The finale of The Last of Us Season 2 arrives with rapid pacing, delivering a suspenseful ending that feels both confusing and thrilling. Picking up right after Ellie kills Nora, the episode explores the aftermath of Ellie’s loss of innocence. A poignant conversation between Ellie and Dina confirms Ellie’s numbness and confusion as she stares at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing who she’s become. This contrasts sharply with her emotional breakdown after fending off David in Season 1, where she nearly collapsed into Joel’s arms. Now, Ellie is theoretically a protector, caring for Dina and her child, but her actions hardly reflect that mindset.
Jesse, who’s only slightly older than Ellie and Dina, takes on the role of the responsible adult. Despite his warnings, Ellie stubbornly refuses to see that her vengeful mission endangers those around her. In a key moment in a Seattle bookstore, Jesse admits that he voted against pursuing Abby back in episode 3, highlighting a pivotal moral choice in the story. The actor Mazino delivers a strong performance, gently pushing Ellie toward a better path without condescension. Yet Ellie chooses differently.
Ellie’s choice—whether to continue her quest for vengeance or return to the relative safety of Jackson—echoes her decision in episode 2 in Wyoming, where she followed her heart and Joel instead of helping the Jackson community defend against the Fireflies and infected. Although one might expect Ellie’s journey to teach her something new, she remains driven by love and hatred, as powerful as ever. Bella Ramsey’s performance in the rooftop confrontation with Jesse stands out, showing a maturity beyond her years.
The interactions between Ellie, Dina, and Jesse make the first half of the finale compelling. However, the rest of the episode veers off into darker territory with the chilling core plot: the murder of Mel and Owen. The revelation of Mel’s pregnancy adds a disturbing layer, and Dina’s situation, alongside Ellie flipping through children’s books just minutes before, compounds the tragedy. Yet, the choice to depict Mel’s death as an accidental tragedy feels strange, reducing what should be a low point in Ellie’s vengeance arc into something simplified.
The adaptation also struggles with pure violence scenes, which weakens the impact. While the series generates some sympathy for Ellie, this moment should be where we fear her most, as someone irredeemable, rather than a scared kid stumbling into a horror film. Unlike Joel, Ellie won’t lie to comfort Mel or seek an easy escape. This scene parallels Eugene’s story from the previous episode but is less effective, highlighting the show’s tendency to soften violent moments and thereby dull the emotional punch.
Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie’s despair is stunning, but the rapid unfolding of her crisis lessens the drama. The last 20 minutes jump quickly between locations and characters: Isaac’s fleet sailing into the night with unknown plans, Ellie nearly killed on an island but saved by distant alarms, and various rapid-fire developments that leave the viewer feeling as lost as Ellie in a stormy sea.
If rating the season out of 10, opinions might vary widely. The show presents fragments of a story with many unanswered questions. Unlike the video game sequel The Last of Us Part II, where the story unfolds more continuously, viewers must now wait months or years for these gaps to be filled. The decision to stick with the game’s narrative structure is commendable, though delaying Abby’s perspective until mid-season reduces its emotional impact.
Jesse’s death feels rushed, with no time to process it before a flashback. Overall, it’s hard to judge this season fully without a third season to complete the story. The show leaves audiences with only half the story, which is challenging to assess. Still, adhering to the original structure is a smart choice. Abruptly cutting to black after Abby’s arrival might be more engaging, but for newcomers unfamiliar with the game, it could also cause confusion.
The flashback episode offers a new perspective but lacks the powerful performances of Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie). The anticipation now turns to how the creators will handle these challenges going forward.
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