As Ellie and Dina get closer to finding Abby, we learn more about the Wolves’ past. We see Ellie’s anger grow and also her chance for redemption.

Backstory:

In another flashback, we learn about the hospital run by the Wolves. A W.F.L officer had to kill some of her own people. When a team entered the hospital’s basement, they found it infected with cordyceps spores. Knowing there was no way out, the officer’s own son told her to shut the doors and trap the team inside. That moment was shocking—she had to leave her son behind. Now we see that the place Ellie and Dina want to reach is truly infected.

The Journey:

At the theater, Dina finds a way to slip past unnoticed and reach the hospital. She keeps track of their journey while doing so. Meanwhile, Ellie discovers the stage. She picks up her guitar and begins to sing “Future Days” by Pearl Jam. She emphasizes the line about losing someone she cares about. When she realizes what she’s singing, she stops. Ellie doesn’t want to face the idea of losing anyone else she loves.

Ellie and Dina walk toward the hospital, discovering dead seraphites along their path. It’s a stark reminder of the ongoing fight in Seattle. As they go, Dina shares more about her past. She reveals her first killing happened when she was just a girl. Raiders broke into her home and murdered her mother and sister. These moments show Dina’s history is full of trauma. Ellie asks how Dina ended up in Jackson, but she never gives an answer.

They walk into a building while Dina tells Ellie not to shoot anything. Staying undercover is crucial now. During this talk, Dina quietly admits she loves Ellie, and it’s a tender moment between them. Despite Ellie’s flaws—her temper and impulsiveness—Dina’s still loyal. Soon, they encounter some clever infected. Ellie warns Dina to take cover. Out of nowhere, Jesse arrives and saves them from an attack. That moment surprised me; I didn’t see him coming. I wonder how he managed to stay hidden and keep pace with them. They head into the park, and Jesse reveals Tommy came along too. We don’t see Tommy in this episode, so hopefully he appears later. Jesse’s goal is to get everyone home, but Ellie isn’t having it. A power struggle is now brewing between Jesse and Ellie. In the woods, they find Seraphites killing a W.L.F. They hang the man and then slash his stomach—just like at the news station earlier. It’s hard to decide who’s worse in this war. Both sides have their issues. The group is spotted and must run. During their escape, Dina gets hit in the leg with an arrow. Jesse carries her toward Tommy’s location. Ellie spots the hospital and knows she has to go her own way. She leaves the others behind, focused on her mission.

The Hospital:

Ellie somehow manages to find Nora in a surprising way. She pushes her for information about Abby’s location. Nora stays quiet but fuels Ellie’s rage by talking about Joel’s death. When she says Joel got what he deserved, Ellie snaps. She rushes after Nora, and it quickly turns into a full-blown chase. Eventually, Nora has no choice but to hide in the basement. There, Ellie sees the cordyceps and spores covering the area. As she explores, Ellie discovers Leon—an emotional full circle moment. He’s the son mentioned earlier in the flashback. It’s strange to see his body become part of the cordyceps wall and realize he never turned into a roaming infected. When Ellie finds Nora, she notices she’s already struggling to breathe from inhaling the spores. That’s when things get intense. Nora reveals that Joel killed everyone at the hospital and also murdered Abby’s dad, who could have found a cure. Ellie, however, says she already knows this. That moment is key. In the previews, Ellie calls Joel a liar because she learns the truth about what happened at the hospital. Her anger is clear then. But here, she seems to accept what Joel told her. I wonder how she went from anger to acceptance so quickly. Did it happen right after Joel was killed by Abby? To make things worse, Ellie’s anger takes over. She fully imitates Joel and even copies Abby’s move. She picks up a pipe on the floor, which looks like a golf club, and slowly kills Nora with it. It’s a revenge moment, a callback to earlier. Ellie’s eyes are filled with rage. She’s desperate for info on Abby’s whereabouts, but Nora isn’t willing to betray her friend. At least, she doesn’t do it on screen.

Flashback:

Before the episode ends, a flashback shows Joel and Ellie together again. Joel enters Ellie’s room and softly says, “hey kiddo.” This moment warmed my heart because he called Dina “kiddo” earlier in the first episode. That sincere father-daughter interaction felt special. Seeing Joel back on screen made my heart race. It was a rare glimpse of their life before everything fell apart.