The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6: A Missed Chance for Emotional Depth

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Summary

  • The episode includes both new and familiar flashback scenes from The Last of Us games.
  • The new scenes successfully add depth to Joel and Ellie’s relationship, notably in domestic settings.
  • The final arc, while impactful, takes up a lot of time, leading to rushed scenes and missing emotional impact in key moments.

The second season’s next-to-last episode of “The Last of Us” has aired, and many viewers find it less impactful than expected. The penultimate episode (Episode 5) ended with Ellie telling Nora that she was aware of Joel’s actions at the Firefly hospital. This revelation might not be surprising to those who played the game, but for new viewers, it would be a fresh disclosure. Consequently, Episode 6 focuses on explaining how Ellie uncovered this vital information, which ultimately led to a significant rift between her and Joel’s characters.

As a devoted fan, I found myself immersed in Episode 6, where it seems that almost every scene was a flashback. Some of these moments were familiar from the game series, scattered throughout Ellie’s chapters back then. Typically, one flashback level would mark the end of each Seattle day for Ellie, gradually unfolding the significant events between The Last of Us Part 1 and 2 for us players. However, this time around, the showrunners chose a different path. The trailer had hinted that this episode would be all about filling in the gaps, focusing solely on Joel and Ellie – much like Season 1’s Episode 3: “Long, Long Time,” which took a brief detour from the main narrative to delve into Bill and Frank’s story over decades. That episode was heart-wrenchingly beautiful and added layers to those characters through new scenes. Regrettably, Episode 6 of Season 2, titled “The Price,” didn’t quite capture that same emotional resonance.

The Old Flashback Scenes

In Episode 6, we witnessed numerous instances that were merely hinted at but not displayed in the original game series. Additionally, there were reinterpretations of some flashbacks featuring Joel and Ellie, as seen in “The Last of Us Part 2.” The most impactful among these was Ellie’s birthday trip to the museum, a moment deeply resonant in the game that offered a heartwarming respite from the pervasive violence and hardship. Given its emotional weight and contrast against the grim backdrop, it was likely a wise choice to incorporate this narrative arc into Episode 6.

In this adaptation, the storyline closely followed the game’s events. Joel accompanies Ellie on a stroll, keeping her discovery secret. Ellie unexpectedly finds a colossal dinosaur and decides to scale it. Afterward, they visit a planetarium where Joel plays an audio recording of a space launch for Ellie while they both sit inside a replica space pod, wearing astronaut helmets. This sweet scene mirrored the original content almost perfectly, yet it didn’t evoke the same feeling as the game, which allowed players to freely explore the museum and interact with various exhibits at their own pace, engaging in conversations with Joel about different installations. Unfortunately, the limitations of television don’t permit such interactive experiences, so the series could only capture a fraction of the original story’s charm.

The New Flashback Scenes

In the latest episode, the flashback sequences featuring Joel and Ellie closely resemble their “Long, Long Time” moment from the series. The narrative opens with Joel crafting a guitar as a birthday gift for Ellie, only to be interrupted by Tommy, who arrives with an injured Ellie. Ellie confesses to Joel that she deliberately seared her infection scar on her arm while working in the kitchen to have a plausible explanation for her disfiguration. Under the influence of painkillers, Ellie expresses her desire to wear short sleeves again. This action distresses and worries Joel, but he manages to control his emotions and empathizes with Ellie’s reasoning. In the game, Ellie shares with Dina that the scar on her arm is a self-inflicted burn, and now, viewers of the TV show are given insight into how this event transpired. This demonstrates how the television adaptation enriches the original material instead of merely copying or replacing it.

In another scene, Joel unexpectedly enters Ellie’s room, finding her and Cat smoking marijuana and Ellie sporting a fresh tattoo. In this moment, Joel comments, “Looks like all the typical teenage antics, huh?” This event isn’t portrayed in the game, but it fits nicely into this episode, as it illustrates the familiar strife between parent and teenager. Ellie is demonstrating increased independence and rebellion, a stage that Joel, having not experienced it with his own daughter, seems ill-prepared to handle. Remarkably, this contentious scene offers a sense of warmth, as viewers have primarily witnessed Joel and Ellie’s bond through perilous escapades. Thus, witnessing their domestic disagreement in a post-apocalyptic setting is, in a way, a rare treat. However, the episode didn’t fully explore this potential connection as it could have.

The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6 Has a Pacing Issue

In Episode 6, the last storyline unfolds with Joel escorting Ellie on her inaugural patrol. Initially, things appear ordinary and uneventful. However, a distress call over the radio disrupts this tranquility. Joel and Ellie hastily respond, encountering an infected man named Eugene. Eugene pleads to be taken back to town so he can bid farewell to his wife Gail before his execution. Joel, along with Ellie’s agreement, consents to this plan. But when Ellie goes to fetch the horses, Joel makes a tough decision and shoots Eugene in the head from behind, ensuring no risks as per his character. Upon their return to town, Joel deceives Gail by claiming that Eugene chose to end his life, asserting he wasn’t afraid. However, Ellie, feeling deceived, reveals the truth to Gail.

In a fresh development, this storyline offers a satisfying conclusion, as Ellie recognizes Joel’s deception towards Gail mirrors the same deceit he used when explaining the Firefly hospital incident to her. This might be why Ellie stepped in and told Gail the truth, something she wished someone had done for her at that time. However, despite its impact, this plotline consumes a significant portion of the episode, leaving the subsequent scenes feeling rather hurried.

In the sixth episode, we finally witness the game’s climactic scene – a poignant conversation between Joel and Ellie on Joel’s porch following New Year’s Eve. Initially, I too wondered if this conversation would even be featured, given Ellie’s statement about not joining Joel on the porch earlier. The television adaptation of this scene is remarkably faithful to the original, with many familiar dialogues. However, there’s a striking deviation. In this version, Ellie remains unaware of the truth regarding the Firefly hospital. She doubted Joel’s words, but never fully confirmed them, unlike in the game where she had learned about it a few years back. As a result, in the show, Ellie discovers the truth about Joel’s actions, including the lives he took, including Marlene. This revelation causes her to cry, and surprisingly, she expresses a desire to forgive Joel for his deeds.

In the game, there was a significant emotional bond between the characters due to their longstanding rift caused by the truth emerging. When Ellie expresses her desire to forgive Joel in the story, his reaction is incredibly heartfelt, nearly causing him to cry. This is because he believed their relationship was lost forever due to his actions. However, in the TV show adaptation of this scene, much of the emotional depth seems lacking and it feels hurried instead.

In simpler terms, while Episode 6 isn’t poorly done, it could have been more impactful, especially considering that only one episode is left in Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” Many viewers feel that this season hasn’t been as powerful as the first one. This opportunity was a chance for HBO to create a memorable moment similar to their “Long, Long Time” scene, as there were rumors they might do so. The brief scenes added depth to the source material but could have been expanded upon if given more focus. This would have allowed a more fitting portrayal of Joel and Ellie’s final moments together, respecting their long and significant history. However, the pacing and choices made in Episode 6 seem to have missed out on creating something extraordinary for both new viewers and fans of the game.

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2025-05-24 22:26