It’s hard to believe that Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us is almost over, but we’re over the halfway mark with only two episodes left. Season 3 has already been greenlit, but fans have been theorizing on where the story will cut off. As teased in a preview video for Episode 6, next week’s episode takes a step back to two years earlier as viewers will learn what caused the rift between Joel and Ellie.
This story contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2.
At the end of last night’s episode, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) confronts Nora (Tati Gabrielle)–one of the WLF members who was there when Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) killed Joel (Pedro Pascal)–and tries to get information out of her about Abby’s whereabouts. The scene slightly recreates the moment from the game where Ellie gives Nora the choice of making it quick or “making it so much worse.”
That’s when Nora realizes that Ellie is the one who couldn’t be infected from Abby’s father’s notes. She tries to tell Ellie that Joel ruined everything by saving her. Ellie replies with a simple, “I know.” The episode ends with Ellie back in her bedroom, living with Joel as he walks through the door, greeting his adoptive daughter.
The trailer for next week’s episode adapts Ellie’s birthday scene, but also with her learning the truth about what truly happened in that hospital.
The complete playthrough of the birthday scene takes about 30 minutes and is one of the more heartwarming scenes of the game, giving both Joel and Ellie a bonding moment that doesn’t involve trying to survive. With Episode 6 also dealing with Ellie learning the truth, it’s unclear how both scenes will be spliced into the episode while still moving the story forward.
Fans of the game will also notice that at the end of the trailer, both Ellie and Joel are carrying what appear to be sniper rifles, which could be hinting at another scene in the game as well.
New episodes of The Last of Us air Sundays at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET on HBO and Max.
