i just realised that when it's noted that Joel can't hear properly out of his right ear, it's not just because he shoots from that side, but because of his failed attempt on his own life
That last scene, and that last word in particular, might be my favorite piece of writing of all time. We’ve seen this relationship grow and blossom into something so beautiful and meaningful, but this is where it splinters. He has become a father to her, he’s protected her, he’s taken care of her. But she feels something’s off. She knows in her gut that he’s not being 100% honest with her. But the idea that he would take away the one thing she thought she had, her purpose in this world, is too painful. She decides in that moment to ignore her gut, ignore her senses, to believe him, because she can’t handle the alternative. But that’s not how trust works, and the trust between them is irreparably broken in that moment, despite her willingness to pretend otherwise. And all of that is conveyed in one, simple word. “Okay”. I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
@@technopirate304 Oh I think she would have made that choice too, she's too traumatized not to, but it should have been her choice - I also think Joel would have respected her wishes if he heard it from her. I like to think he would have demanded they test it on him, that way he either gets bit and turns or he gets to know for sure that he and Ellie did the right thing
@@GodBear97 I honestly don't think Joel could make the choice to let her die even if she chose to. Getting her consent would merely have delayed Joel's rampage a bit and made it much harder or him to lie to her afterwards.
@@GodBear97 Joel wouldnt let her even if its her choice. Thats the main reason why Joel never willingly told her in the second game. He wants to do everything just so she can live. Joel is cool and all but he also human with apparent selfishness,
Argument I've made since first time finishing the Last of Us regarding Joel's decision 1. He was more right because Ellie wasn't given a choice. If Marlene was so sure Ellie would want to do the surgery they should have asked her. 2. Even if the surgery was successful would the population trust the Fireflies, who are seen as terrorists, that they had a cure when no-one else in the world had found one 3. Even if they were trusted, society has lost so much knowledge it seems in terms of industry, manufacture etc that it's impossible to see how a manufacturing process could be put in place to produce enough cure 4. Even if all the above happens, the transportation infastructure doesn't exist to be able to get cure out to enough people across the USA let alone the world. I can see the Firefly point, as getting a cure in place could head away from martial law and back to normalcy as there is less concern about infected numbers growing but her taking the choice away from Ellie makes her as wrong as Joel for that decision and then the rest of my points lead me to believe that giving Ellie a normal life would provide more utility than the possibility of a cure
my oldest cousin let me use his HBO account to watch this series and he passed away after about the 2nd episode, it was hard to keep using his account to finish the series but its what he would've wanted so I finished watching it and then started balling my eyes out after the last episode. I signed out if his account forvever. Thank you Chris for letting me use your HBO account to watch TLOU, Ill love you forever, rest easy, see you soon!
I don't think it was the hardest decision Joel had to make in his life... I think it was the easiest, he couldn't see another daughter die. He couldn't go through that again, so it wasn't a hard choice. It wasn't a good one but he acted as a desperate father trying to save his child
I'm pretty sure she was talking about Joel lying to her. Saving her was an instinctual reaction for him, but he had to actually think about what he would say to her once she woke up. Killing Fireflies is easy for him, but I don't imagine being dishonest with Ellie is nearly as easy emotionally speaking.
I can’t fucking wait to see what they do with part 2 storyline. Seeing Joel going to work in that hospital was so good, ain’t nobody taking another daughter from him
Ashley Johnson (game Ellie) played Ellie's mom, and Laura Bailey (game Abby) played Nurse 2 and they both co-created & starred in Legend of Vox Machina, an adaptation of their D&D game, and Troy played a role in season 2!
You know Joel considers Ellie his child now because he lied to her face to protect her. A parent's number one concern is their child's survival, everything else comes second. I don't think Joel was even considering what he or Ellie would want in the hospital, it was pure instinct. They were trying to kill her, he had to kill them first.
I'm not convinced it was to protect her. I think he knows that he took Ellie's choice away, just as Marlene did, and didn't want to lose her emotionally for what he chose to do. Not that I don't understand where he's coming from, of course. But he knows that Ellie would have sacrificed her life if it meant saving the world. And he couldn't accept that
@Ritchie if everyone is so certain Ellie would have said yes. Why did the fireflies never tell her the truth? If there was room for doubt then that's enough reason to keep her alive, over a MAYBE cure.
@@LoungingPotato She's a child, her "choice" would be nothing more than hormonal animalistic stimulus/response. Adults protect their children, it's as simple as that.
One tiny thing Im sad they cut in this ep was where Joel is running away with Ellie in his arms from the fireflies before he reaches the elevator as that sequence encapsulates and mirrors the section from the 1st ep where he's running with Sarah doing everything he can to save her...
yeah but if you think about it they still did the parallel when marlene was pointing a gun at him with ellie in his arms (like when that soldier was pointing a gun at him with sarah in his arms)
Joel, having been separated with Ellie potentially forever, turned into the Terminator reprogrammed by John Conner in T2. His heart had finally opened up and started to heal and humanity was about to take another daughter from him. I don’t blame him. The Fireflies, even Marlene, by wanting to kill Ellie for a potential cure WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT, they cemented Joel’s sentiment that humanity does not deserve to survive. In my opinion, they cast themselves as the villains and Joel against them.
There's no way the cure would've worked, even if it did the world's still screwed. Doesn't help how badly they treated Joel and that they've already killed immune people, and didn't even give Ellie a choice. The fireflies just wanted leverage over the military. There's no way they'd be able to distribute it either
If you care about the greater good, Eli's immunity makes her one of the most valuable individuals on earth. Those who think Joel should have allowed them to perform Eli's procedure, one that had absolutely no guarantee of resulting in a cure, but would kill the only known immune at the time. They did not understand the story of the goose that lays the golden eggs. the fireflies are desperate for results and wanted to risk it all; Joel proceeded emotionally, but also correctly.
Whether or not the Fireflies were right about being able to make a cure is essentially irrelevant to the story they are trying to tell. Joel believed they could make a cure. He says as much in part 2. Everything he did, he did believing he was making the choice to save Ellie and sacrifice humanity. He did what he did out of love, but it was a love twisted by old trauma. That, I think, is what the plot wants you to think about ... this is what love can make you do. Based on everything we know about Joel, we know he could not have made any other decision. He would not lose another daughter. Many people, particularly people who have kids, think on that situation and would make exactly that same choice, the choice to sacrifice all of humanity and all of the future to save the life of the one you love. That is either heart warming or sickening, depending on your outlook. To me it is kind of both. That is the heart and soul of the plot. Whether or not the Fireflies could have delivered a cure is interesting to debate, but ultimately a side question. It very much opens up the question of whether or not doing the right thing for the wrong reasons makes you right or just lucky, but that is not the story they are trying to tell.
And, just as a side note, I think the fact that they were so quick to "kill the kid" is a result of that plot. In reality there would have been months or years of tests, with every effort made to save the life of Ellie if at all possible before resorting to that. I think, though, that even if that had happened, and two years down the line they gave Ellie the choice to die for humanity to live, she would have made the choice to sacrifice herself, and Joel absolutely would have still made the choice to not let that happen, no matter what he had to do. The only difference ultimately would be that Ellie would know what he did and probably immediately abandon him, but he would justify it to himself as at least she's still alive. "kill the kid immediately" lets them tell the story they are trying to tell without all the muddy extraneous detail. It also has the effect of causing nearly everybody to believe they are really bad at the whole cure-making thing :)
@@ianthomas865 you got a good point on your first replay. Yes it's a good story, but I can't help but feel this situation, it was a very manufactured final note for the plot. The way that Marlen and the fireflies proceed genuinely only left one way out for Joel, but it poses a situation that I find illogical. they are playing at random, they shoot into the air with the only known hope of humanity, it is a desperate move that sacrifices this hope to obtain what for them would be a strategic advantage. Joel's lie in the car is the part that gives us an intriguing ending and the part that denies Eli of her autonomy, but with regard what hapend at the hospital, by the way it was presented, it was just necessary so that that "hope / Eli's life" was not wasted. Joel's motivation was selfish, but point and aside from this he did the right thing.
@@ianthomas865 side note, the series makes it worse, by presenting the infected as a much less latent threat than the game (like the lack of spores), society can resurface in the world of the series, it's already doing so without breaking Eli's head. Joel does not see things this way, he has his reasons for not being very optimistic, but that is still the world that the story presents.
so this is kinda funny. The girl playing Marlene i think is the same actress as in the game, troy baker who plays Joel was in the last one and now this girl Ellies mom is the voice actress for Ellie in the games haha. love that. did i forget someone? possibly
Fun little trivia, you're right on Ashley Johnson playing Ellie's mom when she originally voiced Ellie for the game, bonus her Last of Us 2 and Critical Role co-star Laura Bailey was in this episode as one of the nurses in the hospital.
you can see that ellie is traumatised after david and joel has realised how much ellie means to him and he is trying to open to her and try to make her feel better. starting to treat her like a daughter. the rampage joel go's on is because he is a parent protecting what he considers his daughter any parent will protect their child at all costs and will do anything to make sure they are safe. Ellie has healed Joel's trauma and now joel wants to do the same for her.
Both Pedro and Bella are predicted to get Emmy nominations for their roles in this show. honestly after episode 8 I'll be shocked if Bella doesn't get a nomination.
The scenic shots of Salt Lake City are just amazing. Like, as somebody that's lived in Utah my entire life (no, I'm not a Mormon), I can watch this and go "oh hey, that looks familiar, and that looks familiar, and oh yeah I drove on that road last week" another testament to how this show took great care to make everything look genuinely authentic. No corner cutting for this crew. Also this show was absolutely amazing and I hope they shoot season 2 soon.
So yes, Ashley Johnson, the original Ellie voice actor, plays her mom in this episode. She's been acting in TV and voice since appearing in Growing Pains in the 80's. Her last big TV role was as a cast member on The Blindspot. She's well known in Geekdom as one of the members of Critical Role, the group credited with helping the resurgence of Dungeons and Dragons' popularity. They stream a weekly game on Twitch and TH-cam. Another member of Critical Role and famous voice actor, Laura Bailey, also appears as one of the nurses in the surgery.
I'd say David did that already. She's not even close to being okay after what she went through and I don't think she was in any condition to choose whether to end her life.
I don't think it's a tough decision for Marlene to make, I think she made the decision without a flinch. She didn't even give Ellie the choice or tried to convince her otherwise, she doesn't really care about Ellie, not even close to the way Joel does.
She cared more about the promise she made to her friend than she did for Ellie. She could’ve kept her and raised her, but gave her up to FEDRA instead…
Merlene knew Ellie for a couple of days as a newborn. She does NOT understand Joel. Whatever friendship she had with her mom is irrelevant. Let’s not be silly here.
This. Also, Marlene immediately gave her away, to her enemies, and only took her back in when Ellie became a valuable asset. Never saw her as a person.
The ending of this episode left me feeling so uneasy.... i hate that he lied, at the same time as i understand why. HOW can i survive until the next season!? i never even played the game i dont know whats going to happen!
So happy they did not keep the ending from the game where Joel tried getting past a soldier and was shot a couple of minutes after the prologue. ;) I didn't even know this was possible. Thanks for giving that to us.
I had to stop for a moment when Joel said "It wasn't time that did it." That hit me just as hard as when Vision said "Grief is just love persevering" in Wandavision.
Marlene sucks. She tell Ellie nothing about the surgery and the risks. Marlene should have told Ellie everything. She didn't. Ellie would have died from surgery. Joel saved her and for him. But why Joel doesn't tell the truth is just the plot twist. He probably assumed that this was the best way to protect Ellie. By the way, Anna, the mother here from Ellie ist the real Ellie from the Video games.
Marlene was entirely responsible for pushing Joel into his actions, he was always going to assault the hospital as a result. She decided to murder Ellie, without even telling her or asking her about the life-ending procedure. She then told Joel this and let him go with 2 soldiers, despite knowing he was a lethal killer. Her incompetence & lack of reasoning is staggering and says a lot about the Fireflies when someone like that is in a leadership position. Sure, you can still question Joel's later decision to lie to Ellie about the whole thing, but that's pretty minor compared to Marlene's initial decision.
Did she do it on purpose then? Cos she wanted to save Ellis too? I've never played the game so I don't know but I guess if she was doing that she expected to survive too
I feel this episode was on level or maybe even better than the same part in the game compared to some of the other key moments. I didn't realize how much the combat and stealth sequences in the game can pull you out of this moment because you have to focus on gameplay. Seeing Joel's rampage in live action was breath taking. You get to see the best and worst of us. Witnessing the waste of life at the small level on the Fireflies and understanding that Joel is forsaking the rest of humanity just left me staring at the screen this time instead of relieved to get to Ellie in the game. I love the end of this story because how human it is. I enjoyed the different perspective and expanded parts of all the characters we got in the show that could be added on top of the game. It is a great adaptation from game to TV series.
6:19 yes! thank you! that gate opening sound effect is so old and over used that it took me out of the immersion to be honest. I had to replay that scene just to make sure and yup its that sound effect. Youd think with a show as popular as this one they'd have a better variety of sound effects
Joel has two priorities - First to save Ellie's life and second to make her happy, and absolutely nothing else. He will kill, and lie, and anything else required to keep her safe and happy. In my opinion, you don't get to volunteer someone else to die for the cause, and if you do, you're a murderer. On the other hand, someone who kills to prevent a murder is not. Marlene could bear Ellie's death with great fortitude. Her own death, not so much.
8:12 Joel knows that delivering her to the Fireflies is goodbye. He knows they won't allow her to leave, and they certainly won't allow him to stay. And as a parent, the hardest part of love is letting go...
I was late to the show. Beat the first game 3 times and the second one twice. Pedro was perfect for this casting. I wasn't sure how he was going to do but I am glad he gave it a change because there is no way that role could have been done better
I don't blame Joel at all for what he did. I would've done the exact same thing for my daughter, or for my brother, or my mom. The game did end like that, almost exactly. It's such a phenomenal game I highly recommend it. Her mom was not in the game, this is our first time seeing it. Also the Fireflies are just wrong and evil, because it's revealed in audio tapes that Marlene was going to kill Joel, she wasn't going to send him on his way. Plus who's to say that the the cure would've worked, I doubt the apocalypse has the medical advancements and equipment to be able to reproduce a vaccine. Plus not everyone will take it, because there are people who like the way the world is now compared to before.
Not to mention the logistics even if the cure would work to distribute it and I can guarantee that cure would not be something the fireflies would hand out for free
@@jameslars7391 exactly. You know for a fact that the Fireflies would totally gate keep that. They aren't these saints that's it Last of Us Part 2 tries to make them out to be.
You are misremembering the audiotapes. Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies in the game and, in the tape she made where she talks to Anna, she expressly says that the others "asked me to kill the smuggler, [but] I am not about to kill the one man in this facility who might understand the weight of this choice. Maybe...he can forgive me." The tapes are available in full on TH-cam so you can check. I could have a word or two off in the quotation, but that's what she said about killing Joel (other than to shoot if he tried anything). (Edit: I checked and she didn't say "but", otherwise my memory was right.)
Even though I wasn't really fond of your playthrough of this game, and I was under the impression you breezed over a lot of the heart and soul of it (hidden in the details), seeing your reaction to the show and how much and how deeply you feel about it is exactly the kind of joy I hoped to get out of it! I wholeheartedly agree how impressive it is that even with just 9 (pretty rushed sometimes) episodes, they still manage to surpass the game on multiple occasions, and create a finale that truly resonates deeply and emotionally. I will always favour the game in the end, but DAMN if this didn't come close to perfection!
There's more to it than just saving Ellie for Joel. Even in the game, and the series there's a lot of small lines and interactions that Joel drops that gives you hints to it, Tess has a few as well. They are two people who deep down understand that humanity at this current moment has completely lost the battle, and itself in the process. Sure, you heal the fungi infection by making people immune, but at that point, is humanity even capable of being saved? So many characters in that show hold onto the hope that a cure can fix everything, but Joel knows that hope is just what is, hope. Resources are destroyed, governments destroyed, societal normality destroyed, there's looting, tribalism, murder, dictatorships. Weather or not a cure was discovered, you simply cannot just flip a switch and go back to a normal society, at this point its impossible, it's something beyond saving. Robbing Ellie of the choice is a moral gray area that's both the correct and incorrect decision in his eyes. On one hand, he took the choice out of her hands, on the other, he allowed her not to sacrifice herself for something that wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
This is why I always loved these games. Because some people reallly believe Joel did the right thing... and some really dont think so. As for me... I'm very good at staying right in the middle... and just loving to watch the writing in these games. Seeing people make choices... that lead to other choices... that lead to revenge ... and that revenge leads to more problems... Its just super fascinating writing to me. Idk if what Joel did was right or not really.. But I understand why he did it... whether it was selfish or not... and I also understand why the events that follow would happen... Because from the outside looking in... with no context... Joel looks like a psychopath... if you arent any wiser to his character. Love these games and the show.
Would've done the same (or you know, let's be honest: I would have tried lol). Even more so in the show than the game the Fireflies look like a raggedy bunch on their last legs, handful of soldiers and what.. one doctor? I have zero faith in these people bringing a cure to the world. Absolutely no change.
Hi Vicky ❤ Really love you reaction to the final episode the last of us , So happy Joel still cares for Ellie Hope he didn't lie to her in end , hoping there's a sequel in future !!! :)
If I'm being honest, I do feel like the season could have used one or two more episodes, though maybe that wasn't in the budget. It was still fantastic, but I feel like there's so much we missed out on.
I definitely agree. There's not enough game material in the first game to actually split it into two whole seasons, but if it had been a 12-episode season, I think it would have been much better paced. That said, I still loved it.
If the Fireflies would’ve let Joel say goodbye and had let Ellie be fully aware of what was happening this absolutely would’ve played out differently. Instead the Fireflies act like total bastards and are surprised when Joel does what he does.
Got to disagree. Joel would have done what he did whether Ellie agreed or not. He would never willingly walk out of that hospital knowing she was going to die.
@@JoshBlanksby If Ellie has agreed, she would’ve been able to talk to Joel and he would’ve done as she wished. She is the only person in the world he could’ve talked into being peaceful, he wouldn’t have gone against her if it was her wish
@@andresjf0608 I have to disagree based on the fact that he knew what she wanted was for her life to mean something. He knew deep down given the choice she would have chosen to die in that hospital. The flaw and tragedy of his character is he could not let another child die. I cannot see a reality where Joel walks out of that hospital willingly knowing Ellie is going to die.
So rumors of "The Last of Us: Part 3" are going around, saying that it's being developed, but no official word from Naughty Dog or Neil Druckmann has come out yet, so we'll have to wait and see whether or not it's true. Just thought I'd mention it. And I heard it from another fan of the game, Mama's Geeky. Anyway, I thought they cut the giraffe scene from the show, but I apparently forgot that it happened towards the end of the game.
It was always Joel's destiny to protect Ellie, irregardless of death or the salvation of the human race, from the moment he met Ellie. They were what each other needed to survive.
Marlene could have literally given Joel what he asked for. Had she taken Joel to see Ellie and they had their talk, it would have made things significantly better than how it turned out. Knowing Ellie, she would have gone with the surgery even if she knew she would die. She wanted this so bad, and I'm sure they would have talked and Joel would have at least had closure instead of the mess that would come from this.
Got to disagree. Joel would have done what he did whether Ellie agreed or not. He would never willingly walk out of that hospital knowing she was going to die.
@@JoshBlanksby True. Joel would be that guy to doom the entire human race if it meant he gets to see his adopted daughter alive and well. He'll fight tooth and nail to keep her safe.
Ellie was cold and more careless against Joel already at start. Joel was trying to contact with her which means something was bothering her already. Seems Joel has lost the frequance with her. But ''what happened?'' I started to ask myself. Then Ellie said something wierd that: ''I will follow you anywhere you go'' and ''We finish what we started''. Then Joel opened his heart that suicide attempt and he has appetite of living again thanks to Ellie. And I realised Ellie got scared-worried face mimic again. Like she doesnt want that burden, new daughter role or comparing with Sarah by him? I cant name it. At the end when Ellie woke up at the car, she became more stranger to Joel. More questions came in my mind. She already knew that Joel is a killer. She might figured that he killed em all. She might know that Joel bounded to her already that he doesnt let them open her skull. Then the most disturbing conversation happened. Joel brought up his daughter again. Ellie bacame more stranger to him. Anyway this experimental surgery was inevitable from the beginning. Marlene could ask Ellie's idea in front of Joel maybe. At least we would know what Ellie wants that she wants to go Joel like she said or she wants to finish what they started. Finally I must say, I felt that what Joel feels. It is terrible and unbareable that if Ellie doesnt love him anymore. I guess I couldnt fight or protect anymore if my daughter doesnt love me anymore. That's why it is saddest episode for me :(
I think that's ungenerous. Joel is flawed but we see the trauma that led to his decisions and reactions. He may have cost humanity its future, but we have to sympathize with him. "Villain" to strong for a man who deeply emotionally wounded that he could hardly have acted any other way. I would agree he's no "hero" though.
![This show is AMAZING!!! I AM *BEYOND* IMPRESSED | The Last of Us [Episode 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h1ter1KQhs0/mqdefault.jpg)
![This show is AMAZING!!! I AM *BEYOND* IMPRESSED | The Last of Us [Episode 1]](/img/tr.png)
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
Hearing Ashley and Troy and Neil and Craig talking about how crazy it is that OG Ellie got to give birth to HBO Ellie, so emotional.
IIRC, there was another voice actor tie-in to the game; Laura Bailey was one of the nurses in the operating room.
i just realised that when it's noted that Joel can't hear properly out of his right ear, it's not just because he shoots from that side, but because of his failed attempt on his own life
Oh shit👀
He _did_ say it was "from shooting", he just didn't say whom...
How did you realize, was it when Joel told Ellie exactly that in no uncertain terms. ^^
Damn nice catch
@@xyhmo But he doesn’t. He tells Ellie about him trying to kill himself, he don’t mention his hearing. This person just pointed out that connection
"It wasn't time that did it." ..with the break in Joel's voice at "did it" - that was it for me. That's when I cried.
That last scene, and that last word in particular, might be my favorite piece of writing of all time. We’ve seen this relationship grow and blossom into something so beautiful and meaningful, but this is where it splinters. He has become a father to her, he’s protected her, he’s taken care of her. But she feels something’s off. She knows in her gut that he’s not being 100% honest with her. But the idea that he would take away the one thing she thought she had, her purpose in this world, is too painful. She decides in that moment to ignore her gut, ignore her senses, to believe him, because she can’t handle the alternative. But that’s not how trust works, and the trust between them is irreparably broken in that moment, despite her willingness to pretend otherwise. And all of that is conveyed in one, simple word.
“Okay”.
I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
Beautiful comment 🫶🏻
Well written comment!
Yeah, it would have been great if he'd have told her something that would make her miserable.
If Marlene was sure Ellie would make that choice, then she would have asked her - Even Marlene has doubts
Exactly I think Ellie would have been willing. But good grief ask first
@@technopirate304 Oh I think she would have made that choice too, she's too traumatized not to, but it should have been her choice - I also think Joel would have respected her wishes if he heard it from her.
I like to think he would have demanded they test it on him, that way he either gets bit and turns or he gets to know for sure that he and Ellie did the right thing
@@GodBear97 I honestly don't think Joel could make the choice to let her die even if she chose to. Getting her consent would merely have delayed Joel's rampage a bit and made it much harder or him to lie to her afterwards.
@@GodBear97
Joel wouldnt let her even if its her choice.
Thats the main reason why Joel never willingly told her in the second game.
He wants to do everything just so she can live.
Joel is cool and all but he also human with apparent selfishness,
Argument I've made since first time finishing the Last of Us regarding Joel's decision
1. He was more right because Ellie wasn't given a choice. If Marlene was so sure Ellie would want to do the surgery they should have asked her.
2. Even if the surgery was successful would the population trust the Fireflies, who are seen as terrorists, that they had a cure when no-one else in the world had found one
3. Even if they were trusted, society has lost so much knowledge it seems in terms of industry, manufacture etc that it's impossible to see how a manufacturing process could be put in place to produce enough cure
4. Even if all the above happens, the transportation infastructure doesn't exist to be able to get cure out to enough people across the USA let alone the world.
I can see the Firefly point, as getting a cure in place could head away from martial law and back to normalcy as there is less concern about infected numbers growing but her taking the choice away from Ellie makes her as wrong as Joel for that decision and then the rest of my points lead me to believe that giving Ellie a normal life would provide more utility than the possibility of a cure
"It's Ellie!"
Yes both of them.
"The only people that can betray us are the ones we trust" - Maria
"Ok" - Ellie at the end
my oldest cousin let me use his HBO account to watch this series and he passed away after about the 2nd episode, it was hard to keep using his account to finish the series but its what he would've wanted so I finished watching it and then started balling my eyes out after the last episode. I signed out if his account forvever. Thank you Chris for letting me use your HBO account to watch TLOU, Ill love you forever, rest easy, see you soon!
I'm very sorry for your loss ☹️🖤
What about next season?
@@luxurybuzz3681 Ill have to mooch off of one of my other cousins lol
I don't think it was the hardest decision Joel had to make in his life... I think it was the easiest, he couldn't see another daughter die. He couldn't go through that again, so it wasn't a hard choice. It wasn't a good one but he acted as a desperate father trying to save his child
I'm pretty sure she was talking about Joel lying to her. Saving her was an instinctual reaction for him, but he had to actually think about what he would say to her once she woke up. Killing Fireflies is easy for him, but I don't imagine being dishonest with Ellie is nearly as easy emotionally speaking.
@@nezfromhki Yes, you are right... She was referring to the lying. I interpreted in another way but you are right
I can’t fucking wait to see what they do with part 2 storyline. Seeing Joel going to work in that hospital was so good, ain’t nobody taking another daughter from him
Uhh...
@@carpetfluff35 lmao let him find out on his own 🏌️♀️
@@03Misael21 I didn't say anything.
Well…. Yeah about that.
Well... they certainly aren't taking another daughter from him
Ashley Johnson (game Ellie) played Ellie's mom, and Laura Bailey (game Abby) played Nurse 2 and they both co-created & starred in Legend of Vox Machina, an adaptation of their D&D game, and Troy played a role in season 2!
Fun fact Abby’s voice actor was one of the nurses in the operation room to those who only watch the show DONT GOOGLE ABBY
You know Joel considers Ellie his child now because he lied to her face to protect her. A parent's number one concern is their child's survival, everything else comes second. I don't think Joel was even considering what he or Ellie would want in the hospital, it was pure instinct. They were trying to kill her, he had to kill them first.
In episode 3, Ellie remarks that Joel's too honest. How about now?
I'm not convinced it was to protect her. I think he knows that he took Ellie's choice away, just as Marlene did, and didn't want to lose her emotionally for what he chose to do. Not that I don't understand where he's coming from, of course. But he knows that Ellie would have sacrificed her life if it meant saving the world. And he couldn't accept that
@Ritchie if everyone is so certain Ellie would have said yes. Why did the fireflies never tell her the truth? If there was room for doubt then that's enough reason to keep her alive, over a MAYBE cure.
@@squatchnasty234 Yes, that's why I said that they **both** took her choice away.
@@LoungingPotato She's a child, her "choice" would be nothing more than hormonal animalistic stimulus/response. Adults protect their children, it's as simple as that.
I loved that Ashley got to play Elle's mom. 🥺🥺🥺🙌
One tiny thing Im sad they cut in this ep was where Joel is running away with Ellie in his arms from the fireflies before he reaches the elevator as that sequence encapsulates and mirrors the section from the 1st ep where he's running with Sarah doing everything he can to save her...
yeah but if you think about it they still did the parallel when marlene was pointing a gun at him with ellie in his arms (like when that soldier was pointing a gun at him with sarah in his arms)
Joel, having been separated with Ellie potentially forever, turned into the Terminator reprogrammed by John Conner in T2. His heart had finally opened up and started to heal and humanity was about to take another daughter from him. I don’t blame him.
The Fireflies, even Marlene, by wanting to kill Ellie for a potential cure WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT, they cemented Joel’s sentiment that humanity does not deserve to survive.
In my opinion, they cast themselves as the villains and Joel against them.
Joel - fuck the world, i m saving my daughter.
Loved it
There's no way the cure would've worked, even if it did the world's still screwed. Doesn't help how badly they treated Joel and that they've already killed immune people, and didn't even give Ellie a choice.
The fireflies just wanted leverage over the military. There's no way they'd be able to distribute it either
That is why I have and always will say. Joel did nothing wrong.
If you care about the greater good, Eli's immunity makes her one of the most valuable individuals on earth.
Those who think Joel should have allowed them to perform Eli's procedure, one that had absolutely no guarantee of resulting in a cure, but would kill the only known immune at the time.
They did not understand the story of the goose that lays the golden eggs.
the fireflies are desperate for results and wanted to risk it all; Joel proceeded emotionally, but also correctly.
Whether or not the Fireflies were right about being able to make a cure is essentially irrelevant to the story they are trying to tell. Joel believed they could make a cure. He says as much in part 2. Everything he did, he did believing he was making the choice to save Ellie and sacrifice humanity. He did what he did out of love, but it was a love twisted by old trauma. That, I think, is what the plot wants you to think about ... this is what love can make you do. Based on everything we know about Joel, we know he could not have made any other decision. He would not lose another daughter. Many people, particularly people who have kids, think on that situation and would make exactly that same choice, the choice to sacrifice all of humanity and all of the future to save the life of the one you love. That is either heart warming or sickening, depending on your outlook. To me it is kind of both.
That is the heart and soul of the plot. Whether or not the Fireflies could have delivered a cure is interesting to debate, but ultimately a side question. It very much opens up the question of whether or not doing the right thing for the wrong reasons makes you right or just lucky, but that is not the story they are trying to tell.
And, just as a side note, I think the fact that they were so quick to "kill the kid" is a result of that plot. In reality there would have been months or years of tests, with every effort made to save the life of Ellie if at all possible before resorting to that. I think, though, that even if that had happened, and two years down the line they gave Ellie the choice to die for humanity to live, she would have made the choice to sacrifice herself, and Joel absolutely would have still made the choice to not let that happen, no matter what he had to do. The only difference ultimately would be that Ellie would know what he did and probably immediately abandon him, but he would justify it to himself as at least she's still alive. "kill the kid immediately" lets them tell the story they are trying to tell without all the muddy extraneous detail. It also has the effect of causing nearly everybody to believe they are really bad at the whole cure-making thing :)
@@ianthomas865 you got a good point on your first replay. Yes it's a good story, but I can't help but feel this situation, it was a very manufactured final note for the plot. The way that Marlen and the fireflies proceed genuinely only left one way out for Joel, but it poses a situation that I find illogical. they are playing at random, they shoot into the air with the only known hope of humanity, it is a desperate move that sacrifices this hope to obtain what for them would be a strategic advantage. Joel's lie in the car is the part that gives us an intriguing ending and the part that denies Eli of her autonomy, but with regard what hapend at the hospital, by the way it was presented, it was just necessary so that that "hope / Eli's life" was not wasted. Joel's motivation was selfish, but point and aside from this he did the right thing.
@@ianthomas865 side note, the series makes it worse, by presenting the infected as a much less latent threat than the game (like the lack of spores), society can resurface in the world of the series, it's already doing so without breaking Eli's head. Joel does not see things this way, he has his reasons for not being very optimistic, but that is still the world that the story presents.
I think Ellie would find it super badass that her mom gave birth to her while fighting infected.
so this is kinda funny. The girl playing Marlene i think is the same actress as in the game, troy baker who plays Joel was in the last one and now this girl Ellies mom is the voice actress for Ellie in the games haha. love that. did i forget someone? possibly
Bella may not look much like Ellie, but she absolutely looks like a young Ashley Johnson.
Fun little trivia, you're right on Ashley Johnson playing Ellie's mom when she originally voiced Ellie for the game, bonus her Last of Us 2 and Critical Role co-star Laura Bailey was in this episode as one of the nurses in the hospital.
I didn't catch this!
Bonus Bonus fact. Laura Bailey did additional background voices for The Last of Us including one of the nurses she now played live action.
Abby runs also away from Joel at the hospital... ;-)
@@Taubi81 Neil confirmed that this was not Abby.
@@hybrid3214 Ah okay... thank you. but who was running away?
you can see that ellie is traumatised after david and joel has realised how much ellie means to him and he is trying to open to her and try to make her feel better. starting to treat her like a daughter. the rampage joel go's on is because he is a parent protecting what he considers his daughter any parent will protect their child at all costs and will do anything to make sure they are safe. Ellie has healed Joel's trauma and now joel wants to do the same for her.
I fucking love that Ashley played Ellie’s mom 🥲
Both Pedro and Bella are predicted to get Emmy nominations for their roles in this show. honestly after episode 8 I'll be shocked if Bella doesn't get a nomination.
The scenic shots of Salt Lake City are just amazing. Like, as somebody that's lived in Utah my entire life (no, I'm not a Mormon), I can watch this and go "oh hey, that looks familiar, and that looks familiar, and oh yeah I drove on that road last week" another testament to how this show took great care to make everything look genuinely authentic. No corner cutting for this crew. Also this show was absolutely amazing and I hope they shoot season 2 soon.
So yes, Ashley Johnson, the original Ellie voice actor, plays her mom in this episode. She's been acting in TV and voice since appearing in Growing Pains in the 80's. Her last big TV role was as a cast member on The Blindspot. She's well known in Geekdom as one of the members of Critical Role, the group credited with helping the resurgence of Dungeons and Dragons' popularity. They stream a weekly game on Twitch and TH-cam. Another member of Critical Role and famous voice actor, Laura Bailey, also appears as one of the nurses in the surgery.
Both Marlene and Joel Robbed Ellie's ability to made a choice
I'd say David did that already. She's not even close to being okay after what she went through and I don't think she was in any condition to choose whether to end her life.
I just love that they got Ashley to play her mother! Guess you can say she gave birth to Ellie twice, first the games and now the show ❤
Joel definitely was conflicted, you can see it in his face in the elevator actually.
I don't think it's a tough decision for Marlene to make, I think she made the decision without a flinch. She didn't even give Ellie the choice or tried to convince her otherwise, she doesn't really care about Ellie, not even close to the way Joel does.
She cared more about the promise she made to her friend than she did for Ellie. She could’ve kept her and raised her, but gave her up to FEDRA instead…
Ellie came out so fast cuz she wanted to help her mom fight off the infected lady 😢
I thought you meant came out as gay and I was trying to figure out what I missed 😂
Merlene knew Ellie for a couple of days as a newborn. She does NOT understand Joel. Whatever friendship she had with her mom is irrelevant. Let’s not be silly here.
This. Also, Marlene immediately gave her away, to her enemies, and only took her back in when Ellie became a valuable asset. Never saw her as a person.
07:30 Joel's smile is a great moment.
The ending of this episode left me feeling so uneasy.... i hate that he lied, at the same time as i understand why. HOW can i survive until the next season!? i never even played the game i dont know whats going to happen!
So happy they did not keep the ending from the game where Joel tried getting past a soldier and was shot a couple of minutes after the prologue. ;) I didn't even know this was possible. Thanks for giving that to us.
I had to stop for a moment when Joel said "It wasn't time that did it." That hit me just as hard as when Vision said "Grief is just love persevering" in Wandavision.
Marlene sucks. She tell Ellie nothing about the surgery and the risks. Marlene should have told Ellie everything. She didn't. Ellie would have died from surgery. Joel saved her and for him. But why Joel doesn't tell the truth is just the plot twist. He probably assumed that this was the best way to protect Ellie.
By the way, Anna, the mother here from Ellie ist the real Ellie from the Video games.
Also we have NO proof their "cure plan" would actually work
@@chrissyd4279 it's all based on a guess. Maybe it would have worked, but then Ellie would have died.
*it could be* they would kill Ellie for nothing! Fuck that, Joel is getting her out
lmao "That generic fence sound?!" That cracks me up, I thought the same thing when I was watching it. 😂
I can't believe this season is over. Sad. So amazing
Marlene was entirely responsible for pushing Joel into his actions, he was always going to assault the hospital as a result. She decided to murder Ellie, without even telling her or asking her about the life-ending procedure. She then told Joel this and let him go with 2 soldiers, despite knowing he was a lethal killer. Her incompetence & lack of reasoning is staggering and says a lot about the Fireflies when someone like that is in a leadership position.
Sure, you can still question Joel's later decision to lie to Ellie about the whole thing, but that's pretty minor compared to Marlene's initial decision.
Did she do it on purpose then? Cos she wanted to save Ellis too? I've never played the game so I don't know but I guess if she was doing that she expected to survive too
@@anangelcalled2524 She lied to Ellie and they put her under, knowing it was a life-ending procedure. Murder.
“They’re gonna be like oh, two for one!” 🤣
It's been a great journey with you covering this series. I look forward to more of your content in the future.
I feel this episode was on level or maybe even better than the same part in the game compared to some of the other key moments. I didn't realize how much the combat and stealth sequences in the game can pull you out of this moment because you have to focus on gameplay. Seeing Joel's rampage in live action was breath taking. You get to see the best and worst of us. Witnessing the waste of life at the small level on the Fireflies and understanding that Joel is forsaking the rest of humanity just left me staring at the screen this time instead of relieved to get to Ellie in the game. I love the end of this story because how human it is. I enjoyed the different perspective and expanded parts of all the characters we got in the show that could be added on top of the game. It is a great adaptation from game to TV series.
6:19 yes! thank you! that gate opening sound effect is so old and over used that it took me out of the immersion to be honest. I had to replay that scene just to make sure and yup its that sound effect. Youd think with a show as popular as this one they'd have a better variety of sound effects
I was worried you weren't going to recognize Ashley Johnson 😂
Fun fact: Laura Bailey (the voice actress of Abby in The Last of Us Part 2) was one of the nurses.
Joel has two priorities - First to save Ellie's life and second to make her happy, and absolutely nothing else. He will kill, and lie, and anything else required to keep her safe and happy.
In my opinion, you don't get to volunteer someone else to die for the cause, and if you do, you're a murderer. On the other hand, someone who kills to prevent a murder is not. Marlene could bear Ellie's death with great fortitude. Her own death, not so much.
8:12 Joel knows that delivering her to the Fireflies is goodbye. He knows they won't allow her to leave, and they certainly won't allow him to stay. And as a parent, the hardest part of love is letting go...
7:48 Good control Vicki
2:59 ''omg now what-*Euuh* now what.'' 😂
I was late to the show. Beat the first game 3 times and the second one twice. Pedro was perfect for this casting. I wasn't sure how he was going to do but I am glad he gave it a change because there is no way that role could have been done better
You know,
Even if show Joel does die, on the bright side it will still only be Pedro Pascal's second most brutal skull-bashing scene.
9:58 I ask that same question far too often
Ellie from the game is Ellie's mom in the show
I don't blame Joel at all for what he did. I would've done the exact same thing for my daughter, or for my brother, or my mom. The game did end like that, almost exactly. It's such a phenomenal game I highly recommend it. Her mom was not in the game, this is our first time seeing it.
Also the Fireflies are just wrong and evil, because it's revealed in audio tapes that Marlene was going to kill Joel, she wasn't going to send him on his way. Plus who's to say that the the cure would've worked, I doubt the apocalypse has the medical advancements and equipment to be able to reproduce a vaccine. Plus not everyone will take it, because there are people who like the way the world is now compared to before.
Not to mention the logistics even if the cure would work to distribute it and I can guarantee that cure would not be something the fireflies would hand out for free
@@jameslars7391 exactly. You know for a fact that the Fireflies would totally gate keep that. They aren't these saints that's it Last of Us Part 2 tries to make them out to be.
You are misremembering the audiotapes. Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies in the game and, in the tape she made where she talks to Anna, she expressly says that the others "asked me to kill the smuggler, [but] I am not about to kill the one man in this facility who might understand the weight of this choice. Maybe...he can forgive me." The tapes are available in full on TH-cam so you can check. I could have a word or two off in the quotation, but that's what she said about killing Joel (other than to shoot if he tried anything). (Edit: I checked and she didn't say "but", otherwise my memory was right.)
The game gives you a choice. Of course we all know the correct choice is to save Ellie.
Ellie watching Ellie being born
Also Matlene was the Marlene from the show
yep.. they get you on a hook.. cannot wait for next season.. loved sharing with you and glad your voice is better
Even though I wasn't really fond of your playthrough of this game, and I was under the impression you breezed over a lot of the heart and soul of it (hidden in the details), seeing your reaction to the show and how much and how deeply you feel about it is exactly the kind of joy I hoped to get out of it! I wholeheartedly agree how impressive it is that even with just 9 (pretty rushed sometimes) episodes, they still manage to surpass the game on multiple occasions, and create a finale that truly resonates deeply and emotionally. I will always favour the game in the end, but DAMN if this didn't come close to perfection!
Ashley Johnson, OG Ellie, also Mel Gibson's daughter in "What women want" and best known for Critical Role!
No way... That was Ashley in "What Women Want"? I never would have put that together, but it's awesome to know!
@@BubblyRainbows I love surprising people with little facts like that lol
Watching well getting ready for work beginning the day strong. 🤘🤘 I'm with Joel on this F... Humanity.
There's more to it than just saving Ellie for Joel. Even in the game, and the series there's a lot of small lines and interactions that Joel drops that gives you hints to it, Tess has a few as well.
They are two people who deep down understand that humanity at this current moment has completely lost the battle, and itself in the process. Sure, you heal the fungi infection by making people immune, but at that point, is humanity even capable of being saved? So many characters in that show hold onto the hope that a cure can fix everything, but Joel knows that hope is just what is, hope.
Resources are destroyed, governments destroyed, societal normality destroyed, there's looting, tribalism, murder, dictatorships. Weather or not a cure was discovered, you simply cannot just flip a switch and go back to a normal society, at this point its impossible, it's something beyond saving. Robbing Ellie of the choice is a moral gray area that's both the correct and incorrect decision in his eyes. On one hand, he took the choice out of her hands, on the other, he allowed her not to sacrifice herself for something that wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Get out the handkerchiefs,
be prepared and take care
of yourself
and have a great week friend
😊❤️🌻❤️
the only thing tough about marleens decision is for some reason it had to be immediately and plan A instead of like plan Z, fk marleen
This is why I always loved these games. Because some people reallly believe Joel did the right thing... and some really dont think so. As for me... I'm very good at staying right in the middle... and just loving to watch the writing in these games. Seeing people make choices... that lead to other choices... that lead to revenge ... and that revenge leads to more problems... Its just super fascinating writing to me. Idk if what Joel did was right or not really.. But I understand why he did it... whether it was selfish or not... and I also understand why the events that follow would happen... Because from the outside looking in... with no context... Joel looks like a psychopath... if you arent any wiser to his character. Love these games and the show.
Pa : Ellies mother is the real Ellie from game
Vicky, I watched Schindler’s list, and it made me ball my eyes out and I don’t cry much, and if makes me cry hard it’ll make you so emotionally broken
Laura Bailey played the nurse.
Would've done the same (or you know, let's be honest: I would have tried lol). Even more so in the show than the game the Fireflies look like a raggedy bunch on their last legs, handful of soldiers and what.. one doctor? I have zero faith in these people bringing a cure to the world. Absolutely no change.
It's a shame we won't get any more reactions. RIP.
Hi Vicky ❤ Really love you reaction to the final episode the last of us , So happy Joel still cares for Ellie Hope he didn't lie to her in end , hoping there's a sequel in future !!! :)
If I'm being honest, I do feel like the season could have used one or two more episodes, though maybe that wasn't in the budget. It was still fantastic, but I feel like there's so much we missed out on.
I definitely agree. There's not enough game material in the first game to actually split it into two whole seasons, but if it had been a 12-episode season, I think it would have been much better paced. That said, I still loved it.
Joel Wick In ACTION!!!!
If the Fireflies would’ve let Joel say goodbye and had let Ellie be fully aware of what was happening this absolutely would’ve played out differently. Instead the Fireflies act like total bastards and are surprised when Joel does what he does.
Got to disagree. Joel would have done what he did whether Ellie agreed or not. He would never willingly walk out of that hospital knowing she was going to die.
@@JoshBlanksby If Ellie has agreed, she would’ve been able to talk to Joel and he would’ve done as she wished. She is the only person in the world he could’ve talked into being peaceful, he wouldn’t have gone against her if it was her wish
@@andresjf0608 I have to disagree based on the fact that he knew what she wanted was for her life to mean something. He knew deep down given the choice she would have chosen to die in that hospital. The flaw and tragedy of his character is he could not let another child die. I cannot see a reality where Joel walks out of that hospital willingly knowing Ellie is going to die.
So rumors of "The Last of Us: Part 3" are going around, saying that it's being developed, but no official word from Naughty Dog or Neil Druckmann has come out yet, so we'll have to wait and see whether or not it's true. Just thought I'd mention it. And I heard it from another fan of the game, Mama's Geeky. Anyway, I thought they cut the giraffe scene from the show, but I apparently forgot that it happened towards the end of the game.
I like the part where Joel said, "LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS! TO DEFEAT...THE HUNS!" 🤡
Hurray! They had the giraffes! I was worried about RL logistical stuff making it too much trouble! Yay!
12:01 Kind of similar to Anakin in episode III of star wars, in a way.
VKunia: "SEASON FINALE KILLED ME😭"
Me thinking: well, season finale basically killed everybody besides Joel and Ellie
And in the long run, maybe literally everyone if humanity goes extinct for lack of a cure.
It was always Joel's destiny to protect Ellie, irregardless of death or the salvation of the human race, from the moment he met Ellie. They were what each other needed to survive.
Well said.
Marie: "The only person that can betray you is someone you trust."
Fun fact: the Giraffe was real.
They pulled it off!
Marlene could have literally given Joel what he asked for. Had she taken Joel to see Ellie and they had their talk, it would have made things significantly better than how it turned out. Knowing Ellie, she would have gone with the surgery even if she knew she would die. She wanted this so bad, and I'm sure they would have talked and Joel would have at least had closure instead of the mess that would come from this.
Got to disagree. Joel would have done what he did whether Ellie agreed or not. He would never willingly walk out of that hospital knowing she was going to die.
@@JoshBlanksby True. Joel would be that guy to doom the entire human race if it meant he gets to see his adopted daughter alive and well. He'll fight tooth and nail to keep her safe.
@@41tinman41 Absolutely. It's what makes him such an interesting character.
Just a suggestion but maybe Gina Carano or Ronda Rousey could play abbey from the last of us, they seem to fit the character perfectly.
As a father Joel did what any father would
Not Ok to miss Ashley in the begining ,
Ellie was cold and more careless against Joel already at start. Joel was trying to contact with her which means something was bothering her already. Seems Joel has lost the frequance with her.
But ''what happened?'' I started to ask myself. Then Ellie said something wierd that: ''I will follow you anywhere you go'' and ''We finish what we started''.
Then Joel opened his heart that suicide attempt and he has appetite of living again thanks to Ellie. And I realised Ellie got scared-worried face mimic again. Like she doesnt want that burden, new daughter role or comparing with Sarah by him? I cant name it.
At the end when Ellie woke up at the car, she became more stranger to Joel. More questions came in my mind. She already knew that Joel is a killer. She might figured that he killed em all. She might know that Joel bounded to her already that he doesnt let them open her skull. Then the most disturbing conversation happened. Joel brought up his daughter again. Ellie bacame more stranger to him.
Anyway this experimental surgery was inevitable from the beginning. Marlene could ask Ellie's idea in front of Joel maybe. At least we would know what Ellie wants that she wants to go Joel like she said or she wants to finish what they started.
Finally I must say, I felt that what Joel feels. It is terrible and unbareable that if Ellie doesnt love him anymore. I guess I couldnt fight or protect anymore if my daughter doesnt love me anymore. That's why it is saddest episode for me :(
13:48 Easiest actually.
I have zero sympathy for Marlene. All she has ever done is dump Ellie off on others
F Marlene, F the fireflies, F humanity. If you play the game or even watch the show. Humanity is NOT worth saving. Joel did nothing wrong!
In the game does Joel offer to end the task and return back to Tommy
Joel is the actual villain of the story.
I think that's ungenerous. Joel is flawed but we see the trauma that led to his decisions and reactions. He may have cost humanity its future, but we have to sympathize with him. "Villain" to strong for a man who deeply emotionally wounded that he could hardly have acted any other way. I would agree he's no "hero" though.
This really was bitter sweet as it was the last episode but I did think that from episode 7 onwards felt a bit rushed.
The DLC wasted a lot of the Time.
@@thrummer1953 🤣
I think the issues lies with episode 4 & 5.
We didn't need 2 episodes inside of Kansas city. Plus 4 was only 45 Mins long as well.
wait so was episode 7 the mall episode and episoide 8 the cannibal one and i havent seen episode 9. hm
😭that was crazy Vicky