Spoilers ahead for the final episode of Season 2, be aware!

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God bless Jesse. He came through like a superhero when it was time to save Ellie and Dina during the closing moments of episode five, then he yanked that arrow out of Dina’s knee like a boss during this episode. That opening scene gave me such a high. But then, I came crashing down when a powerful reveal came to pass soon after. In a moment that’s a major departure from the game, Ellie provided all the details to Dina about the unforgivable act Joel committed toward the “Fireflies”. With that hard piece of truth finally being delivered to Dina, she made it clear that it was time for them to return to Jackson. Unfortunately, Ellie’s determination to see her get even with Abby superseded Dina’s desire to go home. With that powerful moment coming to pass, the final season of The Last of Us Season 2 continued with even more departures from the game’s storytelling and a heartbreaking death (which I admittedly knew was coming, but it still broke my heart nonetheless).

Once the sun rose, Ellie and Jesse headed out while Dina hung back at the theatre. During their stroll, their conversation led to Jesse finding out that his ex (Dina, of course) is pregnant and he’s the father. The tension between Ellie and Jesse grew thicker now that Jesse had even more reason to stay alive and make sure they got out of Seattle safely with Tommy in tow (Jesse and Tommy are a badass duo, I might add!). This sequence was pretty shocking, as I figured the show would reenact the theatre conversation between the two where Dina’s pregnancy reveal to Jesse took place. I have to admit—I preferred the way the game produced that pivotal moment over the show’s rushed way of doing it. That’s a first for me during this season, as I’ve largely celebrated the way the show has offered different takes on the game’s most memorable moments. As this episode continued, the war between the “Washington Liberation Front” and the “Seraphites” reached a more dangerous level. Elise Park and Dixon discussed their impending battle with the opposition—Dixon mentioned Abby being one of the WLF’s most trusted soldiers, and making it clear that she could be the one to lead the military group at some point. That point was never made in the game, which is a crazy development that makes me think Abby will have an army at her beck and call if this show offers more surprising plot deviations.

Jesse’s inclusion in this episode proved to be even more crucial when it came to shocking reveals. During another tense exchange between him and Ellie, where they offered differing opinions on whether to help Tommy as he sniped WLF members or head to the aquarium to find Abby, Jesse blew my mind when he told Ellie he voted against her quest for revenge. Ellie’s anger overcame her as she told off Jesse, which led to them going their separate ways. Jesse came off as the more sensible one here as he told Ellie that he voted no because it wasn’t worth putting the Jackson community in danger, while Ellie’s selfishness reared its ugly head as she made it clear that killing Abby was bigger than Jackson. This difference in opinion saw Ellie steal a boat and make a beeline for the aquarium. However, that quick trip was disrupted by some raging waters that put Ellie’s life in quite a predicament when she finally arrived on dry land.

In the game, Ellie’s vicious encounters with the Seraphites play out during some memorable stealth sequences and a boss encounter with an ax-wielding brute. During this episode, her up-close encounter with the cult sees her in a more helpless position. After coming ashore, Ellie is spotted by a Seraphite toddler who alerts the others that a stranger is in their presence. Ellie’s life almost comes to an end when the Seraphties begin their brutal hanging process. Thankfully, the Seraphites abandon their plan to kill Ellie once they overhear a shootout breaking out back at their village. This pitstop before Ellie makes her way into the aquarium was a cool way to add another layer to the ongoing conflict between the WLF and Serpahites as their latest skirmish came into focus. Once Ellie finally snuck into the aquarium, the series of events that led to her finding Owen Moore and Mel played out exactly as I remembered them.

However, the jaw-dropping moment where Ellie ends up shooting Owen and stabbing Mel plays out in an entirely different manner. The show’s version of events pits Ellie against Abby’s friends in a basement—a single bullet shot by Ellie causes everything to go left as Owen is shot dead and Mel gets hit in the neck by that same bullet. Mel’s desperate plea to Ellie to use a knife to help cut out her unborn child ends in tragedy as Mel dies before Ellie can honor her final request. As expected, Tommy and Jesse show up just in time to recover Ellie during the aftermath of her violent encounter. The way Ellie murdered Owen and Mel may have played out differently on the show, but it hit me in the feels the same way it did when it occurred in the game.

As the final episode of The Last of Us’ second season came to a close, a series of familiar events came to pass. Ellie, Tommy, and Jesse made their way back to the theatre to discuss their plans. Then all hell broke loose in the theatre lobby once Abby finally arrived. Jesse and Ellie hauled ass straight to the commotion and BOOM…Jesse caught a bullet to the face. With Tommy pinned down and a gun pointed at his head, Abby locked eyes with Ellie once again. A gunshot rang off, and then everything faded to black, which made it seem as if Ellie got shot next. Then, the episode’s closing moments kicked in to show where the direction of the second half of the season will be going. Once The Last of Us returns, Abby’s WLF origins will be explained in great detail. Plus, we’ll most likely see Abby’s warm interactions with her father and watch her come into contact with Lev as their budding partnership plays out.