The Last Of Us Show Introduces A Member Of The Miller Family Not Seen Before

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In Sunday’s episode of HBO’s The Last of Us, a new character was introduced who has minimal presence in the original games yet provides insight into why Joel behaves as he does: Javier Miller, the father of Joel and Tommy. Tony Dalton (known for his roles in Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again and Better Call Saul) portrays Javier, a strict father who strives to keep his sons away from trouble. Interestingly, there seems to be a correlation between how Javier raised his sons and Joel’s approach to raising Ellie and ensuring her safety over the past five years.

During a flashback scene, we witness Joel being caught in a predicament where he was attempting to shield Tommy from the consequences of trying to purchase illicit substances, resulting in a scuffle with the drug dealer. Bracing himself for an assault, the younger Joel (Andrew Diaz) is surprisingly offered a beer by his father instead.

Neil Druckmann stated to Entertainment Weekly that what Joel is currently doing differs from before. He employed violence to safeguard his tribe and Tommy, and now there seems to be a common ground for connection between them. Essentially, the father expresses doubt about whether he made the right decisions, but is certain that he did better than his own father who abused him severely. This self-doubt lingers with Joel as well. In spite of this, Joel is doing the best he can under the circumstances, and his love for Ellie remains unconditional.

Druckmann mentioned that the scene had a deeper dimension and something significant for Joel. “As we progressed with the scene, it evolved to encompass something else – not just intergenerational pain, but also healing and optimism across generations.

For the remainder of the episode, we are taken on a journey through flashbacks, concluding in the present day with Ellie in Seattle. These flashbacks span significant moments in Ellie’s life, including her 16th birthday at the museum (a well-known scene from the game), her 17th birthday, where the origin of her tattoo is revealed, and crucial events leading up to discovering that Joel had deceived her about the existence of numerous immune individuals worldwide. This portion of the story deviates slightly from the original game’s narrative, as in the game, Ellie explores a hospital during the final scene.

On his porch, he admits his wrongdoing to Ellie. In response, she expresses doubt about her ability to forgive him, yet mentions a willingness to give it a chance. At that moment, there’s a shift in their bond, transcending the typical surrogate father-daughter dynamic. They now stand as partners who understand the gravity of Joel’s actions and the hidden truth they must keep concealed from the world.

The season finale of HBO’s The Last of Us airs Sunday on HBO and Max, 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

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2025-05-19 18:09