Sacred Symbols+, Episode 276 | The Last of Us (HBO) Review Discussion and Spoilercast (Season 1, Episode 9) (Video)

They just drop the bomb that Ellie is probably about to die almost immediately after Joel wakes up. There’s no conversation, Joel never actually gets to hear Ellie’s side. I’m sure there are a select few parents that maybe after a lot of consideration and with the consent of their child that maybe could accept them sacrificing themselves for the good of humanity, I’m not one of them. But to wake up and be told that your literally moments away from killing my daughter… not a fucking chance. To think you would be able to best the parental instinct to save your child in that moment is preposterous. I’m surprised Joel didn’t try to strangle Marlene then and there.

Baz Lightyear

I would’ve 100% done what Joel did if that were my son. Dagan is right in that you just don’t understand until you have a child of your own lol. I used to share Colin and Micah’s opinion, but it really does unlock this deep protective instinct that you didn’t know you had.

Michael Miller

Cannot wait for the inevitable “I was wrong” moment like the need/importance of pro consoles a few years back! All joking and hypotheticals aside the age of consent is an important role in all these scenarios. Joel’s choice, joining of the military/invasion of Normandy, Mary allowing Jesus to sacrifice himself (which she actually didn’t want but he was old enough to say it was necessary) all hinge on the age of the child. As a parent the feeling of protection is strongest at their youth, and lasts throughout life for sure, but part of being a parent is allowing the child more free reign to choose as they age and come into their own as adults. That’s not the case in the Joel/Ellie situation, she’s still a minor and the choice was never even presented. Being given a lack of choice makes Joel’s decision oh so much more “right” in my parental eyes

Felipe

I actually disagree, I think FEDRA is likely whatever the government formed into.

Colin Moriarty

I will. My answer will be: "Colin Jr., if a situation comes where we can save humanity by sacrificing you, we're going to do that."

Colin Moriarty

Interesting anecdote on what people would do in Joel's shoes, Neil said they specifically asked the playtesters this after they finished the game. He said: - People without a child were 50/50 on it being the right thing to do. - People with a child were "100% with zero exceptions they agreed with Joel". Neil said this on the final episode podcast around the 48 minute mark.

BisonD

Don't agree with Colin's Normandy comparison. Those guys were legally adults and volunteered or were drafted because they were of age. I want Colin to remember this question and when his first child is born and handed to him, I want him to look down at his child and then answer this question for himself.

Kody Kindig

“New born” babies they use in TV and movies are actually premature babies that have been alive for awhile but are just now the size of a regular new born. So they are much more stable than a baby less than a week old would be on set.

Andrew Klocek

Been arguing this for years. The firefly’s are full of crap. They don’t need to kill Ellie the chemical messenger that is fighting off cordyceps as that would be in her blood. Plus the chance of creating a vaccine on first attempt, withiut studying the host l, and without modern technology and the knowledgeable staff to operate it is preposterous. I love the philosophical discussion around Joel’s choice, but he is completely justified in saving Ellie and killing that charlatan posing as a doctor. https://slate.com/culture/2023/03/last-us-finale-hbo-season-1-vaccine-ending.html

Sean Hatfield

Gonna miss these, season 2 can't come soon enough!

Pyo

I replayed Part 1 last month and SLC had FEDRA stuff everywhere

Jared A.

FEDRA = Federal Emergency Response Agency. 100% was a government entity and supposedly along with the CDC are the only 2 remaining government agencies left. Of course you can surmise that FEDRA has long since become the de facto government, in a feudal city-state style of governance.

Hogan53

Originally the pilot was going to be split into two episodes, with the ending of the "first episode" being when Joel was dumping the body of the kid into the fire when they switched to the QZ 20 years after the outbreak

Deemac

Well it's kind of just nonsense made up for one of the spinoffs. Robert Kirkman never cared to explain but I doubt it'd be something boring like that.

Kaleb

Colin, you’d probably be interested to know that they finally have explained what caused the zombie outbreak in The Walking Dead in a recent episode. Probably too late to bring people back to the series though. https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-zombie-origin-virus-france-world-beyond/

TriggerHappyTom

Pay attention to the "behind the episode" feature at the end of the final episode. If you have CLOSED CAPTIONING ON, you'll clearly see Bella refer to the trauma that Ellie suffered from David in season 1 episode *9*. However, the editors chose to cut her audio in the middle of that sentence before she could mention the episode number (apparently the editor forgot about the Closed Captioning! I think this is pretty solid evidence that at one time or another, this season absolutely WAS 10 episodes long. Why did one get cut? I have no idea. But closed captioning mistakes like that aren't just "coincidence".

Dave Carsley

Loved watching these discussions week to week. I hope to see more!

Connor Galbraith

Ian Malcom wrote in asking if there would actually be zombies on this zombie show? Still an awesome series, can’t wait for S2 even if people will start the meltdown if they haven’t already 🤣

Hogan53

So Ellie is Blade.

Piston Pants

Great episode! I also love how the thumbnail chosen for this episode makes it look like Joel is ready to beat the shit out of that giraffe, haha!

Gafferman

The show ended strong, just like the game did. It was a little rushed and I'm disappointed that Joel & Ellie didn't encounter any infected (they haven't encountered any in the "present day" since the end of episode 5 and I don't think that's okay). It was nice to get some action in the hospital and watching Jerry get shot is really satisfying. The final scene with Joel & Ellie was powerful and well acted. Ellie knows Joel is lying, but is going to try to accept it. I don't know if it's right or wrong and don't really care. I would do what Joel did, a million times over if I had to. And if I was some random person in this world and heard the story of how there was almost a cure, I would think, "yeah, I understand." TLoU Season 1 is a really good, but second-tier show. I've only watched every episode once. I'll pick up the blu ray when that comes out and watch it over again in a weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing how my thoughts change. Also looking forward to Season 2 and for the SS+ that will precede with your then current thoughts and predictions.

Matthew Cooper

Bon appetite bitches.

Brent

Fuck the fireflies

Cole Minder

The ambiguity on if the cure would work never made sense to me. It diminishes Joel’s moral dilemma and his decision because it suggests there is a reality in which he would let Ellie die if he knew the cure would work, which isn’t true from everything we know. He would save Ellie no matter what because she is more important to him than humanity.

Joe

Thank you.

Colin Moriarty

This was a great idea for a series! Looking forward to more when S2 drops. Thanks, Last Stand Crew!

Meatball

I’m team Joel. It’s 20 years into the apocalypse. The world has gone to shit. 95% of the people alive are horrible people. It’s not certain they’d make the cure or distribute it. The Fireflies would use the cure to rule over the country or the world. Marlene was going to kill Ellie whether she agreed to it or not. They were probably going to kill Joel too once they got him outside. Joel did what I would have done and I’m glad he saved her.

Brandon Griffin

There is a theory that Abby does make a cameo. Theres a girl with abbys braid that runs from Joel when he goes on the shooting spree in the hospital but you never see her face. Also, there were originally 10 episodes but Craig Maizin said (i think in the TLOU podcast) that they felt it worked better pacing wise to cut the first 2 eps together. I think the first ep originally ended with Joel burning the little boys body at the camp when the big reveal happens and he pulls down his mask.

XnXblkout

“…bon appétit bitch” If that’s not on any merch soon, I’ll be disappointed.

Lorenzo Leone

I’m gonna miss the show and you guys talking about it every week. As a Packer fan treat Rodgers well Colin! Half the fan base lives to bash him but he was my favorite player ever. Hope he can win one with you guys

Shawn

Joel attempting suicide is implied in the game's optional dialogue, but not explicitly said. Ellie says something about "taking the easy way out" upon finding some dead bodies in a tub, and Joel says something like "Trust me, it ain't easy"

Tristen Wilbers

I hope the Jets get Aaron Rodgers, Colin. It would make you guys an instant contender. Also I just want him out of my division. He’s been terrorizing my Lions for far too long.

Wait, did Dustin really get promoted?

Tonys_Always_Write

The Ashley Johnson scene is an adaptation of the untold story represented by a photo in Cassie Drake’s bedroom at the end of Uncharted 4. TLOU American Daughters.

MJ SKA BOI