Ellie + Season Two
Ellie
Following Ellie’s character, I wanted to touch on how she is already being set up for season two, which will follow the events of the second game. Ellie’s more violent side is showcased in almost every episode. All of which will crescendo in the second season. Her character in the game is violent, she kills many people and infected along the way, but what makes it different in the show is how much she obsesses over it, how natural it comes to her, and how easy thinks it is.
The biggest example of her fascination with violence is at the end of the first episode. When she, Tess, and Joel are caught by a FEDRA solider and Joel takes that man out. She doesn’t know that it’s a PTSD reaction from Sarah, but she is still so fascinated by his sheer force and strength. It’s something she wants for herself. To be able to take out an armed guard empty handed and win. This is also such a good contrasting parallel between Sarah and Ellie. Sarah, upon seeing her dad kill Ms. Adler, she cries and is scared even if she was threatening her life. But Ellie, when she sees Joel take out the solider is mesmerized. This difference between them scares Joel a little bit, he’s thinking “Who is this kid and what have I gotten myself into?”
Another example of Ellie’s darker side is when she kills the infected guy trapped under rubble with her switchblade just because she can. She does this with anger in her eyes. It’s revenge for all the people she’s lost.
And then her familiarity with the gun she steals from Frank as she practices holding it, loading it, and shooting it in the bathroom mirror of the gas station. The question arises, why does Ellie have such familiarity with things so much darker than she seems capable of and why does she have this fascination with them?
Season Two
Without giving too much away for season two, the writers are already setting up the themes and character arcs and it’s really exciting to see how full circle everything will be! A big theme we’re already seeing that will continue through to season two is the idea of the circle of vengeance and revenge brought on by grief. We see this personified with Kathleen. How the love for her brother calls her to seek revenge on Henry, no matter the cost.
Even the end of the first season has been set up in these Kansas City episodes. The choices Henry makes to save his brother’s life and the question of why your child’s life means more than the “greater good” of the world. All of it is so brilliant and I love that we can already see ripples and reflections of what is coming next.