'The Last of Us' Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: "End It"

The second episode of The Last of Us Season 2, titled “Through the Valley,” is nothing short of a seismic shift. It takes one of the most shocking moments from the video game and somehow manages to make it even more devastating in live-action. Thanks to the masterful work of writer Craig Mazin and director Mark Mylod, this hour of television isn’t just impactful—it’s soul-crushing. Let’s dive into how this episode alters the story’s foundation and sets a new emotional tone.

Abby and the Fireflies: A Dream That Echoes Trauma

The episode opens with a haunting dream. Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) walks through the dark, bloodied corridors of the Salt Lake City hospital—site of Joel’s rampage in Season 1. Two versions of Abby exist in this dream: one tries to prevent the other from entering the surgery room where Joel killed her father. “His brains are on the floor,” one Abby tells the other. Despite the warning, she enters. Both start crying. The blaring hospital alarm rises until we realize it’s all in Abby’s head.

She wakes up at a ski lodge outside Jackson with her Firefly crew. As they survey the walled town, they’re shocked by its scale and fortifications. Their mission is clear: kill Joel. But they’ve vowed not to harm anyone else. Owen (Spencer Lord) quietly tells the group he’s planning to talk Abby out of this revenge quest before it gets them all killed. It’s a tense, uneasy calm before the storm.

Jackson on Alert: Ellie, Jesse, and Dina Face a New Threat

The next morning, after a New Year’s Eve party, Jesse (Young Mazino) knocks on Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) garage to take her on patrol. Ellie casually mentions her kiss with Dina (Isabela Merced), Jesse’s ex, leading to some light teasing—before he admits he already knew. The playful moment doesn’t last long; Jackson is in high alert mode.

A patrol discovered frozen infected—only for more to explode from beneath them. The implication? Infected are now using the dead for insulation, a terrifying new tactic. Ellie tells Jesse she wants to ride with Joel (Pedro Pascal), despite their recent conflict. But Jesse informs her that Joel and Dina already left on patrol together. Maria (Rutina Wesley) later asks Ellie to make peace with Seth (Robert John Burke), who hurled homophobic slurs at the party. Seth apologizes and offers a peace offering: steak sandwiches. Ellie begrudgingly accepts.

Meanwhile, Tommy (Gabriel Luna) gathers the town to prepare for the worst: if there’s a breach, everyone knows their role. Rooftop guards, hidden children, and sealed homes—Jackson is ready for war.

Abby’s Descent — And a Rescue That Changes Everything

Abby takes watch in the snow. Spotting two patrol riders in the distance, she follows. Back in Jackson, radios are failing due to the weather. Jesse and Ellie are unreachable, hiding out in an abandoned 7-Eleven stocked with weed and memories. There, Ellie finds a Firefly pendant belonging to Eugene—once a Firefly who quit after growing tired of the violence. Jesse reveals Joel ultimately killed Eugene when he was about to turn.

As Abby continues through the snow, the ground collapses beneath her, and she’s surrounded by frozen infected. Then, horror strikes—they awaken. A massive horde bursts from the ground, and Abby narrowly escapes under a collapsing fence. Just as she’s about to be overtaken, Joel appears and saves her.

They flee to a safe house where Dina is waiting, and Abby realizes—this is Joel. The man who murdered her father, who she’s spent years hunting. As they decide their next move, Abby seizes the moment: she tells them her friends are hiding nearby in a lodge and offers it as a shelter.

Back in Jackson, Joel and Dina haven’t checked in. Ellie and Jesse split up to search. Time is running out.

A Moment That Will Break Everything

The end of this episode is looming like a thundercloud. Fans of the game know what’s coming, but even they aren’t prepared for how this show delivers it. “Through the Valley” isn’t just the turning point of the season—it’s a fundamental shift in the story’s soul. And it proves that, once again, The Last of Us isn’t afraid to hurt you—and make you thank it for the pain.