The Last of Us II: Part XLIX (Time for processing this will take...mah heart...mah soul...Joel)

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Wow, had a couple days to process and I have to give the LOU2 a 6-7/10. The story didn't go the way I imagined, but that's ok; just because it broke my heart, soul and spirit to see my Daddy Joel die so stupidly, I felt intense emotions throughout the entire game. It was so hard to avoid spoilers, and right before I played, I accidentally saw a fu**ing comment on IG, and had to console my good friend (who already knew about spoilers) to have some LOU therapy. Unfortunately for my friend the buck stopped there, he would no longer be supporting ND in any shape way or form; I felt sad that there wasn't going to be someone to talk to after the emotional trauma I knew would happen, but I respected this decision and perspective, and decided I would go through with playing it, maybe even finding some solace after I knew the entire truth (context and all). No matter what, I told myself I would keep playing through, even if the unavoidable spoilers were true. ND has 100% freedom in expressing what they truly believe in, our interpretations are our own freedom as well and will vary widely...please use the comment section for your thoughts about the LOU2: SPOILERS BELOW
The game started off fantastically in true LOU form, tugging on heartstrings right from the start; seeing beloved characters converse with each other was very uplifting, after it being a while since we last saw them (2013). Joel riding/speaking with Tommy, telling him the truth about Ellie, then fast forward some time and he's speaking with Ellie and plays guitar (Pearl Jam's "Future Days"), which made me tear up for sure, because he is such a father figure. Being introduced to Abby (we/Joel killed her father/surgeon to get Ellie in LOU, since that specific brain surgery would kill her) and her set of friends who are part of the WLF, a group fighting against the Seraphites/Scars for more land and because each side thought someone broke the peace and shot one of their own (as you later find out in the story playing as Abby). Sh*t goes down and Abby miraculously runs into Joel and Tommy, who Fu**ing SAVES HER, when Tommy made the fatal mistake of actually saying their names, then when Abby told them she has a place to get away from the horde they ran into, Tommy and Joel go right along and into the fu**ing lion's den where once again knucklehead Tommy introduces them to everyone (weird like they weren't surprised, almost expecting lol). Abby proceeds to shotgun Joel's kneecap while Tommy gets pinned by other WLF members, Abby picks up a putter, and then a brutal round of golf simulator commences. Ellie is trying to find him, and when she does she is then pinned down to have a floor/eye level view of Joel getting his brains bashed in by Abby, as Ellie screams, BEGS her to please stop, but continues until Joel's brains are coming out of his head onto the surrounding objects/wall. After this, even knowing from dumb spoilers, I was still in a state of shock and just numb; it's a character I loved so fu**ing much, and personally and painfully hit too close to home. Going through that first intense moment of emotionally fueled rage and sadness, I wanted to end Abby very slowly/painfully. I felt as if some actions were completely out of character for Tommy, Joel, Ellie, and Abby (after getting to know her story/personality) and that led to 100% of the tragedies. As the story progresses playing with Ellie, you are hunting Abby and have to get through groups of Scars, WLF and Cordyceps, just killing EVERYONE except dogs; I couldn't kill the dogs, except for one part where you have to which is bullsh*t, should've been a trophy called "Saint Doge" where you achieved from not killing a single dog in the game. I loved all the graphics (downtown, Seattle Aquarium, forest, mountains, streams/rivers, oceans, extreme attention to detail), movement, shooting mechanics, the detailed imperfections on all creatures looked so realistic, all of that was amazingly fun and will probably play again on Grounded/Permadeath just for that sole reason. In the end, after playing as Ellie then Abby, you feel so hurt and lost that it transforms into a melancholy/numbness, like you don't want to ride the path of revenge anymore, just want it to be over; lol both girls definitely were done by the end, they just kept making decisions about vengeance for people who wouldn't want them to keep going on this path, since they look like shells of their former selves (body and soul) towards the end. They just become completely and utterly broken. Revenge is a path paved in misery and sorrow, and that simple point comes across strongly and is almost forced down your throat. The LOU3 is probably going to have Abby figuring out some way to get a solution for Cordyceps through Ellie, but finds someone who can extract it from her brain without killing Ellie...I'm hurt, but fu*k it, I started this intense story, I'll fu**ing finish it till ZEE END!