The Last of Us Recap: Father Days

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From my perspective as a movie buff, there’s much about Joel that remains a mystery, yet one thing I can confidently say – he was an exceptional father, not just to Sarah, but also to Ellie. His paternal instincts were so profound that he would put Ellie’s well-being above his own and countless others’, which ultimately led to tragic consequences. Whether being a great father equates to being a virtuous individual in the grand scheme of things is a debate left unanswered by the series, The Last of Us.

In the opening scene of an episode set in 1983, we discover that Joel has always been cautious about those dear to him. This time, it’s Tommy who needs protection following a brawl triggered by a marijuana deal gone awry with a cop. Tony Dalton plays a convincing Miller patriarch in this role. Both Joel and Tommy have experienced their father’s punishment before, and they are aware that physical punishment could be meted out again (symbolized by “the belt”). Therefore, Joel’s effort to safeguard Tommy is not trivial. Interestingly, Joel’s father seems to be moved by the gesture, and in a surprising turn of events, he shares his own past abuse at the hands of his own father. He tells Joel, “I’m managing better than my father did. I hope when it’s your turn, you can manage better than me.

This scene functions as an introduction to an episode primarily focusing on Joel’s fatherly role towards Ellie in the years between their arrival at Jackson and Joel’s demise. It delves into both the joyous moments and the challenging ones, with the difficult times prevailing as Ellie matures and the bond between them weakens. This installment, being the second last of the season, doesn’t advance the storyline significantly, but “The Last of Us” has always been about much more than just plot progression.

Instead of just one long sequence, the rest of the episode is divided into five separate scenes, each happening a year or two apart. In the first scene, Ellie decides to give herself a small burn on her arm as a way to hide a scar that would reveal she’s the only survivor of the virus. This allows her to wear short sleeves again. Although risky, it doesn’t interfere with Joel’s thoughtful preparations for her 15th birthday. Using items traded from Seth, who used to be a cop in Milwaukee, Joel manages to get a cake and a bone for Ellie’s guitar, which he’s repaired especially for the occasion. He even carves one of Ellie’s moth drawings onto the neck of the guitar. At Ellie’s request, Joel plays her “Future Days” by Pearl Jam. In this moment, Joel understands not just the burn but also their special bond they share. If the story of The Last of Us ended with this scene, it would have given Joel and Ellie a happy ending.

The narrative doesn’t conclude at that point. Exactly one year later, Joel plans a special occasion for Ellie’s birthday, an excursion filled with surprises. Along the way, Ellie attempts to guess the secret, but fails miserably. The fact that she doesn’t anticipate a convertible or a horde of kittens hints at her lack of seriousness about the game. However, what Ellie truly yearns for is adult duties. She longs to be assigned patrol, yet Joel feels she should “enjoy being a kid for now.” His response is reasonable and fatherly, but Ellie’s counterpart, “Because childhood has been such a delight for me so far,” expresses her sentiment quite clearly. There’s no tension between them yet, but there are indications that Joel may not fully comprehend Ellie as he believes. For instance, he mistakenly assumes she might have feelings for Jesse. She doesn’t harbor such sentiments, and Joel remains unaware of how improbable this is.

Upon their arrival, it’s discovered that one of Ellie’s playful speculations – that Joel had secured her a dinosaur – is somewhat accurate, albeit not in the way she expected. Outside what’s left of a natural history museum, Ellie scales a T-Rex statue, yet her true birthday surprise lies within. As an astronomy fan born after the end of the space program, Ellie is treated to a fully functional model of our solar system. Even better, she gets to experience “space travel” in a genuine Apollo 15 capsule. To top it off, she dons a real spacesuit and listens to an actual mission recording. Joel has meticulously planned this day, ensuring everything goes smoothly. By any standard, it’s another joyous birthday celebration. Could this be the start of Joel and Ellie growing even closer? On their walk home, they discuss arranging more such outings, before Ellie is briefly sidetracked by, hinting at future events, some fireflies.

Ellie’s 17th birthday was full of surprises. Upon returning home unannounced, Joel stumbles upon Ellie and Kat (Noah Lamanna), laughing in Ellie’s room while Ellie is getting a tattoo on her arm. Startled, Joel exclaims, “It seems like you’re experiencing all the usual teenage chaos at once!” Ellie bristles at his comment, particularly when he implies that she was experimenting with girls. Ellie feels confident about her identity and believes this clarifies why she never had feelings for Jesse. In a bold display of independence, Ellie decides to move into the garage in the middle of a stormy night. “I’m sorry I got a tattoo, smoked weed, and spent time with a girl,” Ellie says, but quickly corrects herself, “I’m not actually sorry.” She reminds Joel that he doesn’t own the house they live in (and therefore has no claim over her). Joe replies by suggesting, “Perhaps it’s beneficial for you to have your own space,” and ultimately agrees to renovate the garage for her.

In the immediate moment, they discuss tattoos, moths, and her fondness for them, as she sees them symbolizing transformation and growth. However, this may be a decision he’ll eventually regret, and perhaps she will too. The following day, Joel seeks advice from Gail about the symbolism behind moths, to which she replies that while some doctors have studied dreams, they are often considered less intelligent. Gail clarifies that moths actually represent death, not transformation or growth. Overwhelmed, all Joel can do is depart, while elsewhere Ellie gathers her sketches of moths and other belongings to depart as well.

In the subsequent events, Ellie is seen just before her 19th birthday, an age she’s maintained during the majority of the second season. Ellie finds herself inquisitive, particularly about Salt Lake City and inconsistencies she’s discovered in Joel’s account of their escape and the fate of the Fireflies. However, before she can delve into all her questions, Joel arrives with this year’s gift – a mission for patrol.

Ellie’s initial enthusiasm fades swiftly when she understands her patrol assignment is similar to a beginner skier’s practice slope (although she spots an unusual sight of a tiny squirrel engaging with a large one). Joel employs this outing to express his regret about their lack of shared moments, leaving Ellie speechless. However, before Joel can delve into why his words affect Ellie in such a manner, a radio call interrupts, diverting them. Upon dismounting, they witness several distressing scenes: a dead horse pulling a corpse, remnants of an infected person, and eventually, Eugene (played by Joe Pantoliano). From the series premiere, we’ve anticipated that something terrible befalls Eugene, with Joel being implicated in his demise. Now, we have arrived at that pivotal moment.

I, as Eugene, find myself in a dire situation, bitten and knowing my time is running out. Desperate to see Gail one last time before I meet my end, I plead with Joel and Ellie to allow me to return to Jackson. Although they can’t outright break the rules, I try to persuade them to bend them for a moment.

Joel, steadfast in his adherence to the protocol, expresses hesitation. However, Ellie, after swiftly examining my condition, concedes that we have enough time to restrain me and bring me back to camp. Joel agrees, and directs Ellie to meet him further down the trail. Sensing her concerns, I offer her the simple yet powerful assurance: “I promise.” These words echo the same vow I made to her earlier about what transpired in Salt Lake City, a vow that turned out to be untrue. Now, as Ellie ponders my words, she can’t help but recall those lies and the fear they evoked.

Instead of fulfilling his promise to take Eugene to the horses, Joel ends up killing him by the lakeside. Just like other challenging decisions Joel has made, it’s understandable why he acts this way, although the moral justification for it remains debatable. As in the past, Joel’s choice leads to disastrous outcomes. However, before Joel pulls the trigger, there is an extraordinary scene where Eugene begs to catch a glimpse of Gail one last time. In response, Joel says, “If you truly love someone, their face will always be with you.

Joel’s situation has been tough for him, but when Ellie arrives, she’s not focused on that. Instead, she sees his actions as a betrayal and proof that he doesn’t always tell her the truth. When Joel tells her he’ll only share what’s necessary with Gail, she realizes this is the same reasoning he used to hide the Fireflies’ fate from her, making her even angrier. The phrase “I had no choice” also angers Ellie.

When they reach Jackson, Joel tries to tell Gail his side of the story, but leaves out important details and finishes with a lie that he ended it himself. As Gail hugs Joel, Ellie reveals the truth to her, which shatters Gail’s heart, and also breaks Joel’s.

Once again, skipping the finale’s closing scene advances the episode by another nine months. We find ourselves almost back at the start of the season, with Ellie and Dina sharing a dance floor kiss and Joel stepping in to protect them from Seth’s insults. This time around, we delve deeper into the narrative. Instead of merely leaving Ellie gazing at Joel on the porch, we witness their entire farewell conversation. Joel attempts to justify his actions regarding Dina, expressing that she would be fortunate to have Ellie. However, it’s not enough for Ellie. She confronts him directly: “You deceived me,” she says, referring to both the Eugene incident and his story about Salt Lake City. Demanding truth or an end to their relationship, Ellie probes various questions about other immune individuals, raider attacks, and potential cures. Joel responds honestly, even when Ellie indirectly asks if he had killed everyone.

In my viewpoint, Joel tells me that creating a cure would’ve ended my life, to which I retort, “Then it was meant for me to perish. That was my role. My life would have held significance, but you robbed me of that. You took it from everyone.” It’s unclear if I would have willingly given up my life at 19 as I did at 14, but the choice was never mine to make. Joel made the decision for me, and in doing so, determined the destiny of the world.

The burden of something heavily impacts Ellie, and it’s also weighing on Joel, who admits he’ll bear the consequences as he tells her, “You’re going to walk away from me.” He expresses no regrets. When Ellie calls him selfish, he retorts, “I love you.” In a similar tone, Joel, like his father before him, wishes that if she ever becomes a parent, she can do better than he did. “I don’t think I can ever forgive you for this,” Ellie says, but she adds, “I would like to try.

This scene revisits the fundamental question driving Ellie and Joel’s bond this season, or even the series as a whole: Could Joel’s actions ever truly be justified, given the lives lost in the process, including potential lives saved by a cure? Joel perished without knowing if Ellie would find it in her heart to forgive him, but he held onto faith that she would. However, whether his actions were right will always be an unresolved question. Could saving Ellie’s life possibly absolve all those deaths and the lives that could have been spared with a cure? It’s a tough call to make, yet it’s not hard to comprehend. Now, Ellie is embarking on her own morally complex journey, making difficult choices for deeply personal reasons. It’s clear that she has forgiven Joel, but can we say she has fully learned the final lesson from their relationship? Joel committed a heinous act in the name of doing good, protecting Ellie.

In my opinion, even I can’t assert such a thing. Is eliminating Abby truly the path to a better world? While Ellie, wandering the rain-soaked streets of Seattle at the end of the episode, might contend that fewer unremorseful killers roaming free is an advancement, she herself is becoming one in her pursuit of vengeance. Ellie’s life has never been easy, as she confirms herself. But with Joel, she found something significant. This heart-wrenching episode reveals the gradual disintegration and eventual loss of that bond, leaving Ellie more hardened and sorrowful than before. It’s this poignant portrayal that makes the season a challenging yet rewarding, thought-provoking, and in this particular instance, incredibly moving viewing experience.

Infectious Bites

In the show “The Last of Us,” Joel playing Pearl Jam’s 2013 song “Future Days” is a nod to the game’s timeline, as the cordyceps outbreak occurred in 2013 (the year the game was released), not 2003. Initially, it seemed like referencing the song for the season premiere might be the extent of this connection, but “The Last of Us” delves deeper into the anachronism in this instance.

Eli, it’s your 15th birthday! This episode isn’t exactly a barrel of laughs, but Eli trying your cake before Joel could get plates and cutlery sure did bring a smile to my face.

Gail is currently engrossed in George R. Stewart’s 1949 novel “Earth Abides,” often recognized as the pioneer of post-apocalyptic literature. This novel pays homage to one of its influences, and has served as an inspiration for nearly every post-apocalyptic story that came after it. The book is highly recommended, and it was also recently transformed into a miniseries on MGM+.

In a single scene, Pantoliano delivers an exceptional performance that stands out. His character’s demise in this HBO production is unexpectedly quiet for a character portrayed by Pantoliano, especially one seen on HBO. Yet, it’s a departure from his typical boisterous roles. We aren’t given much insight into Eugene, but the glimpses we receive hint that he’s become a man deeply devoted to his wife and yearning to leave violence in the past. As death nears, all he desires is one last moment with Gail. The sorrow etched on his face when he realizes this wish will not be granted is heart-wrenching, regardless of the solace his final words may bring.

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2025-05-19 05:58