The Last of Us
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Whether ludonarrative dissonance is a problem is open for debate (and its inspired plenty).
For some, its just a quirky part of gaming.
But one things for sure: Film and television have no ludonarrative dissonance.
The series didnthaveto do the same.
Its a happy ending, but at what cost?
And can it really be called a happy ending at all?
The where is a barren countryside with the Boston skyline in the distance.
The when is approximately fourteen years ago.
And the woman is Anna (Ashley Johnson), Ellies long-dead mother.
This is Ellies birthday.
It doesnt look like Ellies going to make it into the world alive at first, however.
The barricade doesnt last for long, and Anna gives birth as shes successfully fighting off her attacker.
But theres a cloud hanging over the moment: Annas attacker has bitten her.
Anna knows its the end, and she hasnt even nursed Ellie, fearing shell spread the Cordyceps infection.
(2) Anna wants Marlene to take her life before she becomes one of the Infected.
After fearing she cant fulfill either wish, Marlene performs both.
The sound of the gun blast causes Ellie to cry.
From that moment the episode cuts to Ellie in the present, quiet and wearing a troubled expression.
Maybe the horrific events of theprevious episodeare weighing on her.
Ellies been through a lot and is about to go through even more.
So, too, is Joel, but his opening moments find him in relatively high spirits.
Hes found a can of Beefaroni and a seemingly intactBoggleset.
Ellie smiles and nods, but she cant match Joels upbeat tone.
Joel has turned his thoughts to whats next.
Ellie, however, seems unsure.
The episode slows down as Joel and Ellie take in the sights.
Ellie laughs like a kid as they feed the giraffe before heading to higher ground for a better view.
Nature has reclaimed the space, and it doesnt look like a wasteland anymore.
It looks like what comesaftera wasteland.
Joel takes the opportunity to caution Ellie, but shes not having it.
Were still here, though.
Its the next exchange that will haunt him.
Suggesting they turn back, return to Jackson and live their lives.
Ellie cant even consider it, saying, After all weve been through.
It cant be for nothing.
Shell stick with him after this is over.
She wants nothing more than to stick with him, wherever he goes.
But first, she has to see this through: Theres no halfway with this.
We finish what we started.
Then Joel tells Ellie a story hes never told her before.
So time heals all wounds, I guess, she continues.
Joels reply: It wasnt time that did it.
As Joel rates the puns, theyre ambushed by an armored patrol and knocked out by a stun grenade.
Theyve reached their destination.
Joel has only one question: Wheres Ellie?
But that will only be possible with the removal of Ellies brain.
Shell die, but shell save everyone.
For Joel, this is not an acceptable solution, even after Marlene reveals her long history with Ellie.
Marlene underestimates Joels will, his fighting skills, and his mercilessness.
As a pair of nurses cower the only survivors Joel leaves behind he exits with Ellie in his arms.
No matter how hard you try.
No matter how many people you kill, shes gonna grow up, Joel.
And then youll die, or shell leave.
There is no lie in what she says.
And that Joel knows it.
Yet as troubled as Joels face looks as he stares back at Marlene, theres no going back.
When Ellie wakes up, the lies begin immediately.
Ellie isnt the only one whos immune to the Cordyceps.
And, yes, he tells her, people got hurt.
But we know what Ellie only suspects: Marlene is not okay.
Joel has killed her.
(Im not saying that youre not girly, Joel says.
Another interruption: Im not.)
Sarah, he concludes, would have thought Ellie was funny.
But theres little lightness to Ellie as they approach Jackson.
Was it all meaningless?
Is it all her fault?
Swear to me, she says, that everything you said about the Fireflies is true.
She nods, says, Okay, and the episode ends.
Its not a comforting story.
But it wont last.
Whats worse, shell suspect she could have made a difference.
Endings mean everything to me, showrunner Craig MazintoldThe Hollywood Reporterahead of this shows premiere.
Infectious Bites
The question hanging over these final scenes:WouldEllie have sacrificed herself?
Does no halfway mean shell give up her life to see this through?
In a way, Marlene undid the groups efforts herself by never offering Ellie the choice.
Whether Ellie would have voluntarily sacrificed herself remains an open question.
On the other hand, maybe David was right.
Maybe Ellie is destined to become a pitiless Ubermenschwho believes herself beyond traditional notions of good and evil.
(Or, at the very least, a second Joel.)
The answer will have to wait until another season, if we get one at all.
About season two: This first season covers the entirety of the firstLast of Usgame.
Ashley Johnson, who plays Ellies mother, Anna, originated the role of Ellie in the games.
Thats not to ignore the fact that she gives a terrifically intense performance in her scenes.
Its certainly been a while since weve seen them trouble Joel and Ellie.
Its game origins arent irrelevant.
(you’re free to practically sense the autosave kicking in when Joel climbs up.)
ButThe Last of Usmakes them easy to forget.
With luck, the sure-to-be-difficult second season will be able to do the same.
Everything in this one certainly suggests it will.
Note: This recap has been updated to correct the name of Ellies mother.
