Being the first supporting character in The Last of Us' post-apocalypse, Tess sets the bar for other characters that follow.
The Last of Us Part 1 releases September 2, 2022 for PS5, and a PC release is also in development.