‘The Last of Us‘ is the ultimate post-apocalyptic adventure that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Joel and Ellie face off against hordes of fungus-infected zombies and even ruthless human enemies in their epic road trip across a zombie-plagued America. Along the way, they meet Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, a rebel group that fights for a better future and a cure for the plague.
The first season’s finale left us speechless with its shocking twist: Joel shot Marlene, the boss of the Fireflies, to save Ellie from a surgery that would have killed her. He didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger twice, making sure Marlene was dead and couldn’t come after them. Joel’s decision was a bold and risky move that divided fans and critics. But what was his motivation for killing her? Was he right or wrong to do so? And what will this mean for the next season?
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Joel And Ellie: A Father-Daughter Relationship
Throughout ‘The Last Of Us‘, we see how Joel gradually bonds with Ellie, overcoming his initial reluctance and distrust. He protects her from various threats, teaches her how to survive, shares his past with her, and comforts her when she is scared or sad. He also sees Ellie as a surrogate for his daughter Sarah, who was killed by a soldier during the outbreak. By the end of their journey, Joel considers Ellie as his family and cannot bear to lose her. Joel’s choice is also influenced by his distrust of the Fireflies and their ability to create a cure. Marlene is the one who reveals to Joel that Ellie’s immunity can only be harnessed by extracting the fungus from her brain, which will kill her in the process.
Joel refuses to accept this fate and decides to rescue her from the Fireflies’ hospital, killing anyone who stands in his way. Marlene confronts him as he exits the elevator with Ellie, begging him to let her go and claiming that he is dooming mankind. He questions Marlene’s claim that they have tried other immune subjects before Ellie and failed and doubts that sacrificing Ellie will guarantee a cure or that the Fireflies will be able to distribute it to the world. He believes that Ellie’s life is more valuable than a vague hope for humanity. In the end, Joel shoots Marlene in the stomach and then in the head, ensuring that no one will come after them.
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Joel And Marlene’s Complicated Relationship
Joel and Marlene first meet in Boston, where she hires Joel and Tess to smuggle Ellie out of the quarantine zone. However, she doesn’t tell them the truth about Ellie’s condition or destination and leaves them to deal with the military and the infected on their own. Later, they reunite in Salt Lake City, where Marlene promises to reward Joel for bringing Ellie to the Fireflies. But then she proceeds to drug him and kidnap Ellie. Marlene was also a good friend of Ellie’s mother, Anna, who died shortly after giving birth to Ellie. Marlene promised Anna to look after Ellie and keep her safe. However, all she did was expose Ellie to danger and violence throughout her life and also planned to sacrifice Ellie for the sake of the cure.
While Marlene’s actions are not entirely malicious or selfish, Joel may not have seen Marlene’s perspective. She is driven by her sense of duty and responsibility as the leader of the Fireflies and she struggles with the decision to sacrifice Ellie for the sake of the cure but ultimately chose to do so out of loyalty to her cause. Joel, on the other hand, sees her as a manipulative and ruthless leader who used him and Ellie for her own agenda. He resents her for lying to him, endangering him and Tess, drugging him, and failing to protect Ellie. Joel’s anger may have also stemmed from his own guilt and grief over losing Sarah, and he may have felt that Marlene did not deserve to have any say over Ellie’s fate or future.
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