Craig Mazin certainly knows how to get our emotions running. The co-showrunner of The Last of Us has just shared his favorite scene from the first season. Not surprisingly, it's the one moment that finally confirms the touching relationship between Joel and Ellie
In the first season of The Last of Us, Joel grudgingly accepts a mission to transport a young girl named Ellie to a Firefly safe house. This isn't as easy as it sounds as the building is surrounded by the undead and Joel's partner is infected. Soon, Joel and Ellie will need to work together to survive.
This all goes down in the first season and the duo's journey is filled with unusual encounters but it's their personal encounters that truly light up the screen. For instance, Craig Mazin admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he loved the moment when Joel opened up to Ellie.
"I have a certain place in my heart for a scene in the last episode that I ended up shooting because our director had gotten COVID. It's the scene where Joel reveals to Ellie why he has that scar on his head," Mazin said. "She says, 'Time heals all wounds.' And he says, 'It wasn't time that did it.'"
He went on to praise Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey for their performance in the scene.
"I'm particularly proud of that scene because, first, it's simple – it's two people talking, which is my favorite," Mazin continued. "They're not even moving when it gets really good, so everything else goes away and it's just about their connection. And I'm so proud of the performance that Pedro and Bella delivered in that moment."
We're not surprised that Mazin loved the interaction between Joel and Ellie the best. After all, it was an emotional moment that proved how their journey had changed Joel for the better. With that in mind, we can't wait to see more of them together in the second season.
But when will we get to catch up with Joel and Ellie? For now, The Last of Us Season 2 has not begun production and it is still unclear if the series will begin filming soon due to the writers' and actors' strike. However, the second season is still expected to premiere on HBO late next year or in early 2025.
