The Last Of Us season 2 makes heartbreaking change you probably missed

Usually, I’m pretty good with words. It’s my job to be after all, but I do find myself struggling to explain just how I feel after this week’s incredibly emotional episode of The Last of Us.

Fair to say, it was always clear that we’d be in for an affecting hour.

‘The Path’ deals with the fallout of last week’s ‘Through The Valley’, and that predominantly surrounds Abby’s killing of Joel - although the aftermath of the Jackson horde attack isn’t forgotten either.

Throughout the episode, Ellie, Dina, and Tommy are all given the space and time to explore and express their grief, as are peripheral characters like Gail, Maria, and Seth.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up on several occasions, and I’m really glad that after the intensity of last week, viewers were granted this breathing room ahead of the all-out chaos that I know reaching Seattle will bring.

In fact, I don’t think people will quite realise the importance of this episode.

This elongated period of mourning and reflection simply would have felt out of place in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II which required a rapid return to player-engaged action.

Here though, it slots into the story perfectly, and fills in a pocket of the game’s story that couldn’t previously have been explored.

There’s so much that I could say and unpick from this episode, but it’s actually a detail in the episode’s opening titles that I want to draw your attention to.

See what else is coming up in the weeks ahead below.

The Last of Us’ opening titles have always ended with silhouettes of Joel and Ellie emerging from the fungus.

This underwent a very subtle change at the beginning of season two; Ellie’s silhouette appeared slightly larger just to reflect the season’s time jump.

Now though, as of ‘The Path’, Ellie’s silhouette is shown alone with Joel’s removed completely.

It makes perfect sense, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t break my heart into millions of pieces.

We all remember that scene with Sam in season one, right? Yes, the one where Ellie writes that she’s scared of ending up alone.

I’m very much hoping that next week we may see Ellie’s silhouette joined by Dina’s now that the duo have arrived in Seattle but that remains to be seen.