This message contains spoilers For the “The Last of Us” game series and its HBO adaptation.
It’s time to return The world of infectedLike “The Last of Us” returned with a second season which could prove more intense and traumatic than its predecessor. The latest season is to adapt “The Last of Us Part II”, which can only be described as a brutal video game experience, without compromise and division where evolution history puts a violent rage in the foreground. This does not mean that the “part II” is not convincing or effective: it is an unforgettable story on the cause and the effect, where each action – even those involved in the self -defense or the fury justified – finds a way to haunt the characters living in this world. Episode 1 of “The Last of Us” by HBO puts the foundations for a larger and more bloody chapter, clearly indicating that A plot Things have changed to the point of being unrecognizable.
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Five years is very long, which means that Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) have fundamentally changed as people or are not at least the version of the characters they started. While Ellie is as coarse and obstinate as never, his relationship with Joel took a turn for the worst, with the barely speaking two. Joel also seems more mired in complex emotions than usual, because the relative normality of the Jackson community seems to have completed his instinctive advantage to some extent. This does not mean that Joel will not sink into action if necessary, but time has a way to make us doubt our choices or strengthen them to help us sleep better at night.
A conversation with Dina (Isabela Merced) reveals that Joel sees the local therapist, Gail (Catherine O’Hara), and he repeats what he removed from these sessions. Later, when Joel visits Gail, we learn that he killed her husband Eugene some time ago, although we do not have details on the incident. The players “Part II” will recognize Eugene as a character referenced in the game, so let’s explore this more in -depth connection.
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Season 2 of the last of us will expand the character in the game of Eugene to a certain extent
“The Last of Us leaves II” often urges players to reconstruct its tradition via exploration and paying attention to details, but its reference by Eugene Linden is quite difficult to miss. Ellie and Dina mention it directly during one of their patrols, noting that he died of natural causes (a stroke) at the age of 73. Eugene’s resilience as a former Jackson and surviving patroller feels ambitious for Dina and Ellie, because they wish to remain virile and clear only in her advanced age. In addition, it is a privilege to stay alive until the 73 in the hostile and unpredictable world of the game, which makes a bit of a heroic figure out screen that has left a lot of technology and nostalgic equipment to find. We see an aspect of this when Dina and Ellie refute in an abandoned library during a blizzard, where they also find the Eugene fire pendant.
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Now we know that Eugen will appear in the series to a certain capacity, as Joe Pantoliano was confirmed to play the role in season 2. By establishing a direct link between Joel and Eugene, “The Last of Us” presents another tragic layer to history, because Gail is naturally resentful towards Joel because he killed her husband for a reason to reveal. We will probably get a flashback revealing that Joel may have been forced to kill Eugene after the latter was infected, but the details and nuances are important in this case. In addition, this is not the first time that the Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann showrunners have changed things for more impact, because they have already done it With the characters of Bill and Frank in season 1 (with a moving and surprising effect).
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Although the story of Eugene in the game is simply intended to add to its construction of the complex world, the series took the opportunity to expand the character in a distinct way. Druckmann spoke to Variety On the modification of the Eugene background frame to increase the issues and reveal new facets on the main characters:
“I am excited when I see these opportunities. I say to myself:” Oh, I don’t know Eugene! “The story we have told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character really comes to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship. “”
The Eugene connection reworked in the last of us serves a tragic objective
Although Eugene’s flashbacks had not yet occurred in the series, the implications of his connection with Joel are already disastrous. The resentment of Gail towards Joel was not established later, while the scene begins with him by visiting him for another therapy session. This is Gail’s first anniversary without her husband in 41 years, and she cries by drinking in her memory while doing her best to sail in such a difficult day. Joel continues by speaking of Ellie: how they are practically foreign now, while Ellie does everything possible to avoid it and simply nods by passing. Gail, who is already on the edge, immediately closes Joel. She states that she did this for a long time to know when someone leaves something aside and urges Joel to clean himself about Ellie’s situation.
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When he doesn’t, Gail declares that she hates and feels Joel for having shot and killed her husband Eugene. “I knew you had no choice, and I should forgive you, but I cannot,” deplores Gail, choosing to be frank on his feelings instead of stew in his resentment. Joel does not answer, because he really has no words that can make Gail feel better. If it is clear that Eugene’s death could have been inevitable, it still does not change the fact that he left and that Gail must live with it every day. Gail continues by acknowledging that everything she said cannot be resumed but pushes Joel to follow her example and to say what he is most afraid of pronouncing aloud.
When Gail pushes Joel further and asks him if he injured Ellie, he started, saying he had saved her. Although this is technically true, it is not the whole truth, as Joel’s paternal instinct to save Ellie came with a moral choice chain that cannot be disadvantaged. The fact that Joel killed this hospital without discrimination will come back to haunt him in the present, taking him by surprise before he even had a chance to treat him.
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As with Eugene and the humans that Joel has killed over the years (for any reason), these murders complicate Joel’s morality as a person, painting him as a tragic figure that caused a lot of pain to those around her. That Joel carries the guilt associated with Eugene – and others – will become clearer because this season of “The Last of Us” rushes towards its violent end.
New episodes of season 2 of “The Last of Us” released every week on HBO.
