‘The Final of Us’: 5 burning questions we now have after the finale

Welp, that was loads. You are in all probability nonetheless digesting that brutal The Final of Us finale that capped off a season packed filled with monsters, murders, and widespread emotional devastation — however as soon as the mud has settled, an inevitable query comes rising from the fungal ashes: What’s subsequent for our plucky duo?

The place will Season 2 take Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey)? What does the subsequent chapter maintain? What’s been left unanswered on the shut of Season 1?

We have rounded up a number of the burning questions we have been left with as the top credit rolled. As a result of that is The Final of Us we’re speaking about, just one factor appears sure at this stage — there’s prone to be an entire lot extra heartbreak to return. (Oh, and simply to be clear, this story is written with none information of the Naughty Canine video video games, together with The Final of Us Half II which Season 2 will deal with — so it is all hypothesis and no sport spoilers).

1. Will the Fireflies come on the lookout for Joel and Ellie?

What occurred to Marlene is definitely going to have repercussions.
Credit score: Liane Hentscher/HBO

It doesn’t matter what you consider Joel’s violent rescue of Ellie within the last episode, it appears fairly clear that there will be repercussions. You would possibly have the ability to get away with dispatching the odd Firefly right here and there, however an entire hospital filled with them? Together with their chief, Marlene (Merle Dandridge)? Nope, that is going to have penalties.

It is potential, in fact, that Marlene hasn’t instructed anybody past the Salt Lake Metropolis medical workforce about Ellie being immune. Attainable, however unlikely — the Fireflies Joel took out presumably had this data on a need-to-know foundation. With Firefly models assigned primarily to taking again QZs throughout the nation, and belief a scorching commodity on this post-apocalyptic actuality, Marlene seems to have saved one thing as world-changing as a possible cordyceps remedy to herself all these years. Not even her core Boston workforce is aware of precisely why Ellie is so necessary. Our guess, although? Another person is aware of. One other high-powered Firefly will make it their enterprise to trace down Joel and Ellie post-haste. It is not a matter of will they arrive on the lookout for them, however when.

2. Will Ellie study what actually occurred on the Firefly base?

Will we see a rift forming between these two?
Credit score: Liane Hentscher/HBO

On the one hand, Joel and Ellie are nearer than ever by the shut of Season 1. Joel has actually known as Ellie “child woman”, the nickname he used for his personal daughter, they usually’ve each saved one another’s lives numerous occasions. However — and it is a huge however — there’s now a secret between them. A Bloater-sized secret. Joel has instructed Ellie {that a}) there are others like her, b) that the medical doctors could not make something work and gave up on the lookout for a remedy, and c) that raiders have been those that attacked the hospital. All of which is an enormous lie.

Joel could also be good at surviving, however is he a great liar? Ellie’s last confrontation with Joel, asking him for the reality, was left open to interpretation whether or not or not she believes him — for those who can learn Ramsey’s facial features in that last scene, good for you. Even when he is an efficient liar, will he have the ability to cease the lie from catching up with him and Ellie? We predict not — particularly if the Fireflies come knocking.

3. Will Joel and Ellie be allowed to remain at Tommy and Maria’s camp?

Maria is not the largest Joel fan.
Credit score: Liane Hentscher/HBO

Joel and Ellie’s welcome on the camp in Jackson, Wyoming the place Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria (Rutina Wesley) reside is not precisely a heat one in episode 6. Clearly Tommy is pleased to see Joel, nevertheless it appears fairly clear on the time that Maria is not fairly so thrilled. “There are clearly issues you do not know about Joel,” she tells Ellie whereas reducing her hair, earlier than advising her to watch out who she places her religion in. “The one individuals who can betray us are those we belief.”

Provided that she’s already suspicious of Joel, how is Maria going to react to their return? What questions will she have for Joel, and can she see by means of his lies? If we needed to guess we would say Joel and Ellie will seemingly be taken in initially, but when there’s a lot as a touch as to what Joel did on the market, Maria will order him gone.

4. What is going to develop into of FEDRA and the QZs?

Are FEDRA QZs on the way in which out?
Credit score: Liane Hentscher/HBO

FEDRA’s maintain over the nation is proven to be shaky at greatest in Season 1. Not solely have they got Contaminated and the Fireflies to take care of, however there are additionally different revolutionary militia teams just like the Kansas Metropolis one led by Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) which have truly succeeded in overthrowing the federal government’s corrupt army arm from their respective Quarantine Zone.

Will different QZs be taken over in Season 2? Is it potential the Fireflies will make a bigger, country-wide transfer to destabilise FEDRA, or will they crumble with out Marlene’s management? Given the way in which issues are going for FEDRA in Season 1, it actually appears potential their energy might falter.

5. Will Joel and Ellie discover their farm?

We simply need them to be pleased!
Credit score: Liane Hentscher/HBO

Would not or not it’s good if Joel and Ellie might uncover just a little little bit of peace in Season 2? The journey to house that Ellie’s all the time longed for is likely to be a tad tough, however what about that sheep farm Joel dreamed about in episode 6? If Joel and Ellie do get evicted from Tommy and Maria’s settlement they’d want someplace to lie low for some time, so a distant farm might be simply the ticket. Perhaps, even when it is just for a short while, they could get an opportunity to return near Joel’s utopian dream in Season 2?

OK, it is wishful pondering. We all know that. However at this level we’ll take any happiness we will get, even when it is solely a fleeting second of it earlier than the previous inevitably comes knocking.

The Final of Us is now streaming on HBO Max.(opens in a brand new tab)