Did ‘The Final of Us’ Season 2, episode 2 break you? Us too.

The Final of Us Season 2, episode 2 takes us by way of the valley of the shadow of dying — in additional methods than one.

Within the present’s largest set piece thus far, a horde of Contaminated storms Jackson, abandoning numerous lifeless and far of the group to restore. However because the residents of Jackson sq. off towards their worst nightmare, a smaller, but better tragedy performs out within the mountains above. I am speaking, in fact, in regards to the dying of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal), and his brutal ultimate moments with Ellie (Bella Ramsey).

For individuals who have performed (and even simply have the smallest familiarity with) The Final of Us Half II, Joel’s dying this season was an inevitability. However that does not make it damage any much less, or make the buildup to it any much less nerve-racking. So nerve-racking, in truth, that I usually discovered myself pausing the episode to freak out or brace myself for what was coming.

Right here, in chronological order, is each time The Final of Us Season 2, episode 2 stopped my coronary heart (or simply ripped it out completely).

Once we see a flashback of Abby after Joel’s assault on the Fireflies.

The Season 2 premiere revealed nearly instantly that former Firefly Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) has it out for Joel. Within the nightmare sequence that opens episode 2, we get a greater thought of why: When he worn out the Fireflies in Salt Lake Metropolis, he additionally killed her father, the surgeon who was about to function on Ellie. The nightmare sees a youthful Abby reliving the second she found his physique, whereas present-day Abby cautions her to not. In fact, younger Abby would not hear. She is going to all the time discover her father’s physique, and that can all the time lead her down a path of vengeance in direction of Joel.

Witnessing Abby’s trauma proper off the bat is as clear a sign as any that she and Joel’s paths will cross by the top of the episode. Buckle up, The Final of Us tells us, as a result of the countdown clock in direction of his dying is formally nearing zero.

Once we be taught the Contaminated reside beneath the snow.

Down in Jackson, Jesse (Younger Mazino) hits Ellie with some extra-disturbing information: A patrol was ambushed by a bunch of Contaminated who have been dwelling beneath the snow. How did they survive? Oh, simply through the use of the corpses of different Contaminated as insulation. Searching on the snowy expanse surrounding Jackson, the query then turns into, what number of different Contaminated are hiding beneath all that snow? That is proper, you thought you simply needed to fear about Joel’s dying this episode? Nope, we even have snow Contaminated to fret about now.

Once we discover out Joel is already out on patrol.

Some excellent news to distract from the snowy Contaminated? Ellie and Joel are in a a lot better place now after their tense standoff at the winter dance. A lot in order that Ellie desires to go on patrol with him once more. The unhealthy information? Joel is already out on patrol with Dina (Isabela Merced), the 2 kindly opting to let Ellie sleep. In fact, that kindness comes with the unlucky aspect impact of Ellie being separated from Joel at a essential level of their relationship (and, you realize, the ultimate hours of his life).

The separation makes Ellie’s reassurance that issues can be fantastic between her and Joel damage much more. “I’m still me, he’s still Joel, and nothing’s ever gonna change that. Ever,” she tells Jesse, with no thought of what is to come back. Do not thoughts me, I am already getting ready my tissues.

When Abby spots Joel and Dina.

Episode 2 provides us the occasional sliver of hope that perhaps Joel will survive his encounter with Abby. Daunted by the scale and power of Jackson, her touring companions are planning on calling the entire operation off. Good! Get out of there! Perhaps the remainder of Season 2 could be a Sliding Doorways scenario the place we see an alternate model of the story the place Joel lives.

However in fact, The Final of Us sticks to its weapons and has Abby spot Joel and Dina whereas they’re out on patrol. She would not know he is Joel by this level, however she is aware of they’re from Jackson, and that is a ok start line. The hunt is on, and that countdown clock retains ticking.

When a blizzard begins brewing over Jackson.

The Final of Us is already constructing an environment of dread, so why not throw some thematic climate in there? As quickly as that snow begins blowing in earnest, the dread will increase tenfold: Visibility is low and radios are down, chopping off communication with Jackson. Our crew of patrollers — Ellie, Joel, Dina, and Jesse — are stranded, simply in time for a stormy showdown.

When Abby awakens an avalanche of Contaminated.

I actually do not know what’s extra horrifying: the picture of the Contaminated corpses simply mendacity frozen within the snow (very True Detective corpsicle of them), or the sinking whirlpool of our bodies that kinds when the dwelling Contaminated emerge from their slumber. Both approach, this sequence is an absolute nightmare, and irrespective of your emotions about Abby, I believe we will all agree nobody deserves the destiny of being run down by a literal avalanche of Contaminated. Run, lady, run! Simply perhaps away from Joel, thanks.

When Abby will get trapped beneath a fence.

The stress reaches a fever pitch when Abby finds herself trapped behind a chain-link fence, the complete horde bearing down on her. For those who hate zombie films, this can be a unhealthy time for you. When you’ve got claustrophobia, this can be a unhealthy time for you. It is simply an all-around unhealthy time, okay? And that is earlier than we see that shot of an Contaminated tearing its hand open in an try to get by way of the chain-link fence. What a nightmare. Certainly nothing else within the episode can get extra scary or emotionally traumatizing than the sheer horror of a crush of zombies, proper? Proper?

When Abby hears Joel’s identify.

Flawed. As a result of mere moments later, Joel saves Abby, reminding us of the inevitable. And mere moments after that, Dina seals the deal by calling Joel’s identify. (A change from the sport, the place Joel provides up his identify freely to Abby and her companions again on the lodge.) Watching Abby perceive she’s stumbled upon Joel is a terrifying flip in an already-terrifying episode. (Shout out to Dever for taking part in the second with an ideal mixture of realization and concern.)

Mashable High Tales

This second can also be an ideal instance of the bait and swap The Final of Us is taking part in with all episode. Like Joel, you could assume the most important risk is the horde of Contaminated raging outdoors. However you may’t neglect in regards to the core reality of The Final of Us: Typically, the true hazard is the people, and Abby is not any exception.

When the Contaminated descend upon Jackson, “Hardhome”-style.

Simply because I am scared about Joel’s destiny does not imply I am unable to additionally lose my thoughts over the Contaminated assault on Jackson, a show-only addition. Watching them cost by way of the snow and crash towards Jackson’s picket gates calls to thoughts one other deeply scary winter zombie siege: Sport of Thrones‘ “Hardhome” assault. Nice, now I’ve Sport of Thrones stress compounding my Final of Us dread, a potent mixture that not less than has the upside of reminding me simply how nice “Hardhome” was. (Even when the Evening King payoff down the road was… much less nice.)

That this sequence is not within the recreation makes my panic ranges spike differently from watching Joel march in direction of his unsuspecting dying. We’re in uncharted territory right here: How a lot will The Final of Us stray from the sport? Are Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria (Rutina Wesley) immediately on the chopping block? What about their show-only son, Benjamin (Ezra Agbonkhese)? I can solely take a lot main character dying in a single episode!

When Joel chooses to go to the lodge.

Upon seeing Jackson up in flames, Joel considers returning to assist, however Abby continues to lure him as much as the lodge with the promise of heat and her pals’ provides and ammo. Joel, no, they’ll use the ammo on you! For as soon as, it could be safer to run in direction of the burning metropolis beneath siege by the Contaminated.

When the Bloater breaches Jackson’s gate.

The early levels of the Jackson battle have sufficient “hell, yeah” moments — together with these huge, Contaminated-killing explosions — that I may breathe simple for a bit. Perhaps Jackson could be okay in spite of everything!

Then the Bloater seems.

Seeing one Bloater in Season 1 was greater than sufficient for me, however this disgusting tank of a creature takes Bloaters to a complete new degree of scary. It rams by way of Jackson’s gates and sends the battle spiraling in a complete new path. The Contaminated swarm the streets and crash into buildings — consider the youngsters within the basements! They even scramble as much as the roofs, as seen in a really immersive (and sure, nerve-racking) oner of Maria making an attempt to make her approach out of hazard.

When Tommy fights the Bloater.

The Bloater’s look provides us the great bonus of watching Maria and Tommy tag-team it: Maria shoots it from the rooftops, whereas Tommy attracts its ire on the bottom. The latter results in a fiery standoff between Tommy and the Bloater. Tommy blasts the monster, however it simply retains coming. An actual case of an unstoppable pressure assembly an immovable object.

However Tommy’s luck begins to expire alongside along with his flame thrower gas, leaving us with the very actual risk of his dying. (Which might be an enormous deviation from the sport, however then once more, so it this entire assault!) Fortunately, the Bloater provides out and falls to the bottom in a charred heap. Grilled mushrooms, anybody?

When Abby activates Joel.

For those who’re acquainted with The Final of Us Half II, you knew this was coming. However that does not make it damage any much less.

Abby drops any pretense of friendliness with Joel, blowing out his knee. That noise you are listening to? That is not Joel howling in ache; that is hundreds of thousands of Final of Us followers yelling at their TVs.

The Jackson battle may need been the flashiest part of the episode, however this second marks the beginning of the episode’s longest, most brutal sequence. Abby lays out how Joel killed her father, and we watch in actual time as Joel resigns himself to his destiny, the results of his Season 1 rampage catching as much as him after so a few years.

When the digicam pans to the golf bag.

There are not any coherent ideas on this second, simply the information that that is going to harm.

When Abby tells Joel, “You don’t get to rush this.”

If this episode hasn’t stomped your coronary heart to tiny items by this level, Abby’s torture of Joel will change that. It is an exhausting march in direction of dying, each blow and each swing of the golf membership feeling like a intestine punch by way of the display.

Talking of the golf membership, it breaks earlier than Abby’s performed with Joel, additional proof of simply how a lot injury he is endured. By the point she stabs him by way of the neck with the shard of the stick, he is principally a human pulp. He is damaged, the viewers is drained, and even Abby appears spent, if happy. In a present that is repeatedly examined the human capability for brutality, this sequence takes the cake as its most grueling but.

When Ellie and Joel share one final look.

This entire episode kicks off with a missed connection between Joel and Ellie, as they do not wind up on patrol collectively. From there, the episode builds nervousness round whether or not the 2 will even meet once more for an opportunity to restore their relationship.

In fact, the 2 do meet once more, however they will by no means get that likelihood.

Ellie finds Joel moments earlier than Abby lands the killing blow, and she or he has to observe, helpless, as her father determine perishes. “Get up,” she pleads, and she or he’s by no means sounded youthful or extra alone. As if that wasn’t heart-breaking sufficient, Joel truly tries to get again up. One flicker of his fingers proves he is nonetheless keen to battle for Ellie, even after a barrage of torture. After the whole lot they’ve gone by way of, the 2 stay one another’s worlds — however that world comes crashing down with Abby’s ultimate blow.

The aftermath of Joel’s dying is equally devastating, with Ellie crawling over to his physique and laying with him. That picture is sufficient to break even the strongest of tear dams, and it conjures up many heartbreaking what-ifs. What if Ellie had gone on patrol with Joel? What if Joel hadn’t saved Abby? What if he had turned again to Jackson on the final second?

So many hypotheticals, however there’s just one tragic actuality. Joel is gone, and Ellie by no means will get to say a correct goodbye. If that is not sufficient to interrupt you, I do not know what is going to.

New episodes of The Final of Us Season 2 premiere on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.