The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 9: The season 1 finale of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us, episode 9, is full of amazing twists and turns. The main storyline of The Last of Us has been about Ellie’s immunity and Joel’s mission to get her to the Fireflies since episode 1. Episode 9 brings the story full circle. Ellie and Joel have been travelling across the United States after the end of the world. After facing many dangers along the way, they finally reach Salt Lake City, where the Fireflies have their home base.
The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
At the start of The Last of Us episode 9, Joel and Ellie go into the heart of Salt Lake City to find the freedom-fighting militia. The ending of The Last of Us episode 8 shows that Ellie is still very upset about what happened with David. However, Joel shows how much more open he is with Ellie now that they don’t have to hide the bond they’ve formed. So, The Last of Us episode 9 takes its first turn when the Fireflies capture Joel and Ellie. The episode then builds up to an ending that has a lot more surprises in store.
Could Ellie have really been used as a cure for cordyceps?
The ending of The Last of Us episode 9 raises a lot of questions, but one of the biggest ones is whether or not a cure for Cordyceps could have been made. When Joel wakes up in the hospital, Marlene tells him the hopes of the Fireflies’ head surgeon. Marlene says that the surgeon thinks Ellie’s immunity comes from the Cordyceps that has been in her system since birth. Ellie’s mother Anna was bitten during labour, so Cordyceps has been in Ellie’s system since birth. This strain of Cordyceps acts as a sort of barrier, sending out a “chemical message” that makes any new Cordyceps that gets into her system, like the bites in The Last of Us episodes 2 and 7, think she is already infected.
Marlene then says that the surgeon plans to take out the Cordyceps that has been in Ellie’s body, make more of the cells that send chemical messages, and use these cells to make a vaccine that can be given to everyone. The truth is, though, that episode 9 and the first The Last of Us game don’t make it clear whether or not a cure is possible. As for why it might be possible, Ellie seems to be the first person in history who is immune to the infection. This means that her immunity gives the hopes of finding a cure an extra boost.
On the other hand, Marlene’s words make it clear that the Fireflies are grasping at thin air. Marlene says that the doctor “thinks” he can find a cure, which means that not even he is sure it will work. Even so, it’s clear from how bad the world is that if someone immune like Ellie gave even a small glimmer of hope, a surgeon would at least try to come up with a cure. Even so, the ending of The Last of Us episode 9 leaves things unclear about the Cordyceps cure on purpose. This is meant to make viewers feel uncertain about Joel’s controversial decision to save Ellie.
Why Joel kills so many people, and how does that set up the second season?
The ending of The Last of Us episode 9 also raises the question of why Joel kills all of the Fireflies. Based on his character arc so far, the answer is simple: Joel loves Ellie like he did his own daughter Sarah. After Sarah died, Joel was sad, and the 20-year time jump made him a cold, broken man. Ellie was the person who brought him back to life. Because of what Joel went through with Ellie, she became his surrogate daughter. This means that he would do anything to keep her alive and make up for his “failures” to save Sarah and Tess.
This is why, at the end of The Last of Us episode 9, Joel kills all the Fireflies. As they intend to kill Ellie to synthesise a cure, he vows to save her, killing them all so that they would not come after her. The decision is controversial, which sets up season 2’s storylines. In The Last of Us episode 9, Abby, the daughter of the surgeon, kills Joel five years later. This will happen in The Last of Us season 2. In a scary story about love, loss, and how the cycle of revenge can fill your mind with pure darkness, this makes Ellie want to get even.
Why Joel Lies To Ellie (Twice) In The Last Of Us Episode 9
At episode 9 of The Last of Us ends, Joel tells Ellie two different lies. First, he tells her that she is not alone in being immune, and that because of this, the Fireflies have stopped trying to find a cure for The Last of Us’ Cordyceps. Then, in the very last scene of The Last of Us season 1, Ellie calls his bluff and asks him to swear to her that everything he said was true, which Joel does without much hesitation. Joel tells Ellie a lie because he knows that his choice is selfish.
Joel knows that Ellie has survivor’s guilt, which means she would have chosen to do whatever it takes to find a cure for Cordyceps. Joel knows this, but he made the choice for her and saved her life, taking away any chance of a cure. He did this because he had been through a lot and didn’t want to lose another daughter. Joel also knows that if he told Ellie the truth, she might never forgive him, which will be a big part of the story in season 2 of The Last of Us.
How did the first episode of “The Last of Us” hint at Marlene’s death?
Just before Joel drives Ellie out of the hospital, he kills Marlene in the parking garage when she tries to stop him. This, along with his killing of all the other Fireflies, was predicted by Marlene herself in the first episode of The Last of Us. Marlene says this when she asks Joel and Tess to take Ellie: “I do have you, though. And I already know what you can do. For better or worse.” This shows Joel’s cruelty; in episode 9 of The Last of Us, he proves Marlene right with his Firefly rampage in the hospital.
What Happens Next To Joel & Ellie?
The Last of Us season 2 has already been confirmed, and it will probably be based on The Last of Us Part II. This means that the answer to what happens to Joel and Ellie next can be found in the sequel to the first game. At the end of The Last of Us episode 9, there was a hint that Joel and Ellie would go back to Jackson to live with Tommy’s group. If The Last of Us season 2 closely follows what happens in the second game, it will start right after this with Joel telling Tommy what really happened in the hospital.
Joel will then keep getting closer to Ellie, and Ellie will only start to move away from him when she starts to doubt his lies more and more. The Last of Us Part II, which is likely season 2 of HBO’s adaptation of the video game, then jumps ahead five years. Joel and Ellie have moved to Jackson, but because of what Joel did at the end of the first game, their relationship has gotten worse. Joel will then pay a high price for his choice when the remaining Fireflies find him and kill him. This will start Ellie’s quest for revenge, which will be the main focus of The Last of Us season 2.
What We Know About Season 2 of “The Last of Us”
We don’t know a lot about The Last of Us season 2, as far as what we do know. HBO has said that there will be a second season, but they haven’t said when it will come out. But comments from co-creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin make it clear that The Last of Us season 2 will follow the events of the second game and will probably focus on Abby. In the same way, Mazin said in an interview that The Last of Us Part II will probably be longer than one season of TV. This means that the story of the second game could be continued in The Last of Us season 3, but this is not confirmed as of this writing.
In an interview with Collider, Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, talked about when filming for season 2 of The Last of Us might start. Pascal said that it’s possible that the second season of The Last of Us could start filming by the end of 2023. Mazin and Druckmann are already hard at work on pre-production for the second season. With The Last of Us episode 9, season 1 is over. More information about HBO’s The Last of Us season 2 is likely to come out in 2023.
What Does the End of Season 1 of “The Last of Us” Really Mean?
In an interview with Eurogamer just before The Last of Us Part II came out, Neil Druckmann, who made the first two games, explained the real meaning of The Last of Us and why the first season of The Last of Us ended the way it did. Druckmann said that the story of The Last of Us is about how far someone will go for someone they love without conditions. In this case, The Last of Us episode 9 is about how far Joel is willing to go to protect Ellie and how love can lead him into harsh, morally grey places.
The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 9 Cast
- Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams
- Merle Dandridge as Marlene
- Riley Davis as Young Firefly Soldier
- Ashley Johnson as Anna Williams
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller
- Ana Rice as Nurse #2
- Pardeep Singh Sooch as Firefly Soldier #1
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