Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman answer several burning questions about that season 2 cliffhanger finale: “This show is going to be a different show every season.”
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 7.]
The Last of Us Season 2 closed with a gunshot and a cryptic message: “Seattle Day One.”
What does it all mean?
To unpack the explosive finale, The Hollywood Reporter first spoke with co-creator Craig Mazin. Mazin and fellow co-creator Neil Druckmann also addressed key questions during a post-finale press conference, offering insight into some of the episode’s most burning mysteries.
At the top of the list: Is Ellie (Bella Ramsey) dead? The episode ends with what appears to be Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) pulling the trigger — delivering the chilling line, “I let you live — and you wasted it!” — before the screen cuts to black.
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 7.]
The Last of Us Season 2 wrapped with a gunshot and a cryptic title card: “Seattle Day One.”
What does it all mean?
To unpack the explosive finale, The Hollywood Reporter first spoke with co-creator Craig Mazin. He and fellow co-creator Neil Druckmann also addressed key questions during a finale press conference, shedding light on some of the season’s most pivotal moments.
Is Ellie Dead?
Let’s get the biggest question out of the way. If you’d rather avoid spoilers, skip ahead — but Mazin is clear: we haven’t seen the last of Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Despite what looked like a fatal shot from Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), accompanied by the searing line, “I let you live — and you wasted it,” Ellie’s story isn’t over.
The show has closely followed its PlayStation source material — The Last of Us and Part II — and in the game, Ellie survives this encounter. She continues to play a crucial role in what comes next.
What Does “Seattle Day One” Mean?
The cryptic title card and the scene of Abby waking from sleep mark a likely narrative shift. Just as Season 1 transitioned from Joel (Pedro Pascal) to Ellie, Season 3 seems poised to center Abby’s story — in line with the game’s dual-perspective structure.
While the creators didn’t confirm this outright, Mazin spoke to the deeper storytelling philosophy at play.
“I don’t think television is supposed to work like this,” Mazin said. “We’re clearly breaking quite a few rules — and I love that. Because that’s the point. This isn’t a gimmick. The whole premise of this story is that the concept of a ‘protagonist’ or a ‘villain’ is flawed. These roles create barriers, justifications for bad behavior, and oversimplify human complexity. That’s what we’re examining — why we’re so comfortable viewing the world through a single point of view.”
He continued:
“Abby is the hero of her own story. Whether it’s Ellie and Dina, or Abby and Owen, the narrative will always center someone. But it all happens under the cloud — or sunlight — of Joel. What he did to Abby. What she did to him.”
Major Deaths: Jesse and Mel
The finale delivered emotional and narrative shockwaves with the deaths of Jesse (Young Mazino) and Mel (Ariela Barer).
Jesse is killed by Abby, but Mazin highlights the nuance:
“It’s an interesting situation — Jesse dies in part because of Ellie, but she doesn’t pull the trigger. Abby does. And Dina, who had a strong bond with Joel, is now chasing Abby out of a sense of justice. So the question becomes: Who does she blame for Jesse’s death?”
Mel’s death diverges significantly from the game. In the original, Ellie kills her without realizing she’s pregnant. The show, however, plays the moment differently — and more hauntingly.
“Ellie isn’t capable of overpowering Owen — Spencer Lord is 6’4″ and physically imposing. She’s not there to kill him or Mel. She’s focused on Abby,” Mazin explains.
What unfolds is worse.
“Mel is a doctor. As she dies, she understands there’s a chance to save her child — and tries to communicate that to Ellie. But Ellie can’t understand her. She’s gasping, slipping away. It’s a nightmare — someone telling you how to save their baby, and you can’t understand. Bella [Ramsey] sits back and realizes the weight of her failure. And tragically, it’s not over yet.”
Would Ellie Have Killed Abby If She Got the Drop on Her?
“Unquestionably,” Mazin says. “It wouldn’t be about what Ellie had in her — it would be about what she doesn’t have: restraint. If she’d caught Abby first, she would’ve given a speech just like the one Abby gave Joel.”
Ending on a Cliffhanger
The creators debated various ways to end the season.
“We considered interlacing the stories — showing Abby and Ellie side-by-side,” Mazin recalls. “But switching perspectives is part of the DNA of this story. It’s risky, and HBO is backing us. We just killed Pedro Pascal — that alone tells you we’re not afraid to make bold moves.”
Will Joel Return in Season 3?
Don’t count him out completely. Flashbacks — or even side stories — are very much on the table.
“Next season we’ll probably have more flexibility to explore side stories,” Mazin hints. “Maybe Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside? We didn’t expect to tell a short story about Joel’s dad either — but it happened.”
He adds:
“Tommy’s been in war. He and Joel did some terrible things. There’s room to explore another side of Tommy — and how he delivers on the promises he made to his brother.”
What to Expect in Season 3
The creators kept much under wraps — but gave fans just enough to speculate.
“Next season has an epic scope,” Druckmann says. “But it also brings us back to Joel and Ellie, and everything we’ve seen so far.”
Mazin adds with a grin:
“We haven’t seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever. We haven’t seen the last of Bella Ramsey. We haven’t seen the last of Isabela Merced. And we haven’t even seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead.”
