The Last of Us - Season 1 Eps 9 Reaction

[@badandymk3]

If I had a nickel for every time I've watched Pedro Pascal fight his way through a heavily guarded compound to rescue his adopted child from a lethal medical procedure, I'd have two nickels. That's not a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice.

[@bryanfoster362]

Also, if I had a nickel for every time Pedro got incapacitated and his kid had to rescue him, I’d have two nickels, just this past week 🤣

[@deathking1019]

when next season comes out If I had a nickel every time I watch Pedro get his skull crushed i’ll have two nickels. It’s not a lot but weird it happened twice

[@darnpotato]

@@deathking1019 I'd gladly return that money to get the whole-skulled Pedro

[@madelinegarber7860]

Same! I thought of that too.

[@bmaster5324]

@@deathking1019 I honestly don't think they'll do that next season. Pedro Pascal has too much star power.

[@thane9]

"It wasn't time that did it" This show has some incredibly powerful lines. And these two are delivering them in ways that really hit.

[@tylerbrown5526]

The way they cut Joel's tear through the hospital was so good. Really got a good sense of him dissociating and how terrible/sad it was.

[@Tobius211x]

Fun fact: Hard to notice since she had a mask on but one of the nurses operating on Ellie was actually Laura Bailey

[@TheMaskedChef7]

Oh!! I didn’t know that thanks for the info

[@binder38us]

Craig Maizan said Laura Bailey jumped at the role and took a selfie over the "dead" doctor's bloody body with caption: MY DADDY

[@zwil2213]

@@binder38us 😂😂

[@robdilauro4344]

Oh shit, that's right she voiced Abby. That's something.

[@TimmyJEuchida]

She was the nurse directly behind Ellie

[@BipolarBLKSheep]

My name is Bryan, and I just have to say I've quite enjoyed all of the jokes at my expense throughout this series.

[@bryanwilson4386]

Me too! And may I say that we Kansas City Bryans are indeed a very popular bunch; highly in demand! 😀

[@samhachmeister9876]

Alright, who cast Speak With Dead?

[@sakurap95]

4:20 I just realized Anna lied to protect Ellie and Joel did the same. Both giving that same stare down.

[@grantgardiner]

It's insane how good this story was done on screen. It began with Sarah's death on Joel's birthday. We end the season with Ellie's Mother dying on Ellie's birthday. This was a beautiful story of love and family. So glad to watch your reactions to it all.

[@dlweiss]

Your perfectly-synchronized reactions at 8:57 was so adorable and delightful. :)

[@yodaguru]

That moment at the abandoned military hospital where Joel confessed to Ellie he wanted to end his life was heartbreaking. But when he told Ellie he saved her and the way they both looked at each other you know you wanted both of them to hug.

[@adamcarlson2192]

Man, Adam being so protective of Jay during emotional moments just shows me that I've chosen my subscription well.

[@SarahLandry577]

And visa versa on other videos. Love these guys 💜

[@Christrulesall2]

Adam wouldnt survive without jay during these shows and movies.

[@christajeanne1427]

The delight on Jay's face with the giraffe🥺....

[@austinpena5605]

The synchronized head turn. I love these two

[@tristynyoung_]

Just wanted to say that you both are my favorite to watch reactions, one because I love that you both never shy away from emotions! Two that you both genuinely care for each other and it’s so incredible to watch! Big fan of you both!

[@SimsinWonderland]

“She’s not upset with him she’s just…” traumatised at life altering levels

[@jakewalker7078]

Seeing Adam fight the urge to say “SWEAR TO MEEE” has me rolling

[@pReviewd]

You caught me 😁

[@zacharyjackson1829]

yeah it was pretty funny, his face was like a loading screen LOL

[@matmek]

​@@pReviewd, yeah, really funny. You are such normies. In the worst sense possible.

[@Cifer77]

I don't think Joel wasn't necessarily thinking about losing another daughter, or thinking about himself. He simply had to protect Ellie at all costs, and they were going to kill her. His rampage through the hospital wasn't calculated thought, it was parental instinct.

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

I think the Marlene scene shows that, horrifically, he was making an active choice that caused him to hesitate.

[@ayt3877]

@@mr.stuffdoer8483 i think its both, in the hospital its seems like he is on automatic mode, the fireflies are not even people just obstacles he has to go through to get to Ellie. Then he reaches the elevator and Marlene shows up and idk at least for me it feels like its when the switch flips and the reality of his choice starts to seep in, but instead of allowing himself to have doubts, he just doubles down on them

[@crimsonghoul8983]

​@@ayt3877 Ellie is his second chance in life. He got his humanity back by the end of this series.

[@simmysims2923]

Marlene may have THOUGHT Ellie would have decided to do it, but she couldn't take the chance she would say no. So that's really why she doesn't tell her.

[@kiwigirljacks]

And regardless, a 14 year old child isn’t mentally or emotionally mature enough to even give consent. Joel has been a parent, he knows this.

[@senhowler]

And Joel couldn't take the chance that she would say yes, so that's why he lied.

[@blurrylinesx8039]

​@@senhowler Correct, which is why they were both wrong. It all boils down to Ellie being a child and therefore, the adults should've handled the situation better. But the fireflies were desperate, which triggered Joel and everyone lost, including Ellie who wouldn't have a say in what happened to her life regardless of Joel saving her or not

[@drewwar9344]

@@blurrylinesx8039 I like playing both sides of the coin... This is the Apocalypse and this girl could potentially be the cure Even if there's a 1% possibility of it working They should have done it With or without Ellie's knowledge is not important What's important is fixing the entire world Ellie's consent doesn't matter especially the moment she is brought into the hospital Because it's no longer her life it's everybody's life If you're the cure to stop the Apocalypse what you want no longer matters

[@blurrylinesx8039]

@Drew war Dismissing the immorality of murdering an innocent child for "the greater good" it's a quick route to become fascist pricks just like fedra and Kathleen's group! I'm not saying that it shouldn't be considered if it's the only way to save everyone else, but the bare minimum you can do is treat said child with respect and dignity and let her know what is the cost of her life. And if just disregarding the importance of that one life it's the way you'll go about things to restore humanity, well then maybe humanity should go fuck itself, respectfully

[@Rigomortis84]

When Joel says "I do" it's his Murder Mode activating 😂

[@wendigowatermelon6735]

Jay using his baby soothing voice is one of the most wholesome things I've seen in a long time 💙

[@QuatrinaVR]

Dammit this is why we needed MORE of Din’s face in Mando. Pedro is doing a great job!

[@BewareTheJabberwock]

The giraffe was real, and they had to train it to walk up to a green screen type of landing to take the food from Bella. 🦒❤️

[@McAir12]

As a fairly new dad, the first scene in this episode was brutal for me to watch.

[@LancerJak]

Congratz and Anna holding a switchblade to her neck when she turned while she was singing to comfort Ellie will haunt me for the rest of my life.

[@Neurodivergent-j1f]

Congratulations to you, good sir!

[@williammccormick984]

You're not the first father. Calm down.

[@McAir12]

@@williammccormick984 what? I never said I was.

[@esdren7424]

​@McAir12 you're good bro. Hes just being a douche. Shit hits a little different when you have a mini human in your arms

[@dddd1344]

Loved your EXTREMELY intuitive comment about trusting your audience! One beauty of the story is that the objective was never resolution or finding the right solution, it’s challenging the intelligent audience to consider. Can’t remember the last time I spent this long examining how I would respond in a mortally ambiguous situation. This confusion was always the goal for Neil and Craig.

[@jedsterdfw]

Marlene not telling Ellie that she wouldn't survive smacks of the FEDRA agent in ep 1 telling the kid that they'd just get a shot and then they could have their favorite food.

[@HeWhoIsNamedPatrick]

When the music changed as soon as he pulled out Ellie’s knife was one of the most goosebumps inducing scenes I’ve ever watched. He was walking through the hospital halls being a bad man like the Terminator in the police station. This was top 5 series already and we still got more coming. Word is they will be changing the plot because they was pascal in it as long as possible.

[@hannahizawesomeful]

I don’t know if Joel could have even lived with it even if Ellie did make an informed decision to go through with the procedure

[@jovalin5939]

Considering their conversation at the field hospital, he'd have likely committed suicide. It'd be losing Sarah all over again.

[@chelsearoses22]

​@Jovalin I hate that thought so much and it really does pain me. But you're most definitely right. Man it hurts

[@demcurvs]

She made it pretty clear she wanted it to work to make everything she went through mean something.

[@LovedByYou]

It wasn’t up to him

[@SimsinWonderland]

@@oriandthesleepytime I feel the same way. I see a lot of people saying he’d accept it and I don’t get it

[@fxbear]

In case anyone is interested, the giraffes name is Nabo and he's from Alberta, Canada, where some of the production for the show took place.

[@rebellyanmagic6409]

13:00 My man really saw a dude with a shotgun and thought picking up a scalpel would do something

[@chainreactions5807]

You guys are hilarious with coining the term "Brian'd." Now I picture a situation where they have to use deadly force and Ellie looks at Joel and says, "Brian?" And Joel replies "yeah...Brian." and they ready their weapons lol

[@rumham7466]

I would be SO absolutely over the moon excited to see a giraffe lol. especially in an apocalypse. I’m appreciating Jay’s giraffe enthusiasm 😅

[@RaphGirl]

You can feed the Giraffes at Hogle Zoo (the zoo in Salt Lake City) and several other zoos in the world. Hogle's feeding station is my fave one tho.

[@edwinpoole257]

"let the Brains hit the floor" was SO funny I died.

[@TheGameOverture]

The extra context with Marlene knowing about Ellie's possible immunity origins is no different then the extra context they've been adding for the Bill/Frank relationship and Sam saga. Definitely would have been interesting to use in the game though. I like it a lot.

[@debramiller8071]

Joel went full Terminator in the police station mode.

[@misterderp4566]

Those were real giraffes from the Calgary Zoo -- trust me, it gets REAL cold here, but the giraffes do okay.

[@abeljuarez]

Ellie said she wanted to follow Joel after it was done, so it’s not for sure she was willing to give her life.

[@kiwigirljacks]

Yes! And she’s not old enough to consent anyway. It’s not a choice she should be allowed to make for a few years.

[@senhowler]

Ellie definitely would have consented. The idea of being able to save people like Sam and Riley was what she was living for.

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

@@kiwigirljacks unfortunately this is not about whether or not she should do some dangerous procedure that she has time to decide on. Every day people are going to continue dying to infected and those who are desperate to survive. Ellie could stop all that, but doing it in several years means a lot of people who could’ve been saved, weren’t.

[@bertinamiller9626]

There is also that she wasn't in the best mindset to make that choice that may not have actually helped anyone; it was a hypothesis by the doctor. Great reaction.

[@pennybleta9721]

Exactly this.

[@katiebentley5921]

100%. The fact that she used all that they’ve been through and everything she’s done to justify continuing to move forward shows that her decision would absolutely be driven by her current compromised emotional state. She needed time. She needed to be given space, and a chance at some modicum of healing, before then being given the agency to make her own informed decision on how to move forward.

[@tempsim9192]

Also how on earth is anyone,let alone an emotionally compromised 14 year old, expected to respond to that choice?

[@TheMaskedChef7]

I genuinely can’t pick a favorite episode just because I feel it was the journey itself and how every episode added another level of excitement and emotion. Can’t wait to see all the awards they win.

[@She.Who.Remains]

Papa Jay having ALL of the emotions for the baby Ellie episode 🙌🏽

[@AL-fl4jk]

I love that it takes everyone a second to realize what Joel means when he says “it wasn’t time that did it” and then it hits like a brick to the face

[@erikaiverson4122]

Neither of them had a chance to say goodbye.

[@mariac9914]

I just want to thank you both Adam and Jay for your reaction videos, especially the past 9 weeks of this season. It's been great being able to watch The Last of Us come to life on screen but even more amazing that you guys give such insightful, fun and emotional videos along with it too!

[@caperion]

Give Pedro a dustpan, cause he's about to CLEAN HOUSE! Been waiting for your episode all day long. :)

[@stormnation8910]

Hey! Wait a minute. Ellie’s mom is the waitress that was rescued by captain America in the first Avengers movie. 😂😂😂

[@cfinley81]

When Joel says, "Please....you don't understand.." with the shakiness in his voice pretty much states that he's giving her one last chance before he pops off. He annihilated lesser men for just hunting Ellie. Now, they just declared war and he's the entire MF army!

[@colefonseca1030]

6:50 The way Jay’s face lit up 😂😊

[@kurtsmith9564]

I had ask myself the same question about how she saw it, but as he sees her running through, you can actually see the silhouette of a giraffe on the other side of the plastic that's on the window. I want to add that this was a great season finale. I love that it did not end on some cliffhanger. This journey over these weeks. Watching the show and watching your guys's reaction has just been par none. I know people are going to argue that Joe became a villain at the end when he shot the doctor and rescued Ellie, however, this is what an anti-hero does. But I do believe that the way she was acting before they got captured shows that she may have known that she was not going to survive. And I don't know if she believes him or not at the end when she asks him to swear that he was the truth. Because you know when you're dealing with a loved one and you know they're lying, you want to sit there and reassure them that you believe them. Hoping that the truth will come out

[@Cheesehead_Caleb]

Ashley Johnson cameoing as Ellie's mom is amazing

[@dddd1344]

Note to self, never bring a scalpel to a gun fight.

[@Drako7077]

12:01 To keep him alive for questioning Adam! Jeez 🤣🤣🤣

[@eddiegreencheez]

Never thought I'd geek out over a voice, it was great

[@DanReyesB]

The giraffe in the close-up shot with Ellie was indeed real

[@Debraka]

It wasn't even the lack of explanation to her that was the issue. They weren't even 100% positive their plan would even work. Marlene kept saying "He thinks...", which is not enough to kill her over. And that's not taking into account that they were willing to kill their only immune subject, harvest a finite amount of material to use to test and perform trials...on something that wasn't a 100% certainty, only to not have the immune subject for any future ideas or tests. THAT would have made everything they had gone through for nothing. #Joelwasright

[@stevemcgowen]

Would a cure have made a difference? Would raiders, FEDRA, cultists, cannibals suddenly become normal if there were a cure made by a fringe group? How many would even have access to the cure, or even take it? My guess is Fireflies would have keep the cure for themselves, if they were somehow able to do the impossible and make a cure. Nothing would have changed in this world...

[@c4credit]

It's funny how you mentioned the 2nd game needing time to breathe, because as someone who never played the games, that's how I felt about this episode. It went by so fast. You're having these heartfelt moments and then it's just FLASHBANG-SURGERY-MAYHEM-LIE-DONE. I could have used a moment to take in the hospital scene and understand where I was emotionally. I assume the game gives more time as you probably play Joel doing some of this. Maybe more time with Ellie on the trip back. I'll have to play the game and see if the combination of the two mediums together will improve the experience for me.

[@QOTCPcf]

Yeah, I got the same vibe. I knew about the ending ahead of time, but this just felt like it went by way to fast. I didn't play the game tho, so I wondered if it made more time-sense in the game? Curious to see if there will be deleted scenes posted anywhere, too.

[@MavenCree]

This episode is the most accurate to to the game, from the ladder to the giraffe's to the minivan. To the: "Okay." Spot on.

[@laurencaulton103]

The giraffe scene looks like the dinosaur-feeding scene in Jurassic Park. A nice moment before the brutality returns.

[@RaphGirl]

They even made it seem like the Giraffes made noises like dinosaurs too. They don't. They make a low sounding humm that's barely audible to human ears. Still it was a scene every fan of the game had been looking forward to the entire season.

[@thedarkknight2221]

Ellie: So time heals all wounds does it? Joel: It wasn’t time that did it….. 😭😭😭😭😭 I played this game 10 years ago and to this day it is one of the single greatest stories ever told. I remember debating with other gamers for over a year about if Joel made the right decision or not. The question of “You have a chance to save the world but the cost is that you lose the person you love the most in the world after already suffering that pain before”. The answer, the REAL answer, is that both Joel and Marlene made the wrong decision, because that decision should’ve been Ellie’s to make. In the Last Of Us (GAME) podcast Neil Druckman talks about how Joel and Marlene had no right to take that choice away from Ellie. She would’ve said yes, and then Joel would have no choice but to respect her wish. She wanted the deaths of all the people she had lost, Riley, Tess, Henry and Sam, to mean something. Even if it cost her her life. And even though a small part of her knows in her heart that Joel was lying to her she feels that she can’t let herself believe that the only person she loves in the world took away her chance to save the world. Also I love that Ashley Johnson got to play Ellie’s mom Anna. It was a beautiful full circle moment that the woman who gave birth to Ellie in the games also literally gave birth to her in the show. And Lauren Bailey who plays Abby in Part 2 plays one of the nurses in the OR. And it sucks that even though we have to wait a couple more years for season 2, it will be worth the wait! Until then, Endure And Survive!

[@BewareTheJabberwock]

Someone put it perfectly in a different reaction. “Joel chose not to save the world. Joel chose to save *HIS* world. 🥺

[@senhowler]

Except he didn't. Joel destroyed Ellie worse than the operation would have.

[@tylerchambers6246]

@@senhowler Nope. Nothing is more destroyed than literally being dead.

[@senhowler]

@@tylerchambers6246 Tell that to everyone who ever sacrificed their life for another person or a cause.

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

@@tylerchambers6246 tell that to survivors of war and those with suicidal tendencies.

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

@@senhowler exactly. It’s not just “he chose not to save the world.” HE CHOSE TO DOOM IT, and decided Ellie should be forced to live in that doom she could have prevented. I love Ellie, but she does not deserve a life where she hates herself and was horrifically lied to by the one person who was there for her. If she was presented with the choices of: - Save the world, but you die and Joel kills himself Or - Experience everything she goes through in part 2 in a doomed world I don’t think anyone would choose the latter

[@majormajormajortom]

You're 100% right, I feel. This episode was really about choices, being allowed to make a choice, or being denied so and subject others' decisions or circumstances. Everyone in this episode was essentially forced to make a choice, or had the choices made for them. Even if Ellie would have agreed with Marlene, she wasn't given a choice; Joel denied her a choice too. For Joel, saving Ellie wasn't a choice, it's something that he just had to do, there was no choosing involved, even if that means sacrificing (his) humanity. Even Marlene and Anna, neither of them really had choices in the beginning... But, I think that the final shot finally shows us Ellie being able to make a choice too, choosing to believe Joel despite her suspicions.

[@elheber]

What Ellie would have chosen is the wrong question. She clearly would have chosen to give her life up. The right question was, is she mentally in the right place to make this decision? The show made it very clear she was suffering from trauma and guilt. Joel recognized it in her because he had been through it when he himself was ready to die, and eventually past it when he found something worth fighting for. Ellie deserved having something worth living for before getting this type of choice pushed on her. Joel was just buying her some time to find it.

[@nkyende]

I died when Jay said let the Brians hit the floor😂😂

[@NoNanoGM]

fedra: "the fireflies are a terrorist organization they are very dangerous we have being fighting them for years now and we just can't wim" joel: "so those young punks took my baby girl..."

[@madelinegarber7860]

I forgot Jay’s an expecting father which made that first scene hit even harder. It’s the lie that broke their relationship and Ellie like you said. I don’t blame Joel or Ellie for how they reacted. He took the choice from her and young or not, she would’ve wanted a say. If he had to lie he should’ve given her some time to heal, then told her the truth on his own rather than how she found out. She would’ve still been upset and there would’ve still been some damage, but I think it would’ve been less or not lasted as long since he would’ve told her voluntarily.

[@sherank244]

The moment we’ve all been waiting for 😢 I’m sad it’s over for now but can’t wait for season 2

[@mantra4ia]

I'm honestly not sure if this show version of Ellie would have made the choice to give up her life for a cure. I can feel the survivor guilt coming off of her. It's palpable. And even though she plays it off like "people suck, don't trust them" -which she has every right to think in a post-apocalyptic world and with all the trauma she's been through-she has a genuine empathy for peoples' struggles and wants to help. It's Joel that has to constantly drill the skepticism into her. That part of her would give her life for others. But seeing how angry she got when she was bitten, like her life was just starting to matter to her, and knowing that she chose life after she was bitten even if it was only hours with the person she cared about, and seeing how hard she fought to prolong Joel's life when he was dying, even if it was only moment to moment, speaks to her vitality and need to survive. Knowing what she knows about Joel now, not just that she depends on him to survive but that he depends on her and she's fueled by that drive to help him specifically, and the fact that she said "when this is over I'll follow you anywhere" makes me think she wouldn't give up on living so easily with Joel in the equation. I'm a conflicted current of emotion.

[@kiwigirljacks]

And regardless of if she would have agreed to do it… she shouldn’t have to make that choice. No 14 year old child is emotionally or mentally mature enough to make those kind of decisions. A child cannot consent! That’s why parents legally have to make medical decisions. Joel has been a parent so he’s fully aware of this.

[@jasonmarbach]

I’ve been wondering all day if y’all would clock that Laura Bailey is reprising her role from the first game as one of the nurses, too 😊

[@Pyrochase]

Ashley Johnson as Ellie's Mom was a nice nod to her voice work as Ellie in the games. Cool that they added her in.

[@100Companions]

Im adding "Let the Bryans hit the floor" to my get psyched mix

[@cerberus01]

"They're the weirdest creatures, but they are so beautiful."....yeah, Joel and Ellie's relationship has blossomed

[@TheMaskedChef7]

Ellie didn’t even know they drugged her so she definitely didn’t know what they were going to do and she probably would have accepted her fate if they were honest and gave her a choice at least to say goodbye to Joel! I have a hard time judging Joel for the killings, it did feel like the only way out.

[@madelinegarber7860]

Same yo. And she’s only 14. They should’ve both been told and allowed to talk or at least to say goodbye.

[@kurtsmith9564]

I completely agree that if they had told her what it involved she would have made that decision. I got the feeling that her somber mood prior to them being captured has something to do that. Maybe she was coming to realization. However, when they take that decision away from her and then Marlene tells Joel it's not his choice, she's being a hypocrite because she never gave Ellie the choice

[@punkrockpollyanna7829]

@@kurtsmith9564 her somber mood was her disassociating in order to halfway function with all of the trauma she endured and what she did to survive it last episode. Last episode was soul shredding for Ellie. I agree with everything else you said for sure 👍✌

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

Marlene could’ve handled the situation better, yes, but I feel people are way too fucking light on Joel. These people are literally trying to prevent the human race from going extinct. And he’s killing them because it would take the life of a single child. I love Ellie. But that vaccine is more important. Part 2 only proves me right. What the fuck do either of them gain by Joel sacrificing the world?

[@vpxtrailers9395]

She lied to Marlene so Marlene didn’t know she was immune until she got bit and didn’t turn.

[@BoneTheory]

Thank you SO MUCH for bringing up how they didn’t ask Ellie for her consent/permission to do the surgery. Had they done that she would have agreed wholeheartedly. But they didn’t. They took that choice away from her so Joel made the decision for all of them. Team Joel!

[@LeftyConspirator]

I think it might have been hard for Ellie to make a truly informed choice in that situation. We already know that she is the sort of person who blames herself when people around her get hurt, and it seems to me that Marlene was using that to sell the idea that Ellie's purpose in life was to become the cure - to give herself up to save everyone and make amends to the people she felt she had failed. "Was Riley a terrorist?" That exchange just comes across a lot more manipulative in hindsight. And also, I think the Fireflies didn't know what they were doing. They didn't have nearly the know-how and equipment available to them to do what they wanted to do.

[@Michelle-DiPalo]

I think she would have. When Joel gave her the option to turn around and go back to Tommy's, she did stop for a moment, but ultimately decided to move forward. Granted at that time, she didn't realize that she'd be giving up her life, but she still would've been able to make a choice. I think the Fireflies purposely took the choice away from her, because as Marlene told Joel, they felt like this was the only option and they were taking it no matter what.

[@ProperlyGaming]

​​@@Michelle-DiPalo exactly, there was no option for ellie, they took that from her..... so joel took their life from them.

[@LeftyConspirator]

​@@Michelle-DiPalo She probably would have. The issue I have it is that I fear Ellie would be manipulated into it out of survivor's guilt and a sense of duty to the people she believes died because of her. I mean, she is super cool and stuff, but she is still just 14. 15 on the outside.

[@QOTCPcf]

Strong agree on the Fireflies not knowing what the heck they're doing. If Marlene had the info about the umbilical cord, they could have *started* by mixing stem cells with the fungus to see what happened, or if it's a brain thing there are (painful but not lethal) ways of sampling fluid from a person's nervous system, instead of going straight to "lets kill the only potential vaccine donor." Otoh if the answer on this show turned out to be Stem Cells, certain right wing groups might burn HBO to the ground -___-'

[@LeftyConspirator]

@@QOTCPcf 100% they would.

[@agentsculder2451]

I found it interesting that Marlene indicated that a cure/vaccine wasn't a sure thing. That fact, plus the lack of informed consent makes Joel's actions very understandable. He's not about to lose his daughter for something that isn't a sure thing.

[@ShyGuy1347]

It's very much the trolley problem, but with actual emotions and people behind it. Joel chose to definitely save one, at the cost of potential thousands, Marlene chose to sacrifice one for potential thousands.

[@elbruces]

It's impossible for them to know it's a sure thing in advance. Science doesn't work like that.

[@stevemcgowen]

I don't think a cure would have mattered. People are the biggest problem, not mushroom people...

[@kvoltti]

There's also the fact that a good researcher wouldn't kill Ellie. If she's the only source of the modified fungus then you would take samples from her to figure out exactly why it works. Chopping out her brain makes as much sense as Ellie becoming blood brothers with Henry. Bad bad science.

[@stevemcgowen]

@@kvoltti They had 1 doctor and 2 nurses in a bombed out hospital. They weren't making a cure, when governments all over the world couldn't do it....

[@mattdrahos2662]

This is a great example of the classic "Trolley Car" problem, with incredible implications. Bravo Naughty Dog and the HBO adaptation team. I still don't know what I would choose.

[@interstellargreenbean]

I appreciate Adam's little facial acknowledgment when they held the shot on the dead doctor.

[@zfaulhab]

Speaking of TLOU2.. Go back to around 32:33 in the show and tell me you saw the one person that Joel didnt actually kill getting away was also the only one completely in the shadows so you couldnt see their face and the only one with backpack and a long single braid.... 👀🤔

[@Cheesemood578]

Oh man I didn't expect to watch Jay break like that so fast. Aww *hugs*

[@Ongargis]

Joel is the true Mario. Seeing him in the hospital proves he can handle the power of a star.

[@kcmet79]

little known fact: the song ellie's mom was singing to her after the opening credits n before marlene 'n co reached her was "the sun always shines on TV" by A-ha... their other well-known release in America. GREAT tune if not as popular as Take on me.

[@joncarpenter-smith9801]

Saw a theory that the girl who escapes in the corridor could be a certain Part 2 character. She is in shadow so you can’t see any specific actor and she has braided hair. Could be a coincidence but who knows especially with Laura Bailey playing one of the nurses

[@bevssabado3460]

yeah the giraffe, real. Yah guys gotta watch the making too, it's awesome. Like a full episode with the sets to costumes to music

[@stephensigler3599]

Did they just reference Mystery Science Theater 3000 in their opening? Well played

[@Applebliss99]

Marlene/the fireflies not giving Ellie a choice/explaining the situation to her was their fatal mistake. Both in the game and in the show, they were unwilling to risk the possibility of her saying no. With the added context of Marlene/Anna's backstory, I also think it's fair to say that Marlene couldn't face Ellie. It would have been too painful to face her and know she was breaking her promise to Anna.

[@greigclement9081]

Marlene: "We lost half our crew getting here..." Some of them ended up as chow for David's little community I'm guessing

[@farin71]

Again a Great Reaction ! Youre two Guys are show us so real Emotions , thank you guys for this

[@MrDagonOfTheDead]

I love the musicc ONLY during hopeful/ promise scenes. And leaving the bad stuff quite so we can hear EVERYTHING😊😊😊

[@zetta8277]

Honestly everything would have been solved had they just let Ellie and Joel talk one last time. I don't blame Joel for doing what he did one bit.

[@kiwigirljacks]

It may have been solved, but it would not have been right to even allow Ellie to make that choice. Because a 14 year old child cannot consent to medical procedures because they are not mentally or emotionally mature enough to do so, especially one who has been through so much trauma. Which is why parents are legally required to make those decisions. Joel has been a parent. He knows this. Ellie likely would have said yes because she’s selfless and been told she’s the only hope. But she should be given a couple of years before deciding, until she’s old enough to do so. They’ve lived in this world for 20 years, a few more wouldn’t be a stretch.

[@blue-phoenix115]

Marlene definitely has no idea Ellie is immune till Episode 1. The question is whether Marlene was able to connect the dots after finding out.

[@grimmwerks]

There's a part of me that wonders what would've happened if he said "I can't swear..." and then explains to her WHY he did what he did. She might reject him there, perhaps but I think she'd finally realize that there's someone that actually loves her more than the entire world and she'd come around, instead of having this sort of "you lied to me" feeling festering in her as they go on.

[@primordial994]

Ashley Johnson is the voice of Ellie from the videogames, all the main actors and actresses are present throughout the show, even laura bailey who plays one of the nurses at the end.

[@adamgilbreath6565]

The Ashey Johnson effect everyone. Ashley screams we all cry.

[@Rofaxin]

I think given all the trauma and guilt Ellie shouldering at 14, she would NOT be able to make an informed decision. That is beyond the scope of a child.

[@micahhill7503]

I assumed because Ashley does the voice of Pike one of you guys would have said "hey buddies" when she first sees Ellie

[@Mishlof]

I have enjoyed watching this season with you guys. Amazing and heartfelt reactions. Keep up the great work!

[@BlessMyHart96]

The shared sigh and head turn at 8:58 sent me

[@StupendousMan.]

still cant believe i didnt catch that laura bailey was one of the nurses..... abby was in the room.....

[@mikedevereux8577]

Glad your review finally arrived! You guys, brilliant reaction, brilliant episode, brilliant series. Never played the game so it's all new for me!! Bring on S2. 🙏🏼

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

That is indeed the freshest baby I have ever seen on film or television. Usually when they shoot a scene with a newbourn you can see right away that the baby is at least 3 months old. This one looks like it's just been delivered 3 days ago. And I have a theory, why Joel's actions feel more heavy in the show than in the game: a) In the game the player gets to do it themselves, because you play Joel the entire time. You are not simply a "neutral" observer. So while you have no agency to decide otherwise you walk in his shoes the entire time. b) The show keeps the shooting action to a minumum up until that point and then suddenly we get to see it all. In the game the shootout is just another Monday.

[@roguefenixC55]

Neil Druckmann said when they tested the game, players overall were split 50/50 on Joel's decision, but 100% of players who were parents said Joel made the right decision (WITHOUT exception). He emphasized that not a single parent who tested the game said Joel was wrong. It's all about perspective and that is exactly what he wanted to illustrate with the game. It's about love and the power of love (both good and bad). It was about showing both the amazing and horrible things that people do in the name of love. I was single when I played the game, I was a parent when I watched the show, and my opinion completely changed. I would burn the world down to save my son.

[@alexathena568]

Cheers to another great show/season reviewed by you guys! 🎉 Sad it’s over so soon! If I had one critique for the show, it would be that they should have added at least one more episode. I LOVED the Bill & Frank episode (one of the best episodes of tv I’ve seen in a long time) BUT if they wanted to use a whole episode for them, they should have added one more episode between 8 and 9. I’ve played the games, so I knew what was coming, but my friends haven’t and they thought the ending was a little rushed. Would have loved one more episode of Joel and Ellie to make his decision even more impactful.