The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann recently weighed in on the most morally ambiguous moment from season 1. Yes, wer're talking about the incredibly tough dilemma our protagonist Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) faces in the season finale. After escorting Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the U.S. to the Firefly stronghold, he learns that the only way to develop a cure from her immunity would result in her death. And so, rather than allowing a cure to be developed, Joel kills the doctors and saves Ellie, all but quelling any hopes of ending the apocalypse.
The finale moment has divided gamers for years, while TV viewers have grappled with the dilemma since the show's premiere in 2023. There's different ways of looking at it. Joel's motive is completely understandable, but that doesn't make his actions right. As for Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us, he recently revealed that he personally thinks Joel was vindicated in his actions.
"I believe Joel was right," Druckmann told IGN. "If I were in Joel's position, I hope I would be able to do what he did to save my daughter."
Meanwhile, director and co-creator of the series, Craig Mazin, echoed a similar view. "If I were in Joel's position, I probably would have done what he did,” he revealed. “But I'd like to think that I wouldn't. That's the interesting push and pull of the morality of it. And that's why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so wonderful. It just doesn't let you off the hook as a player."
Looking ahead to the arrival of The Last of Us season 2, Joel's actions will have enormous repercussions on how the story plays out. New star Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, is out for vengeance. Check out the trailer:
The Last of Us returns for its next instalment April 13 on Max.
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