Why Cutting This Major Action Scene from The Last of Us Finale Was a Huge Mistake

The following contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1, Episode 9, “Look for the Light,” now streaming on HBO Max.

Fans of The Last of Us video games have plenty to be happy about when it comes to the HBO series. It remained true to the heart of the first game, while also expanding the world and finding ways to improve the story. But that meant there were a few game sequences that weren’t in the show. The finale “Look for the Light” features Joel and Ellie arriving in Salt Lake City in the spring, having survived their disturbing encounter with David’s group and gotten through the winter.

It’s in Salt Lake City that they finally locate the Fireflies. The group is occupying a medical facility as they pursue a cure to the cordyceps infection. Joel and Ellie’s interactions with the Fireflies are the climax of the first game’s story, exploring the darkest aspects of what love can make a person do. The series, however, cut a major action sequence that takes place before Joel and Ellie are found by the Fireflies, which would have made the finale even better.

The Last of Us Cut the Salt Lake City Tunnel Scene

The Last of Us made a significant alteration when adapting the sequence in which Ellie and Joel initially arrive in Salt Lake City. Due to a blockage in their path, the game forced Joel and Ellie to push forward through an underground tunnel, which led to a fast-running river that sweeps them up. Not only did they have to traverse decrepit infrastructure, but the area was crawling with infected. And Ellie, who grew up in the Boston Quarantine Zone, never learned how to swim — leading to a harrowing conclusion.

Whenever they encountered water, Joel pushed Ellie on some kind of raft. But when they became overwhelmed by the water, Joel wasn’t able to ferry Ellie safely. As a result, Ellie drowned. Joel was able to pull her to safety and attempted to resuscitate her. But prior to her regaining consciousness, Joel was knocked out by the Fireflies. When he woke up in the hospital, he learned that they were able to revive Ellie — but discovering they had her prepped for surgery started the climactic game-ending (and season-ending) sequence in which Joel rescued Ellie at a terrible cost.

Why HBO’s The Last of Us Needed the Salt Lake City Tunnel

The Salt Lake City tunnel sequence would have helped the pacing of “Look for the Light” by breaking up two of its most emotional scenes with more of the action The Last of Us fans have wanted. The events in the tunnel would have taken place after Joel confided in Ellie about his suicide attempt and prior to Joel’s emotionally-driven decision in the hospital. And the sequence is very important in the development of Joel and Ellie’s relationship. The finale contained many important conversations between Joel and Ellie, but their experience in the Salt Lake City tunnel illustrates their growth visually.

By the time Joel and Ellie get to Salt Lake City, they are a unit who understand each other and know how to work together. Ellie drowning at the end is a motivating factor in Joel’s decision to save her at the hospital. He’s witnessed her death and felt that tidal wave of emotions just as he did when his daughter Sarah died. It makes more sense that he would be particularly sensitive to the fact that the surgical procedure would kill Ellie — and therefore more likely to commit a massacre in exchange for her life. While The Last of Us‘ finale was game-accurate, it missed an underrated and valuable part of that journey.

The Last of Us Season 1 is now streaming on HBO Max.