The Last of Us Themes Explained

In 2003, Joel attempts to flee Austin with his daughter Sarah as the outbreak begins, only for her to be killed by a soldier. Twenty years later, Joel is a cynical smuggler in the Boston QZ who is tasked with escorting a mysterious girl named Ellie to a group of rebels.

The group travels through a flooded, abandoned museum where they encounter 'Clickers' for the first time. Tess is bitten during the fight and chooses to sacrifice herself to ensure Joel and Ellie can escape.

Joel and Ellie travel to Bill's fortified town. The episode shows a 20-year flashback of Bill, a survivalist, who finds a partner in Frank and builds a sanctuary before they choose to die together.

While driving through Kansas City, Joel and Ellie are ambushed by a violent group of revolutionaries. They are forced to hide in the city ruins, where they eventually encounter two brothers on the run.

Joel and Ellie team up with Henry and Sam to escape the city through underground tunnels. They are cornered by Kathleen's forces, but a massive infected horde erupts from the earth, causing a massacre.

Joel and Ellie find a thriving community in Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel's brother Tommy lives. Joel admits his fear of losing Ellie and tries to leave her with Tommy, but eventually decides to stay with her.

While trying to treat a wounded Joel, Ellie remembers her final night with her best friend Riley. They explored a mall together, leading to the bite that revealed Ellie's immunity and Riley's death.

While hunting for food to save Joel, Ellie meets David, a charismatic but cannibalistic preacher. She is captured and nearly murdered, but manages to kill David in a brutal struggle before Joel finds her.

Joel and Ellie reach the Firefly hospital. Joel learns that the vaccine will kill Ellie, so he kills everyone in the facility to save her and lies to her about it afterward, ending the season on a note of tension.