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‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 finale: A mission for revenge takes a turn

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This story is full of spoilers for “The Last of Us” Season 2, especially the finale.

The second season finale of HBO’s “The Last of Us” delivers an exhilarating cliffhanger (for those who haven’t seen it yet and prefer not to know the spoilers, it would be wise to stop reading here): In a tense showdown between Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Abby is armed while Ellie is unarmed. As Ellie lets out a desperate cry, a shot rings out and… we’re transported back to Day 1, seeing the events unfold from Abby’s perspective.

If anyone was hoping to find resolution, be it emotional or through the storyline, I’m sorry to say that you may need to be patient for now.

In this episode, it unfolded like a compact saga. Continuing from the previous week’s installment that largely focused on flashbacks, Ellie reenters the theater to discover Jesse looking after Dina who, due to the Seraphites, had an arrow wound in her leg in Episode 5. When Dina resists taking a sedative drink during this situation, Jesse becomes agitated. As he and Ellie subsequently search for Tommy, Jesse manages (almost) to coax Ellie into disclosing Dina’s pregnancy status.

Television

In a straightforward and conversational manner, let me rephrase this for you: The lead actor in HBO’s post-apocalyptic series mentioned that filming Season 2 was significantly tougher, yet they found it enlightening as it provided them with deeper insights into their own self.

The argument over admittance intensifies the conflict between Ellie, driven by her compulsive desire to see Abby punished for killing Joel, and Jesse, infuriated by Ellie’s prioritization of personal revenge over the welfare of Jackson’s community. A heated exchange ensues before they part ways, with Jesse seeking out Tommy and Ellie resuming her pursuit of Abby.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself on an unusual odyssey following a protagonist named Ellie, who navigated tempestuous waters and narrowly escaped Seraphite execution. Finally reaching the desolate aquarium, I encountered Mel and Owen, former Fireflies companions of Abby, who was responsible for Joel’s demise, played by Pedro Pascal. When Owen attempted to grab a gun, Ellie acted swiftly, firing a shot that struck Owen in the throat. Regrettably, the bullet also hit Mel, who disclosed her advanced pregnancy and pleaded with Ellie to perform an emergency C-section as she bled profusely. Overwhelmed, Ellie was unable to comply, and Mel succumbed to her injuries just as Jesse and Tommy arrived on the scene.

The scene is both intense and harrowing. After they escape back to the sanctuary of the theater, Ellie understandably looks rattled, questioning the validity of her vengeful journey when Abby abruptly arrives and kills Jesse (tearfully). As Ellie acknowledges her role in Mel and Owen’s demise and tries to justify, we witness her initial rage mirrored on Abby’s face. She aims the gun at Ellie, a bullet is fired, and the narrative jumps back to Day 1 of the virus outbreak.

Three critics from The Times – Lorraine Ali, Tracy Brown, and Mary McNamara – share their thoughts on the final episode and the series that led up to it.

Speaker: Though I haven’t actually played the game myself, having seen numerous episodes of TV shows, I’m taking a shot in the dark here by suggesting that Ellie might still be alive. I don’t anticipate finding out for some time, as it seems that Season 3 will delve into Abby’s past before potentially returning us to the series’ current timeline.

In a nutshell, this final episode seemed to blend hastiness with slowness, similar to many scenes before it. This season has predominantly centered around Ellie’s character development, which at times felt overtly emphasized. Apart from her affection for Dina, I’m not convinced about the depth of her growth. It’s no secret that Ellie is relentless and uncertain about her life’s purpose; the same can be said about Jesse’s stern lecture on how this revenge quest endangered many people, particularly the woman Ellie professes to cherish.

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In Episode 4 of Season 2, film director Kate Herron delves into the intricacies of Ellie and Dina’s relationship, highlights a pivotal moment between them reminiscent of the “Take on Me” scene, showcases an intense encounter with an infected horde in the subway system, and introduces renowned actor Jeffrey Wright as the character Isaac.

In Season 1, it was evident what was at risk – guiding Ellie to a place where she could help create a remedy. However, these objectives shifted by the finale. In contrast, this season seems to focus more on Ellie’s growth, as she grapples with the idea that not all heroes must make selfless sacrifices or wage bloody vendettas to be considered heroic.

The message was well-crafted, yet it appeared that the focus on her emotional development happened primarily in the closing moments, leaving us with only brief glimpses of the larger influences affecting her. It seems unusual to present a cult without providing a clear explanation for its existence. Also, I find it curious that Jeffrey Wright (and Hettienne Park) were cast as WLF commanders but their roles seemed limited in scope. Similarly, Mel and Owen’s characters were written out in a manner that suggests they were used merely to expand Ellie’s perspective, which appears unfortunate.

It seems that certain aspects are meant to remain faithful to the game, which presents various perspectives, but despite the thrilling climax in Season 2, it’s challenging not to perceive it as more of an introduction to Season 3. What are your thoughts on this, Tracy Brown, a player of “The Last of Us”?

John: I must say, Mary, I’m on the same page with you – the concluding part seemed a bit hurried as it hurtled towards the transition into Abby’s narrative for Season 3, all while attempting to incorporate scenes that echoed the original game. It seems like you’re experiencing a touch of the perplexity and irritation shared by players of “The Last of Us: Part II,” where the confrontation between Ellie and Abby at the theater unexpectedly switched to something entirely new, leaving you to play as the character you had been pursuing for hours.

In the game, up until that suspenseful moment, you’ve mostly controlled Ellie, with brief exceptions before Joel’s demise. The Washington Liberation Front, the Seraphites, and their ongoing conflict aren’t fully revealed until you switch to Abby’s perspective. Typically in games, you only know as much as your character does, learning more about adversaries as you progress. You’re also mainly focused on completing missions, despite how engaging a game’s story may be. The initial “Last of Us” game had missions and themes that were easier to follow.

Television

In the most recent installment of HBO’s post-apocalyptic dramatic series, the plot diverged from the original game’s storyline in order to delve more profoundly into the personal tales of characters such as Gail and Eugene.

In “The Last of Us: Part II,” there’s an unexpected twist: you initially believe you’ll be controlling Ellie with a focus on seeking revenge, but instead, you take control of Abby. This shift is significant because the game delves deeply into themes of trauma and recurring acts of violence. Abby’s story becomes crucial to the narrative as it unfolds, as understanding her perspective is essential for players to grasp the full scope of the game’s message. The fact that playing as Abby can cause discomfort is part of the experience, as it underscores the emotional bond players develop with their in-game characters.

Television adaptations allow for flexible storytelling since viewers don’t assume the role of Ellie. This means they can discover Abby’s connections to Salt Lake City events and characters like Isaac (Wright) earlier than players due to not being confined to a single perspective. However, this flexibility presents its own set of challenges. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that while the franchise is highly regarded, “Part II” elicited mixed reactions from some players as well. Lorraine, what were your thoughts on the finale?

Ali: It seems we share similar thoughts on the finale and Season 2 overall. Does that imply I can skip tonight’s episode? If I were to follow Ellie’s lead, I would certainly do so. Ellie, as Mary pointed out, prioritized her own interests over others, making it difficult for an engaging plot twist or character development in the Season 2 finale. As for the pacing issue, Episode 7 devoted a significant amount of time to repetitive scenes, such as Ellie’s pursuit of revenge, which placed everyone she cares about at risk. Poor Dina was left in a dire situation due to her crossbow injury, and Jesse could only remove the bolt by pulling it straight through. By the time Ellie recognized that her relentless quest mirrored Abby’s brutal actions against Joel, it was almost time for the credits to roll. However, she didn’t hesitate to shoot a pregnant woman before this realization.

Television

In the fifth episode of ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2, Jesse makes a reappearance. Here, young actor Mazino discusses the significance of Jesse’s comeback, shares his thoughts on Ellie and Dina’s relationship, and expresses his views on revenge.

Hey Tracy, I’ve been thinking… It seems part of the struggle the show faced in deciding where to focus could be due to challenges inherent in adapting a video game to television. As you noted, the game offers shifting perspectives, allowing players to experience Ellie’s and Abby’s worlds. However, unlike gamers who actively navigate these worlds, TV viewers are passive, leaving the show with numerous scenarios to tackle or omit. The finale seemed to jump rapidly from one scene to another, suggesting it was more a duty than a deliberate choice. Scenes like Ellie’s choppy boat ride, being washed ashore by a rogue wave, her capture and release by the cult felt sudden and almost unnecessary to the overall narrative. Despite this, the decaying Costco storefront, despite being random, added an interesting touch.

In conclusion, I was fond of the Seattle-focused music and artwork from grunge bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden in the soundtrack. However, numerous exceptional female bands emerged from the Pacific Northwest as well, and it seems to me that the raw anger of 7 Year B could have made a fitting soundtrack for Ellie’s fury. What are your thoughts on the final scenes that hint at Season 3?

McNamara: I really appreciate your detailed musical critiques, Lorraine! Frankly, I was baffled by Ellie’s brief encounter with the Seraphites, which seemed more like an unnecessary addition to the storyline – not to mention the mysterious cult in the woods that we still know very little about. And her situation resembling a “Twelfth Night” scene where she was almost drowned – “What land, pray, is this?” – left me puzzled as well.

From my perspective, transitioning from Ellie to Abby in the game can be plausible – you can’t truly grasp your adversary until you’ve experienced their journey firsthand. However, it’s quite challenging for a series to alternate viewpoints on a seasonal basis rather than episode by episode. This could prove tricky, especially for viewers who aren’t already familiar with the game.

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In Episode 3, the actor delves into the consequences of Joel’s demise, shares insights about the development of the emotional farewell scene between Tommy, and explains why he strives to steer clear of clichéd character portrayals.

Besides Ellie and Dina’s developing bond, this season seemed more like a sneak peek into Season 3. Ramsey delivers a compelling performance, yet assuming the role of a recognizable teen navigating a complex existential journey amid a life-threatening narrative alone is quite challenging. This task becomes even more daunting without a veteran co-star to provide guidance. However, no one said transforming a game into a series would be simple.

Speaking about the last part, I must admit that I’m not convinced Ellie has perished, despite Jesse clearly being gone now, a sad turn of events. Jesse and Tommy were truly the valiant figures in Season 2. The initial atmosphere of the final scene intrigues me. I appreciate it when post-apocalyptic stories delve into the origins of the catastrophe. So, I eagerly look forward to seeing how things unfold in the coming months, which is likely what every TV writer aspires for.

I’ll avoid discussing the outcome of Ellie’s storyline since the game revealing its answer was released in 2020. However, it’s not a spoiler to mention that the scene transitioning to Abby’s “Seattle Day 1” suggests that the series is likely adhering to the game’s structure – implying that Season 3 will focus on Abby’s story, recreating the same three days that Ellie has spent in the Emerald City before their confrontation. If the show follows the game closely, we won’t learn about Ellie’s fate following the cliffhanger gunshot until the narrative reaches that point in “Day 3” from Abby’s perspective. My apologies, Mary!

Initially, I was taken aback when I discovered the series was set to tread a familiar path, considering Abby’s backstory was revealed early on. Television offers the advantage of tracking multiple character storylines concurrently, leading me to expect the show might intertwine Ellie and Abby’s tales more intricately. However, adhering to the game’s plot structure can be beneficial, as it provides clear divisions in the larger narrative that allow for season construction. (I predict that the Season 3 finale will revolve around their confrontation at the theater once more.)

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The second installment of “The Last of Us” Season 2 delves into the discussion surrounding Ellie, Joel, Abby, Dina, and others. Be aware that this episode contains plot revelations.

Returning to Lorraine’s argument, I agree that some of this season’s challenges might stem from the decisions about which game scenes to focus on. Some translations from game to TV were effective, such as when Joel took Ellie to the museum for her birthday in Episode 6. However, instances like Ellie taking the boat to reach the aquarium could have been more successful. The scene of Ellie being tossed by the waves was a clever reference to the game, but on the series, it wasn’t entirely clear why she needed to board the boat initially.

1. Everyone has agreed that Dina and Ellie’s bond has been a standout part of this season so far. I can’t give away any spoilers, but what I’m really eager to see is how Ellie’s enthusiasm about Dina’s pregnancy and fatherhood will influence the upcoming storyline. As for you, Lorraine, do you think there’s a chance “The Last of Us” could reel you back in again?

2. We’ve all noted that the relationship between Dina and Ellie has been one of the best aspects of this season. I can’t reveal any spoilers, but I’m intrigued to find out how Ellie’s anticipation for Dina’s pregnancy and becoming a father will play into the storyline ahead. And you, Lorraine, might “The Last of Us” manage to lure you back?

3. The connection between Dina and Ellie has been a highlight this season, and I can’t give away any secrets, but I’m curious to see how Ellie’s eagerness about Dina’s pregnancy and fatherhood will shape the narrative moving forward. What do you think, Lorraine? Is there a possibility for “The Last of Us” to win you over again?

4. The relationship between Dina and Ellie has been one of the most interesting parts of this season, and I’m excited to discover how Ellie’s enthusiasm about Dina’s pregnancy and fatherhood will influence the unfolding storyline. How about you, Lorraine? Is there a chance that “The Last of Us” could regain your interest?

5. The bond between Dina and Ellie has been a highlight this season, but I can’t say anything that would spoil it for you. What I’m really interested in is how Ellie’s joy about Dina’s pregnancy and becoming a father will impact the story moving forward. And you, Lorraine? Is there any chance that “The Last of Us” could re-engage your attention?

Ali: Even in the decaying, moldy, and dismal world depicted in “The Last of Us,” there’s still a glimmer of hope. For the Season 3 premiere, I’m hoping that Ellie makes it through and her resurgence is accompanied by Pearl Jam’s “Alive” playing in the background.

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2025-05-26 13:32

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