Showrunner Addresses Joel’s Controversial Choices in The Last of Us Finale

The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin speaks out on Joel’s controversial decisions in the season 1 finale! 

After reaching Salt Lake City with Ellie, the two are ambushed by rebels from the Firefly-controlled hospital. 

Marlene’s men lock Joel up and spill the beans: Ellie is the cure to end the world’s woes, but only if she undergoes a deadly surgery. 

With Ellie’s life on the line, Joel fights tooth and nail to save her, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

Screen Rant attended a press conference where Mazin discussed Joel’s final moments in The Last of Us season 1. 

In the conference, Mazin talks about his own ethical dilemma, but also commends Joel’s fierce love for Ellie. Read Mazin’s full comments below: 

That unconditional love, we give that way too much credit, it’s the highest form of love. Unconditional means literally no conditions, not including conditions whereby you really ought to be doing something that is not within the best interests of the person you love, at least according to some sort of moral code or a standard of ethics. I’m not suggesting that I have a hard opinion about how things go at the end, I don’t, I’m confused about it morally, I think it’s a difficult choice, I go back and forth, and I think a lot of people will go back and forth on it. But you are right to at least suggest that even if we weren’t necessarily soft launching anything — that’s a great term — we’re aware of things. As we built this season around the story of the first game that Neil and Naughty Dog weren’t aware of when they told that story the first time around. So, there are certain little moments and things that we put in there, but ultimately, I don’t think there’s anything this season that contradicts what was already there in essence, or explicitly, in the game itself.

Mazin

Joel’s world falls apart when he loses his daughter in The Last of Us, episode 1. He even tries to end his life soon after, leaving him deaf in one ear. 

From then on, he is just a survivor, looking for a reason to keep fighting. Whether it is for Tommy, Tess, or Ellie, Joel becomes desperate for a reason to live.

Ellie finally fills that monstrous crevasse in his heart. The crux of The Last of Us lies in Joel and Ellie’s bond. 

Despite starting on the wrong foot in a bleak Boston Quarantine Zone, their cross-country trek through an apocalyptic America proves transformative for their relationship. 

Ellie’s infectious spirit and childlike quips thaws Joel’s tough exterior, forging an unbreakable connection.

Eventually, Joel discovers hope for a brighter tomorrow by sharing his past with Ellie. 

Losing Ellie would mean losing not only his chance at a future with her but also her chance to grow into a woman, just as his own daughter was robbed of that same opportunity. 

So, when faced with the Fireflies, his decision to take them down is simple.

With the upcoming season 2, we’ll have to wait and see how his choice will impact Joel and Ellie’s bond.

About The Last Of Us

The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.

It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.

The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.