SPOILERS ALERT! 

Amidst the tension of zombie attacks caused by the cordyceps fungus presented in the HBO series The Last of Us, there are heartwarming stories in each episode. But no debate, the latest episode that aired on Monday (20/2/2023) is the warmest and most touching of all. 

Three months have passed after Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) survived Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) and a sudden attack from Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard), Henry's (Lamar Johnson) younger brother who had to die at the hands of his own brother. Now Joel and Ellie enter an area covered in ice, looking for a way to find the nearest base for Firefly and his younger brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna). A reunion between the two brothers ensues. 

But something is wrong with Joel. Throughout this episode titled 'Kin', he suddenly has an anxiety attack. Even though he doesn't want to admit it openly to Ellie on the pretext that he was just affected by the cold air, Joel finally opens up to his younger brother in a community of survivors. For the first time we get to hear directly from Joel how he really feels about Ellie. 

From the start, Joel built a thick wall to Ellie. We both know that this man has not fully recovered from the trauma of the death of Sarah (Nico Parker), his daughter, at the beginning of this mushroom pandemic. His meetings and interactions with Ellie from day to day seem to bring back Joel's old wounds but at the same time bring back his fatherly side. Even though he was trying hard to resist all the attention Ellie was giving him, Joel was actually very comfortable with it. 

Unfortunately now Joel is in a crisis of confidence. He felt himself getting weaker and that would prevent him from carrying out the mission of bringing Ellie to Firefly and finding a vaccine for this fungal pandemic. Plus Joel's recent nightmares have made him worse off. Joel then asked Tommy to replace his duties which unfortunately Ellie heard directly. This caused them to have a big fight. 

Joel and Ellie's relationship has developed a very long way from when we were first introduced to them. Even though he wanted to deny it, Joel couldn't hide the feelings of care and affection that arose for Ellie. Joel's protective fatherly side, especially after his daughter died in front of his eyes, makes him not want anything bad to happen to Ellie. However, the trauma that has not healed from the events of the last twenty years makes Joel's defenses weak. 

The good news is that in episode 6, Joel will no longer deny all his attention to Ellie. Evidenced by his willingness to teach Ellie to shoot better. Their communication is now better than before and much healthier. Ellie's words in a haphazard and blunt manner of speaking could penetrate and destroy the high walls that Joel had built so far. 

On the other hand, through episode 6 of The Last of Us we are also told by Ellie about her deepest feelings. When Joel always attacks with his selfish words by saying that Ellie doesn't know anything about feelings of loss, Ellie strikes back with sentences that Joel can't refuse and changes his point of view about the young girl who is immune to the fungal disease. 

From the beginning to the last minutes of The Last of Us episode 6, it brings warmth that is more than the previous five episodes. Throughout this episode, we can also refocus on Ellie and Joel's journey with more portions than the side characters that have just been introduced here. But just in case, you might want to have tissues handy. 

Via: Seconds

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