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For the last twenty years, one constant trend in entertainment has been the continued fascination with zombie apocalypse narratives. A key reason for their enduring appeal is that these stories are frequently set in contemporary environments rather than fantastical realms, making them more relatable and grounded. These settings incorporate elements from our everyday world like product placements, music, and historical references, giving the illusion of a realistic world strikingly similar to ours.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must say that The Last of Us is remarkably unique in its own right. In this gripping series, you’ll witness Ellie playing Mortal Kombat II, notice a portrait of U.S. President George W. Bush adorning the walls of Sarah’s classroom, and observe Bill and Frank sharing a bond over the melodies of Linda Ronstadt. The creators have gone to great lengths to preserve a 2003-esque ambiance throughout the show. However, an intriguing twist unfolds when Pearl Jam’s “Future Days,” a song from a decade later, unexpectedly appears. This tune was not only the title of Season 2’s premiere but also found its way into the season itself. Despite this temporal anomaly, the song had to be incorporated into the adaptation for reasons that remain compelling and immersive.

The Tragic Story Behind “Future Days” By Pearl Jam

The Death Of A Friend Inspired Eddie Vedder To Pour His Heart Into This Song

Song	“Future Days”
Artist	Pearl Jam
Writer	Eddie Vedder
Length	4:22
Release Date	July 19, 2013
Album	Lightning Bolt (Track 12 or 12)
Album Release	October 15, 2013
Album Producer	Brendan O’Brien
Labels	Monkeywrench Records & Republic Records

As a film enthusiast and music connoisseur, I can’t help but draw parallels between the poignant narrative of “The Last of Us” and the haunting melodies of Pearl Jam’s “Future Days,” a track from their album “Lightning Bolt.” Just like “The Last of Us,” this song was born from the bitter soil of tragedy. The themes that permeate this album revolve around mortality, a subject that Pearl Jam’s frontman, Eddie Vedder, encounters daily, whether it’s through war or the alarming rates of suicide among veterans returning home.

In an interview, Vedder eloquently stated, “Death is everywhere. Maybe it’s just because I read the paper every day. Maybe it’s war, maybe it’s the epidemic rates of suicide in veterans coming back.” He further added, “I can’t seem to get around it. So I think part of it is not getting around it, it’s getting through it. Songs end up being mantras that you end up playing for yourself as well.” In essence, Vedder transforms the painful realities of life into songs that serve as a beacon of hope and resilience.

In the year 2012, on July 7th, Dennis Flemion, aged 57, lost his life tragically in Racine County, Wisconsin. He was enjoying time with his family on a pontoon boat on a lake when he suddenly jumped into the water without wearing a life jacket. His loved ones immediately tried to rescue him, but unfortunately, their efforts were in vain. Flemion’s body was recovered several days later.

Flemion is recognized primarily for his tenure in the humorous and satirical alternative rock group The Frogs, which he formed with his brother Jimmy. Notably, their music tackled provocative subjects such as religion, race, and sexuality. Additionally, Flemion has served as a keyboardist on tour for the iconic band, The Smashing Pumpkins.

Approximately a year after Flemion’s passing, Pearl Jam debuted “Future Days” on July 19, 2013. Their album, “Lightning Bolt,” was formally released on October 15, 2013. In the fictional world, “Lightning Bolt” might have been launched in that year, but it wasn’t. Given that the song was already out earlier, it’s quite possible that Joel and others within this universe would have known about it. It’s intriguing to speculate whether Joel’s favorite song during the outbreak was “Future Days,” or if he first heard it on Outbreak Day itself. However, these scenarios remain unexplored in the narrative.

The TV series of The Last of Us deviates from the original timeline by moving the Outbreak Day to 2003, which means Joel meets Ellie in a year (2023) that is different from when the first season started (1983). This change creates an inconsistency where songs like “Future Days” by Pearl Jam might still be possible, but it’s extremely unlikely for them to have been written exactly as they are due to the significant changes in setting and inspiration. Essentially, “Future Days” might exist in a post-apocalyptic world, but not the original “Future Days” song itself.

In essence, the song “Future Days” plays a crucial role in developing Joel and Ellie’s characters, making its inclusion essential despite the contradiction. Other songs from before 2003 could have been used instead, but it would be quite challenging to find one that fits as well as “Future Days.

What “Future Days” Means To Joel

A Song That Became Joel’s Mantra

Listening to just one play of “Future Days” reveals why it might have struck a chord with Joel. The opening line, “If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself,” speaks volumes, especially considering Joel’s history with loss. In the Season 2 episode “The Price,” we see Joel wearing a watch that reminds us of his difficult teenage years. Interestingly, there’s no mention or appearance of Joel’s mother in this flashback, suggesting he and his brother Tommy may have been left to cope with an abusive father on their own during those years.

In 2003, Joel was looking after his daughter Sarah alongside Tommy. Her mother is never mentioned in the series or games, suggesting that she might have passed away prior to Outbreak Day. Following Sarah’s death on Outbreak Day, Joel endured a series of losses. Overwhelmed by grief, he lost himself and even contemplated taking his own life shortly after her demise, leaving a scar on his temple as a reminder. Later, Joel and Tommy had a disagreement when the latter joined the Fireflies. During this time, Joel also crossed paths with Tess, providing him with another person to cherish.

In 2023, Joel encounters Ellie, who initially didn’t make much of an impact on him. However, Joel might not have specifically wished for Ellie, but his damaged state was a plea for help. The second verse of “Future Days” goes, “When I was feeling shattered, I found solace in a prayer / You came as deep as any ocean, did something out there listen?” Ellie turned out to be the divine intervention Joel required. She was the divine intervention humanity required, due to her immunity, but from Joel’s perspective, he required her even more.

Following Tess’ passing, Joel hesitantly moves on to bring Ellie to the Fireflies, honoring a wish she made before dying. During their trek, described poetically in “Future Days” as times of intense storms and turbulence, they persevered through windstorms turning soil into dust, floods rising or tides swelling, drawing them closer together. By the end of the first season, Joel had developed a strong bond with Ellie, regarding her as his second opportunity to be a father figure.

Joel is deeply aware of the pain that losing Ellie would bring, as he has experienced the agony of losing someone close before. He dreads feeling that way again, expressing it as “I’m grateful now the demons have left.” When Ellie was being prepared for a procedure to create a cure, Joel reacted violently, killing Fireflies and saving Ellie from the hospital. Unfortunately, this act led to the creation of a new source of pain, not only for others but also for himself when he was killed by Abby, who lost part of herself during Joel’s rampage. For Joel, his love for Ellie and the need for her in his life were paramount. After the death of his daughter, this was the first time he wasn’t stuck dwelling on the past. Instead, he was looking forward to “Our future days / Days of you and me,” but unfortunately, his actions ensured those days wouldn’t last long.

What “Future Days” Means To Ellie

A Song That Forever Connects Her And Joel

In the game or show’s fictional world, Ellie was born following the outbreak, meaning she’s always resided in a reality where “Future Days” were prevalent. Unlike others who might have first heard it on the radio during school or in an advertisement, Ellie encountered the song through different channels. It could be that Joel owned the track, and Ellie managed to get her hands on it while searching for fresh tunes. In both the game and series, it’s likely that Ellie discovered “Future Days” for the first time via Joel.

After Joel gives Ellie her guitar and promises to teach her, Ellie encourages Joel to try singing. The song he chose, “Future Days,” seemed particularly meaningful to him, hinting at its significance. Although the scene appears heartwarming, it’s tainted for Ellie due to her uncertainties about Joel’s account of the incident at Firefly Hospital. When Joel sings the lyrics, “If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself,” those words must have felt especially poignant and potentially revealing to Ellie, making her question why he chose this song, what it means to him, and how far he might go to prevent losing her.

Ellie is gradually slipping away. Her deepest dread is solitude, but with Riley, Tess, Sam, Henry, Marlene, and now Joel gone, she’s finding it hard to cling to the remnants of her connections with Dina, Jesse, Tommy, and Dina’s unborn child. Ellie is embarking on a self-destructive journey driven by vengeance, not just because she believes this is the only way to find tranquility, but because she understands that it mirrors what Joel would do. There’s a glimmer of hope at the end of this path, where she might discover her own “Ellie” symbolically speaking. However, her obsession with killing Abby has blinded her so much that she fails to fully grasp that she has already found her “Ellie” in Dina and her unborn child. She’s stumbled upon a miracle, a reason to move forward, but there’s a risk she might lose it too.

In the episode titled “Feel Her Love,” when Ellie stumbles upon a guitar in an opera house, it’s not “Take on Me” that she plays. Instead, she starts playing “Future Days.” At that moment, Dina isn’t what’s on her mind. It’s Joel she’s thinking of. After the initial line, she finds it difficult to carry on. For Ellie, learning to play “Future Days” and keeping hold of the guitar are the last pieces she has to keep memories of Joel alive, her final link to him.

In a tragic turn of events the night before Joel passed away, Ellie managed to coax him into confessing his deeds at Firefly Hospital. Although she was shocked by his actions, Ellie extended an olive branch for forgiveness, hinting at her intention to try. Unfortunately, their relationship never had a chance to heal, denying them opportunities to share more songs, create memories, and embark on new adventures. The absence of Joel also meant he would never become the gruff grandpa figure to Ellie’s future child with Dina. Ellie lamented over the loss of “Our days together / Our days you and I,” as her actions might jeopardize her future with Dina as well.

2025-05-22 22:50