As I sat down to replay The Last of Us Part 2 in 2025, the vivid Seattle rain soaking the screen felt like a cold splash of déjà vu—not just for Ellie’s harrowing journey, but for the unexpected twist where Abby steps into the spotlight. That moment when Day 3 ends for Ellie and Day 1 begins for Abby, with a mirror held up between their worlds, still sends shivers down my spine. It’s not just a narrative device; it’s a raw, unspoken reflection of how tragedy binds us, forcing me to confront my own biases as a player. I’d grown attached to Ellie’s immunity-fueled saga, but Abby’s rage over her father’s death hit me like a forgotten wound reopening in a sterile room—sudden, intimate, and utterly disorienting. Now, with whispers of Part 3 swirling in the gaming community, I can’t help but wonder: will Lev rise as the new heart of this bleak universe, while Ellie finally catches her breath? The answer isn’t simple, and that’s what keeps me hooked, like a frayed thread begging to be pulled.

💬 The Mirror Between Worlds

Abby and Lev’s relationship isn’t a carbon copy of Joel and Ellie’s; it’s a distorted reflection, warped by the chaos of Seattle’s faction wars. Just as Joel reluctantly took Ellie under his wing, Abby found herself protecting Lev after the Scars' island ordeal—a twist of fate that felt less like destiny and more like a storm tossing two driftwood souls onto the same shore. Their bond lacks the paternal weight Joel carried; instead, it’s a partnership forged in fire, where Abby’s rescue of Lev wasn’t a burden but a fierce, almost instinctive act. I remember playing through those scenes, their interactions buzzing with a tension that was electric, yet fragile—like a spiderweb glistening with dew, beautiful but one wrong move from shattering. Unlike Joel and Ellie’s lie-riddled history, Abby and Lev’s trust is untainted, a rare purity in this infected world. If Naughty Dog pushes forward with them in Part 3, it could unravel into something profound, forcing us to question who the real heroes are in a landscape stripped of morality.

🎮 Gameplay Evolution: Lev's Stealthy Ascent

Lev’s potential as a protagonist excites me as a gamer, especially after dabbling in The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return mode. His playstyle, inherited from Ellie’s animations, currently has him wielding a switchblade—a choice that feels jarringly out of place, like fitting a square peg into a round hole 😅. For Part 3, I’d love to see him adopt a unique weapon that echoes his quieter, ranged-focused approach. Imagine a custom bow or a silenced pistol, reflecting his background with the Scars, rather than Abby’s brute-force hammer. It’s a subtle shift that could redefine combat, making each encounter feel as personal as a whispered secret in a crowded room. Here’s a quick comparison of how their dynamics might play out:

Aspect	Joel & Ellie	Abby & Lev
Bond Origin	Reluctant escort	Forced alliance in war
Key Conflict	Lie about the cure	No major secrets
Playstyle	Stealth & melee	Ranged & evasion
Emotional Weight	Father-daughter guilt	Mutual survival duty

Lev’s journey could mirror Ellie’s growth but in reverse—starting from trauma and blooming into resilience. As he navigates Catalina Island with the Fireflies, the role reversal where Lev cares for a wounded Abby, much like Ellie did for Joel, feels poetic. It’s a chance for him to step up, transforming from a sidekick into a beacon of hope in a world that’s long lost its shine. 😊

💔 Personal Resonance and the Path Forward

Playing through Abby’s story, I couldn’t shake the feeling that her and Lev’s connection was a tapestry woven with threads of loss and redemption—each strand frayed but impossibly strong. Their dynamic, free from the weight of Joel’s deception, offers a fresh start, like a phoenix rising from the ashes of old grievances. But it’s not without its thorns; the memory of Ellie nearly killing Abby on that beach still haunts me, a reminder that forgiveness in this world is as elusive as a whisper in the wind. If Part 3 sidelines Ellie, it’d be bittersweet—her immunity subplot dangles like an unopened letter, full of potential, yet Abby and Lev deserve their moment to shine without being overshadowed.

• Why this matters to me: As a lifelong gamer, I’ve seen countless narratives, but this one sticks because it forces empathy in unexpected ways. Ellie’s trauma deserves rest, yet dismissing Abby and Lev feels like ignoring a storm brewing on the horizon.

• The HBO factor: With Season 2 potentially skipping Abby’s Seattle arc for Season 3, I worry the show might lose the game’s nuanced build-up. It’s a delicate balance, like walking a tightrope over a canyon of fan expectations. 😬

In the end, Naughty Dog holds the cards. Will Lev become the new 'Ellie,' carrying the torch through Catalina’s trials? Or will Ellie’s unresolved immunity bring closure? The uncertainty is the beauty of it—a story that refuses to tie neat bows, leaving us to ponder what survival truly means in a world that’s always one step from collapse. 💭