The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Ending Explained & Review

Ellie's Revenge Begins: The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Analysis

Grab your coffee and tissues — because The Last of Us is back with another emotional rollercoaster.
Season 2 Episode 3 might not have had the big boom moments of previous weeks, but make no mistake: this episode quietly dropped bombs that will change everything moving forward.
Let’s dive into all the heartbreak, revenge plots, creepy cults, and what it means for Ellie’s future.

🎬 Opening Scene: Death, Fire, and Tears

Right from the first frame, the vibe was clear: grief everywhere.

• We see the burning infected, lighting up the darkness — a haunting symbol of all the lives lost.
• Tommy washing Joel’s body? Absolutely gut-wrenching.
• Joel’s broken watch (the one Sarah gave him!) gets a close-up... it's shattered, just like everyone’s hearts.
• Rows and rows of bodies under blankets. Jackson took a massive hit — not just Joel.

Ellie's Awakening:

• Ellie wakes up, tears silently falling.
• The scream she lets out? Absolutely chilling.
• It's not just grief... it’s the first real glimpse of her rage.

🔥 The opening nailed the weight of Joel’s death without overdoing it.

🛑 The Council Says No — So Ellie Says "Fine, I'll Handle It"

• Ellie and Dina want revenge.
• The Jackson council? Not so much.
• They deny Ellie’s request to send a posse after Abby and Wolf.

Instead of sulking, what do our girls do?
They go rogue.

• Seth secretly supplies them with gear (good guy Seth, who knew?).
• They sneak out under cover of night, fueled by grief, guilt, and rage.

👉 Problem is, they don’t realize just how big and dangerous Wolf actually is.
Seattle isn't some tiny rebel camp — it’s a full-blown military operation.

Ellie and Dina think they’re hunting a few people.
Reality check incoming.

😱 Meet the Seraphites: Cults, Scars, and Hammers

New danger unlocked: The Seraphites.
These creepy folks:

• Wear green robes
• Give themselves “Glasgow smiles” (face scars, yikes)
• Worship a long-gone Prophet
• Fight with hammers and bows, not guns

Their vibe:

• Medieval.
• Extremely religious.
• Terrified of Wolf (and for good reason).

The Seraphites’ mantra?
🧹 Distance > Weapons.
They stay hidden because a direct fight means certain death.

What happened to them this episode?

• They got completely wiped out.
• Likely by Wolf, who isn’t messing around.

👉 Wolf will kill ANYONE — even cults full of kids.

💔 Ellie's Mindset: Rage in a Pretty Package

On the surface? Ellie looks "fine."
Inside? She’s a swirling tornado of grief, guilt, and fury.

• She fakes being okay to get discharged from the hospital.
• She says, "Your final moment with someone doesn't define your relationship."
  (But clearly, she's haunted by her last fight with Joel.)

At home:

• She finally goes into Joel’s old house.
• Every shirt hanging up. The empty bed. The dusty smell.
• It breaks her.
• She visits Joel’s grave for the first time, leaves coffee beans on it (his favorite).

Every decision Ellie makes from here?
It’s for Joel.

🧠 What the Ending of Episode 3 Means

• Ellie and Dina are now lone wolves heading toward Seattle.
• They think they’re facing a tiny splinter group.
• In reality, they’re walking into a militarized fortress.

The ending sets up:

✔️ Big battles ahead
✔️ Encounters with Wolf’s terrifying leaders
✔️ Collisions with the creepy Seraphites
✔️ Ellie’s slow spiral into violence and vengeance

We’ve officially entered the revenge arc.

🎯 Quickfire Highlights You Might've Missed

• Joel’s watch = broken = symbolic death of hope.
• Seth being the unexpected helper = wild but appreciated.
• The Seraphites’ medieval vibes = setting up crazy conflict later.
• Ellie’s last fight with Joel? Haunting her every step.
• The "calm before the storm" atmosphere = next episode is gonna be INSANE.

📢 My Full Review: Calm, Creepy, and Crucial

✅ Emotionally heavy? Heck yes.
✅ Important groundwork? Absolutely.
❌ Perfect pacing? Nope — it was a little choppy.

The Good:

• Huge emotional payoff moments (Ellie’s breakdown? 10/10 heartbreak).
• The dread of Wolf was built up masterfully without even showing much.
• Introduced the creepy Seraphites perfectly.

The Meh:

• Jumping 3 months forward felt weirdly fast.
• Some scenes dragged a bit without the emotional punch of Episode 2.

Overall, this episode was the quiet before the scream.
Not the flashiest, but absolutely necessary to set up the chaos to come.
And trust me... the chaos is coming.

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Ellie’s journey into vengeance has officially begun.
The world of The Last of Us is about to get a lot bloodier, a lot darker — and somehow, even more heartbreaking.
Season 2 Episode 3 might have been slow, but every tear, every moment of silence, and every shattered watch was a step toward the coming storm.
Stay tuned — we’re just getting started.

Catch every twist, turn, and heartbreak with us here at Land of Geek Magazine!

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