A Case Study in Woke Culture Over Substance

[cypher]

I have seen some posts and threads on this forum asking what are the woke elements in TLOU 2, and why the game is considered woke. I have also seen some people claim, "Oh, It's because Ellie is a lesbian," "It's because Lev is trans," or "it's because Abby looks like a dude." And I wanted to go in detail over the woke elements present in this game.

If there’s one thing The Last of Us Part II made clear, it’s that Naughty Dog cared more about pushing an agenda than crafting a great story. What should have been an emotional, character-driven continuation of a beloved classic was instead hijacked by social justice messaging, forced diversity, and identity politics that took precedence over narrative depth. Let’s break down exactly why this game became the ultimate showcase of modern gaming’s obsession with woke ideology.

1. Forced Diversity That Feels Artificial
Diversity in games is great—when it feels natural. The Last of Us Part II doesn’t even try to make it organic. Instead, it approaches diversity like a corporate checklist, making sure to cram in as many identity markers as possible, regardless of whether they add anything to the story. Ellie’s relationship with Dina feels less like a natural romance and more like an advertisement for the game’s progressive credentials. It’s constantly emphasized, not because it serves the plot in a meaningful way, but because it checks a box.

Then there’s Lev, a transgender character whose entire existence revolves around his identity. Rather than being a fully fleshed-out character with goals and struggles beyond his gender, he is reduced to a symbol for social commentary. Instead of enhancing the world or contributing to the overall theme, Lev feels like a last-minute addition designed to score points with activists and progressive gaming media.

2. The Systematic Undermining of Masculinity
One of the clearest examples of The Last of Us Part II’s woke agenda is its treatment of traditional masculinity. Joel, the strong and morally complex father figure from the first game, is discarded in the most degrading way possible—beaten to death while Ellie watches, unable to do anything. This is no accident; it’s a clear statement that the rugged, protective male archetype is outdated and must be torn down.

Meanwhile, male characters in the game are either weak, irrelevant, or outright villainous. Jesse, one of the few competent men, is unceremoniously killed off without any real impact. The remaining men are either passive, incompetent, or exist solely to serve female characters. At the same time, the most physically dominant and aggressive character in the game is Abby, a woman with an exaggerated, unrealistic body type that makes her look more like a professional MMA fighter than a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world. The message is clear: traditional strong male figures are obsolete, and only women can be the true powerhouses in this narrative.

3. The Game’s Insistence That You Love Abby
Abby is not just an unlikable character—she’s designed to challenge players’ ability to sympathize with her. The developers don’t just introduce her as Joel’s killer; they force players to spend half the game playing as her, as if hammering home the idea that you must see things from her perspective. The problem? The game never gives Joel the same level of sympathy or depth in this installment. He’s executed early on, given no redemption, and then the rest of the game is spent trying to justify Abby’s actions.

This is a classic example of modern media forcing “morally grey” narratives in a way that feels less like storytelling and more like ideological lecturing. It’s not enough for the audience to understand Abby—they are expected to embrace her as a protagonist, despite the game doing everything possible to make her unlikable.

4. The Feminist Power Fantasy at the Core of the Game
A major aspect of The Last of Us Part II’s woke agenda is its over-the-top feminist messaging. The game doesn’t just feature strong women—it goes out of its way to assert that women must be dominant while men are either weak or expendable. Abby embodies this entirely. She’s physically superior to every man in the game, suffers no real consequences for her actions, and is framed as a justified and righteous character despite committing brutal, unforgivable acts.

Meanwhile, Ellie, the actual protagonist, is stripped of her strength by the end of the game. Instead of allowing her to have a proper arc, the story leaves her broken, alone, and without resolution. This isn’t just a bleak ending—it’s an intentional statement about how vengeance, justice, and even personal agency are not meant for her character. Abby, on the other hand, is allowed to walk away, effectively victorious. The message is clear: the “old way” of telling stories, where male characters were the driving force and female characters faced consequences, is outdated. Instead, the new era demands that female power come at the cost of deconstructing traditional heroes.

5. Naughty Dog’s Dishonest Marketing
Naughty Dog knew that if they revealed the full truth about The Last of Us Part II, the backlash would have been immediate. That’s why they deliberately misled players in the trailers, showing Joel in scenes that he was never actually in. They tricked fans into thinking this was a story about Joel and Ellie’s journey, only to pull the rug out from under them in the most cynical way possible.

If the developers truly believed in their creative vision, why lie about it? Because they knew the truth wouldn’t sell. They wanted people to buy into the sequel based on nostalgia, only to hit them with a narrative that served their ideological goals rather than honoring the story and characters that made the original game great.

6. Neil Druckmann: The Architect of the Agenda
A major reason The Last of Us Part II became such a woke disaster is Neil Druckmann himself. As the game’s director, he has openly admitted to being inspired by modern feminist literature and progressive ideology, injecting those ideas into the game at the expense of good storytelling. Instead of respecting the foundation of the first game, he used the sequel as a vehicle for his personal views, sacrificing beloved characters and established themes to serve his agenda.

Druckmann’s handling of the backlash only made things worse. Instead of acknowledging valid criticism, he dismissed unhappy fans as toxic or unable to handle “mature storytelling.” He doubled down on his decisions, portraying the game’s critics as bigots rather than engaging with their concerns. This kind of arrogance is exactly why The Last of Us Part II became more about proving a political point than delivering a satisfying continuation of Joel and Ellie’s journey.

Under his leadership, Naughty Dog has shifted from a studio that focused on masterful storytelling to one obsessed with pushing cultural narratives. If The Last of Us Part II is any indication, Druckmann’s influence is steering the company toward further ideological preaching, rather than delivering the groundbreaking games they were once known for.

Conclusion: When Ideology Takes Priority Over Storytelling
At its core, The Last of Us Part II isn’t just a bad sequel—it’s an agenda-driven project that prioritizes woke messaging over storytelling, immersion, and respect for its audience. Every major narrative choice, from the forced diversity to the demonization of masculinity, feels like it was designed to cater to a very specific social agenda rather than crafting a natural and compelling follow-up to the first game.
It could have been a masterpiece. Instead, it chose to lecture, to alienate, and to deconstruct everything that made The Last of Us a beloved classic in the first place. And that is why The Last of Us Part II will always be remembered as the perfect example of ideology undermining great storytelling.

[Enrico]

i aint reading all that, hope you get better soon tho

[space]

oh look more ai generated slop

[Praesi]

Thanks for the Info.
Of course we have to deal with all the children here, like the two above.
In the end, again some woke beta developers try to influence the new Generations with a braindamage Agenda.
Thats sad.

[AlexDoomin]

I ain't reading all that. Im happy for you tho, or sorry that happened.

[halbermensch999]

It's too bad they brainwashed so many with a single word

[Molesworth.Houghton]

Such a lot of effort deserves recognition. Take my awards.

[CallMeLeonidas]

Originally posted by Molesworth.Houghton:

Such a lot of effort deserves recognition. Take my awards.

You actually awarded an AI slop, wow. Didn't expect more coming from ignorant people.

[seven_stars]

Originally posted by Leon V. Winters:

Originally posted by Molesworth.Houghton:

Such a lot of effort deserves recognition. Take my awards.

You actually awarded an AI slop, wow. Didn't expect more coming from ignorant people.

yeah but its a great synopsis of this woke trash piece. points out the truth. unfortunately there are too many young people brainwashed by the leftist, feminist education system in the west that actively goes after boys, and advantages girls. The producer of this game is a performative leftist, doing and saying this for leftist social points/score. That's generally how most of the left operates. They are all for show, with little substance. Full on cognitive dissonance in most cases. But i can point it out, but they are too far gone in many cases. Perhaps growing older will game some wisdom. Not holding out hope.

[LeftIsBest-James]

I'm not gonna read it; just point a laugh at his condition.

[Coldflame]

why do woman kill man in video game i want man kill woman instead

[Praesi]

Originally posted by LeftIsBest-James:

I'm not gonna read it; just point a laugh at his condition.

Judging things you dont know or understand. Left Behaviour 1:1.

[halbermensch999]

Originally posted by Praesi:

Originally posted by LeftIsBest-James:

I'm not gonna read it; just point a laugh at his condition.

Judging things you dont know or understand. Left Behaviour 1:1.

All the worst schools in USA are in rightwing states. Republican politicians speak a more simplistic language. Any IQ test in England and USA put the nationalists and conservatives at the bottom.
In terms of life quality the red states are also the worst. The worst in crime as well.

[episoder]

okay. lets try to unwind and decypher this point of view.

first of all... political and agenda this or that, i know brazil is not the most stable of countries. this political view stuff should be moved out of here at all cost tho.

and... your profile and game collection looks like a female. why you dislike strong feminism tho? is it the buff of the chick you don't like? don't want it that strong?

and... why you call out the weakness of men in the game? you rely on your boyfriend to protect you? or do i ask a personal question and ask if you lost your dad? i'd be sorry for that, but... in this case the game and franchise will not carry that line of relationship to look at anymore. unless i do the biggest mod i have a "plan" for. hmm...

that's the short version i can read and put together.

[Hikari.ws]

Awesome article. Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation.

[DR GOO]

I totally agree with every single point in the OP.

Still, the game is worth playing as long as you can get past the cringe, ludicrous game writing and worst ending in game history (even surpassing ME3)