HBO’s “The Last of Us” episode 3 is receiving mixed reactions from viewers. Some love the changes made to the game while other’s are criticizing the deviation from the game’s storyline. As such, the creator of the game has stepped in to clarify some plot points in the episode, especially the one about the letter Bill leaves Joel.

Neil Druckmann Clarifies The Meaning Of The Letter From Bill To Joel

In the end of episode 3, we see Ellie read the letter that Bill leaves to Joel. In the letter there’s a line where Bill leaves all of his weapons and equipment, and requests that Joel use them to keep Tess safe. But Ellie doesn’t read the Tess part and instead pauses for a moment as Joel realizes who Bill is referring to and takes the letter from her.

We then see the phrase “to keep Tess safe” highlighted in the letter Joel is holding. It’s important to note that in the letter everything else is blurred out, except that phrase. So the director wanted us to realize that Joel has zeroed in on her name. When fans saw that scene, many saw it as a reminder of Joel’s failure and the tension that just the mention of Tess’ name created between Joel and Ellie.

And they are right. In episode 3 of the official The Last of Us show podcast, Neil Druckmann confirmed what the letter was meant to imply to Joel. He said that it serves as a reminder of how much Joel has failed. Here’s his quotes on the matter:

“When Ellie reads Joel that suicide note, Bill kind of spells out ‘look out for the people that you love’. And he specifically mentions Tess. It’s a reminder of Joel’s failure. Joel has already failed to save his daughter, and now he’s failed to save his romantic partner. What’s next?”

The Aftermath Of The Letter In The Last Of Us 

The letter is a stark reminder of how much Joel has failed while Bill succeeded. He kept his partner and his home safe. But the letter is also a reminder that there’s one thing that Joel can still save-Ellie. And it’s a great foreshadowing of what’s going to happen at the end of the first season.

In the end of the game, Joel was supposed to hand over Ellie to the fireflies so that they can use her immunity to create a vaccine. But instead, Joel kills all the Fireflies and takes Ellie so that she can have a normal life. Apart from this, the letter allows Ellie and Joel to talk about Tess.

Her death is clearly still hanging over the duo. In the podcast, Druckmann and Craig Mazin said that even though Ellie tells Joel not to pin Tess‘ death on her because she never told them to take her, she’s lying to Joel as well as herself. In the game, Ellie has survivor’s guilt and Tess’ death is one of the prominent reasons why she is intent on sacrificing herself so that humanity can get the vaccine.

However, whether lies or not, this makes Ellie and Joel come to an understanding that lets them move forward as a coherent unit.

What do you think? Let us know.

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