The Last Of Us Creator Reveals Why One Key Joel & Ellie Scene For Episode 6 Was Changed From The Video Game

After The Last of Us season 2, episode 6, the show and game's creator, Neil Druckmann, spoke on changing a critical Joel and Ellie scene. Last night's episode of The Last of Us saw Joel and Ellie's iconic porch scene, famously their final moment together before the former was murdered. The Last of Us season 2 has had numerous changes from the video game source material, but this is one of the most beloved, emotional moments in the game, which is placed at the end, providing a hopeful finish to a story that's otherwise filled with bleak moments.

Speaking with Variety, Neil Druckmann explained that the decision to have Joel and Ellie's final conversation at this point, rather than at the end of the story like in the game, was so audiences wouldn't have to wait too long for this cathartic moment. Unlike the game series, which concluded with two volumes, HBO's show is planned for two more seasons. Druckmann explains that, with so much focus on Ellie this season, it wouldn't be right to hold off on this moment between her and Joel for several years. Read his full quote below:

Neil Druckmann: "No. When we were making the game, I knew that scene should exist. I didn’t know where it goes. That was true for all the flashbacks. Even pretty late in production of the game, we were moving those flashbacks around. In talking about it with Craig, it’s the first time I really thought about the time between seasons. So much of writing is set ups and payoffs, and we would have set certain things up that get paid off years later. That felt too long, especially because this season focuses so much on Ellie’s journey and this emotional truth of what did she know? What didn’t she know? To wait additional years until Season 3 will come out — or maybe even Season 4, it depends where all the events land and how many seasons we have — I was easily convinced by Craig that that would be too long."

What The Last Of Us Porch Scene's Placement Means For The Adaptation

We're Getting A Clearer Picture Of How The Last Of Us' 4 Seasons Will Play Out

A critical piece of Neil Druckmann's quote is that "this season focuses so much on Ellie's journey," hinting at an interesting format going forward. Given how The Last of Us Part II's story works, in a non-linear format, it seems like season 2 will show Ellie's story from days one through three, with season 3 focusing on Abby's experiences during that time. This would make it more important to provide the emotional catharsis for Ellie's narrative now, rather than reserving it for several years.

Bella Ramsey's Ellie will surely play an integral role throughout all of The Last of Us, but the core of season 2 is about her and Joel. The show's events picked up after a complicated five-year time jump, and Ellie has been on an emotional rollercoaster since, with several traumatizing moments to add to her already confused perception of her adoptive father. Having the porch scene now, instead of at the end of season 4, presents audiences with all the essential facts, allowing them to fully join Ellie as her journey progresses beyond Joel.

Our Take On The Last Of Us Porch Scene's Game Changes

The Porch Scene Was Effectively Bittersweet

With everything we saw in The Last of Us season 2, episode 6, I think the porch scene was deeply necessary. From the mortifying moment with Gail to revisiting the New Year's party, Joel really takes a beating in this episode, and I felt an immense amount of sorrow for him. To have ended on that note and left the porch scene for a later date would have been incredibly harsh on his character, especially knowing what would happen to him. However, including this iconic moment allowed the episode to end with hope.

Sure, we still know Joel's fate, but knowing that he died with a sense of hope that his adoptive daughter still loved him is relieving. As it pertains to Ellie, we also now have hope for her, knowing that there was a piece of her that still felt a profound sense of love for Joel, even before he was ripped away from her. She wants blood and revenge, but there's also a part of her that wants to forgive him, and that will tether her to her humanity through the remainder of the show's events.