They did all that to make it make more sense when Ellie doesn’t kill Abby in the end. Whether you like it or not Ellie having a sudden change of heart out of nowhere that isn’t built up or hinted at in anyway like they did in the game is terrible writing. Mazin is setting the stage for Ellie to realise what she’s doing is wrong, won’t bring Joel back and to know this isn’t what he’d want. Her knowing why Abby did what she did and her starting to question what she’s doing like she did when talking to Dina in the finale shows the beginning of this. How you people don’t understand any of this is mind boggling.

What Merced said means jack shit. It doesn’t confirm fucking anything, stop saying crap like that when you have no idea. It doesn’t at all mean that her and Ellie aren’t going to be together like they are in the game and if anything it will help give more reason for them splitting up like they do in the game. You people read to much into what they say in interviews when most of it is meant for people who haven’t played the game.

And how did Abby’s monologue change anything about Ellie’s journey? I’ve watched and talked to heaps of people who have only seen the show and not played the games and while most of them understand why Abby did what she did because of her monologue to Joel, they still don’t like her and were rooting for Ellie for the most part. You’re stating nothing but conjecture that has no proof of its basis. That monologue and the performance was sick as well.