In the post -apocalyptic world of the series, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) continues her path in search of the latest members of the fireflies and Abby, with the intention of avengeing the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal). During his journey, a Flashback which occurs in episode six of the second season brings Joel back, revealing the progressive deterioration of his link with Ellie in The Last of Us.
In this penultimate chapter, Pedro Pascal returns to the series for the last time to address one of the great unknowns: What really happened between Joel and Ellie during the five -year temporary jump?
The narrative begins with Ellie’s 15th birthday. Joel, in a symbolic gesture, builds a guitar as a gift, and both share moments of happiness. A year later, on her 16th birthday, she surprises her by taking her to a museum with a space exposure, where a cassette with recordings on the space is given to her.
However, the relationship begins to fracture on Ellie’s 17th birthday. Joel finds her in her room accompanied by another young woman, while she tattooes, consumes drugs and explores her sexual identity. From that moment on, the closeness between them is fading. A new two -year jump shows Ellie more distant, marking clear limits by telling Joel that she is not her father, but her hunting partner.
The definitive rupture occurs when Joel promises that he will lead Eugene to say goodbye to his wife before he becomes infected. Instead of fulfilling his word, Joel kills Eugene, which arouses suspicions in Ellie. This betrayal revives past doubts and culminates in the first episode of the season, when a discussion between them includes a flashback revealing.
In that scene, Ellie directly asks what really happened with the fireflies. Joel finally confesses that saving her meant losing her, since the cure required her sacrifice. Therefore, he decided to lie to him and prevent him from undergoing the procedure, because he loves her like a daughter.
That revelation marks the last shared moment between both protagonists before Joel’s tragic death, closing an essential chapter in the emotional history of the series.
This episode, directed by Neil Druckmann, cooker of the series and the original video game, represents the return of Pedro Pascal to say goodbye to the production, at a time that leaves behind the action of the current plot and offers the public an intimate drama.
In an interview with the magazine GQDruckmann reveals that this episode is dedicated to exploring recurring issues such as the link between parents and children and the impact of lies “for love”, inspiration that was born from a personal experience. He points out that the return of the actor Pedro Pascal was given after a pause in the filming, at the end of episode two, where he dies. Their participation was considered an emotional moment for the team, “since they knew it was the last episode with Joel’s character,” he says GQ.
The Last of Us and the hidden symbolism of watches
The episode also offers the public a scene about Joel’s childhood, recreating a moment with his father and revealing the use of the clock that will have prominence in the plot of the series.
With the same design as the video game clock, this is inherited by Ellie after Joel’s death, becoming a symbol of the link between the two and the legacy he leaves: from family connections to generational traumas, since Joel received him from his father.
Another of the outstanding connections is the similarity between Joel’s clock and Abby’s clock, which, as revealed to GQ The director of the series was a deliberate choice: a reference that Abby would take revenge on Joel for killing the fireflies.
According to the props, Nevin Swain, Joel’s watch will reappear in upcoming episodes by flashbacks. Swain indicated a GQ that it has not yet been determined if Ellie will use it, thus maintaining the suspense around this symbol.