Mr. Luchador
Member
I would have written the guns out of the final fight and instead had Joel reveal that after all the shit went down with Sarah he actually spent five years in professional luchador wrestling instead of facing his grief, having left the career for good after being beaten and demasked in the title bout. He tears his clothing off revealing his luchador suit, leaves his bag and guns behind and instead wrestles his way all to Ellie, suplexing and body slamming the guards and tearing their masks off to leave them in shame.
After getting to Marlene with Ellie in his muscular wrestling hands, Marlene offers Joel to let him go with Ellie in case she gives him an autograph, saying that she remembers him. He promptly accepts and drives off. The remaining concious Fireflies eventually catch up with Marlene and proceed to ask her as to why she let Ellie and thus humanity's last hope go.
Marlene just turns her back to them, puts on her luchador mask, and replies: "They'll be back when he remembers.", and walks away with her luchador champion belt clearly visible for anyone to see.
This version would have made my GOTY list, Naughty Dog. You had your chance.