**Editor’s Note:** This narrative recaps significant plot points from Season 2, Episode 2 of *The Last of Us*, an HBO series.
If *Game of Thrones* has bestowed upon us memorable moments like the Battle of the Bastards, what can we call the recent episode of *The Last of Us*? Maybe we should dub it “The One Where We All Cried for the Rest of Time.” The emotional toll taken by this episode was colossal, resonating long after the credits rolled.
The unique formula of heartbreak employed by this HBO drama is hauntingly effective: Picture safe haven Jackson, introduce a swarm of infected rising ominously from the snow, and top it all off with a gut-wrenching tragedy. Major spoilers lie ahead as we delve into the depths of this intense episode.
The narrative reaches an apex as Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever) embarks on her search for Joel (portrayed by Pedro Pascal). By a stroke of fate, she tracks him down and executes her long-considered plan of revenge. The events unfold with a suspenseful grip that does not let go.
As the story develops, Abby and her faction arrive at Jackson, setting up base at a cabin with a view of the bustling town. To their astonishment, they find that Jackson is much more developed than they had anticipated, leading to their initial confusion about how to infiltrate the settlement to find Joel. The stakes rise as Abby’s quest turns crucially intense.
In a pivotal moment, Abby steps outside to keep watch and observes two riders on horseback. These figures turn out to be Joel and Dina, who have ventured out for an early patrol. In an attempt to get a closer look, she tumbles down a snowy incline, only to find herself submerged in a pit full of infected — initially thought to be lifeless in the snow.
As the horde rises from the cold ground, pandemonium ensues, with Abby narrowly escaping the clutches of the undead thanks to Joel’s timely intervention. He leads her to safety in a barn where Dina and their horses await. It is here that Abby realizes she has finally found Joel. With urgency, she convinces him and Dina to bring her to their cabin under the guise of her having supplies from her comrades.
Once they arrive at the cabin, Abby reveals her true intentions. Mel (Ariela Barer) treacherously injects Dina with a sedative, and before slipping into unconsciousness, Dina notices a patch on their packs that bears the letters “W.L.F.” This ominous clue hints at Abby’s connections and foreshadows future conflicts.
The tension peaks when Abby guns down Joel’s knee, rendering him incapacitated, and she recounts the painful history of how he killed her father during a prior encounter — a day that left a profound impact on Abby’s life. With chilling rationalization, she justifies her desire for vengeance, framing it within the moral code of her militia, which prohibits harming the defenseless. Yet, she coldly concludes that she will ignore this code in Joel’s case.
“This just makes you a lawless piece of trash, just like me,” Abby states, asserting her twisted sense of justice against Joel. After a brutal and ruthless confrontation, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) bursts into the cabin, only to find Joel barely alive, enshrouded in blood. Her desperate cries for him to “get up” echo through the cabin as she is restrained by Abby’s crew.
In an emotionally devastating climax, Abby ends Joel’s life by stabbing him in the neck. This brutal act solidifies the tension and foreshadows the narrative trajectory for the rest of the season, as Ellie vows to hunt them down for revenge, cradling Joel’s lifeless body in despair.
The aftermath is haunting, particularly as earlier in the episode, a moment of vulnerability is shared when Ellie tells Jesse about her complex relationship with Joel. “I’m still me, he’s still Joel and nothing’s ever going to change that,” she reveals, showcasing the bond and conflict that exists between them.
Executive producer Craig Mazin expands on the themes explored in this episode, indicating that it is an exploration of how people confront monumental life changes. Similarly, creator Neil Druckmann notes that the parallels between Abby and Ellie — both experiencing profound loss — become increasingly significant. “This event will alter all characters we’ve come to know in irreversible ways,” he ominously remarks.
*The Last of Us* airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO and can also be streamed on Max. HBO and Max, like CNN, fall under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Discovery, connecting the worlds of television and digital streaming in new, compelling ways. This series continues to engage audiences with its rich storytelling and emotional depth, reflecting universal human experiences interwoven with the dark narrative of survival.