The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Breakdown
A Devastating Masterpiece
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Abby's Introduction and Backstory
- Episode Structure: Game vs Show
- Life in Jackson
- Patrol Changes and Character Development
- The Eugene Subplot
- The Fateful Encounter
- The Infected Attack on Jackson
- Joel's Fate: Improvements from the Game
- The Emotional Impact
- Easter Eggs and References
- Future Implications
- Spoiler Section: What Comes Next
Introduction
Episode 2 of The Last of Us Season 2 gives us "a Joel in one," and there's a lot to talk about with this entry. It's not only packed with Easter eggs but also fixes many major issues from the game. The episode is devastating, heart-racing, and at points relentless, but it also delivers a real emotional impact. This might be the best episode of the series so far, delivering some Game of Thrones level drama and tension.
Last week, we discussed how the show reordered some elements from the game to tell the story in chronological order. This episode continues that approach while also reproducing many scenes beat for beat from the source material. The commitment to honoring the game while improving certain elements makes this episode particularly noteworthy.
Abby's Introduction and Backstory
The episode begins with a flashback that appears midway through the game. In the game, Abby is haunted by nightmares of discovering her father dead, which serve to separate the days (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3). The show starts with this moment, showing Abby coming across her father's body in the aftermath of Joel's attack on the hospital.
This reordering is significant because it immediately establishes Abby's motivation for revenge. We see both a younger and present-day Abby, with the younger version saying "I don't know you" to her future self - highlighting how she doesn't recognize the revenge-focused person she's become.
Players are introduced to Abby when she wakes up at the lodge. The reason for her nightmares is revealed gradually, and players later see the full scene of her finding her father's body.
The show immediately reveals Abby's backstory, showing her discovery of her father's body and establishing her motivation. We also see the conflict between her present and past selves.
A fascinating detail revealed during research is that Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, was originally cast as Ellie for The Last of Us movie before it was reworked into a show. By that point, she had aged out of the role, but they brought her back to play Abby - creating an interesting connection as both Ellie and Abby lose their fathers.
Episode Structure: Game vs Show
The episode continues with Abby waking up at the lodge, mirroring her introduction in the game. The group is trying to keep warm, with sleeping bags lining the floor. Unlike the game where it was night, here it's morning. Owen has been watching for patrols and has spotted people in the area, while Manny expresses concern about how developed Jackson is.
One notable difference is the absence of certain characters from the game, including Jordan, Leah, and Nick. This streamlining helps focus the narrative and reduces the number of characters viewers need to keep track of.
The show cleverly mirrors Abby and Ellie by introducing both characters waking up, establishing their parallel journeys. This technique reinforces the theme that perspective shapes our understanding of right and wrong in this world.
Life in Jackson
The episode provides a deeper look at the Jackson community and how they've adapted to survive. We see them mounting defenses against infected, with Tommy running drills and explaining the plan to retreat to basements if attacked. The homes are equipped with reinforced cellars built to withstand attacks, and those who fight head to the rooftops.
There's also mention of "Earl," who shot himself by forgetting to put the safety on - a callback to a character from the first game who you meet at the power station. These details enrich the world-building and show how this community functions.
One interesting point raised in the official podcast is that the outbreak happened in 2003, meaning that societal progress on issues like gay marriage never occurred in this world. This context helps explain characters like Seth and their attitudes.
Patrol Changes and Character Development
A significant change from the game is the patrol assignments. In the show, Ellie goes out with Jesse rather than Dina, while Joel is paired with Dina instead of Tommy. This restructuring creates different dynamics and opportunities for character development.
The creative team noted how the situations have switched within the world: in Season 1, people were constantly on the run, hunted by the infected. Now, they're going out on patrols and doing the hunting. However, these dynamics get flipped again with the horde attack and Abby's arrival - she becomes the hunter while Joel becomes the hunted.
Ellie patrols with Dina, leading to their kiss at Eugene's place. Joel patrols with Tommy, creating the situation where both brothers encounter Abby's group.
Ellie patrols with Jesse, while Joel is paired with Dina. This creates a new dynamic where Dina reveals Joel's identity and is sedated during the confrontation.
The Eugene Subplot
The show expands on Eugene's character and backstory, revealing that he was a former Firefly who did "bad stuff" including blowing up a checkpoint at Denver QZ and torturing a Fedra general. There's also a hint of something more happening with Eugene's death than we've been told.
In the show, Jesse mentions that Joel had to "put down" Eugene after he was bitten, and there's clearly anger from Gail about how it was handled - likely because she didn't get to say goodbye. This creates an interesting subplot that wasn't in the game and adds more complexity to Joel's actions.
A theory proposed is that Eugene might have discovered Ellie's immunity or had connections to the Fireflies at the hospital. Joel might have killed him to keep Ellie's secret safe, adding another layer of guilt to Ellie's character as people continue dying to protect her.
The Fateful Encounter
One of the most significant improvements in the show is how Joel's encounter with Abby's group unfolds. In the game, many players criticized how Joel and Tommy naively gave their names to strangers, which seemed out of character for such cautious survivors.
The show fixes this issue by having Dina be the one who shouts Joel's name, and by having Joel save Abby from infected - reinforcing that his compassion becomes his downfall. These changes make Joel's capture more believable while preserving his character integrity.
When Abby and Joel meet, he saves her from a horde of infected, which mirrors how he "saved" Ellie by preventing the surgery that might have created a cure. The parallels between saving someone and damning humanity continue to be a central theme.
The Infected Attack on Jackson
The episode delivers an incredible sequence of the infected attacking Jackson. This is a major addition that wasn't in the game, and it creates a multi-layered crisis that amplifies the tension.
The attack features an impressive range of infected types, including a massive bloater that crashes through the walls. The defenses of Jackson, including flamethrowers, barrel bombs, and snipers, showcase how the community has adapted to survive these threats.
There's particular attention to detail in how the infected operate as a network, with roots throughout the ground and a shared intelligence. The sequence also highlights how the infected are evolving, with stalkers representing a more intelligent version that can plan attacks - mirroring how humanity evolved with Ellie's immunity.
This attack underscores a central theme: no matter how much humanity tries to rebuild, the fungal threat remains. As the analysis notes, "Even 200 or 300 years from now, the fungus will still be about, targeting the humans. So they're screwed. Even though Jackson's trying to rebuild, the houses and pipes are lined with roots."
Joel's Fate: Improvements from the Game
The handling of Joel's death scene is perhaps the most significant improvement from the game. In the original, many players felt the scene was contrived to make Joel act out of character, with him and Tommy naively introducing themselves to strangers.
The show makes several key improvements:
- Dina reveals Joel's name by accident, rather than Joel introducing himself
- Joel saves Abby's life, making it more understandable why he would trust her group
- The confrontation is more developed, with Abby asking Joel to tell the truth
- The group shows more reluctance about the violence, with Mel visibly upset
- The scene is balanced with the horde attack, providing action alongside the emotional weight
The confrontation between Abby and Joel is more developed in the show. She asks him if he knows who she is and demands he tell the truth. When he admits to killing the doctor, she explains that was her father - giving Joel understanding of why she's doing this, something missing from the game.
Joel and Tommy naively introduce themselves. Joel is quickly shot in the leg with little conversation. The group seems uniformly comfortable with the violence.
Dina accidentally reveals Joel's identity. Abby engages Joel in conversation, making him admit what he did. The group shows varying degrees of discomfort with the violence, making them more human.
The Emotional Impact
The episode excels at delivering emotional impact through character moments and visual storytelling. The final scene of Ellie embracing Joel's body is devastating and wasn't in the game. It's made even more poignant by the use of "Through the Valley" sung by Ashley Johnson (who played Ellie in the game).
The show also stays with the aftermath, showing Tommy breaking down when reunited with Maria, and the somber procession bringing Joel's body back to Jackson as the community deals with the infected attack. These extended moments give weight to the tragedy that the game didn't provide by cutting to the next day.
The episode title "Through the Valley" connects to this song and the themes of walking through darkness - both literally for the characters in the snow and figuratively in their emotional journeys.
Easter Eggs and References
The episode is filled with Easter eggs and references to the game:
- The guitar on a stand in Ellie's room, suggesting she retrieved it after Joel left it
- Abby's polo shirt matches her outfit from the game
- Golf clubs visible in the corner of the lodge (foreshadowing the method of Joel's death)
- The gas mask bong at Eugene's place is a direct pull from the game
- Ashley Johnson (game Ellie) singing "Through the Valley" over the final scene
- Abby's fear of heights is mentioned as a character trait from the game
- The fence scene with infected pushing their arms through matches a similar sequence in the game
- Tommy using his signature sniper rifle during the defense of Jackson
There are also visual references to other works, including Game of Thrones (particularly the defense of the wall against White Walkers), The Thing (the flamethrower in the snow), and World War Z (the infected swarming the walls).
Future Implications
The episode sets up several threads that will carry through the season:
- Ellie's quest for revenge, driven by her promise that "You're all gonna fucking die"
- The potential for multiple characters to blame themselves for Joel's death: Ellie for not being on patrol, Tommy for not being there, and Dina for saying his name
- Tommy's warning "Do not go to the forest" foreshadowing future events
- The WLF (Washington Liberation Front) patch on Mel's bag providing a lead for those in Jackson
- The expanded role of Seth, which the creative team has suggested will be explored further
- The unresolved questions about Eugene's death and what Joel might have been hiding
The episode effectively balances honoring the source material while making improvements and expansions that enhance the storytelling. It demonstrates the show's commitment to both pleasing fans of the game and creating a compelling experience for new viewers.
Spoiler Section: What Comes Next
Going forward, Ellie sets out on a quest for revenge. Heading to Seattle, she hunts down Abby's group one by one. Tommy goes ahead first and takes out Leah and Nick (characters who were removed from the show).
Ellie's journey eventually takes her to the hospital where the WLF are camped out. Chasing Nora through it, she ends up killing her in a similar brutal fashion to how Abby killed Joel - creating a parallel between their actions and moral compromises.
Meanwhile, Abby goes through her own journey. Feeling distant from the WLF, she ends up going off on her own. Eventually, she gets captured by the Seraphites (known as "Scars") and taken to a forest to be killed. There, she encounters two Seraphites who have also escaped from their group - Yara and Lev.
The trio escapes into the forest, which connects to Tommy's warning earlier in the episode. It's "an absolute nightmare" filled with infected, creating one of the tensest parts of the game. Abby builds a bond with Yara and Lev, which transforms her character arc.
That night, Abby has her dream of going down the hospital hallway, but this time when she opens the door, she finds Yara and Lev instead of her father. This shows how she's moved on from her obsession with revenge and now feels obligated to protect these new people in her life.
This storyline emphasizes the central theme of the game and show: perspective shapes our understanding of right and wrong, and anyone can justify terrible actions when they see themselves as the hero of their own story.
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