The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Review: ‘Through the Valley’

The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 “Through the Valley” is the show’s defining moment that changes the lives of Ellie and Joe, but also the viewer at home. And it’s going to win awards.

In Season 1, we had the death of Sarah change the trajectory of Joel’s life. It put him on a path full of anger that stayed with him for years. Ellie helped pull him out of that. And now Ellie is going to see the trajectory of her life changed by the death of Joel. Also, our lives are going to be changed by the death of Joel and saying goodbye to Pedro Pascal. Because a lot of people jumped on this show due to Pascal’s presence. And I hope that they stick around for what Bella Ramsey is going to do next. Because if this episode is any indication, they’ve got the acting abilities to bring it home. 

MORE: Have you read our review for The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1 “Future Days”?

Saying Goodbye to Joel

Watching “Through the Valley” was like seeing chess pieces you’ve been watching for years finally fall into place. And it’s full of regrets. We wish that Joel had never been the one to be out on patrol. We also wish that Abbt wasn’t just randomly out there and awakened all of those infected in the snow. And then there’s Ellie being out there during this blizzard, and how we wish she were back in Jackson with everyone else. Wishes upon wishes. But something like this was inevitable. Joel did something to keep himself sane and to give Ellie the life he thought she deserved when he destroyed the Fireflies and saved Ellie. At the same time, he destroyed other people’s lives and their loved ones. Someone was always going to come for him. And Abby and her little gang of ex-Fireflies did.

As much as I’m going to miss Joel, I love that he faced his death. He knew there was no going back. He knew that this was the moment. And he looked it right in the eye. He didn’t beg or plead for forgiveness. That’s not who Joel is. He faced the consequences of what he did. I just wish he and Ellie had a conversation that fixed whatever was broken between them. That’s all I needed. One conversation. One moment to say goodbye. And it breaks my heart that Joel didn’t have that moment with Sarah, and now Ellie doesn’t have that with Joel. It’s a brutal reminder that death doesn’t wait for you to be ready. It just happens.

Joel’s legacy is one of healing, messing up, and still trying, and of loving Ellie with a fierceness that he does not regret for one second. And I hope people remember that as we move forward into what is next. Because there will be a lot of anger and pain at his death, what Ellie witnessed, and that Tommy didn’t get to say bye. But his legacy lives on in Ellie. She’s his daughter as much as Sarah was. And the home and family that they have built, it’s still there even if he isn’t. We just have a lot of anger to go through. Because if Ellie is Joel’s daughter, she’s got a lot of rage to work through before she makes it back home. So do we.

Bella Ramsey and Their Ellie

The annoyance that I felt for Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1, has completely disappeared in Episode 2. And that’s for a lot of reasons. Firstly, Ellie has made it abundantly clear in “Through the Valley” that no matter what Joel has done or will do, he’s her family. She might be mad at him, and would be right to be mad at him if it’s about the Fireflies. But at the end of the day, he’s still her family. And that beats absolutely everything else. That’s why she wanted to go on patrol with him. Classic parent and child relationship here. And when it came down to it, when she heard that Joel hadn’t called in, she went after him. With Jackson burning in the background, she still chose him like he chose her. 

This is where Bella Ramsey’s acting comes in. When Ellie was pinned down and begging Joel to get up, I felt that in my very bones. And it wasn’t just because I love Pedro Pascal, and Joel is one of my favorite characters in general. I felt this moment because of the raw terror and pain on Ramsey’s face and in their eyes. And it felt like I was Ellie. I was begging Joel to get up. To fight. To stay. So, no matter what we may feel about this episode, give Ramsey their flowers for transporting us into this moment. And before you jump ship and go, “I’m not watching if Pedro Pascal is there,” think about what you just witnessed. If Ramsey could bring this in “Through the Valley,” then imagine what their anger will be like as they go after Abby? I want to see that.

Ellie is going to not only come after Abby, but she’s going to destroy everything that Abby cares for. Because she’s just like Joel. And when he was faced with the loss of Ellie or possibly saving the world, he chose Ellie and destroyed all the Fireflies in his way. Ellie is going to bring that same energy after Abby and her friends as a way of channeling her loss. And like many that will be watching The Last of Us season 2, I’ll be cheering her on. Because she is going to be a bastion of justice for Joel, for us. And before you go, “Oh, but doesn’t that make her just like Abby?” Maybe. But Joel kept it short and tight when he killed the Fireflies. Abby tortured Joel. Big difference. So whatever is coming Abby’s way, it’s just paying back that pain. 

What Abby Did

First of all, the most important thing when it comes to Abby on The Last of Us was that people need to remember that Kaitlyn Dever is not her character. You would think that we wouldn’t have to remind people of that simple fact. But this is fandom culture in 2025. Sometimes people don’t know the difference. So if you hate Abby, hate her. I hate her. But don’t come for Dever. If anything, come for her acting. Because I didn’t feel it when it came to Joel’s untimely death. I didn’t feel Abby’s anger, despair, or relief that she was getting her justice. I didn’t feel anything besides wishing that this moment was over. And that sucks for an actor as iconic as Dever.

[Update on same day of publication at 1:14 am ET about what I said above: It’s come to my attention that Kaitlyn Dever had lost her mom weeks before filming this episode. And her mom’s funeral was three days before filming. She was grieving and still came to work. I have no words besides feeling shame for saying her grief as Abby wasn’t working for me. Dever was doing her best.]

MORE: Kaitlyn Dever As Abby In The Last Of Us? The Internet Is Ready to Defend Her.

When it comes to Abby herself, she deserves the hate. She came into our house and destroyed our family. She took away Ellie’s dad and Tommy’s brother, the latter of whom never got to say goodbye to his brother because he was too busy defending his home from all of the infected that Abby woke up. At the same time, I kind of understand Abby. Joel was her boogeyman. And I love that this kind of writing tests us as viewers. Because, as much as we love Joel, he destroyed Abby’s life and took away her loved one. But like we mentioned in our last section about Ellie, Abby chose torture when implementing her version of justice. And Ellie is going to pay that pain back threefold.

Random things I think about: 

• The attack on Jackson from the infected was top-tier TV
• And I love how prepared the town was for this. They anticipated that things could be turned on their heads. So they prepared for every small possibility
• I do hate that the bloater broke through and just made it so at least half of the population died
• The cheer I let out when the dogs were let out. LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS RIGHT!
• The infected getting inside is going to change Jackson just as much as Joel’s death will. A lot of able-bodied people were taken down, making it so the next generation needs to grow up a little faster and prepare for the next time a wave happens
• Was I the only one who was hiding and covering my face when Abby was pinned between the fence and all those infected? 
• I hate her, but that was terrifying 
• But maybe if the infected got her, Joel would still be here… 
• Also, the way Dina was with Joel. I was like, “Abby, if you touch a hair on Abby’s head.”
• Joel was worried for Dina aka what looked like his future daughter-in-law
• And I hate that Dina’s last visuals of Joel were him worried about her 
• And we were robbed of Dina waking up and finding everything 
• Also, that last shot of his body being pulled behind the horse 
• Haunting
• But you know what’s even more haunting? Hearing the original voice actress of Ellie singing her cover of Shawn James “Through the Valley” during the credits.

The Last of Us airs new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

What did you think of The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 “Through the Valley”? Let us know in the comments below!