Trekking by an America overrun by zombie-making fungus, to not point out raiders and tyrants vying for energy, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) lastly discovered some respite in episode 6 of The Final of Us. They even have the prospect to look at a film, 20 years after the world as we all know it fell to wreck. However what’s the film taking part in within the crowded theater? And what does it should say about this addictive TV adaptation? 

Let’s discover. 

What occurs in episode 6 of The Final of Us? 

After many brushes with demise, Joel lastly reunites along with his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who resides in a peaceable neighborhood that boasts mighty safety, menstrual cups, “correct meals,” and working electrical energy. Each Joel and Ellie are in awe of the comfortable city, which isn’t solely surviving however thriving post-apocalypse. The truth is, seeing how his brother is setting down roots — together with discovering a spouse and having a child — Joel begins to assume Ellie could be safer right here, beneath their care. Ellie disagrees, to place it mildly. 

Although the present (and the online game on which it is primarily based) are rife with motion, the core of its story facilities on the rising bond between Joel and Ellie, the reluctant father determine and the foul-mouthed child. Their arc is mirrored within the movie seen on this pivotal ep, The Goodbye Lady. 

The Goodbye Lady is the film taking part in within the background of The Final of Us, episode 6. 

Launched in 1977, The Goodbye Lady is a romantic comedy that earned 5 Academy Award nominations, together with Greatest Image, Greatest Unique Screenplay for fashionable playwright Neil Simon, and Greatest Appearing noms for its three stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, and Quinn Cummings. Solely Dreyfuss would take house the gold, however Cummings made historical past(Opens in a brand new tab) because the then-youngest Oscar nominee, being simply 10 years outdated on the time. That enjoyable reality would possibly offer you some trace into what a captivating ’70s rom-com has in widespread with a post-apocalyptic TV drama. 

Set in New York Metropolis, The Goodbye Lady facilities on single mom Paula McFadden (Mason) and her younger daughter Lucy (Cummings), whose lives — and house — are thrown for a loop when the previous’s lout of a boyfriend abruptly bails on them. A dashing actor with a wandering coronary heart, it is unhealthy sufficient that Tony leaves them with no discover simply as he is about to make it massive. However worse but, he sublets the house to a scruffy stranger, who turns up ornery and soaking moist on a wet evening. Enter Dreyfuss as cocky theater actor Elliot Garfield. 

Grudgingly, Paula admits Elliot into the two-bedroom house, brokering a deal the place the three of them will dwell collectively. Elliot barrelling into this risky dwelling association is the primary scene seen in episode 6 of The Final of Us. 

“Elliot Garfield,” he says, shaking the hand of a confused Lucy. “I am shifting into the opposite room.” In The Final Of Us‘s theater, a room full of youngsters watch this introduction whereas Ellie seems to be round, most likely for Joel. Unknowingly, she’s turning away from a personality who understands what she’s feeling proper now. 

In The Goodbye Lady, Simons orchestrates the enemies-to-lovers trope, with Elliot and Paula bickering their method right into a passionate romance. In the meantime, younger Lucy turns into connected to Elliot, which is nerve-racking as she’s been deserted by a string of her mom’s boyfriends, all of whom give her pet names and presents earlier than shifting on with no second thought.

Earlier than The Final of Us cuts from the theater again to Joel, we are able to hear Elliot say, “I instructed her I used to be shifting into the opposite room. She appeared to absorb stride.” It is a delicate observe: Lucy’s been burned earlier than, and shortly Ellie will spill out her ache over being left behind.

What does The Goodbye Lady inform us about Joel and Ellie? 

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After Joel and Tommy have a harrowing heart-to-heart about fatherhood and the worry of failing at it, Joel is at his lowest level since his daughter Sarah died 20 years earlier than. He is significantly contemplating leaving Ellie behind as a result of he fears he cannot look after her. The present then follows Tommy again to the theater, the place Elliot can be at his low level, bombing because the main man of a really directed model of Richard III. 

It was purported to be his massive break, however a cretinous director has led the wanna-be star to wreck(Opens in a brand new tab). Elliot is embarrassed, fearing he is a failure. Worse but, Paula and Lucy had been within the viewers.

“He’ll know we thought it was awful if we do not say hiya,” Lucy pleads, urging her mom to take her backstage after the ultimate curtain. Paula concedes however urges, “Be tactful.” When the precocious child asks, “What’s ‘tactful’?” Paula says merely, “Lie.” 

Within the film, it is a good punchline, resulting in a defeated Elliot being cautiously comforted by his adoring roommates. However within the context of episode 6, this scene attracts a transparent parallel between Elliot and Joel. Each males are decided and resilient however — on this second — crushed by the burden of their very own failings. As Joel heads to the home the place Ellie waits, his shoulders sag with the burden of disappointing her. 

“Do you give a shit about me or not?” Ellie challenges, when Joel suggests Tommy could be a greater protector. “After all I do,” he says softly however significantly. “Then what are you so afraid of?” They each know the reply to that. Ellie has seen the memorial to Joel’s misplaced daughter, Sarah. Ellie fires again that she’s misplaced folks too: “Everyone I’ve cared for has both died or left me. Everyone aside from you!” She cries. “So do not inform me I might be higher off…as a result of the reality is, I’d simply be extra scared!”

It is a disgrace neither sees the tip of The Goodbye Lady; it might need given them consolation. Regardless of the crucial spanking that Elliot receives, he will get a second probability with a promising position in a film. He is getting ready to success. And in contrast to that cad Tony, he is sticking with Paula and Lucy. The Goodbye Lady ends with him waving goodbye as he heads to the shoot with them cheering him on, assured he’ll return to them as soon as the film wraps. 

Right here is the place The Final of Us is a bit totally different. Whereas Joel sticks with Ellie, he will not depart her behind, even for a shoot(out). She will not let him. So, they saddle up on a horse and trip off to their subsequent journey. However in each instances, this father determine, bearded, gruff, however lovable, is devoted to the mouthy daughter he is adopted as his personal, appreciating her for all her quirks and chaos. On this method, The Final of Us and The Goodbye Lady — regardless of their wildly totally different tones and genres — play out an exquisite parallel. 

The Final of Us is on HBO and HBO Max(Opens in a brand new tab).