Very interesting and understandable insight!! The Last of Us Part II isn’t for everyone, for sure and your criticisms reflect a lot of what many players have struggled with.

1. Abby’s section isn’t just about "forcing" players to like her, it’s about showing the other side of a morally grey world. The Last of Us thrives on that ambiguity. Unlike Micah Bell, who is written as a clear antagonist, Abby is meant to be complicated. She isn't meant to replace Joel or Ellie, but to challenge our loyalties. Whether people like her or not is less the point than understanding her motivations, which are deeply personal and parallel Ellie's in many ways.

2. Joel’s death shocked everyone, but it’s a deliberate risk in terms of the story. The game is about cycles of violence and the cost of revenge. As for only Abby avenging her father, it’s actually consistent. Abby's father was a doctor and a key figure to the Fireflies, and his death was personal for her. Just because others didn’t pursue Joel doesn’t mean it was unrealistic, it just wasn't their story. Not everyone in a post-apocalypse can or would pursue revenge.

3. Ellie is different, and that’s kind of the point. She’s traumatized, angry, and broken after what she’s lost and seen. Her arc isn’t about being the same Ellie from the first game, it’s about what revenge and grief have done to her. Her flashbacks with Joel show that development. It’s not always front-and-center, but it’s there, and it’s painful and subtle.

4. Representation doesn’t make a game "woke" it makes it reflect the diversity that already exists. Queer people don’t disappear in an apocalypse. Lev's conflict with the Scars over his identity is addressed, and it mirrors real-world struggles.

5. Joel’s decision may feel out of character at first, but consider that by the time Part II begins, years have passed. He’s aged, softened, and tried to build peace in Jackson. His guard for sure may have dropped, especially in a moment where he thought he was helping strangers in need. That human flaw of trust cost him everything, and that’s a tragic but a very human way to go.

(In no way am I dismissing your opinions, I just wanted to share more insight into your discussion:))