Kaitlyn Dever’s Forgotten Western Role Was a Chilling Glimpse Into Her Future as Abby in The Last of Us

Before she picked up a hammer and stepped into the brutal, morally gray world of The Last of Us, Kaitlyn Dever was already preparing for Abby Anderson—she just didn’t know it yet.

In 2011, at only 15 years old, Dever appeared in FX’s critically acclaimed neo-Western Justified, playing Loretta McCready, a seemingly innocent teenager with sharp instincts and a tragic past. While Justified may not immediately scream post-apocalyptic thriller, Dever’s role in the series laid the emotional and psychological groundwork for her portrayal of one of gaming’s most polarizing characters.

A Vengeful Teen With a Gun and a Grudge

In Justified, Loretta McCready is the daughter of a marijuana farmer in rural Kentucky. When her father is murdered, Loretta is pulled into a violent world of corruption, grief, and retribution. Sound familiar? It should.

Just like Abby in The Last of Us Part II, Loretta is defined by loss. Her father’s death ignites a fire inside her, and she begins navigating a world ruled by fear and manipulation. Over several seasons, Dever’s Loretta transforms from a vulnerable child into a cunning survivor capable of standing up to dangerous men—echoing Abby’s arc of vengeance and inner turmoil.

Dever’s Dark Roots

Though Justified is grounded in reality and The Last of Us is post-apocalyptic fiction, both roles required Dever to tap into raw emotional territory. Loretta isn’t just a side character—she’s often the moral compass in a world gone morally bankrupt. She manipulates, she grieves, she fights, and ultimately, she chooses mercy when revenge is within reach. That’s a defining contrast to Abby’s early choices in The Last of Us, but it makes Dever’s casting all the more compelling.

It’s as if we’re watching two paths of the same soul—one that turns away from revenge, and one that plunges headfirst into it.

A Full-Circle Casting

Now, in 2025, with Season 2 of The Last of Us airing to intense discussion, Dever’s portrayal of Abby has already sparked heated debate. But those who remember her Justified days aren’t surprised at her ability to humanize a “villain.” She’s been doing it since she was a teenager.

For fans who may be skeptical about Dever stepping into such an iconic and emotionally heavy role, Justified is a reminder: this isn’t her first time navigating tragedy, trauma, and the blurred line between right and wrong.

Final Thought

Before Abby picked up a weight bar, Loretta picked up a shotgun. Both girls were forged in grief, hardened by violence, and forced to grow up too fast. And Kaitlyn Dever—long before the Cordyceps outbreak—was already preparing to show us what survival really looks like.

It wasn’t just good casting. It was destiny.