The Last of Us Season 1’s Ending Explained
Released in 2013, the critically acclaimed video game The Last of Us is the perfect blend of action, horror, and drama genres. It follows the story of Joel and Ellie as they navigate through a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a fungal pandemic. After a series of events, season one ends with the pair making their way to the Fireflies, a group of scientists, in the hopes of finding a cure.
Below, we break down the Last of Us Season 1’s ending and provide an in-depth analysis.
No More Fight: Joel Makes a Dramatic Decision
At the end of the game, Joel and Ellie are faced with the choice to turn Ellie over to the Fireflies, or risk never having a solution to the pandemic. After seeing Ellie’s determination to fight through, Joel makes the decision to take her away and keep her safe.
This action can be seen as both heroic and villainous. On one hand, he saved her from being experimented on against her will and preserved her safety. On the other, he cost the world a cure–one that could potentially save millions.
Analyzing the Consequences of Joel’s Decision
The biggest consequence of Joel’s decision is the loss of the potential cure. With the world believing that a cure could be found in the brain of an infected person, his choice to save Ellie essentially denied that cure ever existing. This could lead to a chain reaction of negative events as the pandemic continues its spread, each horror worse than the last.
The second effect of his action is the trauma it causes both Ellie and Joel. As we find out in the Last of Us Part 2, the events of season one haunt them for years, driving a wedge between the two even further. Along with this, the pair’s relationship with other survival groups and the Fireflies go from bad to worse. All of these emotions bubble up throughout the events of The Last of Us Part 2 and much is said about Joel’s actions.
Symbolism of the Last of Us Season 1’s Ending
The ending of the first season of The Last of Us, much like the rest of the game, is heavily symbolic. Most notably, Joel’s choice to save Ellie can be seen as a metaphor for hope. Despite how dark the world is, how little they have, and how little they know, he chooses to keep going and fight for the best future. This hope pervades the game and is one of its most powerful themes.
When looking at the Last of Us Season 1’s ending, it is easy to see why it has become so iconic. It’s full of emotion, symbolism, and ambiguity that anyone who plays the game can find different meaning in. Whether you love it, hate it, or are simply confused by it, it is undeniable that the ending was a good one and left fans wanting more. Many will debate whether or not Joel’s decision was the right one, but we may never know the true effect his choice had on the world.
