The second episode of The Last of Us season two is a doozy. We thought the premiere of the show’s second chapter was emotionally intense, but we see now that it merely lulled us into a false sense of security. In the first episode of The Last of Us season two, the stakes were mainly about the relationships between our main characters. (Although there were hints of coming darkness.) But in The Last of Us season two, episode two, everything ratcheted up 10 notches. Now the lives of many are at stake, and the hits just keep on coming. We highly suggest you watch this episode from start to finish, but if you want to think about it just a little bit more, here’s our full recap of The Last of Us season two, episode two.
New Revelations From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2
Jesse Is Fine with Dina and Ellie Getting Together
We stan Jesse, and we do so even more after this episode. Even though he and Dina have been romantically entangled on The Last of Us, he seems totally fine with Dina getting together with Ellie, who is his close friend. We love this kind of allyship and this strong idea of friendship. There’s no jealousy in Jesse, and he doesn’t bat an eye that Ellie and Dina are queer. He just gives Ellie flack like he would for anything else. As we said, we stan.
Seth Apologizes For Calling Ellie and Dina a Slur in The Last of Us Season 2’s Second Episode
In The Last of Us season two, episode two, Seth apologizes for calling Ellie and Dina a terrible slur at the New Year’s party. It does feel like Seth genuinely feels bad, and not wholly like Maria is making him apologize, so we give him that. But we’re glad to see that Ellie doesn’t just let him off the hook and immediately forgive him. That kind of slur doesn’t just come from nowhere. We want to like Seth, who is geniusly played by Robert John Burke, but he’s going to have to show us he’s really changed.
Infected Are Hiding Under the Snow and Other Dead Infected
Oops. In episode one, Ellie discovers that Infected are getting smarter. And now we see some evidence of that in situ. According to Jesse (and as Abby discovers first-hand), Infected have been hiding under the snow and using the dead bodies of other Infected as insulation. That means no one knows precisely how many Infected are hiding in the hills and mountains surrounding Jackson. It’s not a great situation.
The Town of Jackson Is Attacked in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2
At least some of these Infected come together to attack the town of Jackson. And it really does feel like the Infected have managed to create an organized army. From their infiltration of Jackson using their vines to the very coordinated feeling attack on its gates, the Infected aren’t just running blindly at walls anymore. Gulp!
Joel Saves Abby’s Life From Infected
In what we call dramatic irony, Joel actually saves Abby’s life from a horde of Infected in episode two. In fact, it’s a scene taken right out of The Last of Us-—Part II game (with a few small changes). Abby takes a tumble down a hillside, away from the lodge where she and her Firefly crew have taken refuge, and ends up trapped in a seemingly never-ending mob of Infected. Joel helps Abby escape as the Infected claw and paw at her, makes sure she’s alright, and shares his horse with her as they gallop to safety.
Abby suggests they head to the lodge where she’s staying. And with the Infected surrounding them, Joel and Dina don’t have much of a choice. Joel sees Jackson burning from a distance, but knows he’d probably die before he made it back. But, alas, the choice he makes is little better.
The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2 Reveals Abby Is the Daughter of the Firefly Doctor That Joel Killed
When Abby has Joel and Dina back in the lodge, surrounded by the rest of her Firefly team, she reveals her animosity toward Joel. The Fireflies knock out Dina with a chemical, and Abby shoots Joel in the leg. He almost immediatly comes to the conclusion that they are Fireflies and doesn’t lie to Abby when she asks him where he last saw Fireflies. Salt Lake, Joel tells her, and dread begins to set in.
Abby reveals that her father was the Firefly doctor/surgeon that Joel murdered while rescuing Ellie in Salt Lake City. In total, Abby explains that Joel killed 18 soldiers and one doctor. Abby, at 19, saw the dead body of her father after Joel’s rampage and vowed revenge. And that’s exactly what she’s looking for in The Last of Us.
Abby Has Been Living in Seattle with a Firefly Militia
Abby also reveals that despite the huge losses suffered in Salt Lake City, the Fireflies still have a strong militia in Seattle. It turns out that Abby and her team joined that militia and have been a part of it for the last five years of the time skip. She notes her commander, Isaac, follows a code, “Don’t kill people who can’t defend themselves.” But for Joel, she’s willing to break that code.
Joel Is Dead
Even though we knew at some that, at some point, Joel’s bill would come due, seeing it happen so soon into The Last of Us season two’s story has us stunned. In The Last of Us season two, episode two, Abby kills Joel with a golf club, as she does in the game, bludgeoning him to his death. Ellie rushes in during the last of Abby’s attack, but is overwhelmed and is forced to watch as Abby lands the killing below, shoving a pipe right through Joel’s neck. It’s a truly devestating scene.
New Questions From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2
What Will Ellie Do Now That She Has Seen Abby Kill Joel?
Now that Joel’s death has come to pass in The Last of Us season two, episode two, what will Ellie do next? She knows that Abby killed Joel. And Dina, who is presumably still alive, got to learn a little bit more about Abby and her crew. She doesn’t get to hear that they’ve come from Seattle, but she does learn they are Fireflies and sees a W.L.F. patch and wolf symbol on one of their backpacks. That will likely be helpful in Ellie’s probably search for Abby. What will Ellie do after Joel’s death does feel a bit rhetorical. She’ll definitely go searching for revenge.
What Will Happen to the Town of Jackson After the Intense Infected Attack?
Jackson was absolutely overwhelmed by Infected during the big attack in The Last of Us season two, episode two. What will become of the stronghold now? We know none of our major players died, but many certainly did. And the town’s walls and protections are now severely compromised. We’re really sad to see the community meet this fate.
How Many Infected Are Hiding in the Snow?
Jackson was certainly attacked by many Infected. But was the town attacked by ALL of the Infected? Just how many more Infected are lying in wait beneath the snow? We’d hate for anyone to find out.
Will We See More of Pedro Pascal’s Joel on The Last of Us Season 2?
The biggest question of all is, will Pedro Pascal’s Joel return in The Last of Us season two now that he’s dead? Well, trailers for the series certainly do give an indication. But in what capacity and for how long will we get to see Pascal’s Joel again on The Last of Us season two? Those are questions we don’t have answers to. We can only cross our fingers he’ll be back. It’s too soon to never see Joel again!
The Last of Us airs Sundays at 9pm on Max and HBO.
Previous recaps: Episode One
Content shared from nerdist.com.