If you thought the death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) would be the most heartbreaking part of The Last of Us Season 2, you’d be wrong. That honor falls to Season 2, episode 6, a flashback episode all about Joel and Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) years in Jackson — and why they grew apart.
The episode’s heartbreak comes in waves. Early sequences of Joel and Ellie’s happiest memories become tragically bittersweet with the knowledge of what’s to come. And of course, watching the two fall out is a surefire recipe for sadness. By the end of the hour, your eyes will be damp and your heart will have shattered into a million tiny pieces. But hey, at least we got Joel back for a bit!
Here, in chronological order, is every time The Last of Us Season 2, episode 6 broke our hearts.
1. When young Joel’s father gets vulnerable about parenting.
Episode 6 opens with a flashback to Austin in 1983, when young Joel (Andrew Diaz) tries to protect Tommy (David Miranda) from a beating from their father (Tony Dalton). But instead of physically punishing either of his sons, Joel’s father decides to tell him about the warped blueprint of fatherhood he inherited from his own abusive dad, and how he hopes to improve upon it, bit by bit. “I’m doing a little better than my father did,” he tells Joel. “When it’s your turn, I hope you do a little better than me.” That line proves to be the thesis of the episode, with Joel trying to do a little better than his own father during his time with Ellie. Knowing how limited that time is — and how the two ended things — kickstarts episode 6’s heartache. And guess what? It’s not about to let up anytime soon.
2. When the opening credits change to bring back Joel.
After Joel’s death, The Last of Us’ opening credits made a devastating change. Instead of ending on the image of two fungal silhouettes, meant to represent Ellie and Joel, they ended with just the Ellie silhouette, highlighting her new loneliness. In episode 6, however, the Joel silhouette is back! It’s both a welcome return and a reminder that we’re on borrowed time with this pair. Who knew a shadow of a fungus could make me so emotional?
3. When Joel sings “Future Days” to Ellie.
So many elements of Ellie’s 15th birthday tug at the heartstrings, from Joel’s reaction to her burning her arm to hide her bite mark to him customizing a guitar for her. But the moment that opens the floodgates is undoubtedly Joel’s rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Future Days” (teased by Ellie herself back in episode 5). The song’s lyrics — “If I ever were to lose you / I’d surely lose myself” — are a resounding reminder of how much Ellie and Joel have come to mean to each other. (It’s also a dark portent of how Ellie may be losing herself on her revenge quest.) But the performance is also a payoff of a story thread from all the way back in Season 1, when Ellie asked Joel to sing for her and teach her to play guitar. Well, it’s finally happened, and I wouldn’t blame you for getting teary-eyed.
4. When Joel and Ellie visit the museum.
After a full season and a half of watching Joel and Ellie run from Infected and human enemies alike (and in Joel’s case, you know, dying), any scene where these two can just relax and enjoy themselves is a blessing. And what a blessing Ellie’s 16th birthday is! Joel brings Ellie to a museum, where she spends the day clambering on dinosaur statues and blasting off to space in an old capsule. One of the most touching moments of the season occurs when her dream of space flight becomes a reality, as the light of the real world fades away and she finds herself drifting in the dark void of space. The entire sequence showcases Joel and Ellie at their happiest, with Ellie finally getting to experience being a kid and Joel basking in her joy as a proud father. However, this calm moment is also a reminder of the dangers that lie ahead, as Ellie’s desire to go on patrol foreshadows the tragic events that will eventually tear Joel and Ellie apart.
As Ellie grows older, tensions rise between her and Joel, culminating in a heartbreaking confrontation where Joel dismisses her identity and relationships. This marks a major turning point in their bond, leading to Ellie moving out and the beginning of the end for their relationship. Despite Joel’s attempts to reconcile, the damage has been done and their communication breaks down.
One significant moment comes when Ellie reveals the true meaning of her moth tattoo, symbolizing the deaths of loved ones and survivor’s guilt. This burden shapes Ellie’s coming-of-age and is something Joel can never truly understand. Finally, as Ellie questions the events of Salt Lake City on her 19th birthday, it becomes clear that the truth about that fateful day will have a lasting impact on their relationship. Mungkin pengetahuan bawah sadar itu mempengaruhi kebutuhannya akan ruang dari Joel, yang lebih memperlebar jurang di antara mereka yang mungkin hanya diatributkan oleh Joel pada pemberontakan remaja. Berdasarkan episode 1, kita tahu bahwa jurang itu akan semakin melebar, jadi pertanyaan Ellie di sini menunjukkan bahwa yang lainnya akan segera terungkap.