How departure from video game reshapes Joel and Ellie relationship in The Last of Us Season 2 episode 6

Episode 6 of The Last of Us Season 2 offers crucial insight into the fractured bond between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), bridging the emotional gap between the two seasons. Told largely through annual flashbacks marking Ellie’s birthdays, the episode reveals key turning points that contributed to the tension leading up to Joel’s death.

A major departure from the video game centers on Eugene (Joe Pantoliano), a character mentioned but never seen in the original source. While the game notes he died of a stroke, the show reimagines his death during an infected attack. Though Eugene asks to be brought back to Jackson to say goodbye to his wife, Gail (Catherine O’Hara), Joel shoots him to prevent his transformation. Joel later lies to Gail, saying Eugene chose to end his life, but Ellie exposes the truth—further straining her relationship with Joel and reinforcing her growing mistrust.

This narrative shift also serves a larger purpose. “The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship,” said series co-creator Neil Druckmann in an interview with Variety, noting that Eugene’s original backstory was relatively superficial in the game.

These changes culminate in a pivotal confrontation between Joel and Ellie the night before his murder. Ellie finally confronts him about the Fireflies and the truth he kept hidden. Despite her anger, she ultimately tells Joel she wants to try forgiving him—a moment that deepens the emotional stakes of what follows.

By expanding on events only hinted at in the game, the show adds emotional complexity to Joel and Ellie’s bond, offering a clearer understanding of Ellie’s grief and her descent into vengeance.