Why The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6 Ruins One of the Game’s Most Powerful Moments

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Approaching the conclusion of its second installment, HBO’s The Last of Us is setting up an influential, emotional, and heartwarming finale with an episode that could well become a favorite among fans. However, it seems to us that showrunner Craig Mazin has expertly demonstrated the story’s underlying structural brilliance.

This review contains story spoilers.

In the second-to-last episode of this season titled ‘Scars’, we delve into the missing years of Joel and Ellie’s journey between seasons one and two. It’s a heartfelt portion of their tale, featuring familiar developments from the show and beloved scenes reenacted from the game.

The highlight of the episode lies in the reappearance of Pedro Pascal as Joel, who seems to enjoy his role as a father again. Across several of Ellie’s birthdays, we witness the transformation of their bond over time, getting a glimpse into their golden years together as a father and daughter.

In this part of the show, the scene is exceptionally well-executed. While the majority of the season has been filled with sorrow and hardship, this moment offers a momentary reprieve. For enthusiasts of the game, it’s delightful to witness a specific space journey being brought to reality, and Pedro Pascal’s acting moved us to tears. There have been some concerns about Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie, but her chemistry with Pascal in this scene is outstanding, making us enjoy their screen presence together. Nonetheless, remember that we’re talking about The Last of Us, and happiness doesn’t last for long, leading us into… rather intriguing territory.

One aspect we greatly enjoy about this game is its gradual release of information, which enables us to form our own interpretations as we progress. Later on, it presents new information that alters our perspective on the entire experience.

The TV series appears to be adopting a more straightforward style, making its storyline clearer to viewers from the get-go. For instance, Abby’s motives were disclosed right from the show’s first scene, and Jackson’s dance was introduced early on. This suggests an intent to keep viewers in the loop about the plot developments, with some changes having minor effects while others are more significant.

In our opinion, what stands out most in the latest episode (and throughout the season) is that Ellie had a conversation with Joel the night before he died, expressing her plan to forgive him for his major deception. The problem isn’t so much the scene itself — we do have some doubts about it — but rather the timing of when this conversation took place.

Players familiar with the game will recognize this pivotal moment occurring at its conclusion. For us, it beautifully tied together the entire narrative, subtly altering our perception of the entire experience in a heart-wrenching manner. It provides insight into why Ellie has taken certain actions and why she ultimately makes her final choice. Without it, we believe the game’s ending would not resonate nearly as deeply as it does today.

In this story that spans over two seasons, we’re only halfway through and already a significant event is taking place. This raises questions about how the ending will play out without it, and more importantly, it feels premature because it seems Ellie hasn’t been tested enough yet; it lacks the impact of her reaching her absolute limit.

Overall, we’ve been finding this season quite enjoyable, and we’re appreciating it even more than Season 1. There have been certain aspects that made us ponder, but we understand that these alterations might be necessary for converting the narrative into a TV format.

Instead, presenting such a crucial scene at the outset is a creative choice – not essential for this storytelling method – which lessens the impact of what made that scene so impactful. Essentially, for us, it transforms one of the most potent moments in the game into an unconvincing unveiling.

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2025-05-19 14:07