SPOILER ALERT! This article contains crucial details from the Season 2 finale of HBO‘s The Last Of Us. As the season wraps up, the journey of Ellie and Abby is far from complete. The finale delivers a gripping 50-minute episode that ends on a shocking cliffhanger, but first, let's delve into the action and emotional depth that unfolds before that moment.
The episode begins just moments after the heart-wrenching events of Episode 5, where Jesse (Young Mazino) is desperately trying to remove a crossbow bolt from Dina’s (Isabela Merced) leg. Episode 6 was a flashback-focused narrative, revealing vital moments between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal), culminating in Joel’s confession about the hospital incident in Salt Lake City. When Ellie returns to the theater after confronting Nora (Tati Gabrielle), she feels compelled to share her dark secrets about Salt Lake with Dina, including the revelation that Abby’s father was the doctor Joel killed. Dina takes the news surprisingly well, but it raises critical questions: What price will they pay to continue this journey? And what does Ellie’s honesty truly signify at this point?
Craig Mazin, co-creator of the series, emphasizes the vulnerability of truth-telling in such a brutal world. “When you tell the truth, you become weak, you’re giving something away,” he explained during a press conference. This moment of honesty brings Ellie and Dina closer, but the ramifications of Ellie’s choices begin to haunt her. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the tension between Ellie and Jesse escalates when they encounter WLF soldiers torturing a Seraphite child. Ellie’s desire to intervene clashes with Jesse’s insistence to prioritize their mission.
The situation spirals further when Ellie discovers the aquarium, which she believes hides Abby. Jesse tries to dissuade her, and their escalating argument reveals Jesse’s earlier vote against sending a team to Seattle. Mazin and Neil Druckmann, co-creators, aimed to portray Jesse as a moral character, which makes this confrontation all the more poignant. Ellie points out the hypocrisy of Jesse’s moral stance, which leads to a deeper examination of the characters’ motivations.
After parting ways with Jesse, Ellie heads towards the aquarium amid a brewing storm, only to find herself washed ashore on an island filled with danger. Here, she narrowly escapes being hanged by Seraphites, only to later confront Mel (Ariela Barer) and Owen (Spencer Lord) at the aquarium. In a chilling moment, Ellie demands to know Abby’s location but ends up killing both Mel and Owen in a fit of panic. This sequence is crafted to evoke discomfort in the audience, as it starkly illustrates the collateral damage of Ellie’s revenge-driven quest.
As Ellie grapples with her actions and the blood on her hands, the emotional weight of her journey becomes evident. Mazin highlights Ellie’s profound regret, suggesting that this moment of violence could potentially break her spirit. Despite her desire for vengeance, the toll of her choices weighs heavily on her, leading to a critical turning point in her character arc.
Just when it seems Ellie might abandon her quest, she and Jesse return to the theater, only to encounter Abby holding Tommy at gunpoint. The shocking moment culminates in Jesse’s untimely death, leaving Ellie begging Abby not to take more lives. The screen cuts to black as a gunshot rings out, leaving audiences in suspense about the fate of Ellie and the future of their interconnected stories.
In the closing moments, Abby wakes in a WLF compound, signaling that the next season will revisit these harrowing days from a different perspective. Mazin reassures fans that they haven’t seen the last of key characters, hinting at their continued relevance in the unfolding narrative. With Jesse gone, the dynamics between Ellie and Dina are sure to shift dramatically, adding layers of complexity to their relationship.
As the season concludes, the creators aim to leave audiences feeling unsettled yet intrigued, emphasizing that the characters are in moral turmoil. They are grappling with the consequences of their actions while questioning the very nature of justice and redemption. Ellie’s fixation on Abby raises questions about obsession and the possibility of forgiveness, which will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the upcoming season.
As fans await Season 3, the journey of Ellie and Abby continues to promise an exploration of love, loss, and the fragile boundaries of morality in a post-apocalyptic world. With unresolved questions and intricate character arcs, viewers can anticipate a gripping continuation of this powerful narrative.
