Why Joel’s Shocking Hospital Massacre Was the Only Way to Save Ellie in The Last of Us

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In the finale of “The Last of Us” Season 1, Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, ended up killing all Fireflies at St. Mary’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, which included Abby’s father, Jerry Anderson. This drastic action was taken to protect Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Throughout the season, Joel and Ellie embarked on a journey guided by Max’s post-apocalyptic storyline, aiming to locate the hospital managed by the Fireflies, led by Marlene (Merle Dandridge), in search of a cure for the cordyceps virus using Ellie’s unique immunity.

Following numerous highs and lows, the duo eventually arrived at the hospital, but Joel faced a pivotal moment when he discovered the doctors’ plan for Ellie, which was to perform a procedure to find a cure. This contentious decision from the climax of Season 1 continued to resonate in The Last of Us Season 2, straining Joel’s bond with Ellie as he deceived her and, tragically, led to his demise five years later.

Why Joel Killed the Surgeon Doctor (And Practically Everyone In the Hospital)?

In Episode 8 of The Last of Us Season 1, Joel’s violent actions stemmed from discovering that the doctors intended to operate on Ellie with the aim of extracting her brain for a vaccine creation, an action that would inescapably result in Ellie’s death.

Since Ellie was already undergoing surgery when Joel discovered the crucial information, the only course of action to save her involved Joel battling through the Fireflies within the hospital, resulting in the unintentional taking of lives, including Jerry Anderson – Abby’s father. Unbeknownst to him, Joel fatally shot Jerry without prior knowledge of his identity.

she was worth saving!

In my opinion, she went beyond the obvious implications. To be clear, I’m not here to judge if Joel acted correctly. Rather, I believe Joel took the right course of action, a viewpoint that appears to be widely shared based on the response to the series. Frankly, it wasn’t really a choice for him; there was no other viable option but to rescue her. He may have saved the world, but in essence, he preserved his own world. That sounds quite cheesy, doesn’t it?

Afterward, he carried an unresponsive Ellie to Jackson, intending for her to reside there permanently. Yet, Joel’s choices significantly strained their relationship as he chose not to disclose the truth about what transpired in Salt Lake City.

The five-year interval between Seasons 1 and 2 of “The Last of Us” suggested that Ellie discovered the truth from Joel (which was hinted at during her conversation with Nora in Season 2, Episode 5), leading to a significant disagreement between them that wasn’t reconciled until his dying breath.

Joel’s Decision Launched a Cycle of Violence in The Last of Us 

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” we meet Abby, the daughter of Jerry Anderson. Her team comprises ex-Fireflies who joined the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) during the five-year timeframe, a transformation that occurred after the original Firefly organization disbanded.

In a determined pursuit, Abby sought to locate Joel and exact a painful revenge for the murder of her father at St. Mary’s Hospital. She achieved her vengeance in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2, when she ended Joel’s life before the eyes of Ellie and an unconscious Dina.

In simpler terms, when Joel killed the Fireflies and Jerry Anderson, it set off a chain reaction of violence and harsh retribution, which ultimately led to Abby seeking revenge. Now, Ellie is pursuing Abby in an attempt to avenge her actions (you can learn more about Abby’s whereabouts after Joel’s death in The Last of Us Season 2).

In simpler terms, ending this cycle of violence requires a decisive action from Ellie, acknowledging the steps needed for healing and progress. But given her current trajectory of violence, it’s challenging to make that change because she’s edging ever closer to an irreversible point.

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2025-05-13 01:50