The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1 Ending Explained: Where Is Abby’s Crew Headed Next?

The wait is finally over – The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 1 has crash-landed onto our screens, and oh boy, it’s not pulling any punches.

With tension that could slice through concrete and a creeping sense of dread lurking behind every corner, this premiere sets a bloody, brilliant stage. S

o… where exactly is Abby’s squad heading, and what chaos are they about to unleash?

Why Does Abby Want Joel Dead So Badly?

Let’s not sugarcoat it – Abby is on a warpath, and Joel is her bullseye. The episode kicks off in Salt Lake City, far from Jackson’s snowy serenity.

Here, Abby and a handful of Firefly survivors mourn their friends and family – victims of Joel’s brutal rampage in Season 1’s finale. But for Abby, this isn’t just about some fallen comrades. It’s personal.

Her father, one of the Firefly doctors killed by Joel, was the very man on the verge of developing a cure for the cordyceps infection. His life was cut short when Joel stormed the hospital, killed everyone in sight, and yanked Ellie away – because that’s what he thought love looked like.

Some of Abby’s companions? They’re ready to let the past die. But Abby? Oh, she’s all in. Her plan? Track Joel down, drag out his suffering, and make him feel every second of the pain she’s carried for five long years.

Together with her group – who’ll come to be known as the Washington Liberation Front – they’re heading out with blood on their minds and revenge in their veins. It’s not just a hunt. It’s a reckoning.

What Tore Joel and Ellie Apart Over the Last Five Years?

Jackson might look peaceful on the outside, but something’s broken between Joel and Ellie – and you can feel it in every awkward silence and averted gaze. The show takes a leap forward in time, five years into the future, and suddenly, our once inseparable duo feels miles apart.

Joel, now head of construction in Jackson, is haunted, therapy-bound, and emotionally unraveling. Ellie, bold as ever, spends her days out scouting, dodging her own emotions like infected in the dark.

So, what happened? All signs point to that festering lie from Season 1’s end. Remember when Joel saved Ellie from the Fireflies and then lied to her face, saying the cure just wouldn’t have worked? Yeah… she didn’t buy it then, and we’re betting she’s uncovered the truth now.

Joel’s therapist suspects he’s lying about something – something that’s eating him from the inside out. And if that something is the lie, then this fractured bond suddenly makes all the painful sense in the world.

Did Joel Kill Eugene?

Now, let’s talk about the jaw-drop moment that nobody saw coming. Joel is seeing a therapist now (played by the ever-iconic Catherine O’Hara), and we learn something major: Joel shot her husband, Eugene.

Yes, probably the same Eugene Linden from the game – the old Jackson patrolman with a penchant for pot farming. In the game, Eugene dies of a stroke. But HBO’s take is darker and more twisted. Joel shot him.

Why? The show doesn’t spill the tea just yet, but the theory mill’s already churning. Most likely? Eugene turned infected, and Joel had to do what had to be done. But it adds yet another grim layer to Joel’s haunted psyche.

Have the Infected Leveled Up?

As if things weren’t apocalyptic enough, turns out the infected have been busy evolving during that five-year gap.

\When Ellie and Dina wind up trapped in a supermarket (because of course they do), they face off with what appears to be a Stalker – but this one’s smarter, sneakier, and honestly, terrifyingly strategic.

Ellie and Dina bring this info back to Jackson, and suddenly, the stakes are even higher. If the infected are learning, adapting, maybe even planning? Then Jackson’s safety is teetering on a razor’s edge.

Do Ellie & Dina have Romantic Chemistry?

Let’s shift gears for a second, shall we? Because there’s definitely something sweet blooming beneath all the blood and grit. Ellie and Dina’s chemistry is undeniable – and their shared dance at the New Year’s party? Chef’s kiss.

Sure, Dina’s had her thing with Jesse, but it’s clear her connection with Ellie is something deeper, something new. Fans of the game know this relationship goes places, but seeing it come to life on screen with all its nuance and vulnerability? It’s a bright spot in this grim world – and we’re SO here for it.

How Much Has HBO Deviated From the Game?

Here’s the thing: The show plays with structure, but it’s sticking close to the heart of the game. While most of Episode 1 focuses on new moments – like Joel’s therapy sessions and the fallout with Ellie – the major beats are pulled straight from the source.

Abby’s revenge mission, the infected ambush, the dance, the homophobic jerk at the party – it’s all there. The order might shift, but the soul of The Last of Us Part II remains intact. That said, it’s clear HBO is carefully threading the needle between staying faithful and crafting something fresh.

What Does the End of Episode 1 mean?

By the end of the episode, one thing is clear: Abby’s squad is on the move, Joel is on borrowed time, and Ellie’s world is about to be turned upside down – again.

If you thought Season 1 was a rollercoaster, Season 2 is gearing up to be a full-on hurricane. And the storm’s just getting started.

Final Thoughts

The Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us is a punch to the gut in the best way – twisting loyalties, buried secrets, smarter infected, and a revenge plot that could torch everything in its path.

Abby’s group isn’t just heading toward Joel; they’re heading straight into the heart of the show’s emotional firestorm. Buckle up – it’s going to get brutal.

About The Last of Us 2

The second season of The Last of Us, premiering on HBO on April 13, 2025, continues the post-apocalyptic story based on Naughty Dog’s video game franchise.

Set five years after the first season, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) now live in Jackson, Wyoming, alongside Tommy (Gabriel Luna), Dina (Isabela Merced), and Jesse (Young Mazino).

Renewed shortly after its January 2023 debut, the season adapts The Last of Us Part II, with co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann joined by writers Halley Gross and Bo Shim. Filmed in British Columbia (February–August 2024), the seven-episode season features directing by Druckmann, Mazin, Peter Hoar, Kate Herron, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Mark Mylod, and Stephen Williams. Gustavo Santaolalla returns as composer.