The bond between Ellie and Joel was once unbreakable, but in The Last of Us Season 2, that trust is shattered. After everything they’ve survived together, Ellie’s anger toward Joel runs deep, and it all traces back to one fateful decision he made at the end of Season 1.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened, why Ellie is angry with Joel, and more.
Here’s why Ellie is so mad at Joel in The Last of Us Season 2
In The Last of Us Season 1 finale, when Joel and Ellie finally reach the Fireflies in Salt Lake City, they believe her immunity could lead to a cure. But there is a terrible catch: the only way to create a vaccine is to kill her. Unable to bear losing another daughter, Joel makes a ruthless choice—he slaughters the Fireflies, rescues Ellie, and lies to her face.
At first, Ellie believes his story about the cure being impossible. But over time, she starts questioning his words. Eventually, Ellie figures out the truth: Joel didn’t just lie to her—he stole her choice. She could have decided her own fate, but he took that away from her.
Joel and Ellie already shared a complicated relationship—he stepped into a father-figure role, and she depended on him. But now, she views him differently. She feels furious not just because he lied, but because he may have destroyed humanity’s last hope for a cure—all for her.
The HBO series slightly changes the story. Unlike in the game, Joel attends therapy and struggles with guilt over his actions. Meanwhile, Ellie’s resentment intensifies. In The Last of Us Part II, she discovers the truth through a gut-wrenching flashback and forces Joel to confess. Whether the show follows that path or not, their relationship can’t return to what it was.
