The Last of Us season two, episode six brings us an unusual episode. As the showrunners promised earlier in the season, we get to see a bottle episode of sorts, except this time, it’s Joel and Ellie who are at the center of it. The Last of Us season two’s sixth episode is comprised entirely of flashbacks that help us fill in the time between seasons one and two. These scenes let us track the dissolution of Joel and Ellie’s relationship, but also bring us new insights into the time they spent with one another. And yes, these flashbacks matter greatly for how we view season two. So, let’s dive into our recap of The Last of Us season two, episode six, and all the answers it brought us.
New Revelations From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6
The Secret Between Joel and Ellie Tore Them Apart
The Last of Us season two, episode six takes us back in time to different points in Joel and Ellie’s relationship, allowing us to see how it evolved between season one and season two. We see flashbacks to their relationship five years back, four years back, two years back, and one that leads us exactly to episode one of The Last of Us season two. Through this montage of scenes, we come to understand how exactly Joel and Ellie became so estranged.
Although initially their relationship was loving and strong, the suspicion of Joel’s lie juxtaposed with new lies he told her eventually came between them. In the five years between The Last of Us season one and two, Joel and Ellie went from a loving father and daughter to arguing to having a huge gulf between them. It was a painful journey to experience.
Joel Killed Eugene and Broke His Word to Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6
The most harrowing flashback occurs in the two years back flashback. Joel finally agrees to take Ellie on patrol, but nothing good greets them. They find their fellow townsperson Eugene in the woods, and he’s been bitten by an Infected. Eugene pleads to say goodbye to his wife, Gail, in a safe way, claiming he has time, and Ellie wants to allow him the chance.
Joel promises Ellie he’s onboard to let Eugene and Gail say goodbye and sends her away. But he breaks his word, leading Eugene to clearing with a pretty view and shooting him in the back. Although this was arguably protocol, the action horrifies Ellie, bringing to mind the way Joel promised her he’d help her create a cure and then lied about the actions that followed.
Ellie reveals all this to Gail when they return to Jackson and yells at Joel, “You swore.” But she’s clearly talking about more than just Joel’s word that he would let Eugene say his goodbyes.
Joel and Ellie Spoke One Last Time Before He Died
The Last of Us season two, episode one, and other episodes that followed, made us believe that Joel and Ellie never got to say a real goodbye. And that honestly felt to us like a very poignant statement about how loss works. It just strikes you suddenly in some cases.
But episode six reveals that Joel and Ellie actually DID get to speak after the New Year’s altercation we see in episode on and Joel’s death in episode two. Ellie comes to stand by him where he’s waiting on the balcony and they have a final emotional conversation.
Ellie Has Known What Happened in Salt Lake City with the Fireflies for the Entirety of The Last of Us Season 2
The Last of Us season two, episode six delivers the conversation between Joel and Ellie that they’ve both needed to have since season one. “You lied to me,” Ellie accuses Joel, noting that she thinks she’s known Joel has lied to her the whole time, that he had the same look, the same face, when he lied to her about Salt Lake City as when he lied about Eugene. She cautions that if he lies to her again, they’ll be done and then demands that he tell her what happened with the Fireflies in Salt Lake City.
“Were there other immune people?” No, Joel shakes his head. “Were there raiders?” No, again. “Could they have made a cure?” Yes, Joel nods, though, I feel like that one is a hard MAYBE. “Did you—” Ellie asks, the implied question being “Kill all the Fireflies,” “And Marlene?” Joel confesses everything.
“Making a cure would have killed you.” Joel sobs, but for Ellie, dying for a cure would have been worth it, would have helped her fulfill her purpose. But not for Joel. He confesses, “I did it because I love you.” And reveals that he would do the exact same thing again.
At the end of the conversation, a part from a flashback with Joel and his dad from earlier in the episode comes back into play. Joel tells her, maybe in a bit of foreshadowing. “I love you in a way you can’t understand, maybe you never will, but if that day should come, if you should ever have one of your own, I hope you do a little better than me.” It’s a truly intense conversation.
Ellie Was Ready to Forgive Joel Before His Death
Perhaps the most important and heartbreaking revelation that The Last of Us season two, episode six brings us is that Ellie was ready to forgive Joel on the night before he died. She tells him after this exchange, “I don’t think I can forgive you for this, but I would like to try.” We’re glad the pair found absolution with one another, but the idea of what could have been remains painful.
Joel Appears Again in the Opening Credits Scene
After Joel’s death, he no longer appeared in the final moments of the opening credits scene. Instead, Ellie’s silhouette rose out of the ground on her own. This made for a tragic change. But with Joel back in The Last of Us season two, episode six, he and Ellie get to rise together again. Perhaps for one last time.
New Questions From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6
Will We See Pedro Pascal’s Joel Again on The Last of Us Series After Season 2, Episode 6?
Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller returned to us for one episode, and we were so happy to see him. But is that it for Pascal’s Joel on The Last of Us? We can’t begin to say, but we certainly hope not. Seeing him on The Last of Us season two, episode six reminded us just how great Joel and Ellie are together. We’d love to have more time with them as a duo.
The Last of Us airs Sundays at 9 pm on Max and HBO. There’s only one episode left this season, so it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Previous recaps: Episode One, Episode Two, Episode Three, Episode Four, Episode Five
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