'The Last of Us' on HBO: Will Pedro Pascal's Joel die in Episode 6, 'Kin'?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Episode 5 of 'The Last of Us,' 'Endure and Survive,' concluded with one of the most tragic sequences in the series so far, as Henry (Lamar Johnson) shoots himself in front of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) after shooting his little brother Sam (Kevionn Woodard), who had turned infected and tried to attack Ellie.
A week has past between Episode 5 to now Episode 6, 'Kin,' we see that this moment still weighs heavily on the minds of Ellie as well as Joel, who still worries about bringing Ellie to the Fireflies, and in this episode, worries that he's not the right protector for the potential savior of the world. Today's episode was like a fantastic chapter that almost completely delivers exactly what it sets out to achieve thanks to a top-tier script and nuanced performances throughout. Furthermore, it’s not 'The Last of Us’ only nod to its apparent cinematic influences either. This episode brings with it lingering shots of stunning landscapes like those seen in classic westerns which is oddly scenic.
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'Hello, Brother'
Joel and Ellie cross a bridge over the river with no problem, and Ellie shows that she's trying to learn how to whistle, and tells Joel he should teach her how to hunt afterwhich they get caught by a group of masked and armed people surrounds them on horseback. The group separates Joel and Ellie, and they bring out a dog, who they say can smell infected. Once the dog is let loose, the dog checks out Joel, who is clear, but then the dog growls at Ellie. The dog gets closer to Ellie, and it's unclear whether he can tell she's technically infected, but then he starts licking her and playing. Joel tells the group he's looking for his brother, and a woman asks what his name is. The group brings Joel and Ellie to a compound, and once inside, we see Jackson — a thriving community, complete with shops, a giant Christmas tree, kids playing, and a reminder that maybe life can still be lived normally after the outbreak. It isn’t long until Pascal's Joel finally sees his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and calls out to him, almost as if he can’t believe he finally found him. Tommy comes over and hugs Joel, both overjoyed to see each other again.
Has Pedro Pascal's Joel die in Episode 6?
The pair arrive at the university and find that the Fireflies have gone. But immediately, the two are attacked by strangers. Joel kills one of them, but not before suffering a critical injury to his gut. The two escape, but Joel passes out. He looks to be almost dead. Ellie is mortified, and whispers, “I can’t do this without you. Joel, please.” A cover of Depeche Mode’s 'Never Let Me Down Again' ends our journey this week, the same song that closed out the first episode. The lyrics reflect on a journey with a “best friend” that may not necessarily be in your best interest, but that you take on anyway, in hopes of feeling complete.
Stay tuned to find out how injured Pascal's Joel remains until episode 7. You can watch 'The Last of Us' on HBO.