The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6

Last week’s episode of The Last of Us ended on a brutal note, as Ellie took out a lot of her built-up rage on Nora in pursuit of Abby. However, just before the episode ended, viewers were treated to a hint about how this week’s episode would go, teasing a flashback to better days, when Joel and Ellie were united in Jackson. Expectations were high for this week’s episode, with the season finale around the corner and the return of Pedro Pascal, but did Episode 6 of The Last of Us Season 2 deliver?

Today, we’re talking all things Episode 6 of The Last of Us Season 2. For this review, we’ll be avoiding any serious spoilers for the events of the episode. However, it should be made clear that I have played both of The Last of Us games, and so, it would be a lie to say I’m going into this show blind. Also, importantly, there will be spoilers for the events of the episodes leading up to Episode 6 of The Last of Us Season 2, so proceed with caution! With that being said, we’ll be steering clear of any game spoilers, so feel free to read ahead if this is your first time experiencing the story of The Last of Us. Without further ado, let’s get into this review!

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The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6 Review

Image by HBO

For those who played through The Last of Us games, you’ll know that the game chose to reflect on Joel and Ellie’s relationship through a series of flashback segments scattered throughout the regular gameplay. Well here, HBO chooses to take the series down a different route, opting to bunch together all of the flashback sequences from the game into one hour-long trip down memory lane, and though some fans may worry about how this would turn out in regard to pacing, I’m pleased to report that this decision has made for one of my favourite viewing experiences in The Last of Us thus far.

Season 2 has been rocky so far, so it likely comes as no surprise for me to say this, but this is easily the strongest episode of the season, and one of the most emotional, enjoyable episodes of the series as a whole to date. In the game, these flashback segments were memorable for sure, but I actually think that the show’s decision to centralise them all into one, full-length episode was the best thing they could have done for not only the show, but for Joel as a character. This episode felt like a proper send-off for the show’s most beloved character, and in that way, it was a heartwarming hour of television – albeit, with a few heartbreaking moments.

In many ways, this episode felt like the Season 2 equivalent of the Bill and Frank episode from the first season of the show. Sure, it’s a little off the beaten path, and doesn’t exactly influence the events unfolding in the present day too much, but it makes for a great hour of television, and adds a great deal of emotional effect to a series that’s been lacking in that department since Joel departed the show. Also, the nicer, warmer side of the series demonstrated here helps to alleviate some of the overbearing sadness and desperation of the last few episodes. In short, this episode was a much needed breath of fresh air.

Image by HBO

As well as bringing some new life to the season, the episode also works fairly well from a plot point of view. Episode 6 fills some gaps in the narrative, which is a huge relief for fans who haven’t played the games, but also for those who have, as this week’s episode also resolves a storyline introduced earlier in the season that even game fans were unfamiliar with. Without diving into spoiler territory, let’s just say that Episode 6 answers pretty much all of the unanswered questions that viewers had going into it.

Now, it’s not all good. With the resolution of this new storyline, we see Joel make a very questionable decision, one that might be jarring for the diehard fans who pride themselves on understanding every nuance of Joel’s character. Now, to be fair, the way that this plot unfolds does give further context, and justification, to the eventual dismantlement of the relationship between Ellie and Joel, and actually gives more dimension to how Ellie behaved in the season’s early episodes. Whether this resolution is ultimately more of a positive or a negative is going to be down to the viewer – for me, I winced at decision-making that I thought was ultimately uncharacteristic of Joel, but also appreciated how this decision led to a deeper understanding of the greater dynamic between Ellie and Joel.

However, with this week’s episode being so full to the brim with flashbacks, sentimentality, and nostalgia, it does beckon the question – how on earth is this going to satisfactorily conclude next week? Now sure, the series itself isn’t over, but at this rate, with how the pacing is going, The Last of Us Season 2 is in real danger of being a complete write-off, with very little to write home about outside of this episode, and a couple of notable story beats in the earlier episodes. Episode 6 was a very enjoyable time, but I don’t think it can completely redeem Season 2, and considering how intertwined they are, I doubt Season 3 is going to do much better. In fact, if it goes how I think it will, it actually threatens to be far worse.

Image by HBO

While Episode 6 gave us back Joel for one, short hour of television, in doing so, it also highlighted how empty and soulless the show has come to feel without him. I honestly did not think this way when it came to the second The Last of Us game – Joel was absent, but Ellie stepped up as a viable and compelling protagonist, with Dina, Jesse, and Tommy all providing great support as side characters. This week, we had a send-off for Joel, which was both a sad, and frustrating time – sad, because the character is gone, and frustrating because the show is really struggling to stay afloat without him.

In conclusion, this was a very enjoyable episode, one of the best of the series so far for sure, but ultimately, in highlighting Joel’s absence, The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6 confronted viewers with the harsh reality that the cornerstone of the series is gone. Flashbacks in the penultimate episode of a season is also not a great way to gear fans up for a thrilling finale, but who knows? Maybe the finale will blow us out of the water, and make Season 3 a truly anticipated premiere. Ultimately, though Episode 6 was very strong, it only brought attention to how little viewers care about the current goings-on as opposed to how engaged we were with the adventures of Joel and Ellie.

What did you think of The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6? Are you excited for next week’s season finale? If you’ve never played the games, what are your predictions for the show’s future episodes? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

See also: The Best Black Mirror Episodes

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Where to Watch The Last of Us?

Image by HBO

The Last of Us is a HBO original show, and is available to stream on HBO Max. For viewers outside of regions where Max is available, you can catch The Last of Us on Now TV, and on demand in the Sky TV library – or, UK viewers can enjoy the show on HBO Max by referring to our guide on how to watch Max in the UK.

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