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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 456 | The Last of Us (HBO) Review Discussion and Spoilercast (Season 2, Episode 6) (Patreon)

Published:
2025-05-19 23:18:09
Edited:
2025-05-22 17:30:03
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

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We've arrived at the penultimate episode of The Last of Us' second season on HBO, and with Neil Druckmann himself in the director's chair, this could potentially be the strongest showing yet for season two. Telling the story via a series of Ellie birthdays is clever, and getting some truly emotional beats in the mix is very welcome. We even got to meet Joel's and Tommy's father, all the way back in 1983, perhaps one of the coolest non-game moments in any episode so far. Let's not belabor this any further; we liked this episode a lot, and we suspect you did, too. So let's discuss.

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Comments

A Hind D

Loved this episode

Deemac

Great episode, they really nailed the flashbacks. I know some people don't like how they moved the porch scene to here, but tbh it's probably for the best for this adaptation - you get the full impact of it in what will be Ellie's season of the TV show. In the game, that scene was the perfect ending imo - but with rumours that the 2nd game could potentially be stretched into 3 seasons (2 at least obviously), it wouldn't make as much sense to the TV audience to not show that scene for several more years. Definitely didn't expect a flashback to a young Tommy and Joel, but I loved that. It really tied together Joel's desire to do right by his kid. Also Tony Dalton was just perfect casting for Joel's father, him and Pedro Pascal could play brothers in some other movie. He's another actor who will be appearing in Intergalactic too

Clay Moore

Hey Colin! Have you never climbed the T rex in The Last of Us Part 2? It’s awesome!

Soulful Bison

Colin shall never know the forbidden pleasures of RC Cola and a Moon Pie

StewDog

This episode made me cry. Twice. So freaking good

Beef Burka

I don't like it moved here and I don't like Ellie finding out Joel killed the Fireflies all of 2 minutes before she said "I'd like to try" I think the whole Eugene scenario to make her doubt him was pretty ridiculous.

Father Zachary Hale Cumsock

Being pissed at Ellie for telling Gail the truth is really the most american take lmao. She didn't say it to punish Joel or to be cruel but because she felt that Gail deserved to know the truth. And it's not cruel to the widow to tell her the truth, either. At that point just don't say anything if it's understood that you're gonna lie anyways. I don't know how anyone's supposed to be able to trust what the other is saying in such a situation if you're justifying lying like this

Shawn

Spot on

Shawn

She didn’t “find out” she knew. The difference between the game and the series is in the game she has suspicion in the series she knows he’s lying and it’s confirmed that he’s lying when the events with Eugene happened. Elle has 9 months to sit on those feelings at this point. It makes sense that he confirms what she already knows and she’s less upset because she’s already been dealing with the anger for months now and he was able to explain that he did it because of how much he loved her. It works very well here in the series. The game is my favorite game of all time and I’ve been critical of this season but this episode was perfect for me.

Shawn

Best episode not only of the season but of the entire series for me. 10/10. Neil just knows how to write his characters better than anyone else. Pedro and Bella knocked it out of the park and I loved the idea of taking all the flashbacks of the game and turning it into a linear arc for Joel from when he was a kid to when he is talking to his kid. Just masterfully done.

Brian

You literally can climb the dinosaur in the game! Gotta go up the tail and you get a cool little scene of Joel being concerned about Ellie being up so high. Then she cannonballs off the head

Connor

I can’t believe Colin hasn’t done this in all of his playthroughs lol

Alan Joseph

Finding out the origin of Joel’s watch in the opening scene was such a great touch. It’s little moments like that that really help elevate the show.

Beef Burka

In the game she went to Salt Lake City to find out and then Joel had to come find her and she made him confess, so in the game she knew exactly what happened months before this scene. In the show she suspected, but didn't know exactly what happened until like 2 minutes before saying "I want to try"

Brian

Haha I remember in the spoilercast that Dagan mentioned climbing the T-rex and Colin didn't say anything. I wasn't sure if he didn't have anything to add, or if he didn't know what Dagan was talking about lol. But then again, it took me my 2nd playthrough to discover it.

Cole Minder

She definitely did say it partly to punish Joel and I have no idea how that take is “American”

Cole Minder

I’m with Dustin on not giving a fuck about a cure. The worlds too far gone and especially from Joel’s perspective he’s too old to see the world come even close to the way it was before. Also Neil can say it would’ve worked all he wants but with the information given in the games it’s far from a guarantee, and Joel wouldn’t have any reason to believe in it too deeply.

Shawn

Yes….lol I didn’t say anything about the time she thought about it in the game. I was specifically talking about the series. In the game she has her suspicions until she goes to Salt Lake City where as in the series she finds out when Joel lies to her again and her suspicions are confirmed in that moment. She even says “I knew then and I think I’ve always known” which was 9 months before the balcony scene She absolutely knew wayyyy before the 2 min like you said.

Xenomorph Moriarty

She climbs the dinosaur in the game too. You can do it yourself if you approach the tail. Also, Ellie was living in the garage from the start of the game. One of the first scenes in the game (where Joel brings Ellie the guitar) is in the garage.

LiquidLink98

I mean to defend Neil and Halley's honor a little bit, they only have writing credits on episodes 6 and 7.

Ben Downsen PhilMcrackin

There is a glaring issue in this adaptation of Joel sing Future Days to Ellie. In the game they made a big deal about the inclusion of the song as it had been written/released in 2013. I remember some people criticizing that even then it may not have become a popular enough song for Joel to have learnt it, in the same year as the Outbreak, to sing to Ellie some 25 years later. The TV show starts in 2003, ten years prior to the release of the song. Unless Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder were still kicking about post-apocalypse I am not sure how Future Days came to be known to Joel.

Deemac

Druckmann and Mazin mentioned this at the start of the season - they basically said they were just being very loose with the timeline of the song because "Future Days" is such a key part of the sentiment of Part 2. I don't really mind it tbh

Father Zachary Hale Cumsock

Lying to people allegedly "for their own good" or "white lies" is a concept that I've mostly seen from americans. Where I'm from, lying is not polite. Maybe if it's a really minor thing but absolutely not in situations like this. But you're right, I probably should've said that she didn't do it *just* to punish Joel because it was a part of it

Deemac

On Micah's point regarding game/show Ellie going back to Salt Lake - it's a ridiculous idea that game Ellie would make that trek also. It's only because the game has you listen to these audio logs etc that makes it more interactive, but it's a bit far fetched that she went all that way and conveniently found damning evidence This isn't an example of needing to change the story to accommodate the show version, it's an unrealistic and frankly needless detour whichever way you look at it. Much prefer the show version of how Ellie finds out which is more organic and feels natural. Also I don't understand her takes on "this doesn't feel like the real Ellie" - this episode was written and directed by Druckmann, it's his character and that's how he sees how she'd react. He's already said that the beauty of the show is that he can make little adjustments of what he thinks he could change after some years of reflection. She's harsh in that moment, but that's years of this doubt and betrayal building up so it's not unbelievable to me tbh

Cai

Yeah i deleted my comment on it being Craig’s “fault”, but there is a stark difference in the direction of the characters in this episode.

Alex

I'm just watching because I like listening to the podcast. Otherwise I would never watch this mediocre show.

Tim

I thought the first half of the episode was boring and then everyone acted their ass off in the 2nd half.

Andrew

I thought the writing wasn't great until I saw Druckman directed it and wow....just wow....CINEMA

Diddy’s Lube Guy

If you don’t get directed by an ASCII walkthrough for it then Colin hasn’t seen it.

Red Metal

We simply need gene back for episode 7

Melvin Jones

I'll do you one better. In season 1 we have the Indian doctor say there is no hope for a cure. She was a world leader in the field at the height of when resources would have been the most available. So after decades of world rot we're supposed to believe that Abby's dad who it's possible he was also a leader in the field but way younger than that lady doctor had the resources she would of had. His age alone means that he wasn't as learned as her. He would of had to do some serious catching up in-between raiders and infected attacks. Not to mention they have had to abandoned several labs along the way. But suddenly here's Ellie a once in a lifetime anomaly. No back up or spare. No way to run a trail. In a rundown hospital. With at best parts of your research. No way that cure was a gaurantee.

Black Detective in Dexter

It blows my mind that Colin is such a huge fan of the games, has played them several times, recently played through Part II twice, uses guides, goes for platinums, etc. and he somehow doesn't know that Ellie can climb the dinosaur in Part II. I say in my best Colin voice: How can this be?!?!?

Harry

The lack of Abby is starting to make me think she’ll be the lead in season 3. Possibly followed by season 4 starting at the farmhouse and then fully fleshing out Santa Barbara?

Deemac

Didn't know Tommy was the sniper either. Fake fan smh

FlynnTaggartGuy

Probably because the guide never says to do it or somethin’ idk

CriiWolf

Came here to say this. Colin didn't look hard enough lol

Johnny Lamotte

Good episode over all. But again… it’s not Bella… but I really hate the way they portray Ellie in the show. It’s sadly a huge turn off 🥲

Robert Friemering

Joel killing Eugene scene. I thought Joel intended to bring him to Gale but once Eugene said "the cordyceps make you cold." Joel realizes there's not enough time to bring him back so at the fork he says "to the right." away from the horses.

Guy Incognito

Gotta point out that Ellie was still high on pain killers, so that’s why she ate the cake with her hands lol

CriiWolf

Feels like they really destroyed Ellie's intelligence, on top of not knowing how to use a map I also didn't like how Joel was the one with the space facts.

CriiWolf

The change of year for outbreak day seems so unnecessary.

Soldierboy

"American take" lmao that in and of itself, is a dumb take. And ellie definitely didn't give a shit about gale, she just wanted to go at joel.

FlynnTaggartGuy

The Ratchet thing is so overstated. They aren’t hostile they are just strangers at first. The remake watered down so much, man.

Daddy T

Dustin not recognising who Joe Pantoliano was? Frankly I’m depressed and ashamed. Eugene, 60 years old, he was only a fuckin kid.

Daddy T

He’ll somehow spin the cordyceps virus into how he used to do coke