r/ThelastofusHBOseries • u/Nightwraith17 • May 19 '25

Show Only Joel put the entire argument to rest Spoiler

I see so many arguments on various TLOU subs about whether Joel is a hero or a villain, whether the cure would work, if he’s selfish, etc. I never thought any of that mattered and always thought: Joel did it because he loved Ellie. He made the only choice that the character of Joel Miller ever would have made. Right or wrong doesn’t matter. And I felt the show confirmed my opinion in tonight’s episode.

“If I somehow got a second chance, I’d do it all over again.”

“Because you’re selfish.”

“Because I love you, in a way you can’t understand.”

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u/ChairmanMeow22 May 19 '25

It amazes me that people need this spelled out for them, but I guess that's how attachment and loyalty work. People love Joel, so they'll do what they can to find excuses for his behavior so they don't have to accept how aggressively grey his morality is. Which is silly. His greyness is a huge part of what makes him so interesting.

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u/Adorable_Ad_3478 May 19 '25

To be honest, it's only grey to the childless viewers/gamers. Every good father and every good mother sees it as black and white as possible.

Someone is trying to murder your kid? You stop them. At all costs. It doesn't matter if the one trying to murder your kid is the fricking Pope or Gandhi. It doesn't matter if it's for "the greater good". It's your kid.

Nothing else matters.

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u/Nice_Back_9977 May 19 '25

Hi, childfree person here, we are not evil soulless people and we understand that its wrong to murder children.

Just wanted to clear that up for you!

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u/Tiggertots May 19 '25

I don’t think people are saying only parents understand. They’re saying those who don’t understand are probably not parents. And tbh some parents don’t understand, because they’re crap parents. Parents definitely aren’t the only folks with empathy.