This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2. If you haven’t seen episodes 1-6, you might want to skip this.
At the beginning of 2023, the final episodes of Season 1 received heaps of praise from viewers worldwide. Following that success, there was much speculation regarding how showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman would tackle Season 2. Would they dive straight into adapting the second—and so far, last—video game, which takes place five years after the original? Or would they opt for a more creative route, developing new stories for the father-daughter duo, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), during that significant time gap? They could easily stretch the material into several more seasons if they wanted to.
Ultimately, the decision was made to leap forward five years and to stick closely to the video game by killing off Joel early on. Interestingly, tonight’s expanded flashback episode offered hints about how the relationship between Joel and Ellie deteriorated over that time. It pierced the surface of their bond, revealing some painful yet heartfelt moments.
For those missing Joel, seeing him in these segments was a bittersweet experience. It brought depth to his character, almost like a crafted gift. There was a memorable, albeit brief, appearance from Joe Pantoliano, too. But the opening surprise was Joel as a rebellious teen scolding himself, which added a twist.
Meet Mr. Miller
The flashback begins in Austin, Texas, back in 1983, showcasing a young Joel and his brother Tommy as they eagerly await their father’s return home. It’s apparent that Tommy’s been up to no good, yet Joel feels he must take the blame to protect him. The interesting twist? Mr. Miller (played by Tony Dalton) is a cop. His method of punishing Joel—not through violence, but by sharing a beer—suggests a mix of love and regret in his parenting approach.
Happy Birthday to Ellie
After the opening credits, we stay in flashback mode, although two months have passed since Joel and Ellie’s return to Jackson Hole. Joel is busy preparing a surprise for Ellie’s 15th birthday, gathering materials to fix his acoustic guitar with some help from Bartender Seth (Robert John Burke). However, this tinkering is derailed when a hurt Ellie is brought home by Tommy.
Ellie has burned her forearm while cooking, likely to conceal a suspicious bite mark. However, her injury doesn’t overshadow her birthday. The next day, Joel cajoles her into letting him play a rough version of Pearl Jam’s “Future Days,” earning him a classic Ellie compliment: “Well… it didn’t suck.”
Space Exploration
A year later, the two are celebrating Ellie’s 16th birthday. Joel, perhaps inspired by the natural surroundings, tries to embark on a conversation about sensitive topics. (“You mean… you know?”) It’s clear that while Ellie has matured quickly, Joel is still clinging to moments of childhood bliss. He plans a visit to see the Apollo space capsule, an engaging way for Ellie to escape their troubled world, even momentarily. Her excitement is palpable.
Fast forward another year, things aren’t quite as harmonious. Joel attempts to surprise Ellie with a cake for her 17th birthday but struggles awkwardly to navigate the realities of teenagerhood—from relationships to tattoos. The conversation awkwardly dances around some of the harsher aspects of life in a post-apocalyptic world.
A Tough Break for Eugene
Fast forward two years, and Ellie is now about to turn 19, surrounded by her Nirvana posters in the garage. While rehearsing and bringing up past events from Salt Lake City, she begins to pick apart Joel’s stories—realizing they might not hold up under scrutiny. Joel intervenes, trying to ground her passion for patrolling.
This leads to a harrowing moment when an emergency call sends them racing to aid another patrol facing a zombie attack. While they arrive too late for poor Adam, they encounter Eugene (Joe Pantoliano), who only wants to return home. Pressured by Ellie, Joel reluctantly agrees to assist but has something darker planned for Eugene.
As they carry Eugene’s lifeless body back home, Joel reflects on the need to protect Ellie from the harsh truths of their world. Yet, faced with Gale’s anguish, Ellie chooses honesty and declares her intent to reveal what actually transpired—Joel’s decision to shoot Eugene.
“I’ll Pay the Price…”
After another significant time jump, a dance-floor conflict unfolds. This moment reveals how deeply traumatic the events in Salt Lake City were, as Joel struggles to find the words to explain himself. As Ellie seeks understanding, the tension threatens to fracture their relationship for good. And yet there lingers a flicker of hope when Ellie expresses, “I don’t know if I can forgive this…but I want to try.” Is this an uplifting moment signaling redemption? Or will the knowledge that Joel’s fate is sealed bring them even more pain?
Notes and Observations
If Tony Dalton seems familiar, it’s probably from his appearances in various shows. He’s also set to feature in an upcoming PlayStation 5 game by Naughty Dog.
Interestingly, the Pearl Jam song Joel covers—“Future Days”—wasn’t released until 2013. This raised some eyebrows since the outbreak occurred a decade earlier. A throwback to something like Evanescence would have fit the era better.
In real life, the Apollo 15 Command Modules can be visited at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, rather than a mythical museum in Wyoming.
Next week: Seattle awaits as we near the season finale. The anticipation is building!
What are your thoughts? Was this a fitting ending for Joel? How are you feeling about the season as a whole? Please share your thoughts, keeping spoilers to a minimum!
