The Last of Us Season 2: How one line from Joel Foreshadows Ellie’s Failure as a Parent in Season 3

The Last of Us season 2 episode 6 is making everyone sob. After all, ever since Joel’s death in episode 2, all fans have ever wanted was to see him again and they got that in this flashback episode. A majority of the episode takes place between seasons 1 and 2 where we see flashbacks of each of Ellie’s birthdays. 

The episode also reveals why Ellie and Joel appeared estranged in episode 1 of season 2, and this, in turn, leads to a beautiful porch scene where Joel pours his heart out to his adopted daughter. However, one line from him- about encouraging her to be a better parent than him, also foreshadows what will happen in the show later on. 

Why does Joel say to Ellie About Being a Parent in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 6? 

In The Last of Us season 2 episode 6, we see Joel’s father (Tony Dalton) tell him that he is a better parent than Joel's grandfather. He then wishes for Joel to be better than him. In the porch scene of the episode, Joel says the same to Ellie- “If you should ever have one of your own, I hope you do a little better than me.” 

He tells this because he committed a mistake- he lied to Ellie about the Fireflies and saving her, which in turn (probably) damned the world from a cure. However, by the end of the episode, both reconcile (well, almost). However, Joel did get to say that he loved Ellie, something that was always left unspoken between them.

Joel grew up in an abusive household with a father who beat him. But he was able to break that cycle and became a loving dad to Sarah, his late biological daughter, and now Ellie, his adopted daughter. However, are his words to Ellie to be a better parent than him foreshadowing something that will happen in her life? 

While the show has changed multiple things in the game, for now, they have stuck to the major plot points. So, if the show follows through with the game, then we know that Ellie will almost fail at being a better parent than Joel. 

Does Ellie fail at Being a Better Parent than Joel? 

In The Last of Us Part 2 game, Ellie and Dina raise JJ (Dina and Jesse’s biological son) on a farm, away from Jackson. While everything seems fine on the surface with this idyllic happy ending, that’s far from the truth. Ellie suffers from PTSD episodes, which make her almost suicidal. She misses Joel, and his death haunts her.  

So, when Tommy stops by with the location of Abby, she feels it is her one chance to get closure. As such, she packs her bags and leaves in the middle of the night. But before that, Dina confronts her. She gives her a choice- either staying with her and JJ or never seeing them again. 

Dina draws a line in the sand, and Ellie chooses to go either way. In doing so, she abandons both Dina and JJ. It is an action that Joel will probably never have wanted her to do.

Do Ellie and Dina get back Together?

It isn’t confirmed explicitly in The Last of Us Part 2 game whether Ellie and Dina get back together. When Ellie returns from her Santa Barbara mission, having gotten closure for Joel’s death after letting Abby go, she finds the farmhouse empty. Dina and JJ are not there, but her things are all neatly packed up in boxes. 

It looks like Dina and JJ have moved on without her. In the game, there’s a hint that they have gone back to Jackson to live with Jesse’s parents. So, it looks like Ellie has lost everything and gained nothing by being on this path of revenge. However, some things hint that they might be back together. For one, Ellie has Dina’s bracelet, which she didn’t have in Santa Barbara, 

This could mean that Ellie isn’t coming back directly from her mission. Also, she looks clean and healthy, whereas she looked gaunt and like she was on the verge of death in that final fight with Abby. Moreover, she didn't have any weapons in her backpack, which further signifies that Ellie has at least met Dina on the way to the farmhouse. 

If this version of the events turns out to be true, then even though Ellie did leave JJ and Dina to get closure, she never abandoned them. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below. 

Where can you Stream The Last of Us Season 2?

The Last of Us season 2 is now streaming on HBO and Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays. The last episode of season 2 titled, “Convergence”,” will premiere on May 25, 2025. If you want to refresh your memory, we have recaps of Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6.  

Also Read: The Last of Us Season 2: How the Take on Me Song Foreshadows the Demise of Ellie and Dina's Relationship