"I Want To Be That Better Dad": The Last Of Us Creator & Writer Break Down Season 2, Episode 6's Opening Scene

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Last of Us season 2, episode 6!The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann and writer Halley Gross break down season 2, episode 6's opening scene and what it says about Joel and Ellie. The Last of Us season 2, episode 6 begins with a younger version of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tommy (Gabriel Luna) in 1983, with Joel taking the blame for his younger brother fighting a drug dealer in a deal gone wrong. While he expects to be hit by his father, Javier (Tony Dalton), his dad instead talks about trying to be a little bit better than his own father, despite his faults.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Gross discussed the importance of Joel and Javier talking about "generational trauma" in The Last of Us season 2, episode 6. The series creator explained the importance of the scene in how Joel raises Ellie (Bella Ramsey), while the writer emphasized how the lessons learned over generations eventually make their way to her through Joel. Check out what Druckmann and Gross had to say below:

Neil Druckmann: "What Joel has done now is different. He used violence to protect his tribe, to protect Tommy, and now it's almost like there's something for them to relate to and they connect on this level. What the dad ultimately says is, 'I think I've done the right things, but I'm not entirely sure. I just know that I did things better than my dad, who beat me even worse.' His insecurity about that stays with Joel as well. Joel's doing the best he can with the tools that are in front of him, but he loves Ellie unconditionally.

As we kept working on that scene, it became about something else, which is not only generational trauma, but generational repair and hope.

Halley Gross: It also provides us a glimmer of hope for the future for Ellie. We know Joel. We've spent a season and a half with Joel. We understand that this man has done horribly dark things and, also, when living with intentionality, risen above his nature. To me, what the arc of this episode provides is a platform to say, when we live with intentionality, we can make healthier choices, but what that requires is reflection. That requires Joel to look back at his father and his identity and say, 'I want to be that better dad.' What it's going to require of Ellie is some level of reflection of saying, 'This is who I am. Who do I want to be?'

What Season 2, Episode 6's Opening Scene Says About The Last Of Us

It Laid The Groundwork For The Rest Of The Episode

The opening scene of The Last of Us season 2, episode 6 emphasized the importance of each generation doing a little bit better than the one before. Javier's words echo across the rest of the episode, which shows Joel is willing to do whatever it takes to both protect Ellie and keep her happy. However, this includes taking drastic, unnecessary measures, such as killing Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) despite having plenty of time to say goodbye to his wife, Gail (Catherine O'Hara). It was also the moment that proved to Ellie he was capable of killing the Fireflies like she suspected.

This culminated in the second-to-last scene of the episode, where Joel hopes that she can do a little better than him if she ever has a child. Echoing Druckmann and Gross' words, the last scene puts an emphasis on pulling oneself out of the cycle of generational trauma. It's also darkly contrasted with Ellie leaving the hospital in the present day, indicating she probably killed Nora (Tati Gabrielle) and got information about Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). It seems the final episode and The Last of Us season 3 can still explore these themes going forward.

Our Take On The Last Of Us Season 2, Episode 6's Opening Scene

Establishing Important Themes For The Rest Of The Story

The idea of each generation trying to make things better than the last is a theme The Last of Us season 2 is likely to continue exploring in the season finale. This is especially true because of how much Ellie's quest for revenge is putting other people, like Dina (Isabela Merced) and now Jesse (Young Mazino), in danger. It's possible this hard-learned lesson is going to be a focal point for how this revenge quest continues, and what it means for the future Ellie is setting up for Dina's child.

The Last of Us season 2 finale arrives Sunday, May 25 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Source: EW