“The Last of Us” star Bella Ramsey said the lead character in the series, Joel, made the “right decision” in the finale of the first season when he was faced with saving a child or humanity in the zombie-apocalypse series.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, the 19-year-old actress — who plays Ellie — was asked her thoughts about the dilemma her co-star Pedro Pascal faced in the season finale of the HBO Max series. The series centered on Joel and Ellie, who are seeking a cure in a world overrun by zombies created by a fungal infection.
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“I mean, I think he made the right decision,” Ramsey replied to a fan question. “I think most people agree from like the reaction to the series as well. I think more people are like, ‘he definitely made the right decision.'”
“I don’t think it was even a choice,” she added. “I don’t think it was even a decision for him. There was no other option other than to save her. Because … he did save the world. But, like, his world. That’s so cringy but it’s kind of true.”
Later in the clip, Ramsey read another fan comment that laid out what they saw as Joel’s thought process in the end. (Warning: Spoilers)
“Joel thought that sacrificing Ellie wasn’t worth saving humanity, the same humanity that killed his daughter, the same people that kill each other every day,” Ramsey read. “I think the giraffes symbolize true innocence, the vanishing grace of childhood. When Joel looked back at the giraffes, and they were almost gone, he realized that innocence has left this world and the world needed innocence, people like Ellie. They didn’t need a ‘cure’ because the [fungal infection] wasn’t the real disease. It is what people have become.”
The young actress agreed with the theory and said “Yeah, true. Truth.”
Following the series finale, reactions from fans on social media have been mixed with many supporting Joel’s actions but others saying what he did was selfish, The Guardian noted.
Related: ‘The Last Of Us’ Presents An Ethical Dilemma: Kill A Child To Save Humanity?
