The Final of Us Provides Pedro Pascal’s Joel the Eulogy He Deserves

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for The Last of Us, Season 2 Episode 6.]

4 weeks after The Final of Us shocked viewers with the brutal dying of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal), he’s reborn. Nicely, not likely. However as teased on the finish of the earlier episode, the most recent installment of HBO’s acclaimed zombie drama introduced Pascal again for some flashbacks overlaying the years between the top of Season 1 and the start of Season 2. Over the course of the episode, Joel and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) navigate the difficulties of parenting an adolescent/being an adolescent throughout apocalyptic instances.

Issues really start with an excellent deeper flashback to Joel’s personal days as a youngster in Austin, Texas, 1983: Joel and youthful brother Tommy know they’re about to get in hassle with their father (a shock cameo from Higher Name Saul and Hawkeye star Tony Dalton), the type that often results in getting hit with a belt. But Joel’s father doesn’t find yourself lashing out, as a substitute giving Joel a beer and speaking about his personal abusive father, acknowledging the cycle of violence that’s been handed down from father to son. “I hope you perform a little higher than me,” he tells Joel, about his personal future as a dad or mum — phrases that clearly stick to him for the many years that comply with.

From there, the episode tracks a string of Ellie’s birthdays, from 15 to 19, and the methods Joel finds to have a good time his adopted daughter whereas residing within the relative security of Jackson. Age 15 is comparatively easy — he trades scavenged Legos for a misspelled birthday cake, and restores a guitar by hand as a present. Age 16 includes a visit to a long-abandoned museum Ellie’s thrilled to discover, climbing on prime of a dinosaur with glee earlier than having fun with a simulated journey to area in an actual area capsule.

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Age 17 is much less rosy, as Joel catches Ellie doing “all of the teenage stuff without delay” — medication and playing around with women and getting a tattoo to cowl up her scar. It’s additionally when the actual pressure between them begins erupting, because the sincere dialog they’ve wanted to have since Salt Lake Metropolis begins to fester Age 19 (skipping over 18) begins with Ellie rehearsing the questions she needs to ask Joel about what occurred then; as a substitute of getting solutions, although, she will get affirmation that Joel is a proficient liar.

It’s right here we discover out what occurred to Eugene — the episode’s second large cameo, as Joe Pantoliano exhibits up because the soon-to-be-dead husband of Gail (Catherine O’Hara). Whereas on patrol, Joel and Ellie discover Eugene bitten however nonetheless alive and human sufficient to need precisely one factor: To speak to his spouse one final time. Regardless of each their pleading, Joel doesn’t hesitate in mendacity to Ellie about his intentions for Eugene, sending her off on her personal with the horses whereas he walks the doomed man to a really fairly execution level.

Ellie’s emotions of betrayal at Joel’s newest lie — rooted so deeply within the lies which have come earlier than — push her to inform the reality about what occurred once they carry Eugene’s physique again to Gail. It’s the fracture level of their relationship, resulting in the rift we noticed initially of the season, and the awkward New 12 months’s Eve that will get explored in additional depth because the episode will get nearer to catching up with the current.

The Final of Us (HBO)

This contains increasing on scenes beforehand seen in short within the season premiere, together with Joel lastly, lastly telling Ellie the total reality about what occurred in Salt Lake Metropolis, actions he took as a result of “I used to be egocentric in a method you’ll be able to’t perceive.” After which he passes his father’s phrases onto her: “In case you ought to ever have [a child] of your personal… Nicely then, I hope you perform a little higher than me.”

In a season that began on such a grim be aware, it means lots to know that whereas Joel and Ellie won’t have ended their time collectively as intently as they started, that they had at the least begun to reconcile. “I don’t know if I can forgive you for this, however I wish to strive,” she in the end says, and one can solely think about how arduous Joel has clung to the hope embedded in these phrases. An individual can stay for an awfully very long time off hope.

Pascal is now not the star of The Final of Us — Ramsey now owns that place — so this can be a probability for him to present a efficiency that elegantly wraps up his time on the collection, reminding us of who Joel is at his finest and his worst. Joel was clearly not an ideal individual earlier than he met Ellie, however their bond remodeled him, and we get to see each side of that change mirrored in his actions. As a result of what’s so affecting is the best way wherein his “worst” moments are all fueled by Joel’s want to guard these he loves, making errors alongside the best way, however all the time well-intentioned.

What’s so putting in regards to the episode is the way it emphasizes how absolutely realized a personality Joel is; not only a survivor, not only a dad or mum, however a complete individual. Pedro Pascal received’t be profitable any Grammys for his Pearl Jam cowl, however the loving method wherein he performs “Future Days” after restoring that guitar — with the identical palms which have killed so many individuals — speaks volumes in regards to the multitudes all of us comprise, the countless risk inherent within the mortal soul. He’s an artist and a assassin, a loving father and a liar. None of it in contradiction to the person we’ve come to know by this present. All of it so very human.

The Final of Us is streaming now on Max.