HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 5 concluded with a poignant Joel scene. The ending reignited discussions about his fate and whether he is actually dead. This flashback follows the shocking revelation of his death in Season 2, Episode 2. Fans are debating whether Joel truly died at Abby’s hands or if something more complex is unfolding.
Is Joel alive at the end of The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 5?
Joel is not alive at the end of The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 5.
The final scene is a flashback—possibly a memory Ellie recalls after confronting Nora (Tati Gabrielle), one of Abby’s companions. Nora asked Ellie if she knew that Joel had killed an entire hospital full of Fireflies. Ellie replied, “Yes,” shocking viewers who were unaware she had learned the full truth.
Nora recalled the massacre at the Firefly hospital, including the death of Marlene and Abby’s father, the doctor who could have created a cure using Ellie’s immunity. Joel killed him to save Ellie.
Until now, viewers were unsure how much Ellie knew about Joel’s actions at the hospital. It had appeared that Joel had shielded her from the truth and never confessed.
In The Last of Us Part II video game, Ellie eventually uncovered what happened to Marlene and the Fireflies during her time in Jackson. Flashbacks in the game showed Ellie growing distant from Joel as her suspicions mounted. She eventually snuck out and returned to the Salt Lake City hospital, where she discovered the devastating truth Joel had tried to hide.
If HBO follows the game’s narrative, viewers will likely see more of the evolving dynamic between Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie—particularly the breakdown of their relationship once Ellie felt betrayed.
In the game, Ellie demanded the truth after discovering her own brain scans in the hospital. That moment bridged the gap between what the audience already knew and what Ellie had just learned. It also explained her growing resentment toward Joel during their last months in Jackson.
