The Stormy Ties of Jackson - A Winter's Reckoning
As the fierce blizzard engulfs the residents of Jackson, lurking dangers in the form of the infected begin to surface from beneath the snow, intertwining their fates.
Abby, along with her group, takes refuge in a grand mountain lodge overlooking Jackson. Separated from her team by a swarm of the infected, her life is saved by Joel, who escorts her and Dina to the safety of the lodge. Meanwhile, the same horde breaches Jackson’s defenses, wreaking havoc on the town and leaving behind casualties whose numbers remain unknown. While patrolling with Jesse, Ellie discovers Joel’s absence and rushes into the lodge, where she is forced to witness Abby striking down Joel.
In the debut season of “The Last of Us,” Joel and Ellie wandered through treacherous paths, frequently encountering adversaries and confronting their fears. Despite the looming danger, Joel and Ellie stood by each other, and by the season’s end, they found a semblance of solace in Jackson. Although the recent season 2 opener hinted at a rift between them, for five years, they experienced some peace within the confines of that Wyoming valley. “Through the Valley” serves as a reminder that in this world, comfort is fleeting. As the episode concludes, Ellie finds herself without Joel. The episode opens with a dream scene showing Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever) desperately trying to warn a future Abby against entering the Salt Lake City hospital while alarms blare. “His brains are on the floor,” the first Abby admonishes. The second Abby ignores the warning. Understanding her motivations does not soften what follows. Both Abby and Joel had their reasons, driving them to inevitable conflict and the unsettling reality of resultant bloodshed.
Awakening in the plush mountain lodge, Abby’s party is astonished to see Jackson thriving, equipped with power lines, security, horseback patrols, and vigilant guard dogs. Yet Abby remains focused on her hunt for Joel, seemingly indifferent to her pledge that vengeance won’t harm anyone but her long-sought target. Owen (Spencer Lord) insists he has a scheme to locate Joel. Once Abby steps out into the freezing wilderness, Owen divulges to the others that his true plan is to abandon their mission and retreat to Seattle, avoiding the retribution of Jackson.
Within the bustling city, Jesse (Young Mazino) rouses Ellie (Bella Ramsey) for patrol, catching her off guard as she denies any responsibility for the previous night’s kiss with Dina (Isabela Merced). Jesse teases her before brushing it off and leading her outside. As they navigate the town, they engage in lively banter while discussing a recent scare: several dead, frozen infected were found, and as the patrol watched, 30 more emerged from the snow. They seem to be using their fallen for insulation—perhaps even as camouflage? Ellie’s tale of encountering the world’s craftiest infected has sparked an uproar, leaving her eager for a bonding patrol with Joel (Pedro Pascal) that resembles a father-daughter day. Though tensions remain unresolved, the bond between Ellie and Joel feels unbreakable. “Nothing’s gonna change that, ever,” Ellie declares. But Joel, already out with Dina, means she and Jesse must set off alone after a stop at a local eatery. There, Tommy (Gabriel Luna) conducts a spirited safety briefing, instructing residents on where to shelter, who should arm themselves, and warnings to keep off the main streets if worst comes to worst.
Maria (Rutina Wesley) spots Ellie and dives into an awkward encounter with Seth (Robert John Burke), who attempts to make amends for his earlier offensive remarks about Ellie and Dina. He even offers “I’m sorry” steak sandwiches as a gesture. Despite the offering, Ellie appears unimpressed—steaks can’t atone for ingrained prejudice—and she and Jesse depart on horseback.
As snow joins the already chilling temperatures, Tommy grows frustrated by spotty communication from his walkie-talkie. He instructs Amy at the radio room to amplify the signals and recall patrols. Amid the brewing blizzard, Jesse communicates to Amy their plan to find shelter in the nearest deserted town. They secure their horses in a garage and take refuge inside a repurposed 7-Eleven, discovering it to be a well-stocked grow operation. This marijuana farm was once owned by Eugene, a local therapist’s husband, until Joel decided he had to “put him down.”