The Last of Us Episode 9 Recap: “Look For the Light”

[FP1997]

The Last of Us Episode 9 comes down to a shocking, divisive finale.

Now we know why Ellie's immune.

A heavily pregnant Anna (played by the original Ellie, Ashley Johnson) dashes into an abandoned house. She's about to give birth to our Ellie (Bella Ramsey), but as she barricades herself in a child's bedroom, she knows the Infected chasing her will break through. She fights for her life, but it isn't enough. Anna gets bitten as she gives birth.

Now we know why Ellie's immune. Her mother stops the cordyceps infection from taking root within baby Ellie with a snap decision; before the fungus, presumably, can take hold she cuts the umbilical cord. 

“Time heals all wounds?” “It wasn’t time,”

Back with Joel and Ellie, and we've finally reached our destination. Cutting through alleys and buildings, Joel does his best to raise the spirits of a downtrodden Ellie. Trying methods of Chef Boyardee and Boggle, he's reaching out to our distant hero. Who knows what she's thinking as we get closer to the Fireflies? But then we see it: a giraffe.

Ellie's enamoured by it; this gentle giant, only intent on grazing within its means in a world intent on natural destruction. Joel gazes at Ellie, warmed and saddened by the interaction. Below, a herd meanders across the desolate cityscape, reclaiming the land. Giggles break through the scene as Ellie feeds the one closest to her. It's a tender moment, one of a few.

As they take pause for a moment, Joel opens up to reveal his suicide attempt after Sarah died. He shares his darkest thoughts, what happened and where it led him. A flinch was all it took to keep Joel alive, a snap decision that allowed him to find something else to fight for. “Time heals all wounds?” Ellie asks. Looking directly at her, Joel says, “It wasn’t time,” and we know. Joel and Ellie have saved each other.

Cordyceps infects the brain

Ambushed by Fireflies, Joel is struck by a rifle. Waking up in a hospital room alone, he immediately asks for Ellie. Marlene informs him that her team of doctors suspect Ellie's immunity started at birth (which we now know to be true) and acts as a form of camoflage to the Infected. This, for the average person, could be the cure humanity needs. Ellie's being prepped for surgery.

But Joel states "cordyceps infects the brain". Understanding that this surgery would in fact form a death sentence for Ellie, but salvation for humanity. It's a divisive decision, to be sure. This is a stylized version of the trolley problem; an ethical dilemma from ethics and psychology that explores whether to sacrifice one person to save a larger number. Joel has only two options:

1. Do nothing, in which case the Cordyceps fungus will continue to ravage humanity
2. Allow the Fireflies to sacrifice Ellie for the chance of a cure

What's the right thing to do? What is ethical? What serves the greater good? Importantly here, both adults in the situation, Marlene and Joel, are given the power to make this decision. Marlene chose to lie to Ellie, subjecting her (and therefore participating) to the sacrificial decision. No awards for guessing what happens next.

A chilling, horrfific sequence of murders occurs in the hospital under sterile light and gunpowder. Joel blazes through the place of healing, reverting back to his old self; executing anyone that stands between him and Ellie. We know at this point that he's acting purely out of selfish ideals, killing innocent people for personal gain. Yet we can't help but root for him, rescuing an innocent child could almost match up to the horror he's inflicted. And then he's there.

“I swear.”

Joel shoots the lead surgeon, instructing the nurses to let Ellie go. Carrying her unconscious body from the rubble, he runs to the nearest car. Marlene blocks his way, pleading him to reconsider Ellie's choice in all of this. Knowing that she'd want to do the right thing, but that in doing so he'd lose someone he loves, he kills Marlene.

Escaping on the road, Ellie wakes with countless questions. Joel lies. There were dozens of others just like you, he tells her. They didn't have a cure, so they gave up. Raiders attacked the hospital, and he had to drag her to safety. They come close to Jackson before their car breaks down, needing to hike the rest of the way. Along the way, Joel compares Ellie to Sarah, saying they'd like each other. 

Overlooking the city, Ellie pauses for a moment. She asks Joel to swear to her that everything he said about what happened at the hospital is true. He doesn’t blink. “I swear,” he says. She studies his face for a minute and then says, “Okay.”

10/10