Spoilers beneath for anybody who hasn’t but watched The Final of Us’ newest Season 2 episode, “Really feel Her Love,” on HBO or with a Max subscription.
After an episode that actually cemented Ellie and Dina’s live-action relationship, The Final of Us realigned the duo’s deal with their darkish and troublesome objective with a danger-filled hunt for Tati Gabrielle’s Nora. Loads of brutal violence was on show, largely involving the warring WLF troopers and cult-like Seraphites, earlier than the episode culminated in Ellie going feral on Nora in that spore-filled basement. Nora ordered up her hyper-painful doom by having audacity to name Joel a “little bitch.”
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Simply when it appeared like Ellie crushing Nora’s legs with a pipe would function an especially ironic ending to an episode referred to as “Really feel Her Love,” The Final of Us’ inventive staff selected to comply with Bella Ramsey’s guttural screams with a dime-turn into sunshine-y heat, as Pablo Pascal’s Joel appeared for just a few fleeting seconds the place it was simple to neglect issues each fictional and private. After which actuality got here crashing again down because the credit rolled.
Who knew that the 2 phrases “Hey, Kiddo” may very well be so completely soul-crushing and uplifting all on the similar time? Effectively, it seems to be like tens of millions of persons are extra conscious of that reality now than they have been earlier than Sunday night time, and whereas not everybody went on-line to voice their retriggered traumas, the HBO present’s Instagram posts about Joel’s last-second look have been met with tons of relatably dramatic reactions.
Take a look at a choice of enjoyably heightened highlights, with recreation studio Naughty Canine’s brevity topping the checklist:
- 🥹 – @naughty_dog_inc
- That was cathartic. That was like coming house from the roughest day of my life and feeling secure once more. – @morgxnstxrn
- This felt like waking up out of your worst nightmare as a scared little child, and your mum or dad is available in and comforts you and you are feeling secure. 😢🥹 – @krose94
- Completely satisfied Mom’s Day Joel Miller – @paris.pryber03
- It was 4am for me when Joel appeared and I screamed, my cat acquired scared however I do not care, I am completely happy. – @pascal.pedrito
- I am going to take all of the Joel crumbs we will get – @the_sunset_driver2343
- i used to be guffawing watching the scene w nora after which this flashback appeared and my smile disappeared so shortly 💔💔 – @cinekravitz
- crying. screaming. throwing up 😭 – @bulletpr00fbully
- OMG I FVCKING SOBBED WHEN I SAW JOEL 😭😭😭😭 I didn’t count on him until subsequent episode with the flashback! TLOU MY HEART!!!!! ❤️ – @karencityy
- I can think about she may very well be dreaming about him 😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺 – @vin.no
Because it tends to go at any time when a fandom latches onto one thing, the reactions to Joel’s shock look bounced from heartfelt to melodramatic to hopeful to…you already know it was coming…attractive and thirsty for Pedro Pascal in any capability. Even this trifecta of equally worded reactions follows the development.
I technically additionally select to be hopeful about what that scene meant, whilst I perceive it simply means Ellie is discovering a way of peace and connection to Joel by violently lashing out at Abby’s group, which does not bode nicely for her security or her psychological well being.
Fortunately, maybe, The Final of Us‘ subsequent episode is not specializing in the long run a lot because the previous, because it seems to be like this will probably be the place a number of of the online game sequel’s unforgettable flashback sequences happen. So that you simply know that seeing the number of new scenes between Pascal and Ramsey despatched followers into orbit with dread-soaked anticipation.
- Let’s get the tissues prepared for subsequent week 🥺🥺 – @im_mssiel
- Oh my days. The best way the phrases “Hey, kiddo” has ruined me 💔😭 I do not even know the way i’ll cope subsequent week. HELP!! 😭 – @mrsg2004
- That ending killed me, subsequent episode will probably be so exhausting to observe❤️❤️🥺🥺 -@ryan_hawks12
- NO BECAUSE I FEAR I WILL NOT MAKE IT NEXT WEEK – @thepadalorian
- You are going to pay for my remedy within the subsequent episode 😭 [translated] – @cyndelkatrynne
- I used to be like “no please no”, then the episode ended and I used to be relieved, as a result of I don’t need to cry two Sundays in a row, I’ll simply cry subsequent Sunday. – @poxa.math
- I hope extra of the flashbacks are good ones with Ellie and never a lot after they battle😭🫶 – @blink_4_pinkk
- now we simply want the museum scene and life will probably be good once more – @katelyn_lasater_
Avid gamers know what’s up with that reference to the museum, and it’s certainly the sequence I am additionally wanting ahead to essentially the most. However no purpose to dwell on these hopes proper now. Not when this commenter dared write a remark so merciless and foul!!!
I suppose everyone knows that remark was truly written by ABBY HERSELF. Okay probably not, however that is the one context through which that might make sense to me as I select to amorally choose exhausting sides right here.
Be part of me for what is going to presumably be a viewing expertise filled with tears and snot when The Final of Us‘ penultimate Season 2 episode hits HBO on Sunday, Could 18, at 9:00 p.m.