Summary
The Last of Uswas quickly given the title of one of the best games on its native PS3, and over the years it has mustered a reputation far higher than most other titles. A sequel wasn’t necessary, but fans were clearly eager for more, anddeveloper Naughty Dogwas surely all too willing to oblige.The Last of Us 2released in 2020, but not without controversy, as some took issue with the tale being told.
The Last of Us 2’s story takes chances and is deliberately far less focused and linear than the first. More personalities are pushed to the forefront, and while some are stand-outs, others are pushed to the wayside, feeling mishandled at times. Jesse falls in the latter category and despite his obvious strengths, he ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression, meeting a stunted end.
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Jesse is Likable, but Inconsequential
The fundamental narrative thread ofThe Last of Us 2is about Ellie’s desperate quest for revenge, and Abby’s journey to the light, telling of how each share a fateful connection due to a loss in their lives. It’s all the story needs to be effective in pulling the player in and keeping their attention, but the second game is more ambitious with its cast of characters this time around. Instead of just focusing onJoel and Ellie,The Last of Us 2has more threads, be it Tommy’s handling of Joel’s death, Dina’s pregnancy, or Isaac’s grip on the Washington Liberation Front. Jesse is one of the personalities that can often get lost in the pack.
He’s introduced to players as one of Ellie’s friends in Jackson, and a third participant in the love triangle that includes Ellie and Dina. He’s plucky, loyal, and comes across as a genuine friend to the protagonist, especially when hejoins Ellie in Seattle. However, his place in the story is too fleeting for gamers to generate any kind of attachment to the character, so when he meets his brutal but swift end, it doesn’t have the desired effect as he just doesn’t feel vital to the emotional weight of the rest of the exceptional story.
Closure is Scarce in The Last of Us 2
Jesse showed enough promise to deservemore screen time inThe Last of Us 2, so while his input in the first half of the game is fleeting, his death cuts short the change of any more context to his character through the 2020 game. Like the giraffe scene in the 2013 game, players' expectations are subverted massively, though instead of resulting in an uplifting sight, Jesse’s quick death at the hands of Abby is shocking, but impactful only for that scene, as he didn’t truly leave his mark.
The lack of a resolution for his character is disappointing and renders him largely disposable. In fact, the story moves on from Jesse with his son being born to Dina and Ellie as his parents. If Dina and Ellie’s family-shattering conclusion is picked up in the next mainline installment, it’s possible that Jesse won’t even be an element in their conversations anymore.
That’s not to say he can’t have some kind of closure in a future game, however. Joel’s fate was almost as fast as Jesse’s, and much of theopening few hours ofThe Last of Us 2are spent mourning Ellie’s father figure after Abby ruthlessly cuts his life short. In many ways, Ellie is chasing closure for Joel through most of the story, even if she doesn’t want to accept or admit it. But Jesse isn’t as adored by fans, so his sudden ending feels like a lack of closure rather than a thrilling surprise.
The Last of Us Part 2is available on PS4.
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