The latest episode of The Last of Us brings a mix of hope and heartbreak to fans of the video game franchise. The sixth episode of the HBO adaptation sees Joel finally reuniting with his long-lost brother Tommy in Jackson, Wyoming, a paradise in a world ravaged by cordyceps. In this setting, Joel and Ellie are briefly able to glimpse what life could look like in a world without the infection. However, this is short-lived as Joel makes the difficult decision to leave Ellie behind with Tommy, putting her safety first in the quest to deliver her to the doctors working on a vaccine. This decision sets off a series of events that ultimately end in tragedy, with Joel suffering a major stab wound and collapsing in the snow, leaving Ellie to deal with the aftermath.
Despite the heartbreak, the episode offers a glimpse of the fully-functioning town of Jackson, which is led by Maria and has shops, a dining hall, and even happy children. Fans of The Last of Us video game franchise will be pleased to see the town depicted in more detail than in the original game. Additionally, the episode features a brilliantly performed scene by Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna, who plays Tommy, in which Joel asks Tommy to keep Ellie safe. Tommy's response causes a rift between the two brothers, with Joel making the difficult decision to leave Ellie behind.
Also on TopFive: Why The Last of Us Game Is More Immersive Than Its TV Adaptation
While the episode offers a brief moment of hope for Joel and Ellie, it ultimately burns it all down, leaving fans to mourn yet another tragic loss in the world of The Last of Us. However, the introduction of a new character, Dina, offers a glimmer of hope for the future, and sets up an intriguing storyline for the next episode. Fans of The Last of Us will undoubtedly be tuning in to see what happens next as the story continues to unfold.
