'The Last of Us' Season 2, Episode 3 recap: Ellie wants 'justice,' introduction to the Seraphites

Yahoo

28-04-2025

After last week's bombshell episode of The Last of Us, the story continues with all eyes on Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, to see what she does next. What is Ellie's life like with Joel (Pedro Pascal)?
With Sunday's episode taking us back to Jackson, a significant part of Season 2, Episode 3 involves reflection on the events of Episode 2, not just what happened with Joel and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), but the attack on Jackson. Everyone's a little bit broken and has to pick up the pieces.
Where to watch The Last of Us: Crave in Canada, HBO and Max in the U.S.Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey WrightNumber of episodes: 7
We're still trying to get over Joel's death at the end of Episode 2, and now the big question is how Ellie, Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and everyone else in Jackson handles loss.
The story begins with Tommy facing his dead brother's body, and it's completely heartbreaking.
"Give Sarah my love," Tommy says with tears in his eyes. Referencing Joel's dead daughter.
Then the timeline moves forward three months, with the people of Jackson working to expand and rebuild the community.
After being treated for her wounds from the attack, a doctor is set to clear her to leave the hospital, but she has to talk to Gail (Catherine O'Hara) first. Gail asks Ellie about the New Year's Eve dance and if that argument was the last time she spoke to Joel.
Ellie confirms and wishes she had talked to him later that night, but knows that moment doesn't define their entire relationship.
Then Gail reveals to Ellie that in her last conversation Joel, he said he wronged Ellie and that he "saved her." Ellie has no idea what he meant and says she doesn't feel wronged, but wishes she could have let him off the hook for whatever he did, and she should Let herself off the hook.
Gail and Ellie communicate with a lot of sarcastic remarks, making these two characters a great pair to see together. They know how to poke each other, while still having an honest conversation.
Leaving the hospital Ellie returns to the home she shared with Joel, slowly walking through the hallways to each room. In his bedroom she sees a red box. Inside there's Joel's broken watch and his gun, which she takes.
But just as Ellie sees Joel's closet, she starts to get particularly emotional touching his clothes.
Dina (Isabela Merced) comes into the home, looking for Ellie with some cookies, and a piece of information that will make Ellie angry. Dina says that while in the hospital she told Ellie she didn't learn anything useful the day Joel died, but Dina knows the names of their attackers and where they're from.
"You cost us time. You let them get away," Ellie says.
Referencing the WLF patches, Dina determined they're the Washington Liberation Front from Seattle.
But while Ellie is ready to go after Abby and her crew, Tommy isn't on board, and wants to take it to Maria (Rutina Wesley) in a proper council meeting to allow everyone in the community to be heard.
Trying to gather support, Jesse (Young Mazino) won't confirm that he'll be on Ellie's side at the meeting, but advises Ellie to write down her thoughts and read them in front of the council and the community, to not let her anger get in the way.
Unfortunately, there isn't agreement in the community that they should use their resources, and possibly lose more loved ones, to take action after Joel's murder. But Seth (Robert John Burke) speaks up saying their enemies will come back if they don't do anything.
"It's not about revenge. ... I want justice," Ellie says at the meeting. "Because it's either that or we do nothing."
"I'll accept whatever the council decides, but I am asking you, please, do what it takes to see that justice is done. ... I am asking you, please, do it for us."
The council ultimately votes not to send anyone to Seattle.
After the meeting, Tommy has a conversation with Gail about his concerns related to Ellie's anger, and they both didn't believe her speech. Tommy doesn't want Ellie to come up with explanations for "lashing out," like Joel did, but Gail says that nurture can only do so much.
"I think they were walking side by side from the very start," Gail says.
Of course, Ellie isn't taking no for an answer, and while her plans are a bit sloppy, Dina come forward with more specifics, like thinking about medical supplies they'll need, and a map.
In an interesting turn of events, in the middle of the night Seth helps Ellie and Dino get Shimmer so they can head to Seattle, but just outside of Jackson she sees where Joel's body has buried, with a tombstone that read "Beloved brother and father."
It's one of the most beautiful scenes, with the warmth of the sunlight, and the perfect visual to show that she's ready to start her journey, as she breathes deeply putting her hand on where Joel's body is buried.
Dina and Ellie keep travelling and Ellie shares a story about her second kill, "the first one's too fucked up," she says, and they end up stopping in a tent as rain starts pouring down.
It's then that they talk about their kiss on New Year's Eve, with Dina asking Ellie to rate her kissing on a scale of one to 10. Ellie gives her a six, which Dina says she doesn't believe, before revealing that she went back to her ex Jesse, even though she can see a sadness in him.
Getting closer to Seattle Ellie and Dina inspect a group of dead bodies, including children. They're the religious cult the Seraphites, or Scars, introduced earlier in the episode. They follow a belief system by a woman called the Prophet, who has been dead for years, but instructed the group to live off the land, without technology.
Meanwhile Manny (Danny Ramirez), in the Space Needle, communicates to another WLF soldier through a radio while watching over the city, as we see the final images of military vehicles and an army of soldiers on the streets of Seattle.