In a world where there is so much loss, the biggest fear that anyone can ever have is not the infected nor the savage people around, but it is losing someone you love. In The Last of Us Episode 6, no one expected it to end that way and everyone is left sobbing as the credits roll. Here's what happened, explained.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Episode 6. Read at your own risk!
The Ending of The Last of Us Episode 6 Explained
The Last of Us Episode 6 bared who Joel is and what is his current condition. It showed him having panic attacks and it is quite connected to what happened to Henry and Sam where he could not take any more deaths around him. Worse, he is starting to feel like a father again because of Ellie.
Feeling like a father again is not a problem but for Joel, the worst of his fears are kicking in. Since the death of Sarah, Joel has always been afraid of failing, thus, his coping mechanism of avoiding emotional conversations and fear of attachment because he is not sure if he can handle any more losses.
Joel could have entrusted Ellie to Tommy but being father, too, Joel knows the fragile position Tommy is in, scared about being a father for the first time. Joel could not deprive Tommy of what it is like being a father and at the same time, Joel knows that he treats Ellie like his own kid.
This whole situation has been built up throughout the episode and clearly, it is one of those episodes which is so similar to the game, the players would shriek because, "Hey, I know that scene from the game!" Also, the impeccable acting of Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, and Bella Ramsey adds so many layers to each of their characters.
Joel opening himself up to being a father again and his fears of failing once more is the core of the episode and in the end, his worst nightmare arrives, not because he is stabbed but he may have failed Ellie.
READ MORE: The Last of Us Fans are NOT READY For Ellie's Mall Backstory in Episode 7
Is Joel Dead in The Last of Us Episode 6?
You can now breathe, guys, Joel is not dead. In the game, there is a similar scene to this where Joel fell from the second story of a building and impaled himself. In the series, however, Joel was stabbed by one of the raiders, and mind you, it is on the same spot as that in the game.
This is the part where Ellie gets to grow up fast. Ellie, still clueless of what to do, would have to fend for herself while taking care of Joel and waiting for him to wake up. It is safe to say that Joel is currently in a comatose stage and Ellie's efforts are what would keep him alive.
That being said, Joel is human. He dies at some point of the game but this is not it, everyone. Joel will wake up and considering that there are still some scenes with him and Ellie that are in the trailers but not yet aired only means that he wakes up at some point.
The Last of Us Episode 6 is now streaming on HBO Max.
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