Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us episode 9.The Last of Us season 1, episode 9 features many references, hidden details, and Easter eggs to the original The Last of Us game and the broader franchise. With much of The Last of Us episode 9 centering on the final level of the original game, Joel and Ellie visit many familiar locations and even reunite with some friendly faces from The Last of Us episode 1 in Marlene. Due to the episode’s game fidelity, The Last of Us season 1, episode 9 continues in its predecessor’s footsteps by including many different references to the overall Last of Us franchise.
This begins with the opening sequence, in which Joel and Ellie make it to Salt Lake City after their harrowing journey across the post-apocalyptic United States. Before encountering the Fireflies and kickstarting the ending of The Last of Us episode 9, Joel and Ellie reflect on their past, present, and future in a way that provides a plethora of interesting Easter eggs. From a beautiful scene including giraffe’s taken directly from the game to the very last sequence of The Last of Us season 1, here is every Easter egg, reference, and hidden detail found in The Last of Us episode 9.
18 Last Of Us Episode 9 Features Ashley Johnson, Ellie’s Game Actor
The opening sequence of The Last of Us episode 9 introduces Anna, Ellie’s mother, played by Ashley Johnson. In the original Last of Us game and its sequel, Johnson played the character of Ellie. From the voice performance to motion capture, Johnson helped created the iconic video game character. In an incredibly poetic way after her performance in episode 9, Johnson has now brought Ellie to life in more ways than one after birthing Ellie as Anna, Ellie’s mother in HBO’s Last of Us show.
17 The Opening Of Last Of Us Episode 9 Features The Stalker Infected Type
In Last of Us episode 9’s opening scene surrounding Anna, she is attacked by a Stalker infected type. In the original Last of Us game, the infected hosts turn in four distinct stages: Runners, Stalkers, Clickers, and Bloaters. While the first, third, and fourth have featured heavily in HBO’s The Last of Us, Stalkers have not been showcased in any meaningful way. However, the infected in The Last of Us episode 9 being shown to run on all fours like the Stalkers from the game means their inclusion is finally here.
16 Anna Sings A-ha In The Last Of Us Episode 9
After Anna births Ellie and kills the infected, The Last of Us episode 9 shows Marlene finding her. As Marlene travels through the house, Anna can be heard singing “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.” by A-ha. After the inclusion of “Take On Me” in Last of Us episode 7, the song choice by Anna is intentional by the creators as a way of furthering the setup of season 2. A-ha’s “Take On Me” is included in a vital scene in The Last of Us Part II for Ellie’s character, meaning the continued use of A-ha further sets this up while explaining Ellie’s love for the band through Anna.
15 Joel Finding Chef Boyardee Links To Last Of Us Episode 4
After The Last of Us episode 9 returns focus to Joel and Ellie, Joel is shown finding a can of Chef Boyardee. This is an Easter egg to an earlier scene from HBO’s The Last of Us in which Joel and Ellie’s bond began to grow. The scene references the campfire sequence from The Last of Us episode 4 in which Joel and Ellie are shown to be eating Chef Boyardee ravioli, which occurs before Joel stays awake all night to protect Ellie meaning The Last of Us episode 9 nicely calls back to where their connection began.
14 Joel Wanting To Teach Ellie Guitar Sets Up Last Of Us Season 2
In this same sequence in The Last of Us episode 9, Joel says that he also found a broken guitar. He states that he would like to show Ellie how to play, in an Easter egg to the same dialog found in this section of the original Last of Us game. Similarly, Joel’s wish of teaching Ellie guitar sets up The Last of Us season 2, as the opening of the second game features a scene where Joel plays Ellie a song on guitar that establishes the entire emotional throughline of the sequel story.
13 Joel Boosting Ellie For The Ladder Is A Last Of Us Game Easter Egg
After The Last of Us episode 7’s Easter egg referencing an iconic flashlight gameplay element of the original game, The Last of Us episode 9 includes another. As Joel and Ellie attempt to scale a building to find the Fireflies’ hospital, Joel boosts Ellie up by her foot so that she can reach a ladder overhead and let it down for Joel to climb. This is a gameplay element found multiple times throughout the original The Last of Us game, with HBO co-creator – and creator of the original games – Neil Druckmann including these elements as a way of connecting the adaptation to its original source material.
12 Last Of Us Episode 9’s Giraffe Scene Is Almost Identical To The Game
The Last of Us episode 9 adapts an incredibly important scene from the original game almost identically. Before the duo finds the Firefly hospital and the truth of Ellie’s Last of Us infection immunity is revealed, Joel and Ellie come across a tower of giraffes. Ellie feeds one of them, before running outside to see it join the rest of its family. This is followed by a conversation about their end goal from Joel and Ellie, with all of this being taken almost word-for-word, shot-for-shot from the original Last of Us game accompanied by the same musical score from Gustavo Santaolalla.
11 Joel And Ellie Wear Their Last Of Us Ending Outfits
Similarly, this section of The Last of Us episode 9 features an Easter egg to the original game through Joel and Ellie’s outfits. From Joel’s denim shirt to Ellie’s grey t-shirt and pinkish-red overshirt, the outfits of The Last of Us episode 9 are very similar to the same point in the original game. This just goes to show the HBO crew’s dedication to fidelity concerning the source material.
10 Joel Talking About Sarah Completes His Last Of Us Character Arc
After the heartbreaking death of Sarah in The Last of Us episode 1 began Joel’s emotional journey, his character arc is finally completed in The Last of Us episode 9. Joel is shown to openly speak about Sarah – and her death – to Ellie in The Last of Us episode 9. With this being a subject he has been entirely closed off about throughout The Last of Us, Joel’s willingness to speak about Sarah shows how his similar paternal love for Ellie has completed his emotional journey and allowed him to open up.
9 One Shot Of Joel’s Watch Sets Up His Last Of Us Episode 9 Decision
With Sarah’s presence looming over The Last of Us episode 9 – and the show as a whole – one shot of Joel’s watch sets up his final decision. As Ellie is dragged away from the Fireflies while Joel helplessly watches on, a shot of Joel’s Last of Us watch Sarah gave him is shown. This conveys to the audience how Joel is thinking about Sarah at this moment, and how he is helplessly watching his “new” daughter be taken away from him like Sarah once was. This sets up his final decision to save Ellie, after Joel’s earlier fear of failing to protect her.
8 Joel’s Hospital Rampage Is Adapted From The Last Of Us Game
The controversial sequence of Joel massacring the Fireflies in The Last of Us episode 9 is an Easter egg to the original game in that it is almost identically portrayed. From Joel being taken outside the hospital by Firefly guards to his subsequent murder of them and rampage through the hospital to reach Ellie, The Last of Us’ controversial scene is taken directly from the game. This is how the original The Last of Us game ended and is the same culmination of Ellie and Joel’s Last of Us season 1 story.
7 Hallway Leading To Surgical Suite Is Last Of Us Season 2 Foreshadowing
Towards the end of Joel’s rampage through the hospital, he walks down a darkly lit hallway to a door at the end with a piercing white light behind it. This scene is shot particularly in this way to evoke the same hallway from The Last of Us Part II. The sequel game shows this same hallway multiple times to remind players of Joel’s choice and its consequences. This lays the groundwork for the same sequence to be repeatedly shown throughout The Last of Us season 2, hearkening back to the ending of The Last of Us episode 9.
6 The Lead Surgeon Is Vital To The Last Of Us Season 2
Another Easter egg found in The Last of Us season 1, episode 9 is the episode’s most important link to season 2. After Joel reaches the surgical suite, he kills the lead surgeon with little to no hesitation. This doctor’s death sets up Last of Us’ Abby, as the inevitable season 2 character will be revealed as the surgeon’s grief-stricken daughter. This will then have big ramifications on Joel and Ellie, which will undoubtedly be explored in The Last of Us season 2.
5 Abby’s Game Actress Makes A Cameo In Last Of Us Episode 9’s Ending
While the character of Abby was absent from The Last of Us episode 9, the actress who played her has a surprising cameo. In the surgical suite, one of the surgeon’s assistants is played by Laura Bailey. Bailey is a voice actress with a multitude of acting credits, including Abby in The Last of Us Part II. Having Bailey play one of the nurses present when Abby’s father is killed is a neat way of connecting game Abby to HBO’s Abby as Ashley Johnson did with game Ellie and her adaptation.
4 Marlene’s Final Last Of Us Scene Is Taken Directly From The Game
After the reveal of how Marlene knew Ellie in The Last of Us from birth, episode 9 adapts another Marlene scene almost identically to the game. This scene comes when the leader of the Fireflies corners Joel in the parking garage of the hospital. The words of her begging Joel to change his mind and appealing to his better nature are very similar to the original game. Also, the non-linear nature of the scene is adapted from the game, with Joel being shown driving away before later revealing he shot and killed Marlene.
3 Joel Carrying Ellie Reflects Sarah From Last Of Us Episode 1
After saving Ellie and leaving the hospital, Joel is shown looking down at Ellie in his arms while the arm donning his watch cradles her. This is reminiscent of the scene in which Joel carries Sarah in The Last of Us episode 1. This is a neat Easter egg to re-establish Joel’s motives for saving Ellie, as well as linking to the heartbreaking scene from the premiere.
2 Gustavo Santaolalla’s “Unbroken” Is Originally A Last Of Us Part II Track
The music that plays over Joel and Ellie traveling back to Jackson at the end of The Last of Us episode 9 is an Easter egg to The Last of Us Part II. The track that plays is named “Unbroken” by Gustavo Santaolalla and was not composed for or present in the first game. “Unbroken” was composed for The Last of Us Part II and is played over the opening sequence of the sequel. The song’s apt title links to Joel being unbroken after saving Ellie, and is smartly used here to link The Last of Us season 1 to its sequel story and reference the state of Joel’s character.
1 The Last Of Us Season 1, Episode 9’s Ending Scene
The final scene of The Last of Us sees Joel lie to Ellie about the events at the hospital. This entire scene is one giant Easter egg to the ending of the original Last of Us game. From the location of Joel and Ellie on the hill overlooking Jackson to the monologue by Ellie about Riley, Tess, and Sam, The Last of Us season 1, episode 9’s ending is adapted almost identically. The final exchange between the characters is also indistinguishable, with Joel swearing to Ellie what he said was true and Ellie simply replying with “Okay.” before cutting to black and ending The Last of Us season 1.