The Last of Us 1x9 "Look For the Light" | Reaction

Joel was so sweet to Ellie in this episode it really melts my heart to see him like this. I cant help but feel like Joel's action this episode are going to have some consequences. I hope he hasnt ruined his relationship with Ellie.

[@CaitDuffy13]

Even knowing what was coming, the intro with Ellie's mom still got me good. Ashley Johnson is just that good. And it's even better, because this is the 'passing of the torch', as it were. She was Ellie in the games and she's Ellie's mother in the show.

[@ambybambiboo]

It was such a cool choice to have her play Ellies mom.

[@David_D.926]

The actress that plays Ellie's mom (Ashley Johnson) does the actual voice of Ellie in the video game.

[@lbjohnnyjohn]

The brain surgery they were going to do was total exploratory. That doc had no idea what he was doing because nothing he was suggesting has been done before. The thing he wants could be anywhere in the brain. Suppose he gets the thing he wants, and he created the whatever you call it. How does he know that very thing doesn't start another outbreak? What if he creates a hybrid that are half human and half fungus? Now we got smart fungi running around with strategies. The only way Ellie would ever find out is if he told her or one of the two nurses he left alive show up at the town. This is why you dont leave witnesses.

[@Minion_of_Cthulhu]

Great reaction as always! Your reaction to the giraffes was so wholesome! It's interesting to see people react to this episode. They're always fine with everything Joel does throughout the season right up to the point when he lies to Ellie. It shows how well written the characters are and how much everyone bonded with them. Hope you're feeling better. Can't wait to see what you react to next!

[@ambybambiboo]

I love a morally ambiguous character like Joel. It's so much more realistic and interesting to me.

[@TerryYelmene]

tremendous reaction in a series of great reactions. Thank You for sharing your journey!

[@ambybambiboo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@catenystrom6506]

It wasn't just brain surgery, they were going to kill her. Ellie is a child, only 15, and traumatized at that. She's in NO way prepared to giver her life, to make that decision, that's a parent's decision, and Joel is her father now. I think he did the right thing, we don't even know if the "cure" would work. He just couldn't survive losing another daughter, and he HAD to lie, because he knows Ellie, and he knows she would've tried to go back and do it, even if she had to die. Sometimes we lie to our kids to protect them, and that's what he's doing, IMO.

[@trumps_toupee]

Tbf, Ellie's suffering intense survivor's guilt. That's evident at the end of the episode, when she goes through the list of people she lost who were important to her (who also died as a consequence of infection). I think she would have made the choice to die if it meant no one else had to go out like that. The problem is that neither Joel nor Marlene allowed her to choose because both were afraid of her answer.

[@ambybambiboo]

I realized that after watching it again while editing which just makes it so much worse. And I agree that a traumatized child should not be making that kind of decision.

[@dancarter8389]

I've very much enjoyed watching you go through the series. Joel's love can be considered selfish just as readily as he is also saving a world: Ellie's and his own. The only real problem is that if he lets her go, he risks losing her but by lying to her he does the exact same thing.

[@ambybambiboo]

I agree I was selfish, but honestly as a parent, I would have done the same thing.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Actually, I think I'd be grateful if someone moved heaven and Earth to save my life, but I'm just weird that way. His lie was designed to put her at peace.

[@tannhauser5399]

@@ambybambiboo - No, you are not selfish. Most people would do the same. Some wouldn't because they would think about some "greater" good. But, yeah... as a former military, who also has been working in over 20+ countries and seen enough crap (also considering the whole relationship between Ellie and Joel, and their past experiences) = yeah, I would do the same, and I would have no remorse regarding it. I wouldn't like it, but I would stil do it. I would also lie to Ellie at this particular point in the story. Why? Look deeper into yourself. And I would also known that this was wrong. But still would do it, at this point in her life. And definitely tell her the truth sometimes later (when the moment is right, not that emotional, or when she is older), and then deal with the consequences of my lie. But at the end... I have the feeling that Ellie knows/suspects that Joel is lying. But she is letting that go, for the moment, in this particular moment of time. Edit: just some grammar and spelling

[@_gnit]

Joel did save the world. His world. Ellie is his world

[@deboraharroyo3047]

Yes the giraffe is real, also since the world took Sarah from Joel, Joel took the cure from the world an old saying from the original gamers that played the game when it first came out.

[@trashcaninc.292]

the giraffe in this episode is to keep inline with the game, easily the most emotional part of the game.... but oh man... what was that doctors name? im sure he is just a background character.... right?

[@derekweiland1857]

Ellie's mother lied to Marlene save Ellie, but that was a selfless act. Joe lied to Ellie because he didn't want to lose her; that was a selfish act.

[@stmordi]

This woman man. That southern accent with her nice demeanor.... Damn girl. What are you doing to me?

[@Gabriel_Moline]

Great reaction!

[@ambybambiboo]

Thank you!! 😁

[@theblindjedi1909]

Joel is as guilty as the firefly’s in taking Elle’s consent.after killing everyone he didn’t have to kill the dr.he could’ve had them wake up Elle and ask her himself but he wouldn’t want to hear her answer.he already tried to tell her they could turn around at the beginning of thee episode,that’s why elle knew he was lying. Liked your reactions

[@OlmanWillo]

He most certainly is not as guilty of taking away that choice. The DR raised a weapon to him and said he wasn't gonna let him take her. Presumably he would have attacked if Joel didn't shoot. Where Joel went seriously wrong was lying to her. If he said they didn't ask you and were going to kill you so I came to get you. That would have worked out much better in the end imho.

[@theblindjedi1909]

@@OlmanWillo true,however do you think Joell was fearing for his life from a Dr with a scalpel? Or was he killing the person who could do the procedure because he did not kill the nurses.

[@OlmanWillo]

@@theblindjedi1909 I don't think he was thinking at this point. I think (as a parent myself) he was simply thinking I will go through anyone in my way to get my daughter. he's probably happy he killed the only person who could after the fact, but in the heat of that moment I doubt that was his concern. The premeditated f'd up part was the lie

[@theblindjedi1909]

Actually, as a parent, I know it was premeditated as soon as Marlene told him they would be doing brain surgery on Elle we all saw that, especially when the guards were walking him down the hall. again, Joe killed everyone in there. So that. Elle would never have a choice to make. He also killed her purpose. I watched a lot of these reaction videos to this show and everybody seems to be 90% for Joel and 10% for the fire flies and I get it. The show was about Joel and his loss and what he would do to keep. Elle alive but what is the show was about the doctor or the firefly who gave up and held his hands up if we have spent eight episodes with them and then Joel just came in at the end of the show and killed them. I don’t think we would be so open to forgive Joel for all the things he’s done. again, even with Kathleen we only got one and a half episode with her story but what if the whole show was about her and her brother and how close they were we wanted revenge for Joel but we didn’t want it for Kathleen even though she had a good reason for it, she’s a bad person, Joe is a bad person. The whole purpose of the show is to show you that nobody has their hands clean. The people in the shows are mostly bad, but if we’re on their side, we’re on their side and we can’t think what they’re doing is the best, but if you step back objectively, you’ll see that again, Joel took away Elle’s choice forever. I love the show. I love the game I even love Joel but I am not wearing watered colored glasses, to who and what Joel has become. again my original point the fire flies and Joel both equally take away Elle’s Choice

[@menacingsweeper2692]

⁠​⁠@@theblindjedi1909I don’t think they can just wake Ellie up because they been sedating her. Only time will wake her up. Which Joel does not have time for that. Joel was not in any position to give Ellie a choice since the Fireflies won’t allow Joel to see or even talk to Ellie. They immediately want to do the surgery without asking first. So in a way, the Fireflies took away Ellie’s choice first and as well denied Joel’s request, the guy who manage to escort their vaccine across the country. And their not gonna give them one last moment. It’s kinda hard to side with the Fireflies. I wasn’t surprised that a fight started lol. They were really pushing it.

[@jonathanross149]

I have heard that non-mothers are split fairly even on Joel killing everyone to get to Ellie. Mothers are fairly unanimous no being on Joel's side.

[@ambybambiboo]

Honestly that makes sense. Most parents will do anything to protect their child. I don't think you can fully understand that mindset until you become a parent.

[@melissahuffman8482]

God episode! I’m glad he saved her from the butchers!

[@Adamantium08]

Omg you’re the aunt from evil dead rise😮

[@ambybambiboo]

You're the 2nd person who has said that 😂

[@DavidB-2268]

Regardless of whether or not they could've actually produced a cure or vaccine, they wouldn't have the facilities to mass produce it, or to distribute it around the world. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[@ambybambiboo]

That's true. I don't even know how you would go about doing that in this world.

[@swanson]

"And what would she decide? Because I think she would want to do what's right." *Joel realizes this is correct and his face melts. Marlene notices.* "...and YOU KNOW IT." I've noticed that reactors that are 100% on Joel's side usually seem to leave this part out of their reaction, which fascinates me.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Please cite evidence from the series that she'd agree to having her brain cut up. I note that Marlene could endure Ellie's death with great fortitude, coolly explaining the ethical equation to Joel. Her own death? Not so much, pleading for the mercy she hadn't shown to Ellie.

[@Martyntd5]

They didn't give Ellie a choice, because she didn't have a choice. If you are going to balance 1 life against humanity, then there is no point torturing that life with a choice it doesn't have. Not telling her was the kindest thing to do, because they were going to cut her brain out whether she agreed or not. Joels actions were selfish. He sacrificed all of humanity for his own needs. He was wrong, there is no doubt about that. Considering all of that, in my mind there is no dilemma, I would have done exactly the same thing as Joel. It's too much to put on someone. Humanity cant justify it, even for the sake of humanity. If you think otherwise, then where would you draw the line? How many children would you kill in exchange for a cure for cancer? Killing people for the benefit of others, is not a price humanity can ever consider just. It is now and always will be wrong.

[@ambybambiboo]

On top of that there was no guarantee it would even work so they would be killing a child based off of a hunch.

[@carliemccoy7659]

Yes people keep forgetting the fact 2 scientists said there was no vaccine no cure and Marlene lied to ellie too

[@carliemccoy7659]

And Marlene said maybe a cure

[@carliemccoy7659]

Joel lied to ellie so ellie wouldn't feel guilty she's only 14 the wait of the world should not be on ellie shoulders

[@ambybambiboo]

Yep. No guarantee it would work. Why kill a child unless you were 100% sure.

[@SidPhoenix2211]

way to completely misunderstand what the point of those flashbacks is. They were scientists from 1968 and 2003, saying that at this moment... there is no cure for cordyceps. The point of the scenes is to establish the severity of this fungus. Now, new discoveries that change previously held beliefs happens all the time in science. It is constantly evolving. Ellie's immunity is a crazy OUTLIER. A miracle. That is something that NO ONE ever had on their side. That is why she is so important. the doctors can work with her immunity, and the previously done research on cordyceps, to possibly make a cure. Ellie's immunity is what makes this seemingly imposisble task possible. Those flashbacks don't exist to say that "In this fictional story with fungus zombies where we play fast & loose with science.... there is absolutely no way to cure this disease".

[@brandonflorida1092]

Joel was not "trying to do a good thing by doing a bad thing." People in the act of murdering a child are hardly innocent.

[@wuastwais]

❤

[@bernanrdlazzar4560]

🦒

[@TweezerShred]

You are so beautiful

[@ambybambiboo]

Thank you

[@Dark__Thoughts]

You misunderstand. The operation would've killed her. They wanted to extract the entire specimen. It's the trolley problem, but on an even larger scale with billions of peoples life at stake and the Fireflies whole point was to restore society. And yes, Ellie would've absolutely done it. Riley left her with intense survivors guilt, which just got even worse on their journey when Tess, Henry & Sam died. All the bad in this world is like this because of the infected, and Ellie was the answer to that. It literally became her whole identity, and Joel took that away from her. And funny how it is wrong to sacrifice one for billions without their consent, but mindlessly murdering so many people seems to be not just fine but even encouraged. See you all in season 2, especially the Joel apologists. 🏌

[@slaen1500]

Really? The golf club? Cmon

[@Dark__Thoughts]

@@slaen1500 You don't like golf?

[@slaen1500]

@@Dark__Thoughts Love golf. But I know what you meant. lol

[@SidPhoenix2211]

I am absolutely a Joel apologist lol. In the sense that I 100% get why he does what he does, and I side with him. I just don't pretend what he does is particularly nice or even good. I don't demonize the Fireflies and fully get where they are coming from. I also understand what they are trying to do is a net good. And I also understand that Ellie would've probably wanted to sacrifice herself (regardless of whether it is fair or unfair to put all that weight on a child) All that being said... I am still on Joel's side. I just don't like to rationalize like a lot of people do. Cuz that is so not the point of the dilemma. But yeah, I come down to "I can 100% see all sides and understand that these are flawed people making the decisions they think are best in messed up situation. But I ultimately care for and side with Joel & Ellie the most" lol Looking forward to S02 and S03. AND TLOU3!!

[@trashcaninc.292]

i bet the doctor liked golf