The season 2 premiere of The Last of Us was a 10 out of 10. New and old characters were perfectly developed. You understood that there was tension between Joel and Ellie. Newcomers like Dina and Abby were introduced in a way that viewers could get invested. And, at the end of it all, you’re left with three major cliffhangers that will affect the rest of the series.
It also ended on a thrilling moment. Let's take this moment to break down the three things you need to know about the ending of "Future Days". As always, spoilers ahead.
Abby is in Jackson
At the beginning of the episode, you see Abby, Nora, and Owen mourning the death of their loved ones and the Fireflies as a whole after Joel's massacre in the first season. Abby says that Joel has to die, and that when the time comes, he will die slowly. They don’t have a lot to go on, so Owen suggests going to Seattle to meet his contact (Isaac) and start a new life. It appears that they listen because the episode ends with Abby and Owen looking over at the Jackson compound, five years later.
This is probably the most important moment from the first episode as it sets everything in motion for the rest of the season. Well, honestly, everything that Joel died in the season 1 finale set things in motion, and Owen and Abby seeing Jackson is simply the first step. They know the man that they're looking for is in there and that they have to get him. If this is like the game, things will progress quickly, and it will end with broken hearts.
the reviews are in. pic.twitter.com/jL8epJLyIY
— The Last of Us (@TheLastofUsHBO) April 10, 2025
The infection is spreading in The Last of Us season 2
While in the Jackson compound, the workers break a pipe. Inside it is plant life and dirt. I immediately waited for fungus to sprout from the plant life that was inside of it. That thought came to fruition at the end of the episode. To quote Jurassic Park: “Life finds a way.” The cordyceps are Earth’s newest evolution, and they won’t be stopped by a wall.
As fans saw in season 1, episode 2, the cordyceps have a wider reach and a keener method of communication than the game. You can step on their “vines” miles away, and information of the impact will travel along them, alerting other infected people who are connected to the network. This is likely how the rest of the infected know there’s fresh "food" in Jackson, leading to the onslaught seen in the trailers.
Another thing to think about is the future of the show. If there's one infected person in Jackson, the entire compound is compromised. That could lead to season 3 being about life after Jackson after another home is destroyed by the cordyceps infection.
Joel and Ellie's relationship has evolved
The issues between Joel and Ellie began when Joel lied about what he did in Utah in The Last of Us season 1 finale. Ellie didn’t react then, but either found out what he did, has known it all along, or something else is simply going on. Either way, it’s easy to see they aren’t happy with each other.
The animosity between them hits its peak when Joel intervenes after someone in Jackson calls Dina and Ellie a slur. Joel steps in, and Ellie angrily tells him off. Later, Ellie sees Joel outside his house playing her guitar. No words are said and she appears to storm past him. If they do have a conversation, we don’t know what happens yet. But we know a conversation has to be coming.
In the game, it's a moment when Ellie realizes how much she has messed up. However, you don’t know what she is talking about until the end of the campaign. It’s likely to happen the same way on the show because some moments are meant to happen when they do.
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