Explanation of the Ending of Season 2 of ‘The Last of Us’: Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann Detail the Reasoning Behind Making [SPOILER’S] Death More Intense

The Last of Us Season 2 concluded with intense moments of violence and terror, typical of the dark HBO series. Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, persisted in her pursuit of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. This led her to distance herself from Jesse, portrayed by Young Mazino, and subjected her briefly to the violent Seraphites. However, what likely stands out the most is either the instant when Ellie seems to grasp the futility of the continuous cycle of violence or the final, stunning, gruesome confrontation.

**Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 7, now streaming on MAX**

The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 7 captures Ellie as she plunges into a clash between the Wolves and Seraphites in search of Abby. After surviving a near-death experience at the hands of a Seraphite executioner, Ellie stealthily infiltrates the aquarium where Abby’s comrades are taking refuge. Inside, she interrupts a discussion between Mel, portrayed by Ariela Barer, and Owen, played by Spencer Lord, regarding Abby’s recent instructions. Pointing her gun at them, Ellie demands they disclose Abby’s whereabouts on a map. Instead of complying, Owen reaches for his firearm. Acting swiftly, Ellie shoots him before he can harm her. Tragically, Owen perishes, and a second bullet accidentally hits Mel, resulting in her death as it nicks her jugular vein.

It is at this moment that Ellie is confronted with the harsh reality of endless retribution. The revelation that Mel was pregnant adds to the devastation. In her dying moments, Mel pleads with Ellie to perform a makeshift Cesarean section before she succumbs to her injuries, but Ellie, paralyzed by fear, is unable to act. Following Mel’s death, Tommy, portrayed by Gabriel Luna, and Jesse discover Ellie. They guide her back to the theater where Dina, portrayed by Isabela Merced, anxiously awaits. Ellie’s quest for vengeance reaches its conclusion. It is time to return home.

Except they’re not! Ellie and Jesse hear Tommy scuffling with someone in the theater lobby and they run, guns ready, into the fray. Abby is there and she shoots Jesse, killing him. Holding Tommy at gunpoint, she demands Ellie come out with her hands up. The sequence ends with Abby pointing her gun at Ellie, complaining that she let the girl live only for her to waste it, and then seemingly shooting our heroine. The gun goes off, the show cuts to black, and then we flashback three days earlier, to the W.L.F. HQ.

So what the heck is going on? Is Tommy really dead? Is Ellie dead? How is Mel’s death different from the video game? Why are The Last of Us showrunners so brutal? Here’s everything you need to know about the end of The Last of Us Season 2 on HBO…

DECIDER recently sat in on a virtual press conference with The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann in which they answered for their crimes — er, explained some of those brutal decisions.

Much of the violence we see in The Last of Us Season 2 finale is pulled directly from the video games. Jesse is also killed by Abby in The Last of Us II and the showrunners brushed off the suggestion that they might have spared his life in the HBO show. “His fate was always sealed,” Druckmann said.

Mazin added that Jesse’s death is going to have a major impact on Ellie’s romance with Dina. “It’s an interesting situation because Jesse dies in part because of Ellie,” Mazin said. “But Ellie doesn’t pull the trigger. Abby does.”

“So now the question is, who does she blame? I’m a big believer that once you start asking, ‘Who do I blame?’, you’re already down the wrong path,” Mazin said. “Jesse’s death is going to change things for her, but how we play that out, we have to wait and see.” 

Mel’s death, on the other hand, plays out quite differently from how it does in the video game. In The Last of Us II, she attacks Ellie and Ellie kills her in self defense. In the show, Mel’s death is “a true collateral damage moment,” according to Mazin. “And then I decided to make it worse.”

Everything with the reveal of Mel’s pregnant belly as she dies is new to the HBO show. It’s designed not only to break Ellie, but force the audience to reappraise what we think of the heroine. “If you’re rooting for Ellie, it’ll make you feel dirty,” Druckmann said.

When asked why they ended the season on a cliffhanger, the showrunners revealed they hashed out different endings, but Druckmann said, “Whatever we entertained didn’t stick for very long. This always felt like the natural end point for the season.“

But it’s not the natural end point for the show…

Yes, HBO has already confirmed that they will be making The Last of Us Season 3. In fact, The Last of Us Season 3 will continue to adapt the events of The Last of Us II. That video game not only follows the story of Joel and Ellie, but puts the player in Abby’s shoes.

“There is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into,” Craig Mazin said during the press conference. “There’s no question that Abby is the hero of her story. Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story always, you know? I mean, if you have Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever.”

The final sequence in The Last of Us Season 2 flashes back to Seattle Day 1, but we’re seeing Abby’s version of what happened. The Last of Us Season 3 will tackle Abby’s story.

The showrunners also teased that they will provide answers to several questions fans might have. “What is going on? How did that war start? How did the Seraphites start? Who is the prophet? What happened to her? What does Isaac want? What’s happening at the end of Episode 7? What is this explosion? What is all of it?” Mazin said. “And all of that will become clear.“