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So here's a take. Ashley Johnson's performance in The Last of Us Part II is the best in any game ever.
Over the years I held the opinion the Roger Clark (Arthur) in RDR2 was the greatest performance in any game ever, but after playing TLOU2 again, I was wrong. There just isn't another performance in gaming that has not just the execution, but also the range of emotion that Ashley has to express over the course of TLOU2. I feel on my first playthrough being so wrapped up in it, I didn't fully appreciate all she had to do here, and the level she did it at.
She literally plays Ellie from 4 different time periods in this game.
One Ellie that is most reminiscent of Left Behind when she goes to the museum with Joel.
One Ellie developing more and more survivors guilt as she starts to peel back the truth behind Joel's lie.
One Ellie from the "main" time period filled with rage and bloodlust, but with conflicting moments.
One Ellie from the Epilogue struggling with PTSD, but also taking care of a child and girlfriend.
Even all of these 4 different performances have individual layers, up and downs, it isn't just 4 slightly different voices, they all have depth. And if that wasn't enough, she sings, and she doesn't just sing, she sings in Ellie's voice and cadence, purposefully "worse" than her own.
It's simply the GOAT performance, one that also stands up to some of best TV and movies have to offer.
Over the years I held the opinion the Roger Clark (Arthur) in RDR2 was the greatest performance in any game ever, but after playing TLOU2 again, I was wrong. There just isn't another performance in gaming that has not just the execution, but also the range of emotion that Ashley has to express over the course of TLOU2. I feel on my first playthrough being so wrapped up in it, I didn't fully appreciate all she had to do here, and the level she did it at.
She literally plays Ellie from 4 different time periods in this game.
One Ellie that is most reminiscent of Left Behind when she goes to the museum with Joel.
One Ellie developing more and more survivors guilt as she starts to peel back the truth behind Joel's lie.
One Ellie from the "main" time period filled with rage and bloodlust, but with conflicting moments.
One Ellie from the Epilogue struggling with PTSD, but also taking care of a child and girlfriend.
Even all of these 4 different performances have individual layers, up and downs, it isn't just 4 slightly different voices, they all have depth. And if that wasn't enough, she sings, and she doesn't just sing, she sings in Ellie's voice and cadence, purposefully "worse" than her own.
It's simply the GOAT performance, one that also stands up to some of best TV and movies have to offer.
![34d6c36ca4ce0b9a26be168ae39a714312189687.gif](https://64.media.tumblr.com/82e87515e49f1e50e34a45c6c3454dad/552d7a6db8fc8666-3f/s500x750/34d6c36ca4ce0b9a26be168ae39a714312189687.gif)
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