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Even more spoilers below:
Indeed, Joel does make a decision. One that comes as an inevitable reaction, but one that most people wouldn’t agree with from an outside perspective. He proceeds to slaughter every single Firefly in the hospital. It appears he can only see red as he rampages through the entire facility without a cent of mercy. Even the doctor who is trying to attain a glimpse of hope for humanity is not spared. All of this killing, all of this mayhem to save the last person he truly cares about, Ellie.
Even Marlene cannot escape his wrath, and the dreadful irony sets in that she had once seen Joel as a potential savior. We see a flash forward to his interactions with a now-awakened Ellie. Joel lies, not only to cover up his actions but to bring Ellie closer to him. She tells him what he wants to hear, but it’s clear she has her suspicions.
Thoughts:
An incredible season for not only fans of the game, but people who are new to the title. As both a player and viewer, I felt this season was not only truthful to the game series, but elevated so many of those moments. Seeing Joel as a bystander, not the player, showed his absolute brutality as an individual. Mowing down Fireflies as a player felt wrong, but it was your objective in the game. Here, you’re just horrified by Joel’s actions. As a player, you are now the bystander. The roles are reversed, and all you can do is witness the brutality toward a group of people trying to save humanity. This might be the best setup for the events of next season.
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Audience reactions/thoughts on the episode/season:
- Well, despite the absolutely horrific display in tonight’s episode, it seems that people just can’t stop thirsting over Pedro Pascal's depiction of Joel. Keep on keeping on, internet!
- The last of Us (HBO) was, in my opinion, the greatest video game adaptation I’ve ever witnessed. Every change they made (i.e. the story of Sam’s character and the entirely secluded episode of Frank and Bill) served the world so much better.
- I’m glad a select few people chose to highlight Joel’s massacre. Not a super “Daddy Joel” look to murder a nearly unarmed surgeon.
- As I said, the CGI giraffes didn’t do it for me.
- Whether you're a player of the games or a viewer of the show, I can guarantee Season 2 is going to be jaw-dropping!
Here's what the internet had to say about the finale:
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