The Last of Us Episode 9: Ellie’s Trauma, Truth, and Unforeseen Future
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Episode 9 of HBO’s “The Last of Us” culminates Ellie’s journey of survival, forcing her to confront both physical and emotional wounds. While the episode doesn’t feature action-packed sequences like previous installments, it delves deep into the complex relationship between Ellie and Joel, culminating in a jarring truth revealed and leaving Ellie grappling with its implications. Ellie is profoundly impacted by Joel’s lie about the Fireflies and the potential cure. The episode sees her haunted by the trauma of past experiences, particularly her near-rape by David, and struggling to reconcile the unwavering love and protection Joel offers with the ethical implications of his actions. She struggles to reconcile Joel’s truth, leaving her in a state of disbelief and disillusionment.
Ellie’s Emotional State: Trauma and Trust
Silence as a Symptom
Throughout much of Episode 9, Ellie exhibits a noticeable quietness. This silence stems from a multitude of factors. The trauma of her encounter with David in Episode 8, a brutal and near-fatal experience, is a significant contributor. Almost being eaten and raped by David left deep scars. She’s still processing the sheer horror of that situation and the violence she was forced to commit to survive. This trauma is compounded by the physical exhaustion of their journey and, ultimately, by the weighty realization that the potential cure she represents is not what she believed it to be.
Furthermore, the weight of responsibility she carries – the belief that her immunity could save humanity – has been lifted, only to be replaced with a profound sense of loss and betrayal. She believed her life had a purpose, a grand destiny, and Joel’s actions have seemingly robbed her of that. It’s important to understand that Ellie places a huge importance on family, as mentioned by the Games Learning Society.
A Lingering Darkness
The episode subtly hints at the long-lasting psychological impact of her experiences. The memories of David’s group eating human flesh after she notices an ear and chunks of human flesh on the floor, and the realization that she almost became a victim, continue to haunt her. This is far more than simply surviving a zombie apocalypse; it’s surviving the depravity of humanity itself.
The Revelation and Its Impact
The Lie Unveiled
The core of Episode 9 hinges on the revelation that Joel lied to Ellie. He tells her the Fireflies had already found other immune individuals and were no longer working on a cure. This is a blatant fabrication, designed to protect Ellie from the potential dangers (and, as he sees it, the futility) of sacrificing herself for a cure that might not even exist.
Disbelief and Betrayal
Ellie’s reaction to this lie is complex. While outwardly she seems to accept it, there are subtle cues that suggest she doesn’t fully believe Joel. There’s a sense of unease, a subtle questioning in her eyes. She likely senses that something is amiss, even if she can’t articulate it. This marks a crucial turning point in their relationship. The foundation of trust, carefully built over months of shared hardship, has been irrevocably shaken.
The Future Uncertain
The episode concludes with Ellie and Joel arriving at Jackson, but their future is far from certain. The lie casts a shadow over their relationship, creating a silent barrier between them. Whether Ellie will ultimately confront Joel about the truth, and how their bond will evolve in the face of this deception, remains to be seen. In a sense, Ellie is emotionally back at square one, though not without the memories and trauma she now carries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why was Ellie so quiet in earlier episodes?
Ellie’s quietness in earlier episodes stemmed primarily from her initial mistrust of Joel and her general wariness of the world. Having grown up in a quarantine zone, she lacked experience with the outside world and the dangers it held. Also, she was processing the loss of Tess. As she spends more time with Joel and learns to trust him, she opens up and becomes more talkative.
2. Did Ellie know Joel lied in the end?
It’s highly ambiguous whether Ellie knows Joel is lying at the end of the episode. There are subtle hints that she suspects something is amiss, but she doesn’t explicitly call him out on it. The ambiguity leaves room for future exploration of their fractured relationship. She may know deep down, but chooses to suppress it for self-preservation.
3. How did Marlene know Ellie was immune?
Marlene tells Joel that the doctor “thinks that the Cordyceps has grown with Ellie since birth” and that it “produces a kind of chemical messenger” that makes “normal Cordyceps think that she is Cordyceps.” She’s immune because, even when Ellie is bitten or otherwise exposed, the Cordyceps that enters her body already recognizes her.
4. Why did Marlene hate Joel?
Marlene didn’t necessarily hate Joel, but she prioritized the potential cure for the cordyceps infection above all else. She argued that Joel could not protect Ellie forever therefore he should allow her to die a meaningful death of one saving humanity from Cordyceps.
5. What happened to Ellie in The Last of Us Part II video game?
In “The Last of Us Part II,” Ellie vowed revenge and pursued Abby to Seattle after Joel’s brutal death. Her efforts were fruitless, and she was left emotionally and physically scarred, eventually retiring on a farm with Dina and her son JJ. The game explores the devastating consequences of violence and revenge.
6. Can Ellie infect others?
Ellie almost certainly cannot infect others. While the end result of what would occur from a group of people eating Ellie – as was threatened in The Last of Us episode 8 – is unclear, there are some hints from The Last of Us Part II surrounding Ellie’s immunity and how it works.
7. How did Ellie become immune?
Ellie’s immunity is believed to be linked to her mother, Anna, being bitten by an infected just before giving birth. The Cordyceps present in Anna’s system was transferred to Ellie through the umbilical cord, resulting in a unique mutation that grants her immunity.
8. Why did Joel lie to Ellie?
Joel lied to Ellie to protect her from the pain and trauma of sacrificing herself for a cure that might not even work. His love for her outweighed his commitment to the greater good, leading him to make a selfish decision with far-reaching consequences.
9. Why didn’t Marlene take Ellie herself?
There’s something about Ellie that draws people in, but Marlene couldn’t allow herself that luxury of an emotional connection. Her priorities will always be what’s best for the Fireflies, and allowing Ellie to join the Fireflies would have also been contrary to Anna’s last wish to keep Ellie safe.
10. Does Ellie know Joel is lying in the game?
In this way, the answer to the question of whether Ellie knows he’s lying is both yes and no. Deep down, she clearly does. But she chooses to believe him in order to protect herself from further harm.
11. How did Ellie know the group she was with ate people?
We cut back to Ellie realizing that David’s group has been eating human flesh after she notices an ear — and other chunks of human flesh — on the floor.
12. How did Marlene know Ellie as a baby?
In addition to all this, Marlene had her organization keep a close eye on Ellie as part of her promise to Anna, Ellie’s mother with whom she was long time friends, even before the outbreak. She was once close with Joel’s brother, Tommy, when he was a member of the Fireflies.
13. Did Ellie ever forgive Joel?
As far as we know at this point, Ellie never forgave Joel for his actions in the first game, which explains why she’s so consumed by a need to exact revenge on Abby. Deep down, she’s really angry at herself for not patching things up with the only father figure in her life before it was too late.
14. Was Ellie’s mom bit before giving birth?
In the final episode’s brutal cold open, we see Ellie’s mom Anna (played by none other than Ashley Johnson) running to a safe house. She finally makes it inside, but the infected runner isn’t far behind, and she’s bitten just before she gives birth to Ellie.
15. What was Marlene trying to do to Ellie?
While the two did not meet until Ellie was thirteen, Marlene had still looked after her from afar for a majority of her life, and arranged for her to be put in a military school for her safety. Despite the affection she gained for Ellie, Marlene was still willing to sacrifice her in order to find a vaccine.
The exploration of complex themes in “The Last of Us” is a significant reason for its success. If you are looking for a community that appreciates the educational value of gaming, look no further than the Games Learning Society and visit GamesLearningSociety.org today.