[Caution: The following content includes significant plot twists from the story.] The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6 titled "The Price."
The Last of Us delivered one of its most heart-wrenching installments yet with Season 2’s sixth entry, “The Price,” which revisits several birthdays of Ellie’s ( Bella Ramsey ) over the years in Jackson with her adoptive father, Joel ( Pedro Pascal ).
However, prior to the main events of the episode, there was a flashback showing Joel during his youth in Austin back in 1983. This particular scene revolved around an instance when Joel was ready to face consequences for an incident involving Tommy and their father, portrayed here by a guest-star. Tony Dalton The father and son engage in an open discussion, during which Joel discovers that his own father was also subjected to abuse. Despite having a inclination towards aggression himself, he makes an effort to treat both Joel and Tommy differently. He expresses hope that Joel will also strive to be a better parent for his future children.
Of course, viewers know that Joel had become a violent man himself, but that didn’t make his actions wholly malicious. In a flashforward to Joel and Ellie’s early days in Jackson, she burns her arm to hide the bite marks that would reveal her immunity, and Joel surprises her with a cake and new guitar for her first birthday in their new home.
As the story progresses, Joel keeps celebrating Ellie by taking her to a secret museum nestled within the woods near Jackson. There, they explore various exhibits together, and he creates an impromptu space-themed experience for her by giving her a cassette with recordings from a real space mission and sitting inside a displayed spacecraft at the museum.
However, each joyful instant carries a hint of apprehension since Ellie questions Joel’s earlier assurance regarding the Fireflies. The series illustrates additional birthday celebrations, during which their bond endures strain due to Ellie entering her late teenage years; this period sees her getting a tattoo to conceal her scar and becoming involved in romantic relationships. In time, Joel attempts to mend their connection, and just before Ellie decides to address his past deceit concerning the Fireflies, they set out on a joint patrol mission together.
This particular day is when Eugene Joe Pantoliano After discovering the man who was bitten in the woods, he requests that Joel and Ellie help him return to the settlement so he can impart his last messages to Gail. Catherine O’Hara Before being killed himself, Joel apparently consents and instructs Ellie to move forward. However, Joel deceives her and shoots the man in the woods instead.
Upon their return to Jackson with Eugene’s corpse, Joel informs Gail that her spouse chose not to involve her in the peril and terminated everything himself; however, Ellie cannot accept this fabrication and reveals the actual events to Gail. For Ellie, this moment marks a crucial turning point. Yet, as the audience watches further into the episode, it becomes clear that Ellie’s last evening with Joel during New Year’s Eve wasn’t one where she distanced herself from him on the porch. Instead, she openly shared her thoughts and ultimately confronted him regarding the Fireflies.
Ellie feels furious, yet she acknowledges her desire to mend their bond; despite being unable to pardon him, she still wishes to make an effort. This only intensifies the heartbreak when Joel passes away the following day. In the section below, Halley Gross, who co-wrote both the episode and the game, dissects this emotionally charged episode.
The beginning of the scene takes us back to Joel and Tommy’s youth. Can you share what inspired you to use that segment as a structural framework for this particular episode?
Halley Gross: I believe for our interpretation, it aligns perfectly with what you're describing—the wonderful framing technique. The series heavily focuses on parenthood and how love influences those nearest to us. This allows viewers to observe Joel's background and experience this particular speech. We learn that Joel has engaged in unlawful activities and anticipates that his father will return home to punish him severely. However, for once, his father does not follow through; instead, he takes a mature approach by sitting Joel down and sharing, "My father treated me even more harshly, but I understand your fears, and I'm trying my hardest, perhaps you could surpass me." This forms the core narrative arc guiding Joel throughout his developmental journey.
In that moment with Kat (Noah Lamanna), we witness the father's impulsive nature, observe the programmed behavior, catch the response, and subsequently see Joel choose to act as the parent he aims to be. He consciously decides to take things slower and view Ellie with greater clarity than his own father did, treating her with even more respect than societal conditioning may have dictated. This serves as the key takeaway Joel leaves behind for Ellie by the episode's conclusion. The narrative beautifully unfolds from here; we'll follow Ellie through challenging decisions and a descent into an avenging journey. Through Joel, both the viewers and Ellie receive a hopeful perspective—that growth and transformation are possible when one commits fully to their intentions. This portrayal effectively demonstrates Joel as an imperfect individual perpetually striving to improve out of profound affection for Ellie.
In Episode 3 of this season, when Ellie talked to Gail, she expressed her regret for not having spoken to Joel prior to his death on the porch. However, it was later disclosed in the same episode that Ellie actually had a conversation with Joel on New Year’s Eve. So why did Ellie deceive Gail about speaking to Joel earlier?
This remains their shared secret. Even though she disagrees with his actions, she'll safeguard Joel regardless. Her commitment to protecting him knows no bounds—perhaps this loyalty itself is wrong? After all, he chose to prioritize her safety above that of countless others, a burden she must bear. However, discussing this involves delving into her immunity status and acknowledging the harsh reality of Joel's decisions. This topic cannot be broached safely within the confines of Jackson either. Consequently, these truths remain hidden away, just like many other things. Yet, inevitably, they resurface despite her efforts to keep them concealed.
In this episode, we follow different birthdays that Ellie marks, spanning from when she and Joel reach Jackson until now. What was the inspiration behind developing this idea further beyond what was shown in the game?
The idea for the birthday scene was added quite late in the scripting process. We had decided to create a bottle episode focusing on Joel and Ellie and highlighting both their most memorable moments as well as the deterioration of their relationship throughout their time in Jackson. At first, we simply arranged the key points without much else. Craig [ Mazin I believe quite sensibly, aimed to employ a narrative tool that linked everyone together. By utilizing birthdays as a method to illustrate not only the progression of time but also how Joel considers Ellie and endeavors to bring her happiness, it created a poignant framework for connecting the existing scenes beautifully.
Further along in the episode, when Ellie discovers the reality regarding the Fireflies, she informs Joel that dying was supposed to be her fate. Did this thought persistently haunt her every year since then, leaving her unsure about the events that transpired in Salt Lake City?
Absolutely. What we're witnessing in this setup is arguably the peak happiness of their partnership. Even during these optimal times—arguably culminating in what could be described as their finest moment at the museum—the deception dividing them remains undeniable. For instance, she observes the enchanting glow worms drifting above the lake, an element initially planned for inclusion in the game before being replaced with another feature. Later, when she gets a tattoo alongside Kat, she conceals a wound symbolizing reality, masking it instead with imagery of a moth seeking illumination. This underscores that despite reaching such idyllic periods, the underlying issues persist relentlessly. Consequently, this portrayal captures a poignant progression through time yet simultaneously fosters empathy towards her inevitable confrontation with these truths; attempts to overlook them span years, but ultimately prove futile.
What drives Ellie to expose Joel’s deception regarding Eugene’s demise to Gail prior to her confronting him about the Fireflies?
When Eugene's situation confirms what Ellie has long feared, she starts practicing her questions early in that specific scene. These queries weigh heavily on her yet terrify her to voice them aloud; thus, she must rehearse until she feels somewhat secure enough to speak up. Meanwhile, during this period, Joel deceives Gail, prompting Ellie to realize his dishonesty instantly without needing to question him herself. Consequently, she spends additional time grappling with the reality and repercussions of his deception.
After spending considerable time navigating their complex situation, she attends a dance event where, despite being distant from each other, Joel’s initial reaction is to shield her. However, her immediate response is to distance herself further, yet she finds she cannot do so completely—even during the dance scene. The essence of Joel remains undeniable: he is fundamentally a decent person capable of terrible deeds motivated by his profound affection for her. She struggles to label him solely as evil since doing so would simplify matters immensely. If only she could sever ties and move past him effortlessly. Yet, he represents one of the most significant loves of her lifetime. In that dance moment, both the positive and negative aspects intertwined within Joel become starkly clear, compelling her to seek clarity due to the sorrow stemming from losing him. At this juncture, nearly twelve months had passed since they drifted apart, allowing her insight into a future devoid of Joel, which ultimately fails to align with her desires.
What moment involving Pedro and Bella were you most enthusiastic about filming in this episode's script?
Both of them are incredible, and as highly skilled technicians, uncovering the truth has always been their focus. Their performances exude genuine emotion with each scene, making it genuinely enjoyable to witness their craft. What had me particularly thrilled was visiting the museum during what seemed like their peak performance; however, there’s an entire segment from that shoot which got cut due to timing considerations—this included scenes at the dinosaur museum where she puts hats on the dinosaurs.
Fingers crossed, they might unveil it another day. This adorable item has captured hearts; however, showcasing them highlights their finest qualities. It revolves around this allure, which embodies the pinnacle of human goodness and everyone's pursuit. That’s because individuals forego many things to cherish peaceful, lovely times with those dear to them. Consequently, granting our characters—who face numerous trials yet endure—these respites to savor existence brings essential equilibrium to the entire storyline.
Were there any Easter eggs or enjoyable details you included for fans to discover in this episode? If yes, what should viewers be watching for?
In the flashback sequence, we see Joel’s father with the watch. The museum accurately reflects elements from the game. This detail doesn’t appear in the series. A complete rover was constructed, precisely as depicted in the game, though it might not be noticeable due to specific camera placements. However, this meticulous recreation extends to the museum area and the space segment, which mirrors the game content perfectly—quite astounding.
Initially, this was geared more towards those who enjoyed the game. However, Kat was a character we originally included in the game but ended up cutting due to time constraints and pacing issues. There were segments where players could choose to interact with her. It’s thrilling now because this season doesn’t stick strictly to the linear playthrough format of previous characters. Instead, viewers will explore how Ellie developed during the span of four or five years in Jackson and learn about the individuals who influenced her journey.
The Last of Us , Season 2, Sundays, 9/8c, HBO and HBO Max
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