Shocking Moments from The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 That Left Fans Reeling!

This article contains spoilers for The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2

Summary

Abby faces nightmares about the infected, leading to a dangerous encounter.
Abby’s group plans to enter Jackson, but Owen hesitates because of potential retaliation.
Ellie reveals a kissing moment with Dina to Jesse, who later doesn’t hesitate to join in the patrol search for Joel and Dina.

The opening episode of “The Last of Us Season 2” started off strongly, skillfully blending drama with captivating material. The debut leaped forward five years to depict Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, residing in Jackson, Wyoming. They’ve fallen out of communication, and Ellie isn’t even staying at Joel’s house anymore. In the meantime, it appears that Ellie has found Dina, who is portrayed by Isabel Merced, and seems to have romantic feelings for her.

In the initial installment, a robust groundwork was set for future events and concluded with a chilling tone. As Abby and her companions draw near to Jackson, the finale left no doubt that the Cordyceps contagion had infiltrated Jackson via its pipelines. The impending disaster seems inevitable for Jackson’s inhabitants, particularly Joel and Ellie. However, one wonders how Ellie will respond to Abby, and whether Abby can locate Joel. Let us delve into the events unfolding in the second episode of The Last of Us Season 2.

Ellie tells Jesse about her intimate moment with Dina, while Owen wants to change Abby’s mind

In the second installment of “The Last of Us” Season 2 titled “Through the Valley,” the narrative unfolds with a sense of foreboding tension. The scene opens in Salt Lake City’s dimly lit corridors, where Abby Anderson (portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever) treads cautiously, evidently on edge and armed. An older version of Abby materializes, initiating a conversation about someone who has recently perished. Despite the younger Abby’s confusion about her identity, they engage in dialogue. The younger Abby seeks to identify the deceased and yearns to see their faces. However, the older Abby dissuades her from entering that room, fearing the carnage within. Intriguingly, despite her warning, the younger Abby persists and breaks down upon entering. The cacophony of alarms intensifies as both Abbys weep over their shared grief. However, it is later revealed that this harrowing experience was actually a dream that Abby had while asleep.

Towards the end of the first episode, Abby’s team appeared to be approaching Joel and Ellie’s town in Jackson, Wyoming, known as Jackson, which was their ultimate destination. In the second episode, it appears that the group opted to rest inside a ski lodge close to Jackson for the night. However, things didn’t go as they had hoped. Upon observing the settlement, they recognized its extensive security measures, making an easy break-in seem unlikely. As a result, discussions about their strategy ensued among the group members. They decided that they wouldn’t let anyone in their group die due to revenge. Consequently, Owen began devising a new plan, and when Abby was absent, he informed everyone of his intention to alter their initial strategy. He believed that focusing on revenge was not advisable because it seemed that the residents of Jackson were prepared for an all-out battle. If they attempted to attack them, the group would likely be wiped out.

Honestly, a wise decision. But Abby is too consumed with the idea of killing Joel.

Is Ellie finally trying to talk to Joel?

In Jackson, people carry on with their day following the New Year celebration. At the garage where Ellie resides, Jesse (portrayed by Young Mazino) arrives and urges her to prepare for duty. As they talk during this preparation, Ellie confides that she kissed Dina (playthorugh Isabel Merced) at the party. This revelation leaves Jesse visibly upset, as he was once in a relationship with Dina. However, his anger seems feigned, and he eventually laughs it off, stating he’s fine with it and was merely teasing since they are no longer together.

This lighthearted moment is abruptly shattered when they encounter a large group of frozen infected. To make matters worse, during their search of the area, more infected emerge from beneath the bodies of the frozen ones.

The current predicament has everyone on edge due to uncertainty about who else might show up next. A short while later, Ellie shocks Jesse by expressing her desire to join Joel on patrol because ever since Salt Lake City, she’s been evading him. At the same time, Ellie admits that things aren’t as rosy as before, but she remains Ellie, and Joel remains Joel. However, it appears Joel has departed for the patrol, with Dina being his companion. The word about infected individuals has now reached Tommy and Maria, causing them to strategize on how they would respond if their town is attacked. Aware of the potential dangers, Tommy understands that he will require everyone’s assistance.

Abby is attacked by the infected, but Joel saves her

In my perspective as a movie critic, let me recount the dire straits our protagonists find themselves in. Jesse and I were bracing for a colossal blizzard, but due to our remote location, we missed Tommy’s ominous warnings. With no other choice, we huddled in a nearby store, hoping for the storm to abate. Meanwhile, Abby ventured out into the snowy wilderness, scouting the surrounding area. As she approached her cabin, she noticed two figures at a distance and decided to track them. Unbeknownst to her, the situation beyond the snowstorm was far more treacherous than she could have imagined. Upon slipping on an icy slope, Abby tumbled downwards into a horde of the infected. Trapped and pursued, Abby’s only option was to flee, but the relentless infected were hot on her heels.

At a critical moment, it appeared as if Abby wouldn’t make it through the ordeal and might transform into a zombie. Just in the nick of time, Joel intervened by dispatching one of the infected that was about to attack her. However, Abby wasn’t aware that Joel was the individual she had been searching for. She recognized him only when Dina called out his name, at which point Abby understood that the person who saved her was the one she intended to hunt down. When they realized they couldn’t return to Jackson, Abby proposed they head to her cabin, where her companions were eagerly awaiting her arrival. Meanwhile, Ellie and Jesse returned to Jackson and found out that Joel and Dina hadn’t shown up. Both of them grew anxious and once more ventured outside the city in search of them.

Abby’s torture begins as Ellie looks out for Joel and Dina

At the cabin, Abby, accompanied by Joel and Dina, reunites with Abby’s friends. Quickly recognizing Joel, she calls him by name. Once everyone identifies them, they brandish their guns, taking Joel and Dina hostage at gunpoint. This scene might remind those who have played The Last of Us Part II of an impending confrontation. Initially, they render Dina unconscious with an injection, then Abby accuses Joel of the lives he took in Salt Lake City. Despite Joel’s attempts to explain that he was protecting her from the infected, it only infuriates Abby further, leading her to wound Joel’s leg. However, she intends for his death to be prolonged and tormenting.

Following this action, Abby discusses the individuals Joel had killed that day, which included his own father. Despite being advised never to take a life that couldn’t defend itself, Abby emphasized her exception for Joel. She grabbed one of the golf clubs from the nearby bag of clubs and inflicted further pain on his already wounded leg by striking it with the club.

Abby finally takes her revenge as Joel faces a brutal death

In the snowy landscape, Ellie is on a mission to locate Joel and Dina. Spotting horse tracks, she deduces they lead towards the resort where Abby and her companions resided. Upon entering, Ellie witnesses a grim scenario: Abby brutally assaulting Joel, making it hard for her to watch. As she locates Dina and their horses, she didn’t anticipate finding Joel in such distress. When she learns of his condition, she attempts to shoot her way out and rescue Joel, but the odds were against her as she couldn’t stand up to Abby’s group alone. Ellie discovers a nearly lifeless Joel and urges him to rise. Unable to bear the sight any longer, Owen implores Abby to bring the ordeal to an end swiftly.

In the end, Abby manages to hear Owen, and with a swift strike to Joel’s neck, she ends his life using a golf club. Ellie was left stunned by the events, letting out a furious yell. The group departs as Ellie makes her way to Joel’s corpse, embracing him tightly. On the other hand, in Jackson, the residents are battling against the infected and discover that the Cordyceps contamination has spread to the settlement’s plumbing system. Amidst the chaos, Tommy and Maria make it through, but the city takes a heavy toll from the attacks.

In this episode, a heart-wrenching event unfolds that’s as emotionally devastating as it is graphically violent. The death of Joel, coldly executed by Abby, resonates deeply, not just for Ellie but for the viewers who have shared years of journey with him. The scene spares no feelings – it’s intense, unyielding, and incredibly personal. Ellie’s desperate scream, Joel’s battered form, and the chilling silence that follows lingers long after the devastating demise. This episode is a testament to Ramsey and Dever’s exceptional acting skills. “Through The Valley” is a masterpiece in creating tension and sorrow, compelling viewers to confront the horror of revenge and the lasting scars it leaves behind. Truly heart-rending.

2025-04-21 19:16