The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 ends on a tragic note (Recap)

by

The final episode of “The Last of Us” season 2 ends with an unexpected and heart-wrenching twist. Jesse and Ellie are making their way towards Tommy while navigating the conflict between the Wolves and Scars. However, Ellie is left grappling with the consequences of her revenge plan, considering how it impacts not only herself but also those she loves.

Upon uncovering Abby’s concealed hideout, Ellie now faces a decision: Should she return to Jackson or pursue the individual who was involved in Joel’s demise – that being Abby.

Ellie tells Dina what happened in Salt Lake

Jesse attends to Dina’s injury, which means they’re left with no choice but to push the arrow completely through the wound instead of extracting it. When he proposes alcohol to Dina, she firmly refuses, a move that suggests to Jesse something Ellie is already aware of.

The strategy works out well, but Dina is essentially unable to move. Upon Ellie’s return, Jesse keeps watch at the theater’s entrance, concerned for Dina’s well-being.

Upon seeing blood stains at the back of Ellie’s shirt, Dina inquires for her to remove it. This reveals wounds from a recent encounter with an infected. As Dina attends to these injuries, Ellie discloses how she discovered Nora and inflicted harm on her to obtain details about Abby’s whereabouts.

As I ponder over the hauntingly gripping scenes unfolding before me in this post-apocalyptic saga, I can’t help but feel a shiver of dread at the actions taken by my protagonist, Ellie. She found herself triumphant, yet her victory came tainted with an agonizing guilt – a burden she now carries. In a heart-wrenching twist, she abandoned Nora in the hospital, for Nora was already contaminated by the lethal spores.

The only solace Ellie could find in this desolate world was in the cryptic words left behind by Nora: “Whale” and “Wheel”. These two enigmatic words have become her compass, guiding her through the treacherous landscape as she searches for a semblance of hope.

However, it’s the moment when Ellie reveals what transpired in Salt Lake, particularly the incident where Joel took lives to protect Ellie, among them being Abby’s father, that troubles Dina.

Dina subtly expresses her feelings by turning away from Ellie, indicating a strong desire to leave. At that point, Jesse understood that Tommy was not yet found, and they urgently required Tommy’s assistance to bring Dina home safely.

After dropping off Dina, Jesse and Ellie make their way back into the war-ravaged and stormy cityscape of Seattle for another round.

Ellie and Jesse

Ellie quickly becomes aware that her relationship with Jesse has shifted, and Jesse himself gives a good indication of the reason behind this change.

It’s clear to him that Dina is expecting a baby, and her current quest for revenge could endanger not only herself but also the unborn child. His objective is to ensure a safe return for everyone involved, to avoid meeting his end in Seattle, as the Wolves and Scars are still engaged in their ongoing conflict there.

The complex dynamics of their so-called friendship have become a challenge due to Jesse’s discovery that Dina shares more with Ellie rather than him. However, Ellie assures Jesse that Dina intends to inform him about the baby, aiming to restore some semblance of their former relationship.

Facing gunfire, the pair dash into an antiquated vehicle garage, finding it filled with Wolves, among them Burton, encircling a child known as a Scar. Jesse discourages Ellie from intervening, and they depart with the Scar prisoner in tow.

Jesse makes it clear to Ellie that the conflict between the Wolves and Scars doesn’t involve them, considering both groups are violent. Instead, they opt for refuge in an old library. In this sanctuary, Jesse confides in Ellie about his selfless nature towards Jackson, choosing to put its needs above his own, even when it meant parting ways with a woman he had feelings for and her family.

Jackson rescued him, provided him with a second chance at life, and has grand aspirations for his upcoming journey. Nothing he possesses, not even his joy, could make him swap this experience.

As they heard gunshots echoing and the Wolves using their walkie-talkies, Jesse and Ellie decided to make their way upwards, hoping to locate the source of the noise. They suspected that the sniper the Wolves were referring to could be none other than Tommy.

Looking out, it’s clear to Ellie that she spots a Ferris wheel and an aquarium. Piecing things together, she realizes Abby has hidden something in the aquarium. Jesse, on the other hand, is left speechless as he watches Ellie abandon her search for Tommy and instead head home, giving up what seemed like her only opportunity to take revenge.

Ellie’s earlier dispute intensifies due to her growing frustration with Jesse seeming to believe he’s superior to others, whereas from Ellie’s point of view, Joel was more like her family and everything she knew. (Jesse’s revelation about voting against Ellie’s quest for revenge on Joel’s death at Jackson came off as insensitive.)

Whale Wheel

Ellie doesn’t know that tonight, Isaac is planning to attack the Scars with his Wolves, which could be fatal for him. He talks about Abby being missing to Elise, a woman who tragically lost her son due to contamination at the hospital.

Ellie isn’t aware that Isaac intends to launch a dangerous attack on the Scars tonight with his group of Wolves, putting himself at risk. He confides in Elise about Abby’s disappearance, who suffered the loss of her son due to contamination at the hospital.

Misconstruing his admiration for Abby as a distorted kind of romantic affection, Isaac clarifies that Abby represents the future of the Wolf pack. Upon his departure, as many will eventually do, it will fall on Abby to continue guiding and maintaining the group.

1. Elise, on the other hand, isn’t too fond of his perspective and brings up the fact that she has mostly left their situation behind. Meanwhile, Ellie is scoping out the docks for a boat when she sees the Wolves approaching in multiple boats, preparing for an assault.

2. Elise, though, doesn’t share his opinion and points out her previous departure from them. As Ellie surveys the docks seeking a vessel, she catches sight of the Wolves coming ashore in numerous boats, gearing up for an attack.

3. Despite Elise not agreeing with him, she highlights her past actions of leaving their circumstances. With Ellie checking out the docks to find a boat, she spots the Wolves approaching on several vessels, getting ready for an assault.

She sets sail in a little boat, making her way toward the Ferris wheel, but a sudden wave causes her to lose balance and fall out. The wave carries her to a secluded forested area. A youngster named Scar spots her, and moments later, a piercing whistle echoes, resulting in her swift capture.

Anticipating their next move, I implored them fervently, seeking answers from the young girl about her mysterious arrival, only to find that her actions mirrored those of the corrupt group. My life was granted a reprieve as the distant gunfire caused the Scars to retreat.

After getting back to the boat, Ellie manages to reach the aquarium. Upon entering, she promptly takes care of her firearm and ammunition. During this process, she accidentally eavesdrops on a heated discussion between Owen and Mel, two acquaintances of Abby.

With a gun trained on them, Ellie insists to learn Abby’s location. While it seems like Owen and Mel intend to help, Owen suddenly grabs for a weapon, causing Ellie to retaliate and fatally shoot him.

However, unintentionally, she strikes Mel in the neck, which tragically reveals her pregnancy. Yet, she fails to fully guide Ellie on the process of removing the child, leaving out crucial steps on how to ensure its survival.

Mel dies as Tommy and Jesse arrive to retrieve Ellie.

Ellie and Abby come face to face

Overwhelmed with grief to an extreme degree, Ellie finds herself back at the theater. There, Tommy tries his utmost to comfort her by explaining that Mel’s demise was unintentional. He departs in search of Dina, who is urging Jesse and Ellie to have one final conversation before another unfortunate incident takes place.

Upon hearing Tommy in distress outside the movie theater, Jesse and Ellie swiftly grab their weapons and make a beeline for the exits. A gunshot echoes, claiming Jesse’s life, leaving Ellie stunned and bewildered by this shocking turn of events. In the wake of this horrifying incident, Abby steps forward with Tommy at gunpoint.

In a turn of events, Ellie yields to Abby, admitting that she unintentionally took the lives of Owen and Mel. Before everything goes dark, we see Abby drawing her weapon against Ellie. The scene then cuts to black, suggesting that this is Day 1 for Abby once more.

She lives inside what was once a football stadium, now serving as the Wolves’ stronghold. This suggests the significant influence and resources the Wolves have due to their military personnel, weaponry, and transportation.

The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 review

In summary, the second season of “The Last of Us” ends with a thrilling cliffhanger and puzzling moment, but only if you haven’t played the video games. This ending seems to suggest that season 3 might delve into Abby’s backstory, exploring her father’s death and the reasons behind her killing Joel.

If this scenario unfolds, it represents another daring decision for the show, and I find myself torn about whether it will prove beneficial. Previously discussed, _The Walking Dead_ faced a comparable predicament by portraying Glenn’s demise to adhere to the comic books, but at the expense of losing some viewers from the widely watched AMC program.

In this game, I was among those who mourned the demise of Joel, a character whose fate left us disheartened. To grasp why Abby took his life, we were led along her narrative path. Now, as unexpected events unfolded, leaving even more fans in shock, we’re faced with the challenge of empathizing with the perpetrator herself.

I’ll acknowledge that the show deserves some praise for attempting to make Abby appear more likable, but from my point of view, it may prove very challenging given that Pedro Pascal plays her role. Fans have seen Pascal die multiple times in shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Gladiator II,” and “The Equalizer 2,” so he’s a well-known actor with a massive fan base and significant influence, which could make it difficult for viewers to root for Abby.

Since I have some understanding of video games, I expected that some characters would eventually meet their end, and Jesse seemed particularly vulnerable. Despite growing fond of him, Mel’s demise in this particular episode had the greatest emotional impact on me.

Despite anticipating it, I found myself unprepared, tears welling up and an effort to erase the memory as swiftly as the event itself. As a mother of two, this incident left a significant mark on me.

I knew it was coming, but still, I wasn’t ready. My eyes filled with tears, trying to brush aside the memory as if it were nothing more than a passing breeze. Being a mom to two kids, it left quite an impression.

Despite the apparent conclusion that Joel’s last episode was the one preceding it, I’m inclined to believe there might be room for one additional appearance, contributing to his demise, which could significantly enhance Abby’s narrative. I don’t share the same sentiments as those online criticisms.

Season 2 strikes a balance, being both reminiscent of the first season yet offering an entirely fresh experience. The recurring references, past events, and subtle symbols kept me hooked, and I frequently reflect on each episode long after they’ve ended.

This unique storytelling method has a charm and depth that may not appeal to all audiences. However, for those who can recognize and value its artistic essence, regardless of which characters might be sacrificed or altered from the original, I find no flaws in the structure of “The Last of Us“.

once more, my gratitude goes out to Warner Bros. and HBO for providing me with the Season 2 previews. I can hardly wait for the upcoming episodes, as I’ve already started brainstorming potential future events.

Stream The Last of Us season 2 on HBO and Max.

Read More

2025-05-26 05:15