We knew this time would come, but that did not make Joel’s The Last Of Us return any less emotional. The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 6 review.
The Last Of Us season 2 episode 5 ended with a quick glimpse of Joel in what was clearly a flashback scene. Then, the teaser for this week’s episode showcased key sequences from the video games and I knew right then and there that this episode was going to break me.
The Last Of Us season 2 episode 6 is mostly flashback sequences, with only the end showing Ellie approaching the theater to meet up with Dina, Tommy, and Jesse after killing Nora. These revisit Ellie’s 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th birthdays, as well as the last time she spoke with Joel before his untimely (and brutal) death.
Seeing Pedro Pascal Back As Joel Was Emotional
Getting to spend more time with Joel, and see once again just how much he cared for Ellie, was extremely difficult, but also cathartic in a way. After dying in such a brutal way, fans now get to see him (and Ellie) during happier times. She has lost the light in her eyes since he was killed, so it was nice to revisit a time before that.
Learning how much effort he put into making her birthdays special, even when she was being a moody and rebellious teenager and acting like she wanted nothing to do with it (something she surely regrets later on), adds deeper meaning to the bond between the two.
With the addition of Catherine O’Hara’s character, we have been able to learn a little bit more about what Joel is thinking in certain moments. This is important because you aren’t playing the character in the game, so allowing her to be the one to offer insight is a brilliant move. The Last Of Us season 2 episode 6 introduces Ellie’s moth dreams, and the messaging behind them. Something that is truly devastating if you ask me.
One of my personal favorite moments in The Last Of Us Part II (and I know I am not alone) is the museum sequence. Joel takes Ellie here as a surprise for her 16th birthday. He also gifts her a cassette tape that plays an actual space launch, which she listens to while sitting in a spacecraft. In this moment, the two of them are both genuinely happy. Seeing this scene adapted so perfectly brought tears to my eyes.
Later birthdays are not as happy, though, because Ellie hits that rebellious teenager stage and starts exploring drugs, tattoos, and sex. Something Joel is not too thrilled about. This is where their rift starts, but it becomes clear a lot of it stems from Ellie thinking (and being right about) that Joel lied to her about Salt Lake City.
Another new addition to The Last Of Us season 2 episode 6 is Eugene. He is Gail’s husband and has been spoken about several times, however we did not know the full story. Now we do and to say that it is devastating is an understatement. Ellie and Joel find him after he has been bit, but he begs them to bring him back to Jackson to say goodbye to Gail before he dies.
Joel promises Ellie that he will allow this, even though it is against protocol, if she goes and gets the horses. He looks her dead in the face and lies, because while she is doing this, he shoots Eugene. When they bring his body back, Joel lies to Gail in an attempt to make it a little easier on her, but Ellie exposes the truth. It is then that she knows Joel lied to her about what happened at the hospital, because he had that exact same look.
The Last Of Us season 2 episode 6 also includes the moment from the game that I knew I would never be ready for, and that is the deep conversation between Ellie and Joel about forgiveness. Ellie finally decided that she was ready to work on forgiving Joel, and that was the last time she was ever going to see him alive. Well, unless you count her watching him die.
This moment is especially difficult because you can see the two of them clearly care about each other. It is a tough one to get through and adds even more meaning to the special bond that they have. They might not be blood, but Joel is her father.
With just one episode left, it is apparent that the full events of The Last Of Us Part II are not going to be shown in this season. With The Last Of Us season 3 already greenlit, surely that is when we will explore more of Abby’s story and Ellie’s continued path of revenge.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 6 is now streaming on HBO Max.
NEXT: The Last Of Us Cast Teases What To Expect In Season 2
About The Last Of Us Season 2
Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.
Returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Previously announced new cast includes Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.
THE LAST OF US, based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation® consoles, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells; with writer/co-executive producer Halley Gross. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
The seven-episode season two of The Last Of Us releases one new episode weekly through May 25 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max.
