The Last of Us season 2 episode 5 sets up Joel flashback and Ellie’s moral breaking point

The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 5 deepens Ellie’s emotional spiral as her pursuit of revenge threatens to consume her.Opens with a poignant look at the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), quickly establishing their emotional stakes and showing how grief and humanity are intertwined even in war.

Dina’s pregnancy had momentarily grounded Ellie with hope, but Jesse’s (Young Mazino) arrival disrupts that sense of security. His presence forces the couple to confront the possibility that Dina may need to prioritise her future over their mission. For Ellie, this represents a deeper fear of abandonment and the reality that her path may become even lonelier.

As the episode progresses, Ellie’s grief becomes more volatile. A tense confrontation with Nora (Tati Gabrielle) pushes her to commit acts of violence without hesitation. However, Kassel notes that Bella Ramsey’s performance in this moment falls short of fully conveying the inner conflict driving Ellie’s rage.

The episode also expands the world’s danger with the emergence of more intelligent infected and hints at an airborne Cordyceps strain. These developments escalate the stakes beyond human conflict, suggesting that Ellie’s quest for vengeance may ultimately be meaningless in a collapsing world.

Episode 5 ends on an emotional cliffhanger, teasing the return of Joel (Pedro Pascal) through flashbacks. As Ellie begins to confront the truth she’s buried since the Season 1 finale, the stage is set for a reckoning that could define the rest of her journey. New episodes air Sundays at 9 PM EST on Max and HBO.