The absence of Joel since his loss of life makes Pedro Pascal’s prominence on this episode really feel earned. This episode supplies each catharsis and solutions as we get to see Ellie and Joel collectively once more, even when issues do bitter over the course of the episode.
I might have beloved to get some scenes that includes Dina and Jesse on this episode however I like that the main focus stays wholly centered on Ellie and Joel. Different characters come out and in of the episode however at its coronary heart, it is a two-hander that exhibits the best way Ellie and Joel progressively and tragically develop aside – although the love continues to be there.
| “The Price” – THE LAST OF US. Pictured: Pedro Pascal as Joel. Photograph: Liane Hentscher/HBO ©2025 HBO |
Certainly one of my favorite issues on this episode was how they used lighting to painting Ellie and Joel’s deteriorating relationship. We begin off within the golden hour of their relationship, the solar shining and casting heat tones over their scenes. The Future Days scene and the museum scene within the area shuttle are excellent for portraying the depth and closeness of their relationship. This present thrives on the chemistry between its actors and Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal have it in spades.
The episode will get a bit greyer by the point we get to the oft-hinted at Eugene scene the place it seems he’s been bitten by one of many contaminated, inflicting Ellie and Joel to dispute whether or not he ought to be killed instantly or be allowed to return to Jackson to say goodbye to Gail. Ellie believes he has sufficient time earlier than the an infection begins to take maintain and Joel finally ends up mendacity to her to get her to go away for lengthy sufficient for him to do what he sees as the mandatory deed.
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| “The Price” – THE LAST OF US. Pictured: Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Photograph: Liane Hentscher/HBO ©2025 HBO |
It’s fairly a major departure from how Ellie and Joel fell out within the recreation. We do nonetheless see Ellie’s doubt about what actually occurred at Saint Mary’s Hospital, and his lie right here solely strengthens her suspicions. However I don’t actually discover this Eugene and Gail storyline to be attention-grabbing and the fracture in Ellie and Joel’s relationship loses a few of its emotional affect for not being straight tied to the fateful incident on the finish of season 1.
The reveal nonetheless occurs on the finish, displaying us what actually occurred that evening after the dance within the first episode. I do assume having the reveal right here compounds the error of Ellie not discovering out sooner. We miss out on the reeling shock of her complete world being turned the wrong way up and seeing her battle with the data.
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| “The Price” – THE LAST OF US. Pictured: Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Pedro Pascal as Joel. Photograph: Liane Hentscher/HBO ©2025 HBO |
Having stated that, I do nonetheless just like the scene for what it’s. Whereas I want they’d stored nearer to the plot of the sport for this factor of the story, this sadder, extra emotionally charged model is masterfully acted by Pascal and Ramsey, with Pascal breaking the dam on all of Joel’s feelings and Ramsey strolling the high quality line between devastation and anger. It very a lot has that feeling of a confession reasonably than a confrontation.
Plus, they stored one among my favorite strains from the sport – “I don’t think I can forgive you for this. But I would like to try.” I’ve talked about it in an earlier evaluate, nevertheless it’s price reiterating as we finish the flashback on this hopeful word between Ellie and Joel – to me, the thesis of The Final of Us is the Firefly motto ‘when you’re misplaced within the darkness, search for the sunshine’. This little kernel of hope that Ellie shines on their relationship encapsulates that completely.
What did you consider this episode? Pontificate within the feedback under!
