Breaking Down the Brutal Ending of Episode 5 of The Last of Us Season 2

Since Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) gruesome killing by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in episode 2 of The Last of Us Season 2, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) has shown a strong determination to avenge his death. However, over the recent episodes, there hasn’t been much headway in her quest for vengeance.

In their quest to navigate Seattle, evade Wolves and Seraphites, and locate Abby’s group, it was understandable that Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) would need some time to get things moving smoothly. However, Ellie’s cheerful response in Episode 4 regarding Dina’s pregnancy—which contrasted her obvious discontent in the game The Last of Us Part II—may strike some viewers as overly optimistic under the circumstances.

In Episode 5, however, Ellie’s vengeful nature resurfaced. The episode began with an introduction to spores – particles released by infected individuals in their final stage that can be inhaled by anyone nearby and cause infection. Towards the end of the episode, we saw Ellie track down one of Abby’s companions, Nora (played by Tati Gabrielle), who was targeted for revenge.

The events unfolded much like in the game, with Ellie pursuing Nora to Lakehill Hospital and instigating a confrontation where Nora taunted Joel before slipping away into the hospital basement for a brief spell. However, we were aware from the start of the episode that the basement was teeming with spores, which effectively sealed Nora’s fate as soon as she descended there. Conversely, Ellie utilized her immunity to chase after Nora and once more pressured her to disclose Abby’s whereabouts. It was at this juncture that Nora realized Ellie was the immune girl whom Joel had murdered numerous Fireflies, including Abby’s father, to save.

Despite my earlier reservations about Joel’s decisions, I made it clear that I no longer hold any judgement over his actions. However, when Nora persisted in withholding Abby’s location, I reacted impulsively and aggressively, striking her repeatedly with a metal pipe. The scene then transitioned to a poignant flashback, capturing a moment of joy between Joel and me in Jackson, hinting at how I choose to remember him now.

Similar to the series, the game concludes the Nora scene without showing Ellie actually killing her. Yet, it’s disclosed later that Ellie pushed Nora to the brink of endurance, ultimately revealing Abby’s location. Interestingly, rather than experiencing a sense of triumph or contentment, Ellie is profoundly disturbed by her actions and suffers greatly from the trauma she inflicted upon herself. Despite having killed individuals in self-defense previously, this marks the first time Ellie has mercilessly tormented someone who couldn’t defend themselves.

For Ellie, this instance is a pivotal point that plunges her into a harmful loop of aggression, remorse, and embarrassment. It further underscores the central theme of the narrative, highlighting the futile and devastating consequences of seeking retribution.

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2025-05-12 06:06