What Are Your Thoughts On Abby?

What are your thoughts on Abby?

Absolutely no judgement wether you like/dislike her, I feel like this is a controversial question within the fandom lol

hi, anon, I have many a thought and this is definitely a controversial question in the fandom lmao

I think she grows on you. when I first watched a gameplay, I absolutely hated her, I hated the fact that you had to play as her and that her part might be longer (it felt like it at the time, but I'm not sure if it is actually longer) than Ellie's. but after watching it for the third time, I do not despise her anymore. I get why she did what she did, but I do not love her.

again, I get why she did the golfing, but really? it was 4 years, Abby. surely, you noticed that you'd just be passing your own grief onto someone else? and shooting him in the leg? really? I imagine that was because Abby knew it wouldn't have been an easy fight if he wasn't injured, but still. he helped you, man. once Ellie got there and Abby had to hear the cries and the screams from her, did she not realize that Joel was a father figure to her? that she would just be pushing her own giref onto her? and 4 years, really? I know I already mentioned that, but seriously. she had to have realized at some point that killing Joel wouldn't help her.

however, they did make Abby similar to Joel, so it isn't a strong hatred at all. her willing to risk everything for Yara and Lev, then doing everything in her power to protect Lev. Joel did the same for Ellie, and look where that got him. I don't know how to properly articulate this, anon, but I do get why she did it, I just don't like it.

and that isn't solely for the fact of the golfing. it's also - it didn't need to be that brutal. at all. it didn't need to happen in front of Ellie. Abby wasn't there for Jerry's death, and Jerry's death was pretty clean cut. there was no pain. just a shot to the head. Joel's?? first you shoot him in the leg, then drag him down to a basement and beat the shit out of him with a golf club? and not stopping when his daughter comes in? it didn't need to go like that.

and the theater?? yes, Ellie didn't need to kill every single one of Abby's friends, but tbh Ellie lost everyone that meant something to her, so Abby taking Joel was most likely just the final straw for her. Ellie wasn't in the right state of mind for that whole trip, and yes, she was in the wrong, but that isn't to say that Abby's in the right. I know Abby didn't know this, but Ellie did not know Mel was pregnant, Abby was told point blank that Dina was, and she still tried to kill her. I am forever grateful that Lev got her to stop, cause man, I would not have survived that. but it's just a constant cycle of grief. Joel kills Jerry, Abby kills Joel, Ellie kills Abby's friends, Abby kills one of Ellie's and tries for more.

and then the epilogue???? this has many variables to it, in my opionon. yes, Abby did leave Ellie after the theater, so Ellie going after her was her own choice and so she could've deserved what happened. but I don't think it was really Ellie's choice in going. this is why we don't like game Tommy, by the way. Ellie wanted to go after Abby before she showed up at the theater, Tommy wanted to take Dina and everyone back to Jackson, so they did. and then once Ellie is living as best a life as she can, all things considered, Tommy shows up and yells at her to go back after Abby because "'I'll make her pay.' That's what you said once we got back to Jackson." and Ellie does go after her, because this grief is just. so heavy in her, she feels she has to.

but her going to Santa Barbara means that she was able to save Abby and Lev. so she did, and then she fought her. I'm torn for the fight because Abby kept telling Ellie to just let them leave, and they'll forget everything and they won't have to see each other again. but also Abby bit off her fucking fingers, so. her biting off the fingers has always gotten me. I know Abby doesn't know about Ellie's life outside all this fighting, but that was her one connection to Joel. and now. it's gone. but Ellie was able to realize that killing Abby wouldn't do anything. it wouldn't bring Joel back. it wouldn't make any of this better. if anything, it'll make it worse and also pass it onto Lev.

so yes, this is how I feel about Abby. I do not hate her, but she is not a favourite. she's very neutral to me currently, but everytime I rewatch the game, I hate her less, so with this fourth rewatch, my opinions may change again. but this is how I currently feel

I've wanted to post something like this for a while, but have been weirdly shy and nervous? fuck it - I'll say my peace and then scuttle off to my dark corner of this hellscape of an app again--

fanfic writers are just so fucking important.

this year in particular, for me, reading hundreds of thousands of words which strangers on the internet have turned into breathtaking stories, in their own free time and without monetary compensation I might remind everyone, has brought me immeasurable joy, excitement, and comfort.

life's been hard for a lot of people these past few years. I think we're all in desperate need of wholesome community. I truly believe in my heart that fanfic writers provide that in a very unique and wonderful way. so many fans on this app will consume and consume and consume this content and maybe never think twice about dropping a comment, providing encouragement, or simply hitting reblog with tags to spread the talent and entertainment further around the tumblrverse.

I used to be guilty of this: liking a story or series and just hoarding it to myself like a little smut dragon who didn't realize how impactful comments and reblogs really are to these authors. ever since coming to this realization, I make a greater effort to ensure each and every person's series, blurbs, and one-shots I read know just how much I love them, and how much their work means to me.

so whether or not anyone else sees this post, agrees with it or not, I just wanted to take time out of my night and say thank you. Thank you to every single writer who has generously given so much incredible fandom content on this site. I see you. I appreciate you.

@therestofyourstory @no-droids @whirlybirbs @charnelhouse @jangofctts @inklore @the-darklings @softlyspector @sinsofsummers @fuckyeahdindjarin @hier--soir @jrrmint @macfrog @bageldaddy @darkroastjoel @psychedelic-ink @frannyzooey @astroboots @swiftispunk @author-morgan @poppy-metal @ohcaptains @ezrasbirdie

Do you think the future seasons will be as violent as part 2 is?

They definitely took a lot of the violence out of season 1, so they could focus more on building Ellie and Joel’s relationship. But I wonder if they’ll do the same for part 2.

I feel like some of the vioence may make them loose viewers (Joel golfing scene) just because non-game fans aren’t expecting that much

honestly? I have no idea

they did take a bunch of violence out of the first season to build stuff up more, so I imagine they'd take a bunch out for the second season, as well. but I feel it would be odd? I can't picture the second season/game without violence, so I think it'd be a bit weird, but they might be able to pull it off since they did for the first season/game, and because the viewers probably won't be expecting that level of it.

I don't see them changing the golfing tbh, but they might change other violent scenes/parts? like, the dogs? they better not kill the dogs. especially Alice??? please do not. no, but they might take out more of the fights. like I imagine they'll still have stuff for the scars/seraphites, but not everything? and a part of me is not expecting the rat king to be in the show. I can't remember the other fights right now, but I might come back to this once we finish the rewatch :) which we're avoiding cause we're about to be at the golfing

but yeah, I imagine they'll take some of the violence out. which I have mixed feelings on, cause the second game is so violent, it'll be weird to not have as much? but also, if they take stuff out, hopefully it's not the constant cycle of death and grief

hello I am back!

we have finished the fic we were reading and WAH I have no words, so go also read "if the timing is right I'll turn back the clock" by @lkay-09 I just finished it, so I am at a loss for words, but she was able to describe how I imagine the estrangement went perfectly in the fifth chapter. and it was so chefs kiss. Joel and Ellie have many a talk and some of these talks are what we deserved in part 2 :')

Do you have any fanfic recommendations?

hi, anon! I do! I read a little fic every night as ✨️enrichment time✨️ so there's gonna be a lot. all of these are on ao3 :)

"I think I saved myself by saving you" by @not-so-mundane-after-all was actually my first tlou fic that I read! it's a sickfic where Ellie gets sick before leaving Jackson

"violent heart" by @timelesslords is another good one! it's ep8 aftercare, but with aspects from the game and the show. she also has one from Joel's perspective called "never let you down again"

"never let me down again" by tayyys (I'm not sure what their tumblr is) is a good one! it's a rewrite of ep6 and on, where Ellie leaves after having overheard Tommy and Joel's conversation

"miller lite" by captainredspade (CodeNameArtemis) is also good! this one has a lot of Tommy and Ellie bonding, but it's angst cause Ellie got hurt on a day trip with him

"irreplacable" by captainredspade (CodeNameArtemis) is one where Ellie takes a bite for Tommy and there's more bonding between them

"heaven doesn't want me now" by @lkay-09 is one where Ellie (sort of) gets a choice at the hospital. some of the lines in there are just *chefs kiss*

"come tomorrow this will all be in our past" also by @lkay-09 is one where Tommy goes with Ellie, instead of Joel, in ep6

"triplicate" by @penandinkprincess is a very angsty one where Joel finds Ellie's file at the hospital in Salt Lake!

"a half-step to the left" also by @penandinkprincess is the Tess lives au we all asked for hehe :)

"glimpses unseen" by flannelfeelings (@boopernatural here :)) is one where we see Tommy's trauma of losing Sarah when Ellie gets hurt outside the walls

I shall stop listing them now as there are A Lot, but I recomend lkay, pen, and flannelfeelings' fics a lot :) there's a lot of fics between them all and they're all so good :)

Random question- do you happen to know if Joel calls Ellie cargo in the game?

I believe he does! I think it's sort of in passing? cause I do not remember it lmao, but I do think he does!

also! since we've been talking about the game to show for season 2, how do we think they're gonna do the whole horde? there wasn't a bunch of infected in the first season, so would they even include the horde? or would they change it to something else? basically, how are they gonna have Abby meet Joel and Tommy?