Part 12/16:
Neil Druckmann explicitly stated that he wanted players to hate Abby, intentionally crafting her to be polarizing. While provocative creative choices can deepen storytelling, they also fuel anger and discontent among segments of the audience. The game’s reception has become so divided that it spills over into real-world harassment, creating a toxic environment for both fans and the cast.
The discussion criticizes Druckmann’s approach, describing it as smug and dismissive of the fans’ opinions. His attempts to frame dissenters as part of a fringe, potentially harmful minority—particularly associating their reactions with right-wing politics—are seen as playing into a larger narrative that dismisses or diminishes legitimate critique.