‘The Last of Us’ Season 2, Episode 1: Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

The highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us opens with a tense reminder of the moral chaos left in Joel’s wake. Titled “Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch,” the episode bridges the aftermath of Season 1’s explosive finale and propels the story five years into a fragile peace. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) now reside in Jackson, Wyoming, a thriving survivor community led by Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley). But beneath the surface of this idyllic settlement, unresolved guilt, simmering rage, and new threats threaten to unravel everything.

The Weight of the Past
The episode begins with dual prologues. The first revisits the final moments of Season 1, where Ellie forces Joel to swear he told the truth about the Fireflies’ failure to develop a cure. His lie hangs heavy, casting a shadow over their relationship. The second prologue introduces Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), a surviving Firefly whose grief over Joel’s massacre in Salt Lake City fuels her thirst for revenge. Her vow to kill him “slowly” sets a foreboding tone.

Five years later, Jackson has blossomed into a fortified haven with electricity, agriculture, and even dances. Yet Joel and Ellie’s bond has frayed. Ellie, now , channels her anger into relentless combat training and patrols, while Joel clings to his role as a protector, meddling in her life to the frustration of Jackson’s leaders. Their interactions are strained, marked by silence and unspoken resentment.

New Faces and Old Wounds
Jackson’s expanded cast includes Dina (Isabela Merced), Ellie’s witty and fearless friend, whose playful dynamic with both Joel and Ellie highlights their fractured connection. Joel’s gruff charm shines as he teaches Dina about circuitry, while Ellie’s awkward crush on Dina adds a touch of vulnerability. Meanwhile, Joel’s therapy sessions with Gail (Catherine O’Hara) reveal deeper layers of guilt. Gail, whose husband Eugene was killed by Joel, struggles to reconcile her hatred with her duty to help him. Their raw exchanges—like Joel’s tearful admission, “I saved her”—hint at the emotional bombshells to come.

A World Still Hungry for Blood
The episode doesn’t skimp on horror. During a patrol, Ellie and Dina investigate a derelict grocery store, where they encounter a new type of infected: a stalker-like creature resembling a young girl with antler-like growths. Unlike mindless “clickers,” this foe strategizes, nearly outsmarting Ellie. The bite she sustains forces her to secretly carve the wound to hide her immunity—a stark reminder of the secrets dividing her and Joel.

Love and Conflict in the Dark
The episode’s emotional core lies in Ellie and Dina’s budding romance. At a New Year’s dance, their tentative flirtation erupts into a passionate kiss, mirroring the hope of Season 1’s “Left Behind” flashback. But joy is short-lived: a bigoted townsman, Seth, hurls a slur, prompting Joel to violently intervene. Ellie’s fury at his overprotectiveness—“What is wrong with you?”—underscores their growing chasm.

Looming Storms
As the episode closes, danger creeps closer. Abby and her armed Firefly allies approach Jackson, while beneath the town, cordyceps roots writhe in the pipes—a silent, spreading threat. Joel’s desperate efforts to shield Ellie from the world, and from the truth, may already be too late.

Themes of Survival and Sacrifice
“Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch” masterfully balances intimate character drama with apocalyptic dread. It questions whether Joel’s choice to save Ellie was an act of love or selfishness, and how lies corrode even the strongest bonds. With stellar performances—particularly Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie’s simmering rage and Pascal’s weathered vulnerability—the episode sets the stage for a season steeped in moral ambiguity and inevitable violence.

As the roots of the cordyceps—and Abby’s vengeance—inch closer, Jackson’s fragile peace teeters on the edge. For Joel and Ellie, the past is a ghost they can’t outrun.