The Past Never Sleeps
Just when things seemed to settle in Jackson, the second episode of Season 2 yanks the curtain off and shoves us into chaos.
“Through the Valley” wastes no time. It drops us straight into Abby’s world—a world shaped by grief, rage, and one unforgettable moment: her father’s death. The man Joel killed in that Salt Lake City hospital? That was Abby’s dad.
And now, she’s come for payback.
Abby’s Game Plan
Abby starts the episode outside Jackson, feigning distress. It works. She runs into Joel and Dina on patrol. They take the bait. She tells them there’s shelter nearby—a mansion, safe from infected. It all sounds too convenient.
Because it is.
Joel and Dina follow her back. Inside, things get tense fast. Abby drops the act. Her crew appears. Guns out. Joel doesn’t get time to process.
“You know who I am?” he asks.
“Oh, we know,” Abby says. And then, she makes her move.
The Scene We All Dreaded
There’s no quick cut. No off-screen mercy. The camera doesn’t flinch.
Abby shoots Joel in the leg. He goes down. Hard. She grabs a golf club. The same one from the game.
And she swings.
It’s brutal. Honest. Unapologetic. Joel’s death isn’t just a plot device—it’s a statement. Actions have consequences. Even for the people we love.
Meanwhile in Jackson
While Ellie’s world collapses in a mansion outside town, Jackson burns. Literally.
A horde of infected breaches the walls. It’s chaos. Tommy and Maria organize defenses. Flamethrowers light up the sky. Horses panic. People scream.
This isn’t just background noise. It’s symbolic. Two battles happen at once—one physical, one emotional. And both leave scars.
Ellie Finds Out
Back at the mansion, Ellie arrives too late. She steps into the aftermath. Joel’s gone. Blood everywhere. Abby and her crew are gone, too.
Ellie collapses next to his body. Silent. Broken. Then rage takes over. It doesn’t scream. It seethes.
We’ve seen Ellie angry before. But this? This is different. Controlled. Ice-cold. She doesn’t cry long. She stands up.
And she swears revenge.
Who’s Still Standing
Dina and Jesse help Ellie bring Joel’s body home. Jackson mourns, but the grief doesn’t settle. It festers.
Joel wasn’t just a smuggler or a hero. He was a father figure. A friend. A protector. And now, he’s gone.
The Ground Shifts
This episode changes everything:
- Abby becomes real. She’s not a rumor or a villain. She’s a person—with pain and purpose.
- Ellie’s journey shifts. It’s no longer about survival. It’s personal now. It’s war.
- Jackson isn’t untouchable. The safe haven cracked. And people noticed.
- Joel’s past caught up. No one outruns their choices—not in this world.
Where We Go From Here
“Through the Valley” does more than kill Joel. It kills safety, routine, and emotional detachment. It makes the world feel cruel again.
But it also sharpens the story. Now it’s Ellie’s. Her choices. Her rage. Her path.
And if this episode proved anything, it’s that nothing in The Last of Us happens without a cost.
There’s no turning back. Only through.
