What happens at the end of Season 1 of The Last of Us?
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At the end of Season 1 of The Last of Us, Joel confronts the Fireflies for attempting to turn Ellie into their guinea pig, resulting in a violent confrontation that claims the lives of many Firefly members, including Marlene, the leader of the group. The season concludes with Joel saving Ellie’s life but lying to her about the events that transpired, telling her that raiders attacked the hospital and that there are others like her, in an effort to protect her from the harsh reality and the mental burden of knowing the truth.
The Season 1 Finale Explained
The finale sees Joel facing off against the Fireflies in a desperate bid to rescue Ellie from their clutches, leading to a series of intense and emotional events that ultimately change the course of their lives forever.
Key Events of the Finale
The season’s final episode is marked by Joel’s brutal confrontation with the Fireflies, during which he kills numerous members of the group, including Marlene, in order to save Ellie from undergoing a potentially fatal surgery to harness her supposed immunity to the Cordyceps fungus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Does Joel die in The Last of Us Season 1 finale? No, Joel survives his kidnapping attempt and saves Ellie’s life, but almost no one else makes it out of the Fireflies’ base alive.
- What happens to Marlene in The Last of Us? Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, is killed by Joel in the season finale.
- Did Joel lie to Ellie at the end of The Last of Us 1? Yes, Joel lies to Ellie in order to prevent her from going back to the hospital and sacrificing herself for the good of humanity.
- Will there be a season 2 of The Last of Us? Yes, The Last of Us is gearing up for season 2, with production set to begin in early 2024.
- Does Ellie find out Joel lied? While Ellie may suspect that Joel is not telling the truth, she cannot bring herself to believe it due to the pain and fear it would evoke.
- Why is Ellie immune? Ellie’s immunity is a result of being bitten by her infected mother, Anna, before birth, which transferred the Cordyceps fungus to her through the umbilical cord.
- Who kills Joel? In The Last of Us Part II, Joel is killed by Abby, the daughter of the Firefly surgeon he killed in order to save Ellie.
- Why did Joel prevent the cure? Joel discovers that the surgery to harness Ellie’s immunity requires removing parts of her brain, leading him to stop the procedure and save her life.
- Why did Joel betray Ellie? Joel lies to Ellie to protect her from the mental burden of knowing the truth about the events that transpired and to prevent her from sacrificing herself.
- What happens to Ellie after Joel dies? After Joel’s death, Ellie sets out on a journey of revenge against Abby, accompanied by Dina.
- Did Joel survive in The Last of Us 1? Yes, Joel technically survives the events of The Last of Us season 1.
- What was Joel stabbed with in The Last of Us? Joel is impaled by an upright metal bar during a fight, which causes significant injury.
- What lie did Joel tell Ellie? Joel tells Ellie that raiders attacked the hospital and that there are others like her, in an attempt to protect her from the truth.
- Can Ellie infect others? It is unclear whether Ellie can infect others, but there are hints from The Last of Us Part II that suggest her immunity may not be transmissible.
- Can Ellie cure the virus? The possibility of Ellie being able to cure the Cordyceps virus is left unresolved, as Joel kills the doctors before they can attempt to synthesize a cure from her blood.