The Last Of Us Episode 9: Where Are Joel And Ellie Going At The End?

Contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" Season 1, Episode 9 — "Look for the Light"

The first season of HBO's "The Last of Us" ends the only way it can: Uncomfortably, and with numerous question marks lingering above Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) future. Just like in the game, Joel is horrified when he finds out that Marlene's ("The Last of Us" veteran Merle Dandridge) Firefly doctors will have to kill Ellie in order to extract the samples that are necessary in their quest to find a cure for the Cordyceps infection. Unwilling to let his surrogate daughter die after all they've gone through, the desperate and determined Joel proceeds to shoot his way through the facility.

Joel finally finds Ellie and manages to take her away from the hospital before she wakes up, making up a story about a raider attack, and convincing Ellie that there are plenty of other immune people out there, thus freeing her of her obligations to seek out the cure as humanity's potential last hope. A doubtful Ellie chooses to accept Joel's story after she forces him to swear on it, so it's clear that the surrogate father-and-daughter team will remain together for now. But where will they head after the end credits roll? 

The fun thing about a show based on a story-heavy video game series is that we know exactly what Joel and Ellie are up to between the end of "The Last of Us Part 1" and its sequel — which will likely form the backbone of the HBO show's Season 3, as well. As Joel offered Ellie earlier in the finale, the show's ending sees the pair making their way back to Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria's (Rutina Wesley) fortified city settlement of Jackson in Wyoming. 

This a logical destination for Joel and Ellie, since they have allies (and, in Joel's case, family) in the place. It's also the sole truly secure settlement that they've encountered during their travels, making it a perfect destination for an easier lifestyle — and perhaps even that sheep farm Joel's been talking about. 

Without going into spoilers, then, it's fairly reasonable to assume that whenever "The Last of Us" Season 2 arrives, we see Joel and Ellie in Jackson. Exactly how things'll play out for the two ... well, that's another matter entirely.