'The Last of Us' Just Changed This Character's Game Fate for the Better, and I Couldn't Be Happier

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4 and The Last of Us: Part II game.

This week's episode of The Last of Us Season 2, "Day One," is one that reminds us why the Max series is such a great adaptation. Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) make their way to Seattle, recreate the iconic guitar scene from The Last of Us: Part II, find out more about the WLF and the Seraphites, encounter a subway full of infected, and finally reach the theater, where they establish their new base. The true highlight of the episode, however, fixes one of the few major mistakes of the game: Shimmer, Ellie's horse, isn't killed off this time.

Ellie's Horse Shimmer Dies Tragically in 'The Last of Us: Part II'

There are many great scenes in "Day One," including Ellie serenading Dina in the music store, the infected horde in the subway, and Isaac's (Jeffrey Wright) introduction, but, deep down, everyone who has played the game was dreading the inevitable moment when Shimmer dies. The girls leave Jackson on horseback and arrive in Seattle some time later, wandering around and looking for clues about Abby's (Kaitlyn Dever) whereabouts and the WLF. They're both riding Shimmer, even though Dina has her own horse back in Jackson. In such an emotional game, this part is one of the calmest and most pleasant ones, but, unfortunately, we can't have nice things in The Last of Us.

In their investigation, Ellie and Dina find out about a WLF group gathered at the Serevena Hotel. Navigating Seattle is a challenge in itself, but the girls eventually find their way — little do they know the tragedy that's about to hit. Shimmer is used to jumping over barricades even with two people on her back, but, as they get close to the hotel, the horse vaults a barbed-wire fence, and all hell breaks loose. As it turns out, Shimmer has triggered a landmine and broken her legs in the explosion. A group of WLF goons then shows up, and their leader, an awful person named Mike, shoots Shimmer as Ellie is forced to watch. Dina, however, manages to sneak away and later comes back to rescue Ellie while she's being interrogated.

Could Shimmer Return in 'The Last of Us' Season 2?

Shimmer's death is among the most tragic moments in The Last of Us: Part II, and that's saying something, but it does serve a narrative purpose, adding to Ellie's personal vendetta against the WLF. Still, the loss of Shimmer does feel like overkill, especially since Ellie has already lost Joel (Pedro Pascal) by that time in the game. Even among the fans, Shimmer is seen as a character herself, and her bond with Ellie is very wholesome. In the series, she is introduced in Season 1, Episode 6, "Kin," as Ellie and Joel arrive in Jackson, so viewers familiar with the games have been worried about Shimmer's fate ever since. Thankfully, this time it seems that the writers (looking at you, Neil Druckmann) were struck by common sense and decided to spare our favorite hooved companion.

Just like in the game, Ellie and Dina find a music store as they wander Seattle. They locate a WLF antenna, but decide to wait and attack it on foot and at night, otherwise, they risk being spotted. They hide Shimmer in the back of the store, where she has plenty of cover and grass to eat, and then proceed to plan their attack and play some music. The duo proceeds with their attack later on, but things escalate, and they are forced to move further into the city, leaving Shimmer behind in the music store. When they reach the theater after their hellish run through the subway, Shimmer is no longer with them, but is safe.

The fact that Shimmer is simply left behind instead of killed off has another implication for the series: she may still come back in some way. Ellie and Dina didn't leave her behind on purpose, but were instead pushed by the circumstances further downtown, and, given Ellie's bond with Shimmer, she may yet come to her senses and go back for her loyal steed. Another possibility is that someone else from Jackson could pass by the music store looking for Ellie and Dina and find Shimmer — someone like Tommy (Gabriel Luna) or Jesse (Young Mazino), perhaps?

Like all animals, Shimmer deserves way better than being blown up and shot at point-blank in front of Ellie. That's way more tragic than even most people get in The Last of Us, so we're glad she dodged that bullet (no pun intended). It's the unspoken rule of storytelling: don't kill the horse. Given how they are usually the main means of transportation in fantasy stories and post-apocalyptic ones, they are also always in the line of fire. It may seem smart from a strategic standpoint to shoot your enemy's mount, but horses are essentially huge, panicky beings who bring chaos to any battlefield when injured. Shimmer may still perish somehow later on in HBO's version of The Last of Us, but we're glad the worst is already behind her.