Bella Ramsey was being perfectly candid when she suggested that the season 1 finale of The Last of Us will leave its viewers divided. The first season’s last episode went to great lengths to highlight that Ellie was the light in Joel’s dark life after Sarah’s death. And the ending only guarantees that he’s selfish enough to keep the light for himself.
Throughout the season, we’ve seen hints of Joel’s dark side and how his murderous side comes out when he believes he’s protecting something dear to him. Tommy had hinted that the unforgivable deeds the brothers had done were the reason for the divide between them.
The finale began with the traveling duo reaching Salt Lake City, looking for the Fireflies, and opening up to each other. Joel confessed how he’d tried to take his own life after Sarah’s death, but when he failed, he’d lived a half-life just going through the motions.
But now, after Ellie, he has someone to care for again, to protect, and he will make sure to do his job right this time around.
Which is why when Marlene reveals that Ellie would have to die to save humanity with the cure, he dooms the world to save her, murdering every Firefly to ensure they never come for Ellie again.
It turns out Ellie’s birthing conditions changed her genes, which is why she is immune. The Cordyceps believe she is already infected. The Fireflies intended to put her on her deathbed and reap the special genes to produce a cure and save the world from this deadly virus.
But Joel kills the surgeon, the only one who could pull it off, and every Firefly, making sure he also kills their leader, Marlene, so that she can never band her followers to come for the girl he treats like his own daughter.
But when Ellie woke up in the hospital gown in a car driving away with Joel, she asked what happened, and Joel lied that the Fireflies had given up looking for a cure after dozens of more immune showed up.
He explained raiders came and slaughtered them, hiding the truth so that she wouldn’t come to hate Joel for denying her the chance to save the world, absolving her of her survivor’s guilt and setting things right.
Ellie doesn’t fully believe Joel’s story and even asks if he’s being honest about the events that transpired at the Firefly base. And even though Joel made a convincing consolation, Ellie doesn’t seem to trust him, and this opening of a rift will probably be one of the things that the next season will explore.
HBO Max has not given a release window for the confirmed season 2 of The Last of Us, but Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal will surely return whenever it happens. What did you think of the season 1 finale? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
Source: HBO Max
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