After long periods of anticipation, HBO’s “The Last of Us” series has finally resolved a significant enigma within the franchise that fans have pondered since 2013. Ever since the initial release of the first “Last of Us” game (the basis for the highly-acclaimed HBO show), enthusiasts of the franchise have been in dispute over whether Ellie (portrayed by Bella Ramsey) could have produced a cure for the universe’s primary fungal infection following her and Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) encounter with the secretive Fireflies in Salt Lake City.
Fortunately, viewers came as near as possible to resolving the long-standing question in Episode 6 of The Last of Us Season 2, as Joel (played by Pascal) provided initial evidence that could sway the debate one way or another during a heart-wrenching dialogue with Ellie (portrayed by Ramsey). Whether or not Joel’s testimony can be trusted is yet to be determined, but it provides fans with the only information they have at present.
During the second season’s near-ending episode, a passionate argument broke out between the teenager and the man who had taken on a paternal role for her, right on Joel’s front porch. This confrontation centered around the circumstances that had led them to seek refuge in the Jackson, Wyoming settlement.
In Season 2, Episode 6 (titled “The Price”), when Ellie inquired if a cure could have been developed if Joel hadn’t interfered at the Salt Lake City hospital at the end of the show/game’s first season, Joel firmly answered, “Yes.
Fans recall that the initial season of the popular show, along with its inaugural video game adaptation, largely revolved around Ellie’s unique resistance to the world’s zombie-producing fungus and her possible significance in finding a remedy for it.
The climactic point of this nationwide trek was reached in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Joel gave Ellie to the rebellious group known as the Fireflies. Yet, upon discovering that the mission to extract valuable DNA from Ellie, presumably for creating a vaccine, would almost certainly lead to her death, Joel decided to take action independently.
Afterward, he embarked on a violent rampage, eliminating each member of the Firefly research team, including Abby Anderson’s season 2 debut character’s father, snatched Ellie from the operating table, and swiftly departed the crime scene. Joel subsequently deceived Ellie about the events, claiming that Fireflies had given up on a cure and were no longer able to help.
Fans found themselves pondering whether it was even possible to extract a cure from Ellie. Some believed Joel acted rightfully, considering there was no assurance that sacrificing Ellie’s life would indeed lead to substantial outcomes.
Under the guidance of Craig Mazin, who is known for creating “Chernobyl”, and Neil Druckmann, the game director, “The Last of Us” Season 2 retells the storyline from the 2020 video game “The Last of Us Part II”. This narrative follows Pedro Pascal’s character, Joel Miller, and Bella Ramsey’s character, Ellie Williams, as they grapple with the aftermath of Joel’s actions in Season 1.
The final episode of “The Last of Us” will air on May 25, 2025, wrapping up Ellie’s storyline temporarily. It’s worth noting that a third season for this popular HBO series has been approved, but we don’t have any details about its release date as of now.
Was Ellie Really Going To Provide the Cure in The Last of Us?
In my perspective, the second season of “The Last of Us” appears to have put an end to the debate on whether a cure could be extracted from Ellie. Yet, this hasn’t deterred fans from continuing their passionate discussions, focusing instead on the intricate narrative twist that has sparked intense debate among them.
Although Joel gives Ellie an answer that seems pretty final in Season 2, Episode 6, which additionally tells the story behind her unique moth tattoo, it’s not clear if he himself is completely certain of this.
Joel’s sole source of knowledge about the Fireflies’ work on a possible vaccine was Marlene, and it became evident towards the end of Season 1 that she was prepared to go to great lengths to persuade Joel to give Ellie for the extraction process.
Previously, the most insightful clue regarding the mystery of the cure in “The Last of Us” series was hinted at via a recording uncovered in the initial installment of the game.
In exploring the 2013 PlayStation game’s hospital setting, players might stumble upon a surgeon’s recording boasting they were on the verge of achieving a historical milestone akin to the discovery of penicillin. This implies that the Fireflies had high hopes that Ellie was the crucial piece they needed for their research leading to a cure.
Let’s devise a method to recreate this condition within a lab setting. We’re on the brink of achieving an historic feat comparable to the discovery of penicillin. After years of exploration and seemingly endless loops, we’re about to return home, make a significant impact, and regain control over our own fate as a species. All the hardships we’ve endured and the countless individuals who’ve given blood, sweat, and tears for this cause will not have suffered in vain.
Although it doesn’t definitely prove that Ellie is the sole ingredient responsible for the Fireflies discovering the vaccine, it appears the researchers at the Salt Lake hospital thought she might be the crucial component they were missing.
Regardless of any promise, it appears that no action can be taken at this point. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie uncovers another recording from the Fireflies stating that “the individual who could create a vaccine has already passed away.
From the evidence presented, it appears Joel not only rescued Ellie from the Fireflies’ attempt to extract a cure from her during Season 1, but he also eliminated everyone who possessed the expertise necessary for this process. This action ensured that the project would never be revived in the future, dooming their efforts completely.
Read More
2025-05-20 00:07