u/SecondRedditAccount4

Shiiiit I applied to a job right NOW watching this shit.

Most of this sub trashes Neil for how the story was handled in LOU2, even calling him a “bad writer” and offering suggestions on what he should’ve done with the plot instead.

The irony is that pretty much ALL of the changes that people suggested are exactly that he had in mind from the start.

EXAMPLE 1: Most people have a problem with Ellie not killing Abby. After murdering hundreds of people just to get to Abby, letting her go seemed pointless. She could’ve quite literally stayed home and Abby would’ve died by herself.

- Neil knows. That’s why his original plan was to have Ellie kill Abby. In fact, 50% of the game was created with the idea that Abby gets killed in the end. Lev was even supposed to die too. So what happened you ask?! Halley Gross decided to have Ellie let her go free and Neil listened.

EXAMPLE 2: Most people have an issue with how Abbie miraculously found Joel, How Tommy told her both his and Joel’s name, and how they felt comfortable following total strangers to their hideout.

- Well according to the official Artbook, Neil’s original plan would’ve had Abby infiltrate Jackson. Befriend Joel and Ellie, Gain everyone’s trust over a course of time before striking when they let their guard down.

This makes infinitely more sense. Instead of trusting strangers they met 8 minutes ago, they trusted someone who they thought they knew for possibly years or at the least months.

This would also make the revenge plot even more personal for Tommy and Ellie as this is someone who they thought they had a relationship with.

As for why it was changed, we actually don’t have an official answer. But I’m going to assume meddling as this is very similar to the original end for Joel back in the first game.

EXAMPLE 3: Most people complain about Abby’s physique. Claiming that it’s unrealistic in that type of world (Despite the fact that we clearly see the Wolves have access to a Gym and Cafeteria in the stadium).

- Well we can see her original concept art and she looks very average. What changed?! Well most people attribute that to his attempts at over correctness of Sexualized characters. So not his own plans, just what he thought others would like.

Not as bad as “**Ethan Must Die**”, but Rank 5 was starting to get close.