The Last of Us: How the Show Makes Ellie’s Grief Even More Heartbreaking
A Shockingly Sad Moment, Made Even Sadder
If you’ve played The Last of Us, you know Joel’s death is one of the most shocking and upsetting moments in gaming. The show’s second season brings that scene to life, and it’s just as heart-wrenching as the game, maybe even more so.
In both the game and the show, Abby, seeking revenge for her father’s death, kills Joel. But the TV show changes things up in a way that really amplifies the tragedy.
A Change That Makes All the Difference
In the game, Ellie is knocked unconscious right after she sees Joel killed. She comes to briefly when her friends find her, but the game jumps forward quickly. This means we don’t get to see her full reaction to what happened.
In the show, though, Ellie stays conscious. We see her stunned and horrified as Abby and her friends leave. The camera lingers on Ellie as she processes the awful truth. It’s a long, painful moment that really makes her grief feel raw and real.
Powerful Performance and Haunting Parallels
Actress Bella Ramsey delivers an incredible performance as Ellie. We see all the emotions: shock, horror, confusion, and overwhelming sadness. The image of her crawling to Joel’s side and lying with his body is absolutely heartbreaking.
The show also uses this moment to create a powerful visual parallel with a scene from season 1. When Joel is stabbed, Ellie becomes his protector, lying with him while she waits for him to recover. This time, the image is different, more tragic, but it still uses that mirroring to emphasize the depth of Ellie’s loss.
A Reminder of The Last of Us’s Emotional Power
The Last of Us is known for its emotional weight, and this scene is a perfect example. It’s a reminder of the show’s ability to take a powerful moment from the game and make it even more affecting on screen.
