“I’m still me, he’s still Joel, and nothing’s ever going to change that, ever.” Ellie’s impassioned declaration at the beginning of The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2 initially feels like a meaningful moment of reflection. By the episode’s end, however, those words transform into haunting foreshadowing.
“Through the Valley” delivers a 57-minute emotional whirlwind that stays true to the series’ reputation for devastating its audience. This time, the shock comes in a form that viewers who haven’t played the sequel game could never have anticipated.
In this recap, we’ll explore all the heartbreaking insights from an episode defined by revenge, unexpected twists and gut-wrenching turns that will forever change the trajectory of HBO’s acclaimed adaptation and its most beloved characters.
Check out our recap and review of The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1.
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2, Episode 2 Recap: Tension Builds in “Through the Valley”
Be forewarned: You’ll find LOTS of spoilers for the second episode of The Last of Us Season 2 in the recap below.
“Through the Valley” aired Sunday, April 20th, directed by veteran Game of Thrones director Mark Mylod and written by series co-creator Craig Mazin. This pivotal episode continues building the season’s central conflict while delivering shocking developments that will forever change the series.
Abby’s Hunt for Revenge Intensifies
The episode opens by further exploring Abby’s group of former Fireflies and their vengeful mission. For viewers needing a refresher, they’re hunting Joel Miller for his devastating attack on the Firefly hospital compound five years earlier, when he rescued Ellie from their operating table.
As the group establishes a vantage point overlooking Jackson, Wyoming, the stark contrast between Abby and her companions becomes evident. While her friends express concern about the commune’s impressive defenses—guard posts, high walls and organized infrastructure—Abby remains singularly focused. Her obsession with revenge appears to be intensifying, displaying an almost unnerving determination that makes her companions increasingly uneasy.
Ellie’s Complex Emotions in Jackson
Inside Jackson’s walls, we find Ellie waking up the morning after the New Year’s Eve celebration and her uncomfortable confrontations with both Seth and Joel. Jesse, her patrol mentor, arrives to tease her about Dina’s surprise kiss from the previous night. This light moment quickly gives way to something deeper as Ellie attempts to explain her complicated relationship with Joel.
“I’m still me, he’s still Joel, and nothing’s ever going to change that, ever.”
Ellie is clearly frustrated that others can’t understand their unique surrogate father-daughter dynamic. Her declaration carries emotional weight, especially when she discovers Joel has already left for patrol without her—a small but significant reminder of the distance that’s grown between them over five years.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
Jackson on High Alert
The settlement’s relative peace is undermined by growing threats outside their walls. The discovery of a cluster of dead Infected nearby has put everyone on edge. The situation becomes more concerning after leadership hears about the intelligent “stalker” Ellie encountered in the previous episode—evidence that the Infected are evolving in dangerous new ways.
Tommy and Maria have tightened security protocols, conducting defensive drills that hint at the community’s past encounters with such threats. The air is thick with tension as Jackson braces for impending danger, unaware that threats loom from both the Infected and hostile human arrivals with lethal motives. Their efforts focus not just on preparing the community for potential Infected attacks, but also on maintaining harmony within Jackson, particularly between Seth and Ellie. As you’ll remember, the previous night’s celebration was disrupted when Seth shouted a homophobic slur at Dina and Ellie, prompting Joel to intervene physically. Now, Maria (Rutina Wesley) escorts Ellie to Seth, who offers a somewhat sincere apology, marking at least one positive turn in the episode.
Afterwards, Ellie and Jesse head on patrol, where it becomes painfully clear the weather is giving them no favors, with extreme cold and wind approaching quickly. Which brings us back to Abby, who, out on watch, spots Ellie and Jesse on their horses.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
Paths Converge in the Storm
By the time it’s clear that it is too dangerous for patrol to be out there, the snow is coming down aggressively. Ellie and Jesse must take shelter in an abandoned building, too far out to get back to camp.
In a moment of rare comic relief, the pair ends up in a “7/11 full of weed,” which turns out to be Eugene’s, who we also discover was once part of the Fireflies. Jesse mentions “Joel having to put him down,” a comment that visibly affects Ellie, hinting at more unresolved history between her and Joel.
Meanwhile, Abby’s surveillance takes a dangerous turn when she falls down the snow-laden landscape, leaving her sprawled amongst a horde of frozen Infected. This is one of the first scenes we see Abby show genuine fear. Abby takes off running when suddenly, the Infected begin avalanching toward her, with more runners appearing behind her with every second. She sprints toward a wall and is about to be bitten when she manages to climb over it into relative safety. The Infected pile on until they break the fence, leaving her crawling desperately to escape.
This incredibly intense sequence is interrupted by the sound of gunshots. The savior firing those shots is none other than Joel, the very person she has traveled across the country to kill. Dina, on patrol with Joel, grabs Abby and leads them away just before more Infected can reach them—a moment of cruel irony as Joel unknowingly rescues his future murderer.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
The Dual Battle: Jackson Under Siege
When Jesse and Ellie hear that Joel and Dina haven’t checked in, they leave their shelter to search for them, splitting up to cover more ground. Simultaneously, we witness Jackson residents chopping at the damaged pipes from the previous episode, inadvertently awakening the cordyceps tendrils hidden within. This seemingly minor moment triggers catastrophic consequences as the Infected begin their invasion of the community.
The Battle of Jackson unfolds with military precision as community members follow their rehearsed protocols: “go up or go down.” Armed residents take defensive positions on rooftops and in basements while Tommy demonstrates remarkable leadership, maintaining calm while coordinating the settlement’s defense.
From miles away, Joel and Dina witness smoke rising from Jackson. Despite their instinct to return, Abby convinces them to regroup at her lodge first for supplies and reinforcements—a fatal detour that seals Joel’s fate.
The battle sequence introduces viewers to one of the series’ most terrifying Infected variants: the Bloater. This massive, resilient creature smashes through Jackson’s barricades, creating openings for hundreds of runners to pour in. The visual spectacle recalls the epic battle sequences from Game of Thrones, with Tommy ultimately drawing the Bloater away and destroying it moments before it would have killed him.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
The Brutal Truth Revealed
Inside the lodge, the atmosphere shifts dramatically as Abby announces to her companions that she’s found Joel Miller. Her transformation from vulnerable survivor to cold-blooded killer happens in an instant, catching Joel completely off-guard.
“There are no more Fireflies… They’re all gone,” Abby reveals, murder in her eyes. As realization dawns on Joel, Abby shoots him in the leg without warning—a shocking moment that left audiences gasping collectively.
The devastating truth emerges through Abby’s taunts: the unarmed doctor Joel killed at the Firefly facility was her father. The narrative’s cruel irony crystallizes in this moment—Joel saved his surrogate daughter by killing Abby’s father and now meets his end after saving that same man’s daughter.
What follows is one of the most brutal scenes in television history. Abby, fulfilling her promise to kill Joel slowly, tortures him with a golf club, repeatedly striking his gunshot wound before using her fists. Just as the violence reaches its peak, Ellie arrives at the lodge, only to be restrained and forced to watch as Abby delivers the killing blow, stabbing Joel in the back of the neck with the broken golf club shaft.
Ellie’s anguished pleas—”get up, please get up”—echo through the room as she witnesses the death of the man who once traveled a zombie-infested America to save her life. In her grief and rage, she makes a promise that mirrors Abby’s own vengeful oath: to kill every last one of them.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
The Aftermath and Looking Forward
The episode concludes with parallel scenes of devastation: inside Jackson, survivors assess the damage from the Infected attack, while outside, Ellie, Jesse and Dina transport Joel’s wrapped body back to the settlement. This haunting final image—Joel’s body being dragged through the snow—symbolizes both an ending and a beginning.
Joel’s death creates a vacuum at the heart of the series while simultaneously propelling the narrative in new directions. Viewers are now left with profound questions:
- How will Joel and Ellie’s unresolved relationship issues complicate her grief?
- What path will Ellie and Dina’s relationship take in the wake of this tragedy?
- What role will Abby and her group play now that their primary objective has been achieved?
- How does losing one of its central characters alter the show’s trajectory?
TL;DR: Episode 2, “Through the Valley,” delivers one of TV’s most shocking deaths as Joel is brutally killed by Abby. The episode deepens Ellie’s grief, explores Eugene’s tragic backstory, and sets the tone for a season defined by vengeance and emotional fallout.
Critical Analysis: A Masterful Turning Point
“Through the Valley” represents a masterclass in emotional storytelling and dramatic tension. While remaining faithful to the source material, the episode intensifies Joel’s death scene for maximum emotional impact, creating a more prolonged and graphic sequence that serves the narrative’s themes.
The episode also provides crucial background on Eugene, previously introduced as therapist Gail’s husband who Joel had to “put down.” We learn he was a Vietnam veteran and former Firefly, though the exact circumstances of his death remain mysterious. This subplot represents one of the few significant departures from the game’s storyline.
The episode’s title and closing song—a cover of Shawn James’ “Through the Valley”—underscores Ellie’s journey through hardship and her descent into vengeance. The lyrics and somber tone amplify the episode’s emotional weight, particularly following Joel’s death.
Cinematographically, the use of shorter focal lengths keeps viewers intimately connected to the characters’ emotional states. The Jackson siege sequence showcases impressive VFX and stunt coordination, creating an immersive realism that heightens the stakes.
Performance Highlights
This emotionally devastating series, and this episode in particular, could never succeed without the outstanding cast bringing it to life. Through the Valley showcased this in countless ways, including:
- Bella Ramsey (Ellie): Delivers a powerhouse performance capturing Ellie’s vulnerability and emerging ferocity.
- Pedro Pascal (Joel): Portrays Joel’s final moments with poignant resignation and paternal affection.
- Kaitlyn Dever (Abby): Introduces her complex character with compelling intensity and emotional depth.
Thematic Resonance
“Through the Valley” explores the cyclical nature of violence—how vengeance perpetuates suffering rather than resolving it. Joel’s past actions directly lead to his death, which in turn propels Ellie onto her own revenge quest, illustrating the inescapable consequences of violence in their world. And truthfully, Abby seemed no less angry and grief-stricken after her murderous rage than before she encountered Joel, making it clear that an “eye for an eye” may sound good, but rarely does it leave you feeling good.
Critics have praised the episode for its emotional depth and narrative boldness. While some note pacing issues, the performances and thematic exploration have received widespread acclaim, cementing “Through the Valley” as a defining episode in the series and one of television’s most shocking character deaths in recent years.
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Check out DIRECTV Insider’s extensive coverage on The Last of Us:
- Everything We Know About Season 2 of The Last of Us
- Season 2 Episode 1 Recap & Review: The Last of Us
- Season 2 Character Guide for The Last of Us
- ‘The Last of Us’ Season 1: Episode-by-Episode Recap
- ‘The Last of Us’ Full Series Character Guide
- Everything We Know About the Infected in The Last of Us
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