Walk into any library and you expect dust. In the world of The Last of Us Part II, however, walking into a library usually means you’re looking for a place to hide from a blizzard or a Clicker. But for Ellie and Dina, stumbling into that particular overgrown building in the outskirts of Jackson wasn't just about survival. It was a wake-up call. They found a stash. A big one.
We’re talking about Eugene Linden.
Most players remember him as "the weed guy," and honestly, that’s fair. But Eugene is a lot more than just the guy who grew the best "Big Bertha" in Wyoming. He’s the connective tissue between the Fireflies, the community of Jackson, and a past that most people—including Tommy Miller—would rather forget. You never actually see his face in the game. He’s already dead by the time the story starts. Yet, his fingerprints are all over the prologue.
Who Was Eugene Linden?
Basically, Eugene was a Firefly veteran. He wasn't some grunt, either. He was a radical who spent years fighting a losing war against FEDRA. Born around 1964, he lived through the "old world" and saw it crumble in 2013. By the time he reached Jackson, he was a 73-year-old man who had seen too much blood.
He died of a stroke.
Think about that for a second. In a world where people get their throats ripped out by Stalkers or shot by Hunters over a can of peaches, Eugene Linden died of natural causes. He’s one of the only characters in the entire franchise to go out on his own terms. Well, as "on your own terms" as a stroke can be. It’s a weirdly beautiful bit of irony that a man who spent his life bombing military checkpoints in Denver ended up passing away quietly in a bed.
The Dark History with Tommy Miller
You've probably noticed that Tommy is a bit... intense. Dina drops a bombshell while you're exploring Eugene's hideout: Eugene and Tommy used to do some "real dark s---" together.
We aren't talking about simple survival. We’re talking about high-stakes insurgent warfare. They were part of a Firefly cell that targeted the Denver Quarantine Zone. They didn't just fight soldiers; they blew up checkpoints. One specific attack they carried out resulted in the deaths of two civilians along with three soldiers.
Dina even mentions they "slow-tortured" a FEDRA general. It’s hard to picture the "Uncle Tommy" who gives Ellie a rifle for her birthday doing that, but Eugene was there for all of it. He was the one who stayed by Tommy's side when the Fireflies were at their most desperate and, arguably, their most villainous.
The Secret Library Outpost
If you want to know a man, look at his trash. Or in this case, his incredibly well-organized marijuana grow op.
When Ellie and Dina enter the library, they find Eugene’s private retreat. This wasn't just a place to get high; it was a sophisticated workshop. Eugene was Jackson's resident "tech wizard." He taught Dina how to repair electronics, a skill that literally saves the girls' lives later when they need to fix the radio in the Seattle theater.
Inside the outpost, you can find a few key items:
- A Firefly Pendant: Confirming his rank and history.
- A Photo of Eugene and Tommy: Looking much younger and probably a lot more stressed.
- A Note from Claire: This is the heartbreaker. Eugene had a wife and a daughter. He abandoned them to join the Fireflies. He chose the "cause" over his family, a decision that clearly haunted him until the end.
The place is filled with gas masks, old equipment, and jars of weed. It shows a man who was prepared for the end of the world but preferred to spend his final days in a haze of nostalgia and smoke.
Why Eugene Matters to the Narrative
Why did Naughty Dog spend so much time on a dead guy? Because Eugene is a mirror for Joel.
He’s what happens when a "bad man" tries to be good. He spent his youth killing for a dream (the Fireflies) and his old age trying to build something real (Jackson). He mentored the younger generation, specifically Dina.
There's a subtle parallel here. Eugene left his daughter to save the world. Joel "saved" his daughter (Ellie) by letting the world burn. Both men carried immense guilt. Both men found a home in Jackson. But while Joel’s past eventually caught up with him in the most violent way possible, Eugene managed to slip away into the night.
The HBO Series Departure
It's worth noting that the TV show takes a wildly different path. In the games, Eugene is a memory. In the show (Season 2), they actually bring him to life, played by Joe Pantoliano.
In the game, the stroke is a peaceful, if lonely, end. The show decides to use Eugene as a catalyst for the "big lie" between Joel and Ellie. Without spoiling too much for those who haven't caught up, let's just say the show version of Eugene doesn't get to die of natural causes. It makes his story much more tragic and ties him directly into the friction between our main duo.
How to Find All of Eugene's Collectibles
If you’re a completionist, you can’t skip the library. It’s located during the "Patrol" chapter in Jackson.
Once you get inside the library, you have to break a window to get into the back room. This is where the good stuff is. You’ll find the Firefly Pendant (000314) sitting on a desk. Don’t miss the Ultimatum Note in the bedside drawer—it’s the one where his wife Claire basically tells him it’s her or the Fireflies.
Spoiler: He chose the Fireflies.
You also find the "Big Bertha" jar. It’s not an "item" you can use, but it triggers some of the best dialogue in the game. It’s one of those rare moments where Ellie and Dina get to be teenagers instead of soldiers.
Final Insights on the Weed-Growing Firefly
Eugene Linden is the ghost of Jackson. He represents the "old guard" of the Fireflies, the ones who eventually realized that the world wasn't going to be fixed by a vaccine or a revolution.
He chose to pour his energy into people instead of politics. He taught Dina how to solder. He kept the town's spirits up with his "herbs." He even wrote jokes in the patrol logs, much to the annoyance of the more serious guards.
Most people play through The Last of Us Part II and see the library as just another loot drop. But if you stop and read the notes, you see a man who was desperately trying to atone for a lifetime of violence. He didn't save the world, but he made Jackson a little bit brighter.
Next Steps for Lore Hunters:
If you want to see the full scope of Eugene’s influence, pay close attention to Dina’s dialogue in Seattle. She mentions his "lessons" multiple times. You should also revisit the "Left Behind" DLC; there's another "Eugene" (Eugene Ellis) mentioned in the military records, but don't get them confused—they are different people entirely. One was a soldier, our Eugene was a rebel. To see the full impact of his history with Tommy, check the sniper nest in the "Winter" chapter of the first game—it’s the kind of spot a guy like Eugene would have scouted.