An unnoticed detail found next to a crucial character’s gravestone in The Last of Us Part 2 has deepened the already somber tone of the game. This hidden revelation, uncovered by a player, manages to make The Last of Us 2 even more poignant and profoundly brilliant.

The Last of Us Part 2 is a game that unrelentingly explores emotional devastation, both for its in-game characters and the players themselves. This emotional impact is what propelled the Last of Us sequel to sweep The Game Awards and left countless fans with a lingering sense of heartache. Undoubtedly, one of the most heart-wrenching moments in the game is the death of Joel—a profoundly traumatizing event for any fan of TLoU. Ellie is forced to witness a stranger brutally end her father figure’s life with a golf club, and while she survives this encounter, a significant part of her dies alongside Joel. Later on, we see Ellie at Joel’s gravestone, mourning the loss of both him and the part of herself that perished that night.

This game finds new ways to break me every other month
by u/hrvycc in thelastofus

The scene depicting Ellie at Joel’s grave exemplifies the profound impact of his death in The Last of Us and the effect it has had on her. While Ellie’s grief is apparent, the symbolism behind the flowers she leaves at Joel’s resting place is not. A Reddit user, Hrvycc, was the first to publicly notice the blue hydrangeas by the grave and delved into the meaning of these Japanese flowers. It was discovered that blue hydrangeas symbolize regret, apology, and forgiveness—three emotions that beautifully encapsulate Joel and Ellie’s complex relationship.

This revelation about the flowers not only adds further depth to Ellie’s descent into darkness throughout the game, but it also amplifies the notion of regret and sheds light on why Ellie might feel this way towards Joel. There are three plausible reasons for Ellie’s potential regret concerning Joel’s death. She may be plagued by survivor’s guilt, burdened by the fact that the most important person in her life was taken while she survived. She might regret her anger towards Joel on the day prior to his demise. Or, she could lament not reaching Joel in time before that fateful swing of the golf club.

This small but significant detail about the flowers not only solidifies the scene at Joel’s grave as one of the most poignant moments in The Last of Us, but it also enriches Ellie’s journey into darkness throughout the game. The Last of Us series has a reputation for presenting thought-provoking details, such as the symbolism of the moth tattoo or the tragic discovery during Ellie’s confrontation with Abby in The Last of Us 2. Fans of the series have come to anticipate hidden meanings and revelations during each playthrough, and this detail regarding Joel’s grave is no exception.

The Last of Us Part 2 is now available for PS4 and PS5.

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