HBO’s adaptation of the 2013 game,The Last of Usis touted as a relatable show even though it features a post-catastrophic world. It rests on well-rounded, resilient characters and their powerful drive for survival.
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Led by the anti-hero, Joel Miller, and the foul-mouthed teenager, Ellie,The Last of Usis engaging from the very beginning in part due to its immersive visuals but mostly because of hard-hitting dialogues.The best characters onThe Last of Usbond over their grief, and the devastating impact of the Cordyceps outbreak, and in the process provide some of the best relatable quotes.
10"We Did Those Things. And They Weren’t ‘Things.’ We Murdered People." -Tommy
Tommy and Joel’s reunion inThe Last of Usseason 1, episode 6, “Kin” is an emotional rollercoaster. It begins on a heartwarming note with the brothers embracing each other.
Quite obviously, there’s unresolved anger and both Tommy and Joel know that has to be dealt with. During their conversation at the Tipsy Bison, Joel asks Tommy about the Fireflies base and eventually gets to talking about taking Ellie to Colorado. Joel asks Tommy if he judges him for the things he did to keep them alive. Tommy corrects him and says the “things” they did weren’t minor crimes, but they killed people to live. He shares equal responsibility for their actions and corrects his brother whose lack of self-awareness is appalling in the scene.
9"I Have Lost Something. I’m Failing In My Sleep." - Joel
The Last of Usseason 1, episode 6 is home to Joel and Tommy’s heartfelt conversation. Joel steals the show once he takes accountability for the things he did in Boston QZ. He opens up about the devastating loss of his child, Sarah which was caused by the chaos ofthe Cordyceps outbreak.
Joel thinks he’s failed because as a parent his main responsibility was to protect his kid from what befell them on the outbreak day. His painful experience has hardened him but beneath that exterior lies a parent who went through the painful experience of witnessing the death of their child before their very eyes.
8"Well, Here’s Your Chance To Bring Your Kid Into A Better World." - Joel
Joel pleads with Tommy to take Ellie to the Fireflies base. The younger brother is reluctant at first because his wife is a few months along, and he lives in a guarded settlement.
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Joel opens up about Ellie’s Cordyceps immunity and her medical importance. He helps Tommy see that there’s still hope for humanity and Ellie is the key to the cure. Since Tommy has a child on the way, his parental instinct is awakened, and he agrees despite knowing the dangers of the journey.
7"You Think I Can Still Handle Things But I’m Not Who I Was." - Joel
Joel (played by Pedro Pascal)and Tommy’s conversation is gripping. It just so happens that Joel opens up about the things that have been eating him up inside. He’d turned 36 on outbreak day, and twenty years have passed since. He’s a 56-year-old man, who endured both physical and mental trauma.
Joel knows his weaknesses, and he thinks his shortcomings will have Ellie killed. His fears, self-doubt, and insecurities are apparent, and they make him human.
6"I Mean It’s Why You Took Off On Me, Right? To Make Up For The Things We Did?" - Joel
Joel knows Tommy left him because the things they did to survive began to weigh heavily on him. Tommy, an idealist at heart, took off to begin again as a better person.
Joel, on the other hand, feels remorse for his past actions. The key to starting over with Tommy is to recognize his mistakes and take accountability for all that they did to survive. Joel admitting to all his mistakes shows he’s grown not only tougher but also wiser and apologetic with time.
5"I’m Weak. Lately, There Are These Moments When The Fear Comes Up Outta Nowhere And My Heart Feels Like It’s Stopped." - Joel
Joel sustains the trauma of not being able to save Sarah from the U.S. soldier on outbreak day. This memory is triggered in the final moments ofThe Last of Usseason 1, episode 1"When You’re Lost in the Darkness" when a FEDRA agent is about to shoot Ellie. He’s instantly taken back to the outbreak day and Sarah’s fatal injury. He beats the FEDRA agent to death while Ellie watches in surprise.
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InThe Last of Usepisode 6, Joel mistakes someone else for Sarah from behind. He struggles to breathe and leans onto a pole for support. Episodes such as these and his flashbacks are proof enough that he hasn’t found a healthy outlet to express his emotions. Sitting with the only person (Tommy) who saw him cradle his daughter to death is an important step in his healing journey.
4"Joel, You Gotta Get Up. I Can’t Do This Without You." - Ellie
Ellie is a sarcastic person with some ofthe funniestThe Last of Usquotesto her credit. Though she’s brave and wise beyond her years, deep inside she knows that Joel is her only guiding light in the Cordyceps-ravaged world.
Ellie is a fourteen-year-old orphan, who doesn’t know the world beyond QZs or the Infected. She has her fears, as any person at her age and stage should. She’s worried sick for herself and Joel when he’s stabbed in the stomach with a broken baseball bat by a raider at the end ofThe Last of Usseason 1, episode 6. They somehow manage to flee the danger, but Joel collapses on the ground leaving Ellie helpless.
3"So, Don’t Tell Me That I’d Be Safe With Somebody Else, Because The Truth Is, I’d Just Be More Scared." -Ellie
InThe Last of Usepisode 6, Ellie is heartbroken when she hears Joel ask Tommy to take her to the Fireflies base. She begins by apologizing to Joel for Sarah’s loss and says she too has had similar experiences.
Ellie mentions how everybody except Joel has left her. All she’s trying to do at the moment is to tell Joel not to ditch her. Ellie fears abandonment and given the fact has she’s attached to Joel, she doesn’t want to split with him at all. She’d rather go on a journey with him than the much stronger, Tommy.
2"Be Careful Who You Put Your Faith In. The Only People Who Can Betray Us Are The Ones We Trust." - Maria
Joel’s wife, Maria is a smart woman. She understands the complexity of human relationships. She intentionally bonds with Ellie by leaving out fresh clothes, and a menstrual cup with instructions for her.
Maria also invites Ellie over to her house where she gives her a useful piece of advice. After Ellie stands up for Joel, Maria quickly realizes that the young girl has bonded with him. She’s suspicious of a man of his reputation, therefore she feels necessary to offer this kernel of wisdom to Ellie. It’s one of the most relatable things Maria says inThe Last of Usand a good piece of advice, in general.
1"That Was Lame, You’re Lame." -Sarah Miller
Sarah has a fair share of heartbreaking quoteson HBO’sThe Last of Us. That said, she and Joel also indulge in some good-natured family banter at the beginning.
The Last of Uspremiere gives a sneak peek into Joel and Sarah’s bond. It’s awkward but full of love, and trust. She fixes his watch on his birthday, and he pretends it’s still broken. Sarah calls her dad “lame” for messing with her. The scene shows the Millers were like any other family pre-Cordyceps, and the fungal infection laid waste to their lives.
