The Last of Us: HBO Reveals First Photos from Season Finale

HBO unveiled new photos for the highly-anticipated finale of The Last of Us.

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Posted:
The Last of Us Finale photos

HBO is hyping up the highly-anticipated season finale of The Last of Us by releasing new photos. 

The upcoming Season 1 finale of The Last of Us has been a subject of discussion among fans, especially after a plethora of gut-wrenching moments from recent episodes of the series. 

Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie in the series, recently teased that the finale will be controversial, saying that it will "massively divide" fans. 

Although the finale has a surprisingly short runtime, the trailer already confirmed that Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie in the game, will appear in a significant role plus a whole lot more. 

HBO Unveils The Last of Us Finale Photos

Ahead of the show's season finale, HBO released five new stills from The Last of Us Episode 9.

Ashley Johnson's Anna, who is confirmed to be Ellie's mother, appears to be in deep trouble in the woods.

Ashley Johnson as Anna, The Last of Us
HBO

Although time has passed, Bella Ramsey's Ellie seems to still be shaken after her encounter with David.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie, The Last of Us
HBO

The protagonists are finally back together as Pedro Pascal's Joel and Ramsey's Ellie recreate an iconic scene from the video game.

Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, The Last of Us
HBO

Ellie is ready to be the cure for humanity in this new still from the finale.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie, The Last of Us
HBO

Will Joel do the right thing? This image seems to hint that the smuggler-turned-hero will do whatever it takes to protect Ellie.

Pedro Pascal as Joel, The Last of Us
HBO

Will The Last of Us Finale Live Up to the Hype?

The image of Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie together essentially confirmed that HBO's The Last of Us is adapting a crucial moment from the game. 

Joel, Ellie, The Last of Us
PlayStation

In the video game, Joel and Ellie came across a group of giraffes, bringing a sense of wonder to the young protagonists since it's her first time seeing the animal up close. Moreover, this moment also led to an important conversation between the two, with both of them talking about what their plans will be after they reach the Firefly base camp in St. Mary's Hospital. 

In the game, this also acted as the launchpad for Joel's re-evaluation of Ellie's situation, with him telling her to just abandon the mission and go back to Jackson. However, Ellie stood her ground and tells Joel that their journey "can't be for nothing."

The giraffes moment being adapted into the HBO series will be critical to the finale's outcome, considering that this is the scene where Joel's love for Ellie is further cemented. 

Given that HBO's The Last of Us has been applauded for game-accurate moments, the finale will look to take it up a notch by showcasing this incredible sequence while also adapting its controversial ending. 

The Last of Us Season 1 finale is set to premiere on HBO this Sunday, March 12, at 9 p.m. ET.

- In This Article: The Last of Us
Release Date
January 15, 2023
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- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.