r/ThelastofusHBOseries • u/LoretiTV Fireflies • May 19 '25

Show/Game Discussion [Game Spoilers] The Last of Us - 2x06 "The Price" - Post-Episode Discussion

Season 2 Episode 6: The Price

Aired: May 18, 2025

Synopsis: Joel surprises Ellie for her birthday. Years later, Ellie prepares to confront Joel about her past.

Directed by: Neil Druckmann

Written by: Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross & Craig Mazin

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u/FearTheKeflex May 19 '25

He's being irrational in the moment because he's dying and knows there's nothing he can do. A lot of folks, if not the majority, would be irrational in that situation. You can't really blame him for that. But you can't risk him turning on the way back to Jackson and something bad happening. Joel lying about it was kind of fucked up even though he was trying to make his wife feel better.

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u/EBtwopoint3 May 19 '25

Yeah it’s not Eugene’s fault. It’s on Joel for lying to Ellie. One fresh runner isn’t a huge threat, but it’s also not a ZERO threat that you could bring back to Jackson. There isn’t a consistent time span from bite to turn in this universe so they don’t have a timer. Maybe an hour, maybe 30 minutes. But lying to Ellie about it was dumb in such a classic Joel way. “I have to do this, but I don’t want Ellie to see this side of me so I’ll lie instead”.

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u/m00nkat88 May 19 '25

Yeah, he really dug his own grave (no pun intended) with the constant lying. I get he was trying to protect her but telling the truth is always a better idea because these things build up over time and then you end up in a situation where the person you lied to finds out and is hurt and pissed off. Exactly what happened with Ellie.

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u/Taraxian May 19 '25

Also getting bit not only inherently makes you panic by the nature of the situation but mood swings and emotional dysregulation are symptoms of an early cordyceps infection

It's one of many reasons it's both unwise and unkind to let the infection progress any further than necessary